African breeze

Hello hello! I am safe and sound in Kampala with my luggage :) and friends. The 3 flights over here were long but I always enjoy flying. I actually didn't sleep the whole time which I am sure is a surprise to you all.

I met a friend on the last flight into Uganda from Amsterdam. Her name is Helen. She works with a few different projects to help the sick. She was coming back from Memphis, TN actually with a sweet beautiful little girl named Natasha who was 3 years old and cute as could be. Natasha just had open heart surgery in a hospital in Memphis and was just grinning ear to ear. Helen told us of the Watonga (sp?) Babies Home that is located in Kampala and is pretty well known. She works there and we now have a direct contact to take a few short cuts and get to spend more quality time with the babies. I am too excited. She said we will just love it. She was excited to get to worship in Uganda again since she had been gone for a month. "It's just not the same in America."

Darla, Mark, and Jamie were at the airport to greet us tonight. It wasn't hard to pick them out since they were the only white people waiting on anyone. The hour drive from the Entebbe airport to Kampala was interesting. It was at like 9:15 pm when we started the drive. Darla drove the girls and Mark and Jamie the guys. We finally were able to ask questions and hear about what all we will be doing these next few weeks. The markets off the streets were full of people just hanging out, shopping, and playing pool! Dad I thought of you. Every so often I would just see a canopy type hut with a pool table underneath and a light so they could play although it was way after dark. There are no street lights. Just store small lights and the lights of passing cars. I was afraid we surely were going to hit civilians as they casually walked across the streets or right next to them.

We finally pulled up to the "compound" or duplex which is where the Kampala mission team lives. I think you will all like to know that it is a gated property, with a guard and a HUGE german shepherd that counts for another guard! The house is really beautiful and sits up overlooking rolling hills that I can just barely see house lights across the way. I look forward to the view that awaits me tomorrow. It is so much nicer that I expected. Hannah, Heidi and I share a room but we each have our own bed. I love it and I have only been here a few hours.

Well, it's getting close to midnight and I am sure jetlag will settle in soon. But I made it and am excited about this first week. Hope you are doing well!

Love,

mandy