Recounting His blessing through travel mercies and my first week here!

Hello! 
No worries if this post is too long! You can just look at the pictures or read the bold statements which pretty much summarizes everything! 

I made it to Uganda safely! Uganda is such a beautiful country! So green, so many hills, and so many beautiful people!

Panoramic of Uganda-my walk to AIM's guest house

Plane ride/travels went well!: I met a Muslim lady on the plane named Yasmine. She was going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. We had some good conversations (at least I thought we had some good convos). I pray that God used our time together to show her more of Christ and who He is.

Thanks for sending me off!

Got ALL my luggage. Was able to pull it off the carousel! YIPEE! Thanks for prayers--God seriously helped me! I think that's why I got a sprain! A reminder to truly rely on Him and not on myself!
Thankfully, when I had to put it through the X-ray again-- someone saw me struggling and helped me put it on the scanner (haha probably also because he was in a hurry and I was taking a long time struggling to put it through the scanner!).

Sprained ankle is better and didn't really swell up on the plane-- although my ACE wrap smelled and reeked of sweat! I think I will wash it :)

I got to Dubai with a 12 hour layover! I explored Dubai for a few hours. Got to see Bharj Khalifa (tallest building in the world), spice market, gold market, textile market, dancing fountains. and got to ride an abra (boat taxi). It was fun and I was tired! Rhonda's daughter's friend Karen was able to take me around! So blessed by my time with her!

Dubai

Spice market 

Gold Market

With Karen, my tour guide! 

Bharj Khalifa

Arrived in Uganda on Sunday:  Got my 3 month visa with no problem, met a couple of missionary families/2single missionaries & most of the central region AIM staff at the Matoke Inn where I am staying at right now (AIM's guest house for AIM missionaries & others), & heard how God has been working here and in the lives of the missionaries/staff/AIM!

AIM guest House --where I stayed at the first week--Matoke Inn

Matoke Inn--supposedly there are monkeys in the trees?!

Walk outside of Matoke Inn

I am seriously encouraged by all the missionary families that I've met this week ( they were stopping by @ Matoke Inn to rest before they leave for home leave/finished their assignment). I am seriously amazed by all the missionary families  & even more amazed with the ones who raise their children here! I was encouraged by a family who brought their 6 week baby here and 1 year old daughter on their 6 month assignment! AMAZING! I would be so scared but their trust in God was evident. They are hoping to go FT. 
SERIOUSLY, all of the missionaries' advice, tips, and life have been an encouragement and testimony to me!

some of the mkids playing chess

Also, during orientation (on Tuesday), I was able to hear how God's been working in the Central Region (Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, & Uganda) of Africa through the work of AIM. It was such an encouragement to me to hear about all the ministries there are to make disciples and to reach the unreached!!

Dwelling Places

Wednesday, I was able to visit Dwelling Places. Dwelling places is a Christian ministry that rescues children from the slums of Uganda by building relationships with these children & assessing their needs. The organization provides a transitional care home for these children in hopes to help with rehabilitation (hygiene, counseling, etc) and provide skills and training for these children. Their hope is to assess the needs of the children, find out their story, and hopefully reconcile (if safe) these children back to their families as soon as it is safe to do so. There are 20 boys and 5 girls now--9 of them who were just rescued from the slums! I met one of the girls who was just rescued and she was the sweetest little girl ever. Wish I had a picture with her! These children are soooo easy to love. 
I'm so glad that my nursing interview (see below) was postponed so that i could see this ministry! Such a blessing and encouragement to me. 

Bodas in action in Kampla! (also the public taxi is in the background)

I also rode my first boda (scooter like motorcycle thing) to Dwelling places! I thought that if it was anything like the scooter ride in China---I WOULDN'T survive. BUT this boda ride was the best ride ever and so much fun! So exhilarating! Maybe I will get a motorcycle license back in the states...haha jk...I was able to talk to one of my boda drivers about his life and faith (he said he is a christian).

Me & Rhona-AIM's orientation guide

Today, Thursday, I went into the busy city of Kampala (Uganda's capital) with Rhona (AIM staff). Loved spending time with her, talking to her, and being encouraged by her and her testimony. She taught me  how to travel into the city by boda & public taxi (basically a van filled with 14 or so people in it used as public transportation-think of a van that's a bus),  helped me get settled with some necessities for my stay here,  and took me to the important sites-like an ice cream shop (and the post office)! 

Taxi Park

part of the city of Kampala

Tomorrow, Friday, I will be off to Good Shepherd's Fold. I hope my time there for this month will be good (since I can't do nursing yet --see below Prayer Request). I hope to get to know the area, the missionaries, the locals, the children ,& serve in other ways! I am excited to see what God will do this month! He has His reasons for why I can't start using nursing right away and I'm excited to see why!

Prayer Request: SOOO I cannot be interviewed by the Ugandan nursing council this month due to some difficulties ( they only interview once a month). Because of this, I won't be able to work as a nurse right away (I think it pushes back my hospital internship and also working as a nurse at GSF). Please pray that next month I will be able to get an appointment, that it will go smoothly, and for God to use this one month without nursing well!


PS I found out that there's oyster sauce and soy sauce here! Just FYI for those who were wondering. haha. PPS sorry if there's typos/mistakes. 

waking up @ 330 every am pays off! UG sunrise