First Days in Africa.

I don't even know what to say. I must admit I have felt like one big emotional mess the past week. I have this knack for completely losing it in airports, and that didn't fail me on Wednesday & Thursday as I traveled. But the Lord is always so faithful to pour out His peace & joy on me.

I'm here. In Uganda. It still blows my mind! I arrived on Friday morning, safe and relatively rested (or so I thought). I kept wondering when it would become reality to me that I was coming to Uganda, and I don't think it happened until the plane landed on the runway and I looked out the window. My heart began to race with excitement, and it took all the self-control I had not to unbuckle my seatbelt right there & run to the front of the plane to be the very first one off.

Joseph & Sara picked me up at the airport, and on the way to the Rafiki Home they told me that the night before they had received two more children, Carol & Don, both 2 1/2 yrs old. I could hardly contain my excitement to meet the kids that I've been praying for and thinking of the past 5 months! As we got closer to the home I felt this nervousness building inside me, but it was a wonderful nervous excitement that makes your whole body shake & your stomach so hyperactive with butterflies you think you might just throw up. The gate opened, and Joseph pulled in & parked the car. "We're here." Before I could get out and walk around the car, I was greeted with hugs by the beautiful smiling faces from the picture hanging on my bulletin board at school. Absolutely surreal moment. I walked inside and sat down on the floor to play with the kids. Before I knew what was going on, I was swarmed by kids! The 2 coolest things about me at that point: my watch that glows & beeps and my long, curly mzungu hair. My white skin comes in a close third behind those. I felt a little like an interactive zoo exhibit as they pulled my wrist every which direction, pulled at my hair, and petted my white arms. But I loved it and wouldn't have wanted anything different. I could see how excited they were, and I was even more excited than all of them combined! We spent the rest of the day playing as I learned their daily routine. Thank the Lord they have rest time in their beds after lunch because I was definitely in need of a nap!

Saturday morning I woke up & took a refreshingly cold shower. Boy, it felt nice to be clean! I came downstairs and didn't have to wait but a few seconds before I was met by lots of little children in their pajamas jumping up & down with excitement to see me. "Good morning, Auntie Kelsey" they all chanted as they pulled at my dress to give me hugs. That put a huge smile on my face =)

On Sunday I went to my first African church service. Joseph, Sara, his brothers Godfry & Moses, and all the kids attend Watoto Church. It is a huge church in Kampala not far from the Rafiki Home. I was surprised to find out it is English-speaking and very excited to discover the building is open-air. Without air conditioning here I feel like I am constantly sweating, but I'm beginning to get used to it. The worst part is going to bed sweating. But anyway, the church service was great! My favorite part was during worship when we sang To Know Your Name. It was amazing to sing a song I know so well with fellow believers in Uganda. Just another wonderful reminder that God is God of all people & all nations.