Journey to Africa- Week 1 Part 1

Whew, after 3 short plan rides and around 40 hours of traveling, covering almost 10,000 miles, I am in Uganda. I arrived at 8:15 pm and didn’t get to see much on the ride from the airport to the house where I will be staying, but I will have plenty of time to take in everything here. My first night was a blur, and I was asleep before I knew it. The next day I woke up to the sound of singing in the living room, I went out to see what was happening to discover devotion was happening, after devotion I had a short meeting with Dr. Linda Marcell, the main missionary/pastor who started Agape Global Missions, and then went back to sleep. Later that day I went to town with Pastor Rita, James (the resident driver), and Mama Marjie, a missionary here also from L.A. We went into town so I could exchange money, the money here is in 1,000 increments so you feel like a millionaire, even though you actually only have a few hundred dollars. Let me make a side note and just mention that here security guards are like an extension of the police department and they carry huge guns and so do police men…so nerve wrecking just to see those guns in everyday use, if I could take a picture I would, but they do not allow it and I’m not going to mess with that. Okay back to the blog, In town it is a very interesting atmosphere, since Kampala is the capitol of Uganda, there are many diplomats and dignitaries, and other businessmen all around, but you also have a lot of beggars and people who are like sidewalk vendors selling you everything from sandals and bracelets to newspapers and cell phone minutes (they call it airtime). Here the juxtaposition of wealthy and poor is everywhere, even in town, you turn the corner and it is like you’ve entered an entirely different place. Where the Agape house is located is in one of the wealthier parts of Kampala on a hill with a lot of other non-profit properties and properties owned by wealthy Ugandans, there is even a house here that has a helipad and swimming pool like mansions in the US.
There are a lot of people that work here in the house and the AGM offices and everyone is very nice. I already feel like I have a Uganda family here and it is so amazing. I could not imagine life without each and every person that is here. I am so excited to get to work. I can’t wait for what God has in store for me in these upcoming weeks. That’s all I have for now, so much seen, so many pictures, so many memories already. Until next time love, peace and blessings to everyone.