Bonding Trip: Part 3

The next leg of our journey took us to the town of Kiryandongo. We traveled a long way first on foot, then in the back of trucks, then by bus and then on the back of “boda bodas” or motorcycles. 

We saw the Nile River for the first time and looked out our window to see dozens of hippos!  

Bridge over the Nile

All those dots are hippos

This baby wouldn't stop staring at us haha

As we traveled by bus, the driver played Ugandan pop music, we passed through country and villages, and a game park – stopping only for bus stations and military check points. It was endless miles of “safari” type landscape (yes, it really does exist J ) Definitely felt like we were in Africa. J 

Vendors outside the bus selling food 

In this village, most of these people had seen very few white people. One 40 year old man told us that we were the first Americans he had ever seen.

They were extremely welcoming tho. We felt like kings and queens. The church there is lead by a former Kenyan, who is very extroverted!  Let’s just say his preaching was intense and very heart-felt. J We both taught and tried to encourage the church that is growing there. The kids choir sang for us in their thick Ugandan/English accents. It was precious.

The church

Kids choir

One of the younger guys in the church that was completely full of life and joy- his name was Solomon. He was hilarious- his facial expressions were priceless. He got up before we taught and said he was going to sing a song that was his favorite. He said he sings it every day because it reminds him of how good God is and that he is nothing without Him. He then began to sing the song Jesus, All For Jesus.

“Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be. 

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands. 

For it's only in Your will that I am free,
For it's only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.”

It was such an incredible blessing from God. That is praise song that has a special place in our hearts and many Americans don’t even know it. And here we were in the middle of an African village that had never seen Americans, and that song is being sung to encourage us….Our God reigns. And goes with us even to the end of the world. And does little things to remind us of His faithfulness.

That night, after teaching, a huge storm blew in. We watched the lightning and wind come across the plain before we all gathered in the biggest hut to have tea and dinner. They had prepared beds with mosquito nets for us….The next morning, we woke up to find that on the other side of the sheet walls, all the women and children of the church were sleeping on mats all over the floor because of the storm that had come…and they had given us beds and mosquito nets. Talk about humbling…

We said goodbye the next morning and took the long journey back. The church had given us a chicken as a parting gift along with a few other things. They were so kind…but we had to travel with the chicken and keep it alive so the meat wouldn’t spoil….:D  Poor guy, he must have known his fate, because he kept trying desperately to escape. But boy did he taste good later. Hahaa

We were so thankful for God’s protection and ready to get back to our “home” at our host village of Nebbe. The kids were waiting for us when we arrived. We almost immediately ate dinner then both taught again…