I am in Kampala!

Hello all from Africa!  I have been in Uganda for three days now and already I am dreading leaving on Friday.  There aren't many words to describe the range of emotions I have experienced here, but it's kind of like waking up on Christmas morning every day!  I can't sleep at night because I am so excited about what the next day will hold.

A little background: We arrived Friday night after about 18 hours of flying.  We stopped in Amsterdam and it was snowing and very cold, and the whole time i kept thinking to myself "I am in Amsterdam...."  We didn't leave the airport, but it was amazing to be there and get off the plane and immediately hear all these different languages and so many different looking people.  It made me realize how limited my world is in Birmingham - and now I have an itch to travel the world (get ready Daddy....)!  The flights had about 200 people on them and we had great meals and it was quite comfortable.  I watched movies, read, and talked to my team members - by the time it was over I think we all felt like we had known one another for years.  

Touching down in Africa Friday night was quite surreal.  It was dark and dark in a way that I have never experienced.  There were no lights at the airport - the pilot just put the plane down in the dark basically (Praise the Lord...I was a little nervous...).  When we got off the plane it smelled like Africa!  I have heard people say that Africa has a distinct smell and it does.  It's not a bad thing, but something that kind of jolts  you and makes your senses more aware.  It is almost like God's way of saying, ok you are in a special place now, so it's time to really take it all in.  Every time I walk out of the hotel I have that experience...

We spent our first full day here just doing some sightseeing and we went to the Kasubi tombs where the kings of Uganda are buried and I got a little information on the current King of Uganda and his son - might be looking them up before I leave....  We then went to a girls orphanage that is led by Pastor Nelson here in Kampala.  That was the first experience I had with the children here.  We pulled up and the girls ran out and started laughing and clapping.  They literally started hugging us so hard that we were all trying to keep our balance to keep from falling over.  There were about 30 of them and they were all so incredibly beautiful.  Most of the little girls here have very little hair and I always thought it was because they shaved their heads, but it is because it just doesn't grow much because of the lack of nutrients they have. So to look just into their eyes and into their smiles was hypnotizing.  

The girls showed us their rooms and they were so proud to have us there.  They sang a song for us called "He is the Lord" and it gave me chills.  It was the most innocent and sincere act of praise that I have ever seen.  They love the Lord so much and when you look around it seems like they have so little, but then you stop and think, no they have the world's riches because of the immense faith they have in God.  It was just great to be able to love on them and hug and play with them.  They just sang and danced the whole time we were there...

I am going to run now because I need to get ready for the day.  I am actually starting on my second day in the mission field, so I have some catching up to do to get you all caught up.  Please keep me and the team in your prayers...we are all healthy and happy!  We are all one big family now, which is great because it makes me being so far away from home a little easier.

Stay tuned....