Uganda or Bust!

We thought, after the Rwanda Air Express flight that we told you about, that we would have no more sketchy travel stories to share. That was before we experienced the Great East African Bus Adventure. Last week, we went to Kampala, Uganda, to help host the Amahoro Summer Institute. The ride was a coma-inducing 14 hours (17 on the way back since the transmission gave out and we switched buses), on a packed public bus, which smelled pungently of a little scent we will refer to delicately as B.O. With erratic bathroom breaks, no food breaks, and certainly no seventh-inning stretches, we went, as gamely as we were able. The bus careened around precariously narrow mountain roads at breakneck speeds, utterly disrespectful of the fact that we could at any point find ourselves sharing the road in a most uncomfortable way (read: head-on collision). But, we arrived in one piece, surely helped along by my repeated prayer "God, please tell us you did not bring us all the way to Africa so that we could die on a bus".

Kampala was fantastic; a vivacious, bustling, relatively prosperous African city. It was a bit of a shock after being in our little Bujumbura, which, for all its personality, is definitely much smaller and more provincial than Kampala. Our hotel was great - it featured hot water (I pretty much showered twice a day because it was so awesome) and great food, including not-so-delectable local delicacy chicken gizzards (kind of like fried chicken on the fourth of July, right? Right?).

The conference itself was absolutely amazing, and I will have to write more about it at another time. So many intelligent people in one room, all throwing around theological ideas like heavyweights. It was invigorating. Many friends we saw in Kampala are people we originally met in Rwanda in May, so it was great to be able to reconnect. Some of the greatest people in the world are living in Uganda, and if you ever get a chance to see them or their country, I would highly recommend it.

Another highlight of our trip came when our American friend Jimmy Farley (bless his heart) and his team showed up with care packages from friends and family in the back home. Ron said it was like Christmas morning. Thanks especially to my best bud Christie, who knows I have an unholy fondness for cheezits and still loves me anyway, and my sweet mama who sent along a box of mac and cheese, among other delectable goodies. Jimmy also left behind some books and magazines and it is our fervent hope that God blesses him with peace and prosperity and unlimited chocolate sundaes and whatever else his heart desires as a reward for his services.

All in all, it was a great trip. Beautiful friends, beautiful country, beautiful memories. But don't expect us to hop on another bus anytime soon.