Uganda Journal Days 13/14 – January 14th/15th

We sleepily assembled in the main room of the beautiful hotel while Drew and Isaac checked us out, and we climbed onto the last bus ride of the trip (or so we thought). An hour and a half later, we were checked through security at Entebbe airport, wandering through duty-free shops or trying to catch catnaps in the uncomfortable gate chairs. At last, we boarded our flight, but the plane didn’t leave until an hour after its scheduled departure time. This wouldn’t have been a big deal if our transfer in London hadn’t been so tight.

Unfortunately, it was a tight transfer, and as we got closer and closer to London, the captain started making announcements about transfer information. You know it’s never a good sign when your captain starts saying things like: “I realize there are about 22 people trying to catch a flight to Washington today…we’re going to try and get you there in time…”

When we landed, we rushed off the plane and ran through the airport like the family in Home Alone. But when we got to the first checkpoint, we found out that our plane had departed about a half hour beforehand.

Right after we prayed, God gave Isaac some unanticipated favor with British Airways, and he was able to secure a hotel for the evening and the first flight out in the morning for the entire team. Before going to the hotel, we stopped at Krispy Kreme for some much-needed sugar and caffeine. Then, Hye Joon passed out. The three nurses on the team gathered around her, and a medical team arrived to take her to the hospital. It turned out that she had the same cold as many of us, was exhausted and dehydrated, but, fortunately, not in any serious danger. The rest of us, led by Drew, took the shuttle to the hotel. We ate a hot, cafeteria-style meal in the lobby, then most of us headed off to bed. Around midnight, Isaac and Hye Joon returned. The next morning we caught the shuttle, poured through Heathrow security, and boarded the flight that would take us home.

Although each of us took away different experiences and saw God work in unique ways, what may have been the most meaningful part of the trip was the fact that God used us to bring people to salvation, and God used the people of Uganda to draw us closer to himself. We are so humbled to have been able to be a part of this trip, and continue to pray for the churches in Kiburara, Kakinga, and Renewawa, even as they pray for us. We look forward to the day when we will see our brothers and sisters in Uganda again, and they can’t wait to meet you, whether it be on the next e-team or in heaven, when we’re united around the One who gave all of us salvation.

Journal written by Dave and Casey Somerville.  Pictures here and in the banner taken by Matt Wahl.