Africa, Cold Water, and Naked Babies

"Like jumping into really cold water."- this is how I am describing our first 24hrs in Uganda.

First you are really disorientated. "Where am I?" "What's happening?" "Was this a good idea?" It might be the jet lag but this place is really different from Colorado. First of all; there are black people here, lots of them. (I apologize to the three black people from Colorado, all of whom I know.)

Next, it's really overwhelming. The mass of people. Different smells. Language. Etiquette. Customs. The most surprising thing that I discovered quickly is that I'm on the big size here. Obviously not height so much. I outweigh most of guys I've met. It might be because I have actually never gone a full day in my life with out eating and they have.

I tempted to post of a few of the tear jerking things we've seen so far. (That's right, I started crying about 4hrs after arriving.) It's a little too early to do that so I'll tell you my favorite moment so far, it made me cry too.

Yesterday, we traveled over to the children's home- it's not called an orphanage on purpose. The bulk of the kids weren't home yet from school so we toured the grounds and met the real little babies that were there. I was told that most of the little babies are not used to older men so don't be surprised if they are timid at first. They were...so feeling rejected I went outside and watched the guys cooking dinner and left Katie to hang with the babies. (they have a thing here called "chipati" that are just like my grandmas tortillas.)

Soon all the kids arrived and the only way I describe it is like the universal studios ride that simulated a flash flood. You see a wall of water crashing toward you and you are sure the tram is going to be swept away. At the last second the water goes around you and you are untouched. Except with this flood of kids, they didn't divert and I got swept up in the flood. Little kids everywhere. It wasn't until an hour later I got my bearing and looked up from the sea of kids.

Standing there in the hallway was Katie holding one of those little babies. He was totally naked and dusty..his name was Emma. And in that frozen moment that I'll never forget, this whole crazy thing came together for me.

"I can hold babies and that might be enough."

In all our discussions and over thinking I asked Katie what she wanted to do. That was her answer. Not in this country a half a day and I was watching my baby's hope come true. And that was enough for me.

peace

john