mzungu have arrived

hello from uganda! my first week at rafiki uganda has been great. all of my flights were hassle-free and i arrived at entebbe airport late sunday night with all of my luggage ... which is more than i can say for the other mini-missionaries who arrived here a day before. i admit, i was quite apprehensive about arriving at and staying in entebbe by myself. luckily, i met a grad student from duke university who was traveling to uganda for mba work. he had never been to africa before, so i dazzled him with my knowledge of the continent. godspeed, caleb varner. after making it through customs with a charming smile and the greatest of ease (i can't say the same for caleb), i was met by the heat of the summer air and a sea of dark faces, most of them holding signs for passengers. it took a moment to locate him, but i finally found my name and my driver, and i smiled when he greeted me with that familiar east african handshake, the long "u" in my name (la-uuu-da), and the unmistakable warmth of the people here. we arrived at the airport guesthouse and after a brief conversation with the owner, a dutchman with red wine-stained teeth and a love for my german last name, i made it to my room and was ready to crash for the night. little did i know i had a roommate waiting ... a bug-eyed gecko with lightening speed and clever moves. i spent the first thirty minutes trying to get the tiny dragon out of my room without actually touching or going near it. the need for sleep eventually won out, so greenie and i called a truce for the night.

on monday i finally made it the the rafiki campus which is amazing. and much bigger than i thought. there are several buildings which either house classrooms (separated by grade level), the orphan "families" (of which there are twelve), a clinic, a dining hall, the ROS (rafiki oversees staff), maintenance, and us ... the minis, as we are called. there are four college students from texas that are here for three weeks and it has been nice having them around in the guesthouse. we have swapped stories about the children and the food, and we have laughed. a lot.

the guesthouse is really designed to make living in africa easier ... this place is a long way from a straw mat on a dirt floor. the wonderful ROS have made the transition easier as well. from movie night with the anderson kids to just appreciating southerness with carolyn, i have felt quite at home.

the kids do not return back to school until the 19th (they have been on summer break), so we have been getting the classrooms/supplies ready for the new term. we have also had the opportunity to get to know the kids and their "mommas" which is pretty awesome. the children are divided into cottage families, in groups of 5-10 children (there are 95 total), with a national woman as the head of the household. we have been eating meals with different cottages and been able to spend time with them after dinner. this past week, we were part of G.A.M.E.S. in the mornings, which is somewhat of a mini summer day camp. i was in reading club (you've never heard jungle book until you've heard it reported on by yoweri) and with the four year-olds. i cannot wait to be in a classroom when school begins.

we are really treated as special visitors to the campus. it does a servant's heart good to be welcomed with such grace at each meal and in passing. "witter" hasn't quite caught on yet, but i don't think i'll ever get tired of hearing "good morning, autie lora" or "yes teacha" ... i have been waiting for these children for a long time.

other than some bumps in the fundraising and communication road, i have felt such a sense of peace throughout this process. there has not been one time when i have felt nervous or unsure. i feel like the time and the place here have been truly prepared for me. i am so thankful that i am able to stay connected via the internet (get SKYPE!), but i do want to remember to stay focused on the task at hand ... kampala wireless internet has proved to be a blessing and a curse in that area. while i enjoy being chief wittaka back home, the issue of "living my own life" is something i hope will become clearer to me as i continue this adventure on my own.

"wherever you are, be ALL there. live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." - jim elliot