Day One

Day one of my trip started out pretty early.  We met at the airport at 4am to start our journey. 33 of us. One family of four, a married couple, a couple dating, and father and son, friends from small groups, high schoolers (some that went the year before), college kids. Men and women who left their families behind and some of us that left our pets behind. Although we'd met and had a couple meetings to get to know each other better, we really were just still strangers. But strangers with a common bond. 

We left Raleigh at 6am and stopped in Washington DC. 

And after a small layover we boarded Ethiopia Air for our 14 hour flight!

Most of us didn't sleep much the night before and were hoping for some much needed rest. I don't know if it was the excitement, the awesome classic movie selection (insert sarcasm here) or the uncomfortable seats, but most of us didn't get more than a couple hours rest. We talked, played games, walked around, read and watched our trip on the monitors instead. 

We had a pit stop in Ethiopia. Where we played more games, had a bit to eat and a couple naps. 

After many hours in the air...we finally landed in Uganda! 

We had a short ride to our guest house in Kampala, the capital city. :-)   

            View from the third floor. 

       

After a chance to freshen-up we went out to dinner with Pastor Mike, his wife Laura, their son Adam and Pastor Doug. Our first Ugandan meal was at a Chinese restaurant. 

Finally, headed off to bed. We've got a 4-10 hour drive from Kampala to Gulu ahead of us. But that's day two. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.