Heading to Lira

Landed safely in Entebbe, Uganda this morning. On the six-hour drive to Lira, we’re seeing signs of the beauty, culture, and challenge of Uganda like:

– The river Nile. Power running through beauty. A kayaker’s dream.

– Clinics set up for HIV checks.

– Casava: a cross between corn on the cob and a white, sweet potatoes sold on the street.

– Driving on the left and then seeing baboons out your window.

In all seriousness, Northern Uganda is a tough place. It’s culture has been shaped by the 20-year disruptive presence of the LRA, unfulfilled government promises, and AIDS. Acronyms like IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) and ARVs (anti-retro-viral) drugs are part of the everyday vocabulary.

In this community, the concept of the local church owning care of its orphaned and abandoned children is novel indeed. Yet that is the work in Lira. Through the persistence of local leaders like Tamali, the lives of 48 children are being changed, as well as the lives of dozens more involved in the school, etc. For instance, 17 adults from the community recently volunteered to harvest food from their garden. This is a huge win! Over the next 24 hours, we look forward to continuing to speak truth and love into this partnership, as we cheer on their victories!