Day #1

BTW it is 10:43 P.M. here NOT 12:44!

Sorry it has taken me so long to tell you what has been going on! We made it to Africa fine! It was quite a long trip but thankfully we got here when it was night time so we went straight to bed! We slept wonderfully then woke up to a beautiful African sunrise (P.S. they are the best)! Wow, I don’t even know where to start. This has truly been one God-inspired day! First we went to Bethany Village across Victoria lake from Kampala. We rode across on a little boat and the water was very calm. Once we got to Bethany Village Francis gave us a tour of the village. When he showed us the medical clinic in the village he told us that they only had one nurse for 474 children, then not long after I met the one nurse. She was a very sweet lady and she told me that she is on call twenty four seven. I guess it really hit me then that that was exactly where I wanted to be. So we should be going back to Bethany village after the team leaves. Then once we left Bethany village we road the boat to Gaba church. When we got there Catherine and I stayed outside and played with the kids while the team went in. Three little girls sang for us and it was absolutely beautiful. Then I taught some of the little kids how to play down by the bank and Jordan and I played with them! After we played games with them I was talking to a little boy named Immanuel who was 14 and he was telling me about his siblings and mother and how his father died of AIDS. It made me quite sad because I couldn't help but think of what could have been done to save his father's life. That is my biggest problem....wanting to help people when it is totally not in my hands. After that we went to lunch at a pretty fancy restaurant and had AMERICAN food lol! Then we went to Buloba and as soon as we got out of the van the kids pretty much attacked us! They all wanted to hug us and welcome us to their church! They all held our hands and stood right next to us! They showed us their church, their new office, and the well they use for all of their water! After that we played with the kids and then came back to the house! Once we arrived back here at the house Patrick got David to take Catherine, Morgan, and I on a walk so that I could know where I was allowed to run. Then we decided we wanted to go see the slums so we walked to them. As we were walking through I was so desperately seeking to see if any person we could see looked absolutely heartbroken that they were living in the conditions they were. NOT A ONE. NOT ONE SINGLE person to me looked sad. They are all just so joyful and happy to see anybody! The little kids followed us through the walkways and begged us for money saying, “Muzungu, Muzungu, can I have some money?” It was so hard to say no to them, but I knew if I couldn’t give money to all of them I shouldn’t give it to some of them! Then we came back here and had a wonderful African meal! I hope all is well at home! I love you guys so much! 

~ LB

P.S. thanks mom and dad for allowing me to come over here! This is definitely where God wants me to be! >>>so don't be surprised if I don't come home ;-)

O BTW if you want to see more updates more often check out Andi's (another teammate) blog:

www.andreacollette.com