The New and Unexpected

Here in Uganda, life has settled into a steady pace. There isn’t too much that seems out of the ordinary anymore. As this season continues, another intake has already begun and is in full swing, and once again we are settling into the groove of in house therapy, classes, support, and care with a new set of mothers and children. 

A few weeks ago, though I went to South Africa to pick up a few Bibles and renew my visa.

Going to Cape Town was not part of my original plan. When I was told I would have to leave Uganda to renew my visa for the last portion of my stay, I was both surprised and a little unsure. Where do I go?

Then I heard there was a need for Bibles to be retrieved from South Africa and thought, “I could do that!”

Suddenly, leaving Uganda had a purpose beyond what felt like a visa run.

I found that in saying yes, everything else fell into place, a South African friend began making arrangements. Places to say, people to meet, and even some places she thought I would love to see. The provision and care were abundant, and all I had to do was go, abide and be present.

During my time there, I was able to see a decent amount of Cape Town and meet missionaries and other mission-minded people. There was also a little hiking involved. Climbing to the top of Lion’s Head Mountain and then climbing down in the dark was an experience I will not soon forget, and one I would be happy to repeat.

FYI, climbing Lion’s Head is not like the rolling mountains of northern Virginia and Maryland. This was hand to knee to foot, with boulders large enough that sometimes the safest way down was partially on my bum, in Luganda, Kabina.

Some very tall hikers seemed perfectly capable of just stepping down in the dark with their little head lamps.

Me? Not so much… so much for graceful doe like steps. HA!

I had to slide myself to the edge of a boulder until my big town could finally reach the next below. Like a small child trying to climb down from the kitchen counter without being caught. I even got my foot caught at one point… and honestly in the setting sun I was stuck between laughter and panic. The edge was right there, a deep plunge to the there earth and here I was in sneakers wondering how to move the trapped foot. After announcing “I’m stuck,” and wriggling the foot free the hike down continued.

Coming down from the mountain this way I never felt so small, and usually I don’t normally consider myself short. But there, I was one of the shortest on the hike.

Before I knew it, the trip was coming to an end, and I found myself wanting to imprint the people I had met into my mind.

During my last couple of days, I was invited to volunteer at a moble soup kitchen in Khaylitsha.

I was excited to say yes.

When I arrived, I was initially told to prepare to talk with people and share information with those who came. Serving dedicated portions of food from an extremely oversized pot, I was told, took a practiced hand.

After everything was unpacked, one of the experienced volunteers looked at me and handed me a large ladle asking, “would you like to serve?”

I took the ladle with relish.

Absolutely.

Soon the director came over to me in all smiles and laughter, “I didn’t know you could do that!”

I laughed, “You didn’t ask!”

As dish after dish came by and was filled abundantly with stew and rice, memories of another soup kitchen, in another place, seen through the eyes of a young teen, came back into view.

It is funny how old memories come back so easily.

When it was time to leave there was a slight misadventure, that left me laughing at its timing. It also gave me an additional 24 hours in South Africa.
I arrived at the international airport early and ready to board. I was several hours ahead of time, as the airline had experienced a delay earlier in the morning. All normal things. But this flight would again experience an additional 3 delays. When the plane arrived, I was were all excited and ready to go back to Uganda! It landed, all the tires on one side of the plane exploded on touch down. Gasps were heard in our section of the airport – we knew it was our plane. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony once the smoke cleared, arriving at the airport at 4:15 am, we watched this plane struggle to the unloading area at about 4:30 pm.

The staff were very helpful and understanding, we were all safe, and flights rescheduled. Within a day or so, I was boarding another plane back to Uganda with luggage and heavy boxes, the equivalent of 2 suite cases, filled with Bibles.

Arriving back in Jinja, there was one short week before the next group of mothers and children were to arrive and another season begin. 

And as the work continues. The house is full again, and the days have found a very familiar rhythm, there is still more to do before my time here comes to an end. A dear friend of mine once said, “purpose is in the serving,” and she was right, and I’m so grateful.