Lemonade

I'm writing to you all not from Gulu, Uganda but New York, USA.

Yesterday Laura and I were delayed on our flight from Chicago to New York. We got off the plane at JFK at 5:25 with our connecting flight at 5:40. Oh man, did we run to catch that plane! Unfortunately it just did not work out and we missed the flight to Amsterdam. After a LONG and stressful disscussion with the folks at American Airlines we found out that we will not be able to get on a flight to Entebbe until Saturday/Sunday. The new plan is to leave Saturday evening and arrive at 9pm in Uganda. In the meantime, we have been given a free two-night stay in a hotel by the airport.

When life hands you lemons... you order free room service and explore New York City.

Hopefully all will work out well and I will be in Uganda by Sunday.

Please continue to send good-travel vibes.

10 days and counting

For so long my life had become full of countdowns: finishing student teaching, graduation, leaving Loyola, and of course traveling to Uganda. Now, so many of those events have passed and the final countdown grows slim. As I type this I have a little less than 10 days until I depart. I cannot believe how close I am to making this far-fetched dream a reality.

So many emotions overtake me now: happiness and glee that I will finally see Uganda and meet the children of the Dwon Madiki Partnership, anxiety that I will forget my passport or will miss my flight or SOMETHING will happen to make this trip not happen, and a tinge of sadness as I prepare to leave my family and friends for two months, the longest by far I have ever been away.

I think most of all though I feel a great rush of appreciation. On Saturday, I had my going away party. I felt so lucky to have so many people in my life who support me. Thank you for giving me money (believe me, I need it), sharing your travel stories, listening as I blabbed about the partnership and Uganda, and letting me know that I will be in your thoughts and prayers. These things mean the world to me.

I leave you all with a video of one of our students in the Dwon Madiki Partnership singing a song she wrote for us. Be prepared to be moved AND to have this song in your head for the rest of the day. Take it away Brenda!


I wish I had wings like an angel
Like an angel that never departs
It is impossible to open our hearts
For you to see all our love

I woke up one day in the morning
And I heard that my school fees were paid
For there is someone who cares for my life
So far away in the States

Dear visitors, you're welcome to visit us
Dear visitors we love you so much
It is at this time we ask for a blessing
A blessing from Lord High