The color purple and a royal welcome!

Marsha Campbell, Uganda

Leaving Masaka, Kyotera and Mbarara behind, our team journeyed upward and onward to Kabale town, Uganda. Our ears began popping and our eyes transfixed to the beauty around us as our Coaster bus climbed slowly to 8,000 feet. Lush forests of pine trees and mountains surround us. As we enter the gates, we can hear them–the voices of the children for whom love has carried us so far. A year of anticipation and dreaming, Carolyn, a team member smiles and speaks for us all, “I can’t wait–I feel like it is Christmas!”

The first thing I see is the color purple: beautiful, royal purple curtains hanging in every window of the village’s ten homes. The Mamas (Lydia, Annet, Peace, Mary, Hope, Emily, Kellen, Hope, Christine, Lydia and Prudence) each warmly welcome us into their home to meet them and their children. All are so proud of how they have simply decorated their new family home–each child sits upon their bed to show us where they now can rest and dream safely and happily.

Our welcoming continues as we are seated in a place of honor in the newly built multi-purpose center where we enjoy the children’s and Mamas’ chorus, a beautiful melody made for a King. The beat of drums captures us as soon the children erupt into their local Kiga dance, their proud dance and song. Leaping, swinging and singing with joy the children dancing are the heavenly stars in this, The Father’s House. Clothed with the color purple, the symbol of royalty, 100 children, are no longer fatherless, but now have a home and a family. We have arrived at the mountain top, a royal welcome indeed!

Here are a few videos of the children dancing and us playing the “Hokie Pokie” with them.