Stop 1: Elysburg, PA with my parents and sister's family to visit Knoebels, an amusement park our family has visited since my Mom was a kid. It was fun to see the park through the eyes of my little nieces and nephews and to ride some of the classics too. Highlights: the haunted house with my Dad and the Flyers with my sister.
Stop 2: 24 hours in Maryland followed by a week in Philly at the WHM sending center. Working on Christ School sponsorships and updating some highly confusing and out of date records (Uganda tends to do that to record-keeping). Also helping with the recruting department and enjoying community. Weekend highlights: attending Jesus, Bombs, and Ice Cream (google it) with co-workers and cooking Ugandan food with a co-worker and friend. Both yummy events!
Stop 3 and 4: 24 hours in MD for a doctor appointment, a weekend in Philly for the WHM picnic and church, another 24 hours in MD, and then to Virginia to visit my future teammate Pamrla Stephens! 3 days with her included lots of chatting, a visit to the zoo (and dancing with a flirtatious monkey), and a fantasti. Avett Brothers concert. Answering her questions with my little bit of Bundi knowledge was a boost and being with people that are going or have been there is always an encouragement. For pictures from my visit with Pamela, visit her blog here. Pamela is just one more reason I am excited to get back to Uganda--she arrived there today!
Stop 5: A full 48 hours in Maryland (!) followed by a long-awaited vacation to Colorado with my parents. It was gorgeous as I think that state always is but the aspen trees were all bright yellow and breathtaking. Personal highlights: having the physical strength to take an all day hike and seeing amazing views and fulfilling my dream of going horesback-riding in the Rockies!
at Pike's Peak
beautiful aspen trees were changing color!
with our wonderful hosts, Al and Marty!
Stop 6: Three days in MD to pack up and move to Philadelphia for the next three months to work out of the office until I return to Uganda in January. I have spent the last week here in Philly and have enjoyed settling in, getting remarkably lost downtown, and then triumphing the next night in my attempt to attend a small group downtown!
Stop 7: I am now in the airport at Charlotte, NC waiting for my connecting flight to Fort Myers, FL. That will take me to ECHO (www.echonet.org) where I will attend a week long class about integrating agriculture into community health in 3rd world settings. I'm hopped up on sudafed (fighting a cold) and coffee and ready to go! 2 months ago, I didn't know if I would be able to travel again, let alone move back to Bundibugyo. But God is proving himself faithful--he didn't call me to Uganda and missions work just to say "Never mind." And even if he had, I believe he is still loving and good. As I look forward to eventually returning to Bundi and it seems more real as I feel better each day, I pray that God will use my experience for good--to change my heart, to give me new compassion for those that are hurting, and to understand the desperation that comes with living in a broken world. I hope ECHO is just one practical way for me to implement the myriad of things I've learned here in the U.S.




Thankful you had a wonderful trip to Colorado! I hope your time at ECHO will be beneficial. I'm sure it will get you even more excited for Bundi. Praying that you continue to feel better and better and more like yourself each day, and I'm looking forward to when you will be my roommate here!
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