January 7, 2009

So as I write this, I am surrounded by 14 other (Simon included) incredible new friends, looking out over the Nile filled with awe over God’s glorious creation. We serve a very big God! Today has been a bittersweet day. As I am sitting here I hear many talking excitedly about today’s adventures rafting, which was certainly an incredible experience, while others are beginning to talk and realize that we will be heading home in just two days. We have left the leaders for good now, and although we are excited to see family and friends back home, it is hard to leave the incredible servant leaders we met here in Uganda.

Last night was one of the sweetest experiences I have had in Africa. In the afternoon we served in the Pallisa library and did contact work with some of the local village kids. When we came home we found the front porch of the house and the tent we had been eating and stayed cool under during the day completely decorated with balloons and streamers. We knew these Africans were preparing for a great celebration. For the next hour or so we had an amazing time helping the many leaders that had come to eat dinner with us prepare for our meal. It was such a gift to see everyone sitting together sharing stories, dreams, and life with one another as they were working to sort rice, grill chicken, and boil potatoes. When we began to gather for dinner, we were absolutely blown away at the feast set before us. The meal was incredible, but the fellowship with our new family here was even better!

After the meal, the program team came out for one last appearance in Uganda. Bailey, Schroder, and Wilson were amazing all week long, and last night was a fun conclusion to the program. Following the fun and games we entered into a precious time with the leaders. We felt after the incredible way we had watched them serve us over the past 2 weeks, that it was only appropriate to wash their feet. We did not do it to repay them for all they had done, but because we felt like it was the greatest way we could serve them. We wanted to clean the feet of those that so beautifully carry the gospel across this country. It was such an intimate time with our brothers and sisters and our Wonderful Maker. The Lord used it to refresh us, to remind us of our salvation, and last night we really felt the glory of the Lord in that place! After washing, each of our team knelt before two of their leaders and prayed over them, and the ministry God has placed before them. It is hard to describe in words how truly amazing this time really was. There were no cultural or racial boundaries in that place. We truly experienced the intimacy of one body in Christ, one family worshiping our Father. It was a little glimpse of Heaven!

Stephanie Hinton



We know we are still in Uganda because…

-When our African friends rent a generator for a final farewell dance party, and all of us spend three hours dancing the night away together (w/ all the leaders) following an amazing dinner & an awesome time of praise & worship, & sharing...
-There are a minimum of 20 kids at the home you are staying in because they never get to see “mzungus” (white people). There is so much LOVE in this place.
-Kids like to rub your leg hair because they don’t have any
-We switch taxi drivers (not taxis) 4 times within 20 minutes this morning on the way to Jinja for rafting.
-When you pick up the third taxi driver at his house at 6am and need to blast the horn because he is still sleeping. When he arrives to the car he is still putting his clothes on.
-When the horn is used 61 times within 5 minutes to warn pedestrians of the approaching vehicle. We've come to really appreciate & love the "motherland".
-You feel like you are blind because of the all dust that is in front of the van
-While rafting your guide purposely flips the raft in order to safely prepare you for the upcoming rapids that will rock your face off
-You have master river rats (fellows in kayaks) chasing you down the Nile to pull you out of the rapids in case you fall out
-When your raft does a flip over a class 5 rapid and you find yourself scattered across the monstrous river Nile
-When you feel accomplished after you look at the 12 foot waterfall you just dropped down
-When it hails for the second time in 11 years on the river and you have to get out and protect yourself against the gumball size pellets.
-You see a baby croc along the river and wonder where the mommy is
-If you have the option to shower but you opt not to because the river put you though a washing machine
-A luxury includes a flushing toilet and running water... SIMPLICITY
-You are sad that you only have 2 more days left in this wonderfully simple place
-You are looking forward to 24 hours of traveling so you are able to rest and reflect
-You’ll miss not being surrounded by such an awesome community of people at all times because you have shared the kind of life-changing trip that comes once in a lifetime...

Thanks for your prayers!
Haley &the rest of the "Mzungu Tribe"