What a crazy adventure that was! 3 weeks ago, we gathered for our Launch Day, meeting 11 interstate students for the first time, and heading off for our trips to Cambodia, the Philippines & Uganda. And here we are, on the other side, and what a ride it has been. What more can we say, but that we are super proud of each of our 38 students for the way they have engaged with all that we did, the way they connected with each other and celebrated well. It really is super inspiring to be around young people who are willing to do something different from the world around them! 

​Wow wow those three weeks went fast! Here’s a quick update on days 19 and 20 for ya ;)
 
On Thursday we arose to a brisk and chilly morning, quite a shock to the system after the balmy Ugandan days! A 6.30am game drive awaited us. We aww-ed and ahh-ed over big gorgeous animals like elephants, impalas, Cape buffalo and giraffes. Though it was freezing, it was a spectacular way to meet Kenya!

​Today we had our second very early start at 4am to say our goodbyes to Suubi House and make our way to Kenya! It was a mixed bag of emotions having to leave Juliet and her incredible friendship and cooking skills, but we were also so keen to live a few days in relaxation without the threat of another surprise work day. We left the house at around 4:30am and unsuccessfully tried to get a little more sleep on the way to Entebbe all the while being bounced around on rocky Ugandan ‘roads’.

​Today was an earlier start with breakfast at 7, half an hour earlier than usual. Breakfast was the infamous chapattis and rolexes made by Juliet, Elizabeth and Peace followed by devotion by Kaitlyn on Mark 13. The quietness that filled the room this morning because of tiredness was so peaceful yet shockingly strange since loud singing, jokes and banter fill the house 24/7.

​G’day fam and friends back in Straya!
 
Today we started the big day with the popular favourite of pancakes made by our lovely chefs and eaten with the last scrapes of Nutella that we have left. Heading into the Village of Hope as we do, we were preparing to smash out some of the last work that we’ll do here in Uganda. 

​Today we started off with cereal and toast, which is a friendly reminder of home. We went to church at the “Abundant Life Church” just down the road.  The youth led the service with incredible passion and fire for God. Esther from the Village of Hope preached on love and the love God has for his creation.  Esther’s hunger for the word was so refreshing and inspiring to all of our team. 

​Today started off with coffee and tea at Suubi, before jumping in a van for white water rafting - on the Nile River! We travelled for 25 minutes before reaching the rafting base where we had an amazing view of the Nile and saw monkeys running through the nearby trees (while drinking some more much-needed coffee). After we drove to the start point of the rapids, we enjoyed a breakfast of half cakes, more Rolexes and yoghurt. 

​For those wondering about Day 13 – yes, we had one! (It’s just getting harder to get volunteers for the blog ;)
 
We kicked off the day with a delicious brekky of chapattis and Rolexes made by the divine Juliet, Elizabeth and Peace, and with a devotion led by Loren on the power of prayer. A quick power walk up to the village later, and we got going with bricklaying the kitchen and painting the houses. Our visit to the slums gave us extra motivation to work hard – we could see what a difference the village makes to the children living there. 

​After having a bit of a sleep in today we all woke up with mixed emotion mixed of excitement and a bit of the fear of the unknown but all that a side from we woke up the same as everyday. We were invited to go to the YSU (youth support Uganda) while being there we were able to witnesses some traditional dance that the youth held for us. Firstly it was the females that are part of the tailoring class do a welcoming dance where we had a chance to get involved. After that a dance crew showed us up with there intense and crazy dance moves so good it would put Michal Jackson to shame.

​After last nights debrief running a little late, we were running on about 6 hours of sleep due to the anticipated 4 am wake up. We aimed to leave Suubi House by 4:30 for Monkey Mountain. I was sweating up a storm from the night before as it was scorching, but we got on the gear and started our walk. Many dropped off our clothes at the village of hope so later we could give it to our mothers to wash and then we started our 45 minute walk up the pitch black mountain. Once reaching the top, we sat peacefully up watching the city lights and waited for the sun to rise. Although it was cloudy, eventually we were able to look at the red African sun for a brief moment before it disappeared again.