juba to kampala and back again

It was just the other night in Kampala, long after everyone at the Red Chili backpackers place had gone to bed, where I laid outside under a blanket of stars and started to cry. Can I do this? Round two in the bush, no communication, no basic amenities, hot and dirty to say the least. Am I able to stand, really stand, on the promise that Jesus is enough and thrive in a recovering “war zone”? It wasn’t long though ‘til the tears turned to giggles and still with minimal understanding I knew it had nothing to do with me. He’s enough. His love..Enough. Even for Sudan, and even for the one’s who face it’s giants.

-Step back- My parents are leaving the country for a months and so with me being in Sudan unable to phone chat it was looking like we weren’t going to have contact for three months. That’s a lot for a mothers heart who’s “baby” lives overseas. In attempts to change that I was trying to find a way to get out of Juba, bumping up a later trip to Uganda so we could at least have endless conversations for a day or two before they left. Looking into flights all planes were expensive or booked so I weighed my last option, a 12 hour bus ride from Juba – Gulu, Northern Uganda. ( I can hear the gasps from those who know the route. Lol. ) Traveling on a poor excuse for a road, I was recommended by locals that air was the better way to move. However with my parents d-day fast approaching I glanced at Jesus for the green light and got a one liner about protection. SO, I hopped on the early 7 o’clock bus late last week. Now I don’t feel a blog is the best place for…”bus stories” but I’ll just say it was quite the adventure. Lol. At one point we came across a large sign in the middle of the road “STOP! DANGER! Road closed. De-mining in process!” My driver waves to the soldier by the sign, the soldier, clutching his AK-47 under one arm waves back with his free hand and without a wince or probably a second though we proceeded past the sign on to Gulu. Travelling through the south I kept trying to figure whether there were more soldiers patrolling the area or whether there were just more guns, as those often carrying the AK’s weren’t dressed with the same camouflage as most SPLA. The ones dressed up did seem to have more purpose though. Focus maybe. About half a dozen standing on the back of a “pick up” type truck, a couple of them manning a “big shooter” (lol, no idea what it’s called. The large da-da-da-da-da gun bolted to the bottom of the truck?) They seemed like they were ready to shoot at any moment, which is strange considering we live in peace. Guys and guns I guess. Haha ;) (maybe not so funny to some ;)
Anyway, I arrived safe in Gulu and was able to surprise my parents with phone access and the sweet sound of my voice (lol. Who let me get a blog…?)
From there a friend and I took another treacherous yet much safer bus down to Kampala. Uganda’s capital. It was such a delight to laugh and joke together while getting $5 pedicures and eating cakes and curries. She’s fabulous.
Kampala’s luxuries (electricity AND running water) made me realize though just how much I love civilization and really forced me to question whether I could move back to the ‘bush’. Which is good. It’s good to be challenged and to be certain…lol. After a semi difficult ‘yes’ to the great unknown before me the grace kicked in. Oh how we love the grace! I’m now back in Juba with “renewed focus”. (It’s not that I don’t love Sudan it’s just a little difficult at times is all) But as soon as I stepped off the plane ( Yeah I was NOT taking the bus ride back) it was as if everything was beautiful. If we were on a play ground I’d be getting my butt kicked as I was like “That’s fabulous” “What a lovely trash pile!” “Gorgeous latrine!” It was as if all I could see was potential. It was pretty funny. (Sadly that’s now sort of passed as the latrine wreaks, as does the trash pile)
Well I have no clue how to end this. No clue really what it’s purpose was. Just random ramblings perhaps. Perhaps just the nature of most blogs sometimes ;)