Day 2: Uganda
Let’s pray and give thanks
BY BOBBY FREEMAN, MISSIONS DIRECTOR
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” — Psalm 107:1
We made it to Uganda!
Sunday morning found us in Brussels waiting for the last leg of our journey. Travel exhaustion was setting in, and our whole crew was feeling it. One more flight, with a quick stop in Burundi, finally brought us to Entebbe after more than 30 hours of travel. We made it through immigration without incident, and all our bags arrived with us! A simple kindness that we were especially thankful for.
Outside the airport, Joel was waiting. One of Sam and Ms. Suzi’s longtime friends and drivers, he had taken Garrett and Courtney’s family to Jinja the day before, then made the three-hour journey back to Entebbe to meet us. This was our first time meeting Joel, but he greeted us with a giant smile and hugs. Henry leaned over afterward and said, “I really like him!”
We loaded our bags into Joel’s mint-green matatu (van), squeezed in, and stopped. Before even starting the car, Joel turned around, reached out his arms, and said, “Let’s pray and give thanks.” We held hands, thanked the Lord for his kindness, and prayed for the week ahead, asking that he would receive all the honor and glory. It was an excellent welcome to Uganda.
On the drive to our hotel, Joel shared about his history with Sam and Ms. Suzi. We began to hear connections between his story and ours, and it was encouraging to see how the Lord had been bringing people together before we ever arrived.
We checked into our rooms, enjoyed a late-night snack, and raced to bed, thankful to finally lie down and eager to begin our week together.
God at work:
We haven’t made it to Jinja yet, but we’ve already been encouraged by the Lord’s care through his people. Joel had spent hours on the road, yet welcomed us with joy and took time to lead us in prayer. Tired as we were, it helped us pause and remember who brought us here and whom this week is for.
prayer requests:
Our three-hour drive to Jinja today as we join the rest of our team
Adrienne is fighting something, please pray that she recovers quickly
Rest and stamina for our whole crew
Our time with Sam and Ms. Suzi will be fruitful, and that the Lord will be at work in our hearts as we engage with the people and opportunities before us this week