arrival!

June 4, 2007
Update # 1

Hello friends and family!

For those of you who have been wondering… yes I did make it to Uganda ;) Although I was minutes away from missing a connecting flight in Chicago, God is good and I just made it on. My traveling was really not that bad, funny, but it really felt like it went by pretty quickly. I think I have had so much on my mind that I hadn’t been able to think about with being so busy with school and all that I didn’t realize how much thinking I could do during the 32 hours of traveling that my trip took in total. I did loose my baggage, however, which has been a kind of a pain – but it hasn’t been so bad, one of the girls here Anna, is about my size so she graciously offered to share some clothes with me and today I went to the market to purchase some soap, shampoo, a skirt and some other necessities. I’m praying my luggage makes it here soon. Mostly because it has my malaria pills (as well as mosquito repellent) in it, so I am relying on God’s grace for health right now ;)
Jinja is a beautiful city- so much life and activity. I love all the colors, smells, and sounds. The sound of Life. Jinja is far more developed than Ntcheu was, lots more- it almost feels like the states in comparison. I was able to ride on the back of a motorbike back home… let me tell ya, Disneyland gots nothing on this ride ;) My goodness I was hanging on for dear life as we FLY amongst other people walking, on bikes, cars, and over pot- holes, etc. It was fabulous. And here I am, thinking I might die, and I look over and see a woman on a motor bike next to me, sitting on sideways because of her skirt, not holding on to the bike, but talking on her cell phone! I was put to shame ;)
There are 25 children in addition to the six in the Kirya family here. Wow, this is a huge amount of kids to be living in one home ☺ Part of me thinks its craziness and the other part thinks its amazing. I’m still learning all of the names, but they certainly all have named me “Auntie Meg” which is pronounced “Auuntie Magah”. They are absolutely beautiful, very sweet and full of energy! Here in the home is also a nursery school, which I was able to help in the 4-5 year old class today, very fun, very interesting. So different in some ways, yet so the same in others.
Please continue to pray for me, I have much to learn and while I have been shown nothing but love and hospitality, I am far from home and in very unfamiliar territory. Pray for insight, wisdom, sensitivity, strength and for good communication. Thank you for your prayers support- I am so blessed to have all of your love.

Meg