Travel to Uganda

***I wrote this blog post shortly after we arrived in Bundibugyo, Uganda. I could not gain access into our blog during our trip since I couldn't verify my identification (via my cell phone that was not in service) from a foreign country. So, I am taking time this week to catch up on some blog entries from March and April.***

I suppose you might never feel fully prepared to travel 30 hours with three children under 5, but heading into our journey on March 20^th, God had given me a great sense of peace. Amidst the chaos of packing while still taking care of the kids, I was able to rest in the peace and the plan that God has for our lives. Not only do I trust that God is walking each step of our travels with us, but I know He has also come before us to this other side of the ocean to prepare a path for us. It really is hard to put a description around the peace of God, but it is an amazing thing.

I learn lots about packing for our family each time I get the opportunity to do so. I have learned less is FAR better when at all possible. We ended up checking three large and two small suitcases, and I enjoy the challenge of filling them to the brim. There was not an ounce to be spared in any of them. I packed fun treats to give to those hosting us along our journey which always brings me joy. :)

All four of our flights arrived and departed on time which was wonderful. Eli and Hailey did an awesome job traveling and received compliments from those around us. Isaac, on the other hand, refused to sleep more than 1.5 hours in the first 24 hours of travel and just reached a point of utter exhaustion and irritability. He was difficult to keep happy at several points but never unleashed anything unbearable for me or the others around me. Poor boy just wanted to sleep in a bed! We had a total of 10 hours of layover time in the flight itinerary that was unavoidable this time around. All in all, we survived and have made a fairly quick recovery from the jet lag.

Once we arrived at the Entebbe airport, we were transported to a nearby guest house where we spent the next two nights recuperating. Our kids were so excited to be greeted by sunshine and warm weather after such a long and cold winter in Peoria! They were hard to corral back inside when it was time for meals. Isaac was also feeling quite adventurous and has learned how to climb up and down steps and attempts to keep up with Hailey and Eli.

Uganda is a well watered country with many lakes including Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa. We had some delicious tilapia during our stay in Uganda. Once you get past the look of a whole fish on your plate, it is quite tasty. The kids thought so, too. :)

Who needs a fork when you can just use your hands as shovels???

David (who had been hired to drive us from Entebbe to Bundibugyo) warmly greeted us on Sunday morning and joined us for breakfast at the guest house before we headed out to Bundibugyo. David has a long history working with the missionaries of World Harvest Mission and we enjoyed getting to know him. Since Uganda is an English speaking country, we have been able to engage most people in conversation which is very helpful.

We were quite surprised that Isaac made friends with David so quickly. He offered him some of his sausage at breakfast, and let David hold him while Marc put the car seats into the vehicle.  I told David that Isaac is not usually so friendly with strangers which made David quite happy.

Mike (pictured below) is interning with World Harvest for a few months. He majored in nutrition and came to learn more about malnutrition in Africa. He was great company for the few days we spent in Entebbe as well as on our eight hour car trip.

All set to go! 

The drive out to Bundibugyo was beautiful. The country is lush and mountainous. It was hard to capture the beauty with a camera (particularly from a moving car!). It was interesting to see how the quality of the homes changed the further we got from the capital. It was obvious the poverty was greater in the rural regions.

Marc and I have done road travel in Guatemala where you might wait on a herd of cattle to cross the road and in Niger where you watch out for a flock of sheep or some goats, but this was our first experience waiting on a troop of baboons to cross to the other side. It was at that moment we realized we were officially in the jungle. :)

Fort Portal is a town about 6.5 hours from Entebbe and the last major destination before crossing the mountains to reach Bundibugyo. Fort Portal is known for its tea plantations, higher altitude (and cooler temps) and spectacular vistas. We are looking forward to touring this area while the WHM team has a meeting there for a few days during our stay. Fort Portal has become a destination for European backpackers and has some nice places to stay and eat.  In the past year, the road from Fort Portal to Bundibugyo was paved. This has made the trip much easier as it now only takes 1.5 hours to get to Bundibugyo (compared to 4 hrs. before the paved road). 

Just after Fort Portal, we began the drive across the Rwenzori mountains. On the other side of those mountains is Bundibugyo where we will be spending the next two weeks.

More updates to come...