Craig and Dick arrived on Saturday afternoon – fresh as could be even after twenty two hours of flying and another seven of driving in their efforts to drop in for a visit. Craig (a children’s pastor) and Dick (a lay elder and businessman) are emissaries from our home church, Mariners, in Annapolis. They came carrying hugs, letters, snacks and gifts and much needed encouragement from the home front for those of us here on the front lines. I had waited for their hugs and I was not disappointed. Thanks for coming, dear ones, thanks for journeying to Africa to walk beside us this week.

They have fallen right into life with us, sleeping on our futon couch, snug as two bugs in their thick mosquito net cocoon. Each day brings new adventures in their efforts to understand, capture and document our lives here for the church family back home. They have preached at a local church, toured the health center, attended our student services, prayed over our kitchen workers and leadership team, played four on a couch with the team, watched Naomi walk into her Ugandan classroom, spent the night in a local Ugandan home where folks had never seen a white face before and listened, listened, listened to our stories, our hearts and our struggles. We are so thankful for THEIR hearts, their ears, their willingness to step into our world.

Tomorrow will bring other surprises, a hike to the local 270 ft waterfall and a chance to speak to a chapel full of students as well as praying, learning and feasting with our local staff. Craig is eager to jump into student football games and they have both committed to meeting all the orphan students that Mariners families sponsor. We’ve got a great two and a half days left before they fly out on Friday. Pictures to come, now that we’ve got a working camera again!!!