New Appreciation for Nothing But Nets!

We are here in Kampala, landed and got to hotel around 11pm I think . . . now it is after midnight - time for bed as 7am and the 5 hour bus ride to Nebbi tomorrow will come early!

Relatively stress free day - it seems like forever ago when we were in Charlotte - I guess we have spent over 24 hours in travel but we are here safe and sound and so glad!

Staying at a nice hotel . . . . .w/ Mosquito Nets. Now - I have to confess. I've always heard about the "nothing but nets" campaign done through UMCOR and other mission organizations but i don't know what I expected. Truthfully i thought it was a net you put over your body - like you wore it or something - I had no idea. It's a canopy kind of thing! BUT BOY AM I GRATEFUL FOR IT!!!!!!!! Those little mosquitos are EVERYWHERE and all our luggage (with all my bug spray is on the bus)!!!!

So . .. sleeping in my clothes and a net . . . as are most other people. I truly don't think anyone cares!!!!!! We are just so glad to be here and meeting Geoffrey and Stanley - the two Ugandan Pastors has been so cool! They laugh and joke around but their prayer tonight was so beautiful.

I do want to apologize on the front end if you are reading this blog for tidbits of info on your loved ones. I try to give you overviews of safety, etc. but this also serves as my "journal" . . . a way to remember things that happen that I NEVER want to forget . . . so when I wax eloquent - forgive me!

Two quick things happened today that I hope I will always remember.

We had a little passport drama in the Amsterdam airport. One of our team members laid down their bag at one of the little shops in the airport (NO - for once it wasn't me - but so typical of something I would do!)

They didn't get back to the gate until we had about 20 min to get ready to board the next 8 hour flight. They went to look for their passport but it wasn't w/ all the WCUMC Luggage. They insisted they left it there . . . they KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt they did not carry their bag around with them.

Thus began an all out search. All the Samaritan's Feet staff, several WC team members, etc. went around looking in bathrooms, near tables, food court, etc. HOPING to find the bag. We also talked to immigration and found out there was no way they could take off on another plane unless that passport was in hand. We didn't know what we were going to do except get a hotel, go to the US Embassy, and get a new one overnighted. To say it was stressful for a few minutes is a slight under exaggeration.

FOr a good 15 minutes 10 different people combed the airport. Finally - the one who originally lost it came back and had it in hand. Sighs of relief rang out.

The irony of the whole thing was something I think we all have that is so blatant in our lives.

That which we think we know with all certainty - is often not absolute.

Had some inisitence not occurred today w/ the whole passport thing and someone insisting that we had to leave and go look for it we would probably still think it was mixed up with someone's carry on.

Yet the nudge was there that it was NOT mixed in - I would have seen it . . . So we kept looking.

I wonder how many times in life - both in the US and for the Ugandan Team - do we miss the things that are so crystal clear and absolute because we inisist on our own ideas and own "way."

It is my prayer this week that we see God with such clarity of vision and purpose and love that there is NO our own way. It is only God's way!

Thank you for the prayers! They are much, much appreciated!!!

Now - off to sleep - up in 5 hours. ;)