The drive took about seven hours to complete, but honestly, it couldn't have gone quicker. It started out slow and steady as we inched forward through Kampala (huge kudos to our driver Herbert as he maneuvered through the indescribable chaos of a five-way intersection). Then it was smooth sailing as we stopped about three to four hours in for a snack and bathroom break at a local gas station that was selling the most delicious mango-flavored amything I've ever experienced. The most exciting part of the journey was definitely slowing down as we passed the Nile River. With the powerful body of water flowing directly next to us, and the antics of the baboons following the bus (Sam finally saw a monkey!), it was one of the most incredible sights I've seen and truly a testament to the infinite uniqueness and majesty of God's creation. However, the most important and meaningful part of the journey in my opinion was when the entire bus began playing Hot Seat, a game where for 10 minutes, one person has to answer any questions asked to them by the group. We were nearly able to get every single person on the team in the Hot Seat, and I felt that today was a real step forward with respect to our team unity. The questions came easily for the most part, and there were some real creative ones that were posed, as well. The greatest joy for me in that ride was how willing the team was to open up to each other. There was no hesitation when it came to answering the majority of the questions, and any hesitation was only to think of a thoughtful answer. It made me happy to see everyone interacting so wholeheartedly about our personal interests and lives.
We arrived in Gulu around three in the afternoon, and after an hour of getting settled in, we headed off to the SOM Complex. Upon arrival, we were greeted by exclamations of happiness and enthusiasm as we entered the chapel area for a devotional service/info session. Them upon receiving a tour of the well-maintained and developed facility, we engaged in a game of jewel tag with the SOM staff. After the game was over, we all gathered in a circle for one last small devotional time period. The object of jewel tag is to capture the other teams players and put them in jail (worth five points per player), free your players from the opponent's jail, and capture the opponent's treasure and get it back to your side (worth ten points per treasure). What was funny was that even though treasure was worth more points, most of the time, teams opted to try and save their comrades over getting the treasure.
In the discussion circle, someone brought up the comparison of how the Lord had sent Jesus to die for us, the prisoners, so that we could be freed from sin, our eternal prison. By his sacrifice we were freed and because God had won, we had won. He had overcome which meant that we, too, overcame, and sometimes as Christians, we are given a choice to witness to others imprisoned without knowing Jesus's love in which case we are called to show the love that Jesus showed us.
Overall, today was one of the most unique days we've experienced so far, and I feel that as a team, we took the best possible steps to move forward as a team, as one body of believers, and as a group of students ready to give it our all for the One who gave us His all.
Praise God! Excellent to hear how God is working in and through you all!
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