17 Days...68 Degrees and Partly Cloudy

Thought I'd switch my WeatherBug app to Kampala's local weather station.  What's that?  68 degrees, partly cloudy. Oh, there it is...98% humidity.  Well, it's not the 90-100 degree temps one would associate with Central Africa...or at least me, the chick's who's never been.  But, I'll take their current weather over this sweaty mess right now!  Yeah, yeah...ask me in three weeks after I've been walking in dust and communing with bugs for a while.  Still, I do not like hot.  Anyone who knows me, knows this.  Have I mentioned I'm going to Africa?  He tends to nudge us out of our comfort zones, huh?  


Now, let's talk location.  I'm not going to Kampala, but it seems to be the nearest town recognized by most weather services.  Busia's district is in the southeastern section of Uganda right across the border from Kenya and just to the right of Jinja, the source of the Nile (crossing my fingers I get to see this).  Uganda sits to the north of Tanzania separated by Lake Victoria.

Look, Ma! I'm close to the equator!

Busia's also just a scoot above the equator...literally.  This is why I was shocked when I checked the current weather conditions there (and that it's hotter here in the Bluegrass)!  Now, the rain makes sense.  Packing extra shoes for sure.  I've heard from seasoned trekkers that those are a must....and no sandals!


My performing arts camp begins tomorrow which will provide a nice diversion for a little while.  I'll be singing, dancing and acting with 9-10 year olds for five days, but naturally Africa will be on my mind constantly for the next 17 days...

22 Days....Now what am I doing again?

Sadly, my last update was back in carefree 90+ days of planning and prep.  Now...it's seriously crunch time.  Serious.  As in this girl had a full on panic attack Sunday afternoon. Yes.  One of those couldn't stop the tears, hugging my knees kind of moments.  What the heck have I gotten myself into here?

You lived among the least of these

The weary and the weak

And it would be a tragedy for me to turn away.

Local kids of Busia

Ironically, it's only been lately that folks have seemed to realize, "Oh...you're going to Africa?"  Um, yeah.  Now, I know that MANY people have know for months but I've started to find it kind of funny actually.  It is hard to explain what I'll be doing, though, especially to folks who aren't involved in church.  I don't mean that to sound condescending...it's just that it's, well, kind of a "churchy" what I'm doing.  Literally.  I'm leading a church conference.  Literally.

In a nutshell, here's the Cliffs Note version:

My itinerary is June 13-29.  We leave out of Cincinnati. Fly into Brussels then onto Entebbe, Uganda.  Then, apparently a very long ride to Busia.

During the Monday-Friday period we're in Busia, my team will host a conference training local church children's leaders methods on teaching children's worship.  The whole concept of children's worship in their culture is foreign...something so everyday to us.  Basically modeling VBS-type activities with them for the first half of everyday, the allowing working with them in the afternoons on developing their own ideas.

The other days that we're there will be spent ever how we're needed...working at the orphanage doing drywall, plumbing, painting, playing with the kids (yay), administering medications, etc.  Who knows what else?

Follow You into the homes of the brokenI'll follow You into the worldAnd meet the needs for the poor and the needy, GodI'll follow You into the world

Noah's Ark Orphanage - New Building
Busia, Uganda