UGANDA - August 16, 2012

Today started out very early as our team divided. Four members remained in Kamonkoli. They will continue home visitations and building on the relationships that have been established this week.

The rest of the team headed off to Para Lodge for a safari at 6:20 AM. What was supposed to be a 6-hour drive turned into more of a 10-hour drive to arrive at our safari destination. Our travel was smooth except that the 22-passenger bus started to smoke, so as the men put their heads together on what to do, the women just watched (and prayed). The radiator cap had come loose, and all the antifreeze leaked out, so we had to use our drinking water to fill it up. As we stood on the side of the road, somewhere in the middle of Uganda, praying that the problem was not too major, one team member shared the sentiment that we were stopped with car trouble for a reason. Whether that reason was so we would miss being in an accident, meet someone while waiting, arriving later to meet a need at the lodge or to get to see something extraordinary, we may never know, but in that moment we knew that God still had us in His plan and His care. It was part of the journey.

We drove through beautiful country on the way to the lodge. What struck me as we traveled through the villages was that whenever we would wave, the smiles that we were given in return matched those in Kamonkoli, big white toothy grins!   Beautiful!!!   We passed through areas that had been refugee camps and as I imagined the lives of the people that resided in these communities, I again started to count my blessings for the many freedoms and luxuries that we have in America.

As soon as we arrived at the lodge our team set off on a 3-hour game drive. The entire experience can be summed up in one word…WOW! An African safari is something that most people dream about doing, but we got to experience the beauty of God’s creation in this beautiful country of Uganda today. It was exciting, to say the least. From giraffes, hippos, antelope, a jackal, Egyptian geese, elephants and more--the handiwork of God was all around. The animals, trees, landscape, etc. were like stepping into the movie The Lion King…only better. We got to see God’s creation up close and personal, and for real. Again, the men had to step up to the plate when the bus got stuck and all had to pile out so they could push the bus out of the mud. Luckily there were no lions around at that point!

After a week of hard work in the village through construction, the youth seminar, home visitations, and the clinic, today was a tiny blip on the screen in each of our personal journeys. A time to sit back, fellowship, and admire all that God has created, and to be in awe at how big our God is, while not forgetting that we are still on mission. Whether at home, on a mission trip, or on a safari, God has called us each to a specific purpose, to make His name known throughout the earth. So, what are you going to do on your journey? He has a plan for YOU, so make your journey count!