So much more than a 12 day trip...

I've been looking forward to this trip since the first time my mom and dad went to Africa a few years ago... All that's happened since then is truly amazing to me and a testament to how God can work wonders through unsuspecting but Holy Spirit led believers. I never expected my parents to be travelling back and forth to Uganda several times a year. In fact my mom will say she never thought she'd have such good friends all the way in Africa!

But God has used their gifts, talents and life experiences to bring hope to a war-torn, neglected part of Uganda; and that hope comes in the black and white shape of a Holstein dairy cow. An animal that was so normal to me growing up... dirty... and smelly. But they were always there. They put food on the table and a roof over our heads. They put all four of us girls through Christian schools and colleges. They helped my father create a business that now supports in some way, all of us and our families. They were so ordinary to me as a kid, but now they are something quite extraordinary.

They are now the main attraction at a 20 cow dairy operation in Gulu, Uganda; and they could be just the thing to build a new economy.  They are creating jobs. They are creating in families a desire to work for more than a day's existence. They are creating opportunities for Ugandan men and women to build a better future for their kids and their country. My parents have been there at every stage of the process; and now my oldest son, Brody, and I get to go and see these extraordinary cows. (Be prepared for a lot of cow pictures!)

So here we are... less than 36 hours from take off... My state of mind could be summed up with about every emoji and I have a lot of lists running though my head... lists for packing, last minute items I need to round up, people I need to touch base with, things about the kids I need to make sure Matt knows before I leave, and things I want to remember when I'm finally there...

Thank you to everyone that has wished us well and thank you to those who will be praying for us. Thank you to my husband for encouraging me in this and for holding down the fort here and thank you to those who will be helping him with rides, meals and everything else that moms do.... And of course, thank you to my kids for making my upcoming absence seem like no big deal! I know I'm only gone for 12 days, but it feels like so much more than just a 12 day trip...

I will try to keep you updated as our trip progresses, and I'm sorry in advance for the blog posts that will be too long or too short or non-existent. I just don't know what to expect when I get there... what will the wi-fi be like? Will I have enough brain power to put two sentences together by evening? And to be honest, if someone shows up to hang out at the hotel with my parents (like I'm told happens quite often), I'll be sitting in on that, taking it all in and thanking God for this amazing opportunity!