Trip 1.

So about a year and a half ago, I took my first loooooooong flight to the other side of the world to meet the country I had been dreaming of since I was 14. Huh?

Yup. Dream come true. Even if I had planned the trip myself, I could not have made it any more perfect. I got to meet kids that stole my heart. I made pipe cleaner glasses till I couldn't rip them apart anymore. I fell in love.  I experienced a country that I had only heard about. It was incredible.

But. I had to leave. But. I had to say goodbye. But. I had to kiss the cheeks of little faces I had only begun to get to know. Talk about breaking my heart. As I sat in the plane that was taking me back to the US, I cried. And cried. And cried. My poor travel partners. Those poor flight attendants. It was probably halfway to Khartoum did I finally pull it together.

If I had to put that trip into a neat little box, and tie it off with a nice little bow, I would have described it as God pouring out gift after gift onto me. He didn't have to send me to Kampala. He didn't have to let me see the incredible ministry that was going on in this country. He didn't have to reveal to me over and over again that He forever keeps His promises. But He did. He did over and over and over again.

I can’t describe the feeling of seeing a brand new church with kids all around being built in a community that was once ravaged by the LRA. What?? I can’t explain what it was like to watch people proclaim their love of Christ as the rose up out of Lake Victoria. Huh??? And I don’t know how put into words the look in the eye of the care givers at the different homes I got to see. Ummm?? Luckily that’s not my job. I was just lucky enough to see it all.

I knew deep down I would see that place again. I knew I would one day walk through that rich red dirt, where the smiles of strangers were so quick to be shared. And. I felt that my heart would again be reunited with the people I love. And I cannot wait for the 5^th to hurry up and get here.