Reunion

Since arriving in Uganda, I have enjoyed many reunions with people, places, and things.  It has been great to be reunited with our medical team – the Gregston family and our Ugandan friends Dr. Joseph, Faith, and David.  I have enjoyed seeing familiar places and friendly people.  Eating familiar local food has also been wonderful – beans, rice, potatoes, chapatti, pineapple, and avocado.

The other day at lunch, we had the best avocado.  I love California avocadoes, but they aren’t as good as Ugandan ones.  The avocadoes in Uganda are bigger and slightly sweeter than the avocadoes in California.  I’m eating them at least twice a day.  They have the good fat, right?

Awesome avocado in Uganda

Last night, we went to dinner with our friend Steve from Oklahoma, who introduced our family to the Gregston family in 2011, after reading the Guideposts article about Jim’s work in Uganda.  This trip Steve was here for three weeks working with another organization.  We credit Steve with bringing our families together, which has been life-changing for us.  I know Jessica and Jake are thankful that Steve helped bring them together.

Steve with Jake and Jessica

We also got to visit with more friends from Oklahoma, Madison and Savannah Donica, that I met last year when they came to work with the Gregston family.  They are back in Uganda working with another organization on a short term mission.  It was fun to reminisce about our time together in 2012.

Jessica with Madison and Savannah

Today we worshipped at the Gaba Community Church, which is right next to the guest house where we are staying.  It felt like we had never left.  Our old praise team lead some old familiar songs and taught us some new ones.  Pastor Peter greeted the church and made us feel welcome.  We had a guest preacher today, who was good, but we missed hearing one of Pastor Peter’s sermons.

Pastor Peter and the Praise Team at Gaba Community Church

Tonight we went to a cultural dance show, where we saw some amazing dancing that requires way more coordination, athletic ability, and rhythm than I have.  We also saw our friend Tanner from Texas!  He was there with a group of college students on a mission trip he has been leading in Uganda.

Tanner, Jessica, and Joline

At the show, we also met a Ugandan man named Terzao because he was wearing a Pepperdine basketball t-shirt.  I just went up to him and asked him if he had a connection with Pepperdine.  As it turns out, he is a friend of Dusty Breeding (Jessica’s youth minister).  Of course he is – everyone knows Dusty!

Joline and Jessica with our new friend Terzao

It has been reassuring to me to come back to Uganda for a second time because it gives me hope that I will come back again.  There is no shortage of old friends and new friends here.