Our team recently went back to Jinja, Uganda to meet up with some of our AIM leaders for debrief. Jimmy, Kelly and Becks came to spend time with our team, encouraging us and helping us to process all the things we have been experiencing here in Africa. We stayed at this place called Adrift which is right on this cliff overlooking the Nile. Drink a soda on a patio overlooking the river with the pinks and purpes of the sunset pouring down through the clouds… ya lets talk about whats been going on in Africa.
To be honest it was a little bit of culture shock showing up in such a beautiful place (filled with touring white kids…) I couldn’t help but wonder what its going to be like to go back to our image/ material based world. Even things like modesty or lack thereof seemed almost overwhelming when thrown back into a place with a completely different set of rules.
In Jinja there was a- get this- coffee shop with internet and coffee that wasnt instant. We spent a lot of time talking in that shop with our leaders and a lot of time roaming/ exploring the town.
The second day was AWESOME- we went river rafting on the Nile. It was a beautiful combination of rapids (ranging from class 3-5) and paddling down the calm of the river. We passed by a countless number of people on shore doing their laundry, swimming and bathing- just living life. There were more vibrant greens in the winding and reaching trees and in the vines as they hung down contrasting against the gray stormy sky. We stopped for lunch on an island covered in trees with a simple little stair case leading up to an opening with tables and benches. There were birds and islands and waterfalls and ripped African men in kayaks who swore they would keep us from drowning. I know the guides take trips down the river each and every day but i couldn’t help but feel a little bit like an explorer paddling toward the unknown and taking in the beauty of the land as it was the very first time. I love that there are places in Africa that seem so untouched- so raw. I loved those moments of simply paddling surrounded completely in natural nature (and imagining a little baby floating down this scene in a basket…) And I also loved the moments of pure adrenatline as we headed over waterfalls and were surrounded by crashing water and rocks and cries of “GET DOWN AND HOLD ON!”.
The rest of debrief was a really neat time of speaking courage into one another and eating some well missed ‘non-African’ and lots of card games (even a new one- thanks Jimmy… I dont remember for sure but I probably won all of the them!)
On our way back to Kenya we stopped in Busia to spend a little time revisiting old friends and our old stomping grounds. It was a very fun vacation of sorts but it also was really great to meet back up with Paul, Jared and Hezron… it just seemed like something was missing not being with them. WE met them straigh at outreach (we still havent been back to our home base…) Im planning on writing of some of our adventures in the ‘bush bush’ soon!
Hanging out at Adrift:
The View:
So glad that you had this time of refreshing. “…we rejoiced even much more for the joy of (Cherise), because her spirit has been refreshed by you all.” (2 Cor. 7:13)
“Deuces” was the name of that game…and I think you mentioned it just to see if I was really reading blogs LOL well, I am.
Sorry you couldn’t post any pictures about the Nile…or any of the “ripped Africans”…you know, in the “California” sense…would have made the blog just that much better.
Haaaaa haaaa ripped African men…slay it, Bo.
You Love ripped african men. You LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THEM. Anya.
It sounds like you are having an amazing time. thanks for being such a blessing. love ya