Today was an interesting and exciting day in Uganda! Our team is a bit tired out (only physically, our hearts are still energized!) Two of our teammates almost slept through breakfast! :) We can give them a break though because we have been pretty non-stop since we’ve been here. 

Today, we had a great morning breakfast together, and spent some time reflecting on the heavenly determination of our Ugandan friends. Yesterday, our car was having some issues, as was mentioned. . . And frankly, I was ready to say let’s just forget it. But Jumba and Pastor John are determined.  We realized that this state of mind is an essential quality here in Africa, especially if you want to great things for God. The reason that Hope for Joy exists and the Mkumbu school and church is because of spiritual determination. They live out this verse: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Such an inspiration to us all. 

After breakfast, we headed out to the church today to meet the Hope for Joy kids and it was a blast to be surprised by them having stations ready for us to make necklaces, bangles (bracelets) and earrings from various beads and cloth. We all sat down at different places, interacting with different kids, trying to make jewelry that actually looked cool (like theirs). It was a great conversation - and I don’t think any of us left there without 3-4 pieces that they gifted to us. It was so special. 

Then, we had the afternoon “off.” Along with our friend Jumba, we brought along Pastor John, Esther and their four kids out to lunch! We took them (and ourselves) to Cafe Java, a great restaurant where we feasted on burgers, shakes, special drinks, and CAKE - for Jumba and Chloe’s birthdays (and because Mike Davis can’t not have cake). 

It stormed while we lunched, and we waited it out and enjoyed just hanging out together. Then we went to the Entebbe Zoo! Our guide did a great job showing us around the zoo, and it’s a much different experience than our zoo! It’s just a little more “free range,” LOL.  Plus, since it had down poured earlier, we basically walked through a mud bog the whole time. I think the red mud weighed five pounds on each of my feet! Interesting and ever so grateful I didn’t bite the dust and land up in the mud on my heiny. hahah. We had a great time. After that, we wanted to get our culture on and went to the Ugandan market where fruits, vegetables, spices, silverfish, and all kinds of everything are on display. The market is basically where they do their grocery shopping and it was so great to have the team experience it. 

We’re back at the guest house now, getting cleaned up, packing up and will debrief our day and week soon (after another amazing home-cooked dinner). Tomorrow we will go to church and then an artisan market to buy some souvenirs to bring back. And we’ll say goodbye later in the evening and fly home to all of you. 

This has been an amazing week. This is a new partnership for us as a church, and I for one, am very excited to see all the places that God takes us together. We can’t wait to share our stories with you.

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