two

I didn't get to say goodbye.

I was so consumed with getting my ticket changed at the airport that I didn't get to say goodbye... to my team, that is.


Not only did I fall in love with Africa the last 2 weeks, I fell in love with the family I made while being here. The people I came with became my support system, and the very people I shared this new found love with.

I love Africa. But I also love my team... team 2!

I've shared Africa... now here is my team... my family.




This picture reminds me of family reunions when my parents used to dress us kids up and make us sing for the rest of the family... and of course any time we had company over. I apologize if you were ever there for that... but this... this was an amazing experience where team 2 sang Amazing Grace to the church at Namoya. Ricky is the talented guitarist who serenaded us through out the trip with his mad guitar skills. I try not to be jealous, but dang... the kid can play anything... seriously.


Here we are... the white ladies trying to look all African. The women at the church dressed us in their traditional African dress... I felt slightly Chinese, but I went with it. Melody (2nd from left) is the wife and co-founder of GFR, and her daughter, Amber (4th from left) has a beautiful voice to match the guitar skills of her boyfriend, Ricky.

Oh and by the way, yes... we were hot as hell.

Michelle... the other Mzungu (white person) in the picture fell in love with this little girl (with the red socks), Kaden. Both of her parents are gone and she is taken care of by her grandmother. If you ever want to blend in with the locals when you travel, don't travel with Michelle. She'll take pictures of any and everything and is not afraid of looking like a total tourist... but that's what we love about Michelle... after all, it has gotten us some amazing pictures.

Ahh.. Jaimie... my boda boda buddy. One of the main ways people get around here is on a "boda," which is basically a Ugandan version/combination of a motorcycle and a taxi. They are pretty dangerous... which of course means I am going to ride one... and what I love about Jaimie is that of course she is going to ride one too. This was on one of our adventures around Kampala. You know how there are people you just "click" with? Jaimie is one of those people. She has an amazing story... one that I will let her tell, but one that definitely needs to be told... she is an amazing woman.
I couldn't find a picture of Kaitlin's face, but she is the long haired Mzungu. She loves kids, and man do they love her hair. They have never seen anything like it. Some people even ask if it is real... I'm sure you can see why as most of the kids have the same style haircut... slightly bald... but very appropriate for the weather... HOT.And then there was Kharm (middle)... and Idah. Kharm is our amazing beyond amazing cook. She is famous for her chapati and her big hugs... ones that are followed by "how are you, my dear?" And Idah... where do I start? She is the country director for GFR. We call her "mommie," a well deserved title, as she takes such good care of us and the people of Uganda. It is very rare to find a woman like Idah who spends so much of her time invested in the lives of others less fortunate, which in Africa is pretty much all of the time.
Jerome. I could just tell you he is the accountant and move on, but he is so much more than that. He is like the black brother I never had... probably because I never had a black brother... but if I did... He would be it. Jerome has a sweet spirit, a good laugh, and knows how to give an encouraging word. He too loves the people of Uganda, and his heart is huge... bigger than his head (just kidding, Jerome).
Oh Renata... the risky one getting her hair done by one of the locals. Renata made me feel at home as soon as I walked off the plane. She yelled my name and grabbed me in her arms and just held me. I love such greetings... especially from ones that I love... and I love Renata. I knew Renata before the trip... mainly because she is on the prayer team at church and I go up for prayer every week... not because I am super spiritual, but because I have that many issues. The awesome thing... she not only still prays with me... she still talks to me. Dang I love this woman.

HOLLYWOOD! This is Fred, a.k.a. Hollywood. He already had the nickname by the time we got here from team 1, but he continued to live up to his name on our trip... he loves the camera, and he pretty much knows everybody. Fred and I bonded after discovering we were twins separated at birth... we both share the exact same birthday... August 18th, 1983. The nurse was color blind.

Our yard chicken. The sad thing is, we never named him... or her. We just took advantage of him... or her by throwing him/her up in the air and watching him/her attempt to fly back down to the ground. Sounds cruel, I know... but it's kinda like with cats how they always land on their feet... chickens do the same thing. No animals were harmed in the activities that took place in the yard. However... the chicken that Fred got a hold of is a different story... apparently it tasted pretty good.

Mike, in the middle with the ball, is the son of Ben and Melody. Funny kid who suffered from some major diarrhea... but he's doing well now, right Mike? Yea, see... thumbs up! And of course Luke and Gene... one of my favorite couples on the trip... and by couple I mean father and son... if you can't already tell. Luke was the youngest guy on our trip and he was amazing. The kids just loved him... and the girls... they flocked to him. They would play with his blond hair and say that they loved him... watch out American ladies, you got some competition. Gene... I remember meeting him at the first team meeting. He talked about how he liked to have everything scheduled and planned and organized... pretty much the opposite of me... and of Africa... I wondered how we'd get along. Long story short... Gene was awesome. He sang on the bus and danced like a total white guy. It was pretty much amazing! Africa loved him... so did team 2!

Taylor. She actually came from Kansas with another couple, and even though I didn't know her very well, I somehow saw Taylor grow up on this trip. I know that sounds weird, but I remember first meeting her and thinking she was a cute girl... but by the time we left she was this beautiful woman (I know, I hate using the word "woman," it seems awkward), but seriously it was like something changed in her. Seeing her interact with the kids and wave to all the people as we drove past, you could just tell God was doing something in her heart. Hold onto that, Taylor... whatever He did... hold onto that!

Last, but not least... this is mom and dad... at least in Uganda. You can call them Chris and Debbie, but I call them mom and pop. Chris and Debbie are the couple from Kansas that Taylor joined on our trip. I had no idea who they were prior to Uganda... now... they are family. I don't know if I can even put my finger on it other than I just took to them... and they to me. Everyone knew I was Chris' long lost daughter on our first bus ride when we both discovered our love for singing... and our inability to stop doing it... even when asked. They were also my go to when I ran out of money... just like most moms and dads... except they actually gave it to me... and I actually paid them back. My favorite memory is on a drive home we were doing devotions on the bus. Everyone was talking about what we were going to do when we got back home and how we were going to apply what we learned. I was quiet, so naturally I got called out. I couldn't even speak. I didn't want to go home. I didn't even want to think about it. I started thinking about all the people and the children I had come across and I just started crying. The bus sat silent and everyone looked at me. Chris grabbed me in his arms and just held me... tight... none of this flimsy pat on the back stuff, I mean he really held me, the way a dad holds his daughter... and I just cried. All over his shirt, I cried. For quite a while, I sat next to this couple, this couple who I didn't even know 2 weeks ago, and I just let them hold me. Thank you mom and dad! I love you!

There are 2 more I couldn't find pictures of, but seeing as they are Ugandan, and I will be here for 2 more weeks, I will be sure to post their pictures... Bosco and Daphne. Bosco has the biggest smile you have ever seen in your life. I sometimes wonder if he has a banana in his mouth. He also works for GFR and is one of the happiest people I have ever met. Daphne is Kharm's assistant in the kitchen, and she is wonderful! She cried the day team 2 left... I can't say I blame her. She is quiet, but always has a smile to share and a hug to offer. We love her too!




And so... this was my team. My team whom I have grown to love and will miss tremendously. I stayed in Africa, and they have left, but I will never forget our time here. A new team is coming and everything will start all over from introductions to new roommates, but I will never forget my team.

Goodbye team 2! I will see you in two weeks! And for y'all out in Kansas, I'll be around soon to visit... so leave the light on for me!