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...

Welcoming Ellie

We had planned a trip to Arkansas to meet our new niece before we were scheduled to leave for our month away in Africa. The timing of babies is always hard to predict! We scheduled our trip for a weekend after my sister's due date knowing the baby would surely have arrived by then. But as that weekend approached and my sister's due date came and went, I became more nervous that I might not meet my new niece as planned. We packed the car on that Friday and headed for Arkansas still hopeful that it might all work out. We received a phone call half-way into our trip that my sister had gone into labor! We pulled into my parent's house late that evening. I helped Marc get the kids in bed and then headed off for the hospital. I knew it was going to be close since the last text I had received was that my sister's doctor was there and they were ready for her to push. I walked into the hospital, greeted my family, and within five minutes heard my niece's first cries through the door. I could not believe how the timing of it all worked out. It was quite miraculous! We really enjoyed getting to spend the weekend with my family. We even got to see my grandparents and aunt who had also made the trip to meet Ellie!

February Recap

Brrrr!!! It has been one COLD and LONG winter so far. In fact, we just hit the record for the snowiest winter ever for Peoria! I would have been ok not experiencing that statistic first-hand. :) We have had 54 inches of snow so far this winter and we still have March to go.

 It just keeps snowing

and snowing!

We might be spending lots of time inside lately but Isaac is certainly keeping me busy. He loves to climb and has already managed to get a few goose eggs on his noggin. I love watching his little personality emerge. He is fearless and very adventurous. He tries to do everything that Eli and Hailey do.

I managed to sneak away from the cold for a weekend trip to Arkansas. My sister's friends were planning a surprise baby shower for her and I really wanted to show-up to make the surprise even sweeter. Marc rearranged his weekend call schedule just so I could go. This was my first weekend away from all three of our kids and my first weekend to be apart from Isaac since he was born. I felt a little lost traveling through the airport without any companions (and loads of backpacks, snacks, and coloring books!). :)

Surprise!!!

After such a cold month, we were so happy to finally have a fun celebration to help warm up our February! Marc turned 33 this year. He loves spice and carrot cakes, and I let the kids help me make his cake this year. They were so confused why he liked carrots in his cake. They thought that was the funniest thing!

A new backpack!

Happy birthday to a great dad and husband!

Isaac turned ONE!

We celebrated Isaac's first birthday this past weekend. We had such a great time celebrating with family and friends in our home. Isaac seemed to love all the excitement! 

 It is always nice to have a big brother to blow out your candle for you. :)

Isaac really loved his first taste of cake

 ...right down to the last bite.

We made the big announcement that Isaac is going to be a big brother!

Happy 1st birthday, Isaac. We love you so much! You are a delightful and energetic little boy. We can't wait to watch you continue to grow over the next year!