I have arrived! And strangely everything has gone as planned. Although I tried not to have a lot of expectations, so things really couldn’t go OUT of plan…I am surprised with how easily everything has gone.
Lets back up a day to leaving the airport. Ann and my dad drove me, and it was a surprisingly calm and pleasant drive (not me freaking out, or being grumpy, etc…surprising I know;)
Everything with check in went well. I was alittle worried because I had received such a ‘sweet deal’ on my ticket, I wasn’t sure how that would go, but it was great! After goodbyes I was on my way.
This trip has had a different feel from the last trip. I don’t know if its because I am able to trust God more, or because I feel like Uganda is my home away from home, or if its because I haven’t actually allowed myself to feel everything that I have been feeling…but lets just say that there have been a lot less tears. Whether good or bad, those are just the facts J
Anyways, ok flight number one was Toronto to Brussels, which would have been fantastic if not for the drunk older man beside me trying to hold my hand and rub my leg the whole trip. Don’t worry, I continued to put him in his place…but definitely made for an interesting 7.5hrs.
When we arrived at the airport in Brussels I had to take a bus over to the correct terminal. On this bus ride I met another man named Joseph. We talked for the extent of the ride (about 2 min) and then parted ways (or so I thought). I took my place in the crowded waiting area, settling in for a good 3 hrs wait when Joseph appears. Apparently he is in the business class and got permission for me to enter as well J God has a funny way of sending me guardian angels when I am in the airport, and I would say this was another one of them. Inside the lounge all the outside walls were made of glass, the sun was shining in, there were comfortable couches and chairs, it was perfect. To make it even more perfect I had access to free coffee, pastry, wi-fi and more! When he found out that my name was Melissa (the same name as his daughter) it was as if we were meant to be friendsJ lol
Anyway, the next flight was uneventful, I made friends with the girl in the seat beside me who was born in Uganda, but had grown up in Sweden. The rest of the flight went smoothly, I got my visa with no problems at all, found my luggage AND Alex all in the matter of 35 min. (This must be some sort of record!) I feel the need to add that I cannot believe how many white people where travelling with me! I can still remember on my first trip how each flight put us (the mzungu’s) into the smaller and smaller ratio. This time it felt like almost half of the people I travelled with (even up into Entebbe) were white. I guess that goes to show how much the world is changing, and how freely people travel now, even compared to a couple of years ago.
Anyways, Alex had a surprise for me at the airport, Kanyike and Manson came to meet me! These are the only 2 boys I had yet to meet, so I was so happy to get to spend some time with them.
We left the airport at about 11pm, and were back to The Sanctuary by 1amish. Kanyike immediately took my hand and walked me to the car (making sure I didn’t get hit by oncoming traffic), and while Manson was a bit shy at the start, on the ride home we talked about everything from his favourite subject, to the fact that we both like Chris Brown’s music, to how he met Bailey (the girl who brought him to us, and is helping to support him).
Let me just share a couple of things with you that I had somehow pushed out of my mind since I had left. Driving on the wrong side of the road! (this is especially stressful at night..and when your tired, and when your brain keeps forgetting that you’re in a different country!) The smell of burning garbage…which was somehow a surprisingly comforting smell. The traffic - people coming and going on cars, bodas (motorcycles), bicycles, on foot…going every which way, and not appearing to have any sort of order or rules they are following. How hot it is, even at night. Speaking of which, as I type I am on my bed, under my misquito net…feeling quite warm!...can’t figure out how to turn the fan on..or if it even works.lol). Anyways, on to the highlight of my day – seeing all of the boys.
When we pulled up to the house it looked as if everyone might have been sleeping (as they should have been given it is a school night, and 1am) but, then David comes bursting through the gate and gives me the biggest hug I have received in a long time! The hug lasted for so long, until I pulled away to see how tall he has gotten (I swear he is a head taller!) and then pulled him in for another hug! For all the challenges that David can (and will) bring, I love him so much! And am so happy that he has stayed with us here at The Sanctuary for so long now. Next came Aaron. I could tell he had just woken up, but he immediately came to take my luggage, and when I finally caught him, I got another long hug. I knew Aaron very well, but he never lived at The Sanctuary while I was there. I am excited to have the chance to get to know him better. On the phone a couple of months earlier we had made a deal that I would teach him how to swim, and he would teach me Luganda, so here’s hoping!
Steven, Jacob and Ronnie came into the house looking like they had woken up from the middle of their sleep (which they had) and gave me a quick welcome and hug and I sent them off back to bed! When I came back to the living room Saidon was just sitting there, smiling. I gave him a hug and sat down beside him and chatted with all of the boys who were up. They had saved supper for me (although I was not very hungry, but you know how it goes, you MUST eat your food. The good thing is it was rice, beans, cabbage AND beef!! I was spoiled! And while I couldn’t eat it all (even though they insisted I should), it was great.
Last but not least (atleast for tonite) was Robert. As many of you know, Robert has and always will have a special place in my heart. He too had just woken up, so he gave me a hug and hurried off. He has been struggling with Malaria over the last couple of days and it is getting worse. He now has a rash on the outside of his mouth and on his neck. Tomorrow we are going to find out more information on what is going on. Please keep him in your prayers!
Anyways, its about 245 am, and I know that I should be trying to sleep…but want to try to put into words for your sake, and for my sake what I am feeling. In the last 30 min before arriving I started to get nervous. I really want to be part of these boys lives, and I want to be able to help them grow and mature emotionally, spiritually, etc. I continue to pray for God to lead me in how I act and what I say. Its funny, because even as I lay here and am writing this, it almost feels as if I have never left. I mean, my room is looking pretty sad, and I need some furniture for sure, but when it comes to being involved in the boys lives, I feel like March 5, 2011 was yesterday, and I am here almost like I always have. Being here with the boys feels like being home. Its hard, and complicated (especially when they have conversations in different languages or look at me like they might be expecting something) but it feels right.
My prayer is that God will use me however he needs to, so that I can provide these boys with consistency, love, value and more.
Anyways, my sleeping pill (which I figured I deserved with Jet lag and all) is starting to kick in, and although its only 8pm at home, its about 3am here. So I should be sleeping. Tomorrow I will get to see the rest of the boys, as well as figure out how to get internet back to The Sanctuary!
Welcome to the start of my adventures in Uganda….stay tuned for more!
The Toronto - Brussels leg sounds like the worst (creepiest) part of your trip. Glad you made it safely.
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