Karibu Tena means Welcome Back

Today is the 2nd of August.  Sam and I have returned.  So did Jeff, in case you were worried, and we presume that the east coast bunch made it home too.  Daniel is on his way to Rwanda.

We checked into the Entebbe airport, and had to say goodbye to Abel and Sammy, who couldn't come in without tickets.  Sam and I bought a postcard and a fridge magnet, and I was able to chat with a young couple from South Dakota who had just spent 11 months up country in Uganda at a school and a clinic.
The flight out of Entebbe, scheduled for Friday morning at 1 am, took off over an hour late due to mechanical issues.  Something about the engine deicer.  So we sat on the tarmac for an hour and then taxied for 20 minutes.  We took the airline dinner to sleep better, and I think we got 4-5 hours before waking 3 hours before landing in London.  Sam did his best to watch all of the kid movies they had on the plane, and I watched Robocop.  It was kind of dark and left open for more storyline to come.  Sam got me to watch the first half of the Lego movie with him.  I liked that one much better!

The wait in London was about 8 hours due to another aircraft maintenance issue, but for this one we waited in the terminal, not on the plane.  Sam and I strolled around.  Several of the team enjoyed a Starbucks. I think the overall feeling of the team was exhaustion, a little numbness, and, oddly, perhaps a little culture shock coming back to the west.

If you will note, everyone on our team in this photo is working a Sudoku puzzle.

For the astute observer, this photo shows more than just our departure time on the left.  I think it's kind of humorous!

We said our goodbyes to the east-coast team, and then boarded.  I had been "selected" for a security pat-down and delay, and in my mind I was playing out a scenario in which I phoned Jeff, already on the plane, to come grab Sam and get him home because I'd miss my flight, hung up in some dark room explaining my foreign travels and associations to a suspicious airport cop or intelligence agent.  Crazy things happen in your head when your passport is in view, but not in your control.   The pat-down only took about 2 minutes after a 5 minute wait. On the flight, I was able to finish a book I have and start a new one.  Watched Divergent, and SpiderMan 2.  Action movies.  Keep in mind that we were *trying* to stay awake so we'd sleep in our own beds and not be up all night.

Sam didn't quite make it through the flight without zonking out.  I think he got about three hours.

This was a pleasant sight for tired eyes!

Landing in Denver with no issues, Jeff was able to speed through customs while Sam and I waited for our bags.  And waited.  And waited.  And ran more scenarios through our heads.  And waited. We finally got our one checked bag, then came around the corner to find Kathy, Brooks and Grace waiting for us.  What a sweet reunion that was!

The ride home and this morning was trip review with our family, laundry, and organizing.  Starting to-do lists, thinking about work, and starting to distill the more complex reflections from the trip.
Oh, I also read my own blog.  It took me about 90 minutes.   Who knew I could write so much!  Who knew you would read so much!

One final thing, before I go for now.  In reading the blog, I realize that I neglected to introduce all of our team members.  Here's a brief catch up on that.
Hazel Seavey is a pastor at a church in Maine, and ministers to the Sudanese population there as well.  She has been involved in ministering to widows in South Sudan.  Now that South Sudan is falling apart and is closed, she joined us for this trip to Kenya and Uganda.  She is on the staff at Heart of Africa as well.
Martha Henderson is Mike's wife, and my mother in law.  She first came to Africa as a summer intern in 1964 (we heard about that on our trip), and helps run Heart of Africa. Sam was particularly glad to have his Gramma along to play cards with, and she was a big help to the team, especially the new-to-Africa time.
Sam Upham is my sixth-grader son.  Sam did an amazing job on this trip: never complaining, always patient, and helpful.  Sam received many nice compliments from our team members and those we met while on the trip.  He was able to sit through adult meetings as well as be a kid from time to time.

Here is the Heart of Africa website, which should be updated soon with a new look.

I don't know if I'll get to update any more on this trip since it's now over, but I want to say thanks for reading.  I hope you enjoyed it and that it was helpful (or entertaining) to you somehow.  I hope that you might better know another part of Africa for it, and perhaps another part of me.  I think I was most changed by seeing God's work in another part of the globe, and to see the realities of truly changed lives by people committed to Him.