I'm here!

My friends! I am in AFRICA :) Sometimes I sit on my bed under my mosquito net and I’m like- goodness sakes alive, I’M HERE! It has been a whirlwind of a week- Em (my friend who is here for a month) and I flew from Dulles to London, met Britt (the interim country director) and flew to Entebbe, Uganda. We spent the night at a beautiful guesthouse, drove to Kampala to get phones and internet, then headed to Gulu. The past week we have been acclimating, unpacking and settling in. Britt and I live in Sarita’s old house, a beautiful compound just down the road from the girls’ home. We have three dogs and some very nice neighbors from America- a family from Texas who have been so amazing inviting us over for dinner and to play with their four girls. 

The wall around our compound.

I have been here for a week, but it feels like forever. It feels like home. The red dirt, the smells, the sounds. It is the most wonderful feeling, to feel at home, especially here. I am missing family and friends, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. The transition has been going well, but it has definitely had its challenges. Those of you who know me well know that patience is not my strongest point, but I am learning to have a lot of it here! Things move much slower, but it is refreshing to not be in a hurry all the time. The girls remembered me from when I was here last March, it was such a sweet moment.  We see them about once a day now, and starting soon I will spend more time at their house tutoring, discipling, and doing life with them. I love walking through their gate to cries of “AUNTIEEEEEEEE!” as they throw their little bodies on me, hugging me tight.

Little miss Gloria.

Loving their manicures!

Joy.

Brittany has been great, letting Em and I follow her around like little ducklings pretty much 24/7. The three of us have been inseparable since we got here, and it has been great! These girls are incredible, they love the Lord so much and have been such an encouragement to me. We are three peas in a pod ;) You can read Em’s blog here and Britt’s blog here.

Just in case you were wondering- the pineapples are SO GOOD.

I am so excited and so grateful to be here. Thank you for all of your prayers, I have felt each and every one of them and I am thankful for you!

All my love,

Hailey