Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Back in Aru

Hi Everybody!

I hope you all are enjoying the end of the summer. It was truly refreshing to my spirit to visit with many of you during my time in the U.S. Thank you for your hospitality and for making time to see me.

I departed Denver the morning of July 28 and arrived in Kampala at 4 a.m. on July 30 after a five-hour layover in NY, an eleven-hour layover in Cairo and a seven-hour time change. Fausto was waiting for me at the airport, and we flew together from Kampala to Arua where Luca awaited us. It's good to be together again.

Back in Aru we prepared for the arrival of the short-term volunteer group that was to arrive from Italy. On Sunday, August 3, Luca, Fausto and I caught the bus from Arua to travel back to Kampala to meet the seven volunteers. The trip took about six hours and we saw some beautiful scenery along with two elephants, two hippos, two gazelle, and some interesting bird life. We were able to spend and hour or two in downtown Kampala before taking a taxi to the convent where we met the volunteers and briefly slept before catching a bus back to Arua at 5 a.m.

The group is working on several projects that I will have to tell you about later. I think we've gotten off to a good start. I'm glad to be back in Congo, but I do miss you!

Love,

Tricia