My first time in Uganda!
We landed at Entebbe Airport at 5:00 AM local time; we are 9 hours ahead of US CST. We were tired yet excited for the long day that lay ahead.
Good news and bad news after we landed. Unlike last time, all crates present easily made it through customs. Praise God! The bad news: 7 of our 25 crates and 5 personal checked bags were left at the Istanbul Airport. We are told they will be available for pickup tomorrow.
After a bountiful breakfast at Cafe Java, team members with missing luggage went shopping at the attached mall for personal items to get them thru the next day.
The poverty that we saw while driving to our hotel, with a stop along the way at the Equator, was sobering. Make-shift huts, women sweeping the dirt using leafed twigs, kids playing happily in the dirt and with sticks, chasing after each other-no toys or electronics. It begs the question, “Do they know what they don’t have?”
Mile after mile of roadside stands with men and women selling seemingly the same things-meat, fish, vegetables, baskets, furniture, shoes. God has blessed Uganda with beautiful people, lush landscape, hills and copper-colored earth.
As we were pulling into Hotel Nabisere, we felt like royalty-photographers were taking our photos, and we were greeted by the very energetic Solomon-we appreciated the boost of energy he provided.
After a wonderful prayer by Solomon and lunch, we headed towards Bethlehem Hospital to start unpacking the crates that were accounted for. It was a very bumpy and dusty ride as we found ourselves driving deeper into the jungle.
We were greeted enthusiastically by Dr. Ssentango, Moses and Dr. Emmanuel at the hospital. The team immediately went to work unpacking and organizing the crates, sterilizing equipment, and troubleshooting. It was so encouraging to see everyone work so well together as a team. May God continue to be praised as we work together to bring healing and spiritual hope to these beautiful people!
