I arrived safely last night after a really long travel plan. Was overnighted in Philly, Dulles and almost Addis Ababa, but after an half hour of three big black men yelling foreign questions in my face, I somehow ended-up with a hand written boarding pass and the last seat on a flight (which found me next to an African woman dressed in full garb with piercings out of every hole to be seen).

Waited at the Entebbe airport for three hours before my driver, Abdula, arrived. I told him this is kinda like "fashionably late" in America. From there we made a three-hour trek through trafficed streets of Kampala to our eventual landing point in Jinja. Last night I couldn't see this, but the city is bordered by Lake Victoria and happens to be at the point where the Nile begins and heads north to Egypt. It's HOT here and although well populated (second largest city in Uganda), still very primitive. I've not seen the class differences, or horrific ghetto-like areas like in Soweto or Capetown, but it's almost as if the city as a whole (and the route from Entebbe to here at least) lives in a less severe, maybe, form of poverty--but deep poverty nonetheless.

The volunteer quarters I'm staying in are in many ways what I predicted, and in many ways not. There are about fifteen of us there now, who sleep in an open room on cots (decorated by mosquito nets) and share a cold-water shower and bathroom. For an introvert who enjoys alone time, this will surely lend me some lessons...people seem to come and go as they please though and really respect one another's space. Sometimes we'll eat dinner together, but for the most part, we're on our own for breakfast and dinner and eat traditional Uganda meals for lunch at the orphange. My schedule will include 8-5pm shifts (with the premies :)) on MWSat and TThur mornings I'll spend 1 on 1 time with a toddler (taking them to town for a meal, walk, play games, etc.). Fridays and Sundays I'll have off, and the afternoons and evenings are at my disposal.

At this point at least, I can't imagine a more fitted schedule for where I am with myself and the Lord right now. With loads to process and further work into from the last year, in particular, unchallenged hours of prayer, journaling and strolling the steets of Jinja are again, more than I could've asked for or expected. And to be allowed to do so on the fringes of caring for orphaned babies somehow puts icing on an already matchless dream.

Internet access is available, but really, really slow. Responding on this site might be your best bet, but I still can't promise repsonses. I will update it often though and know that even if you don't hear back from me, your words are truly encouraging to my days and experiences here.

I pray that you are well, whereever you are today and look forward to talking soon. Thanks for joining into this summer with me. It clearly has a lot in store for us.

Love, abbie