Bowling for the first time

Today we had a pretty laid back day spent at the local mall combined with a trip to the adjacent bowling alley. While we didn't need to shop so much for souveniers, though I think a few were purchased, there were some other things like batteries and familiar treats like Pringles, and microwave popcorn that we wanted to pick up. As always, our new friends Moses and Sande (prounounced "Sunday") drove us there. As we split up and started to move about the mall, someone asked me "Where are Sande and Moses?" Then someone else said that they were waiting at the entrance until we were done shopping. I walked back down the ramp and asked them to join us. They were pleasantly surprised and came with me.

We stopped at a place that called itself Pizza Hut, and it was really good pizza, at least most felt so. Sande and Moses loved it, as they rarely get pizza. It's too expensive to eat (about $13 US or 26,000 shillings for a large pizza). After lunch we told Moses and Sande that we were going to take them bowling. Neither had ever been, but they were willing to try it.

We had a blast! Sande and Moses both have very contagious laughs and they are always smiling and positive about everything we do. I've yet to see them frustrated or discouraged - they are very upbeat guys. They watched us as we showed them how to bowl, and they thought it was the funniest thing, and were excited about trying it themselves.

I don't know if any of us have laughed that much and had more fun bowling than we did today with two guys who were elated that they had been invited along, not to mention getting to do something they had never done before.

Much like with Christy and Lancy, these two guys have become a part of us as a group, and events like today, where they were included as one of us, is helping to communicate to them our genuine love for them. We also hope that by extending our love to them that they experience more deeply God's love for them.

They both have incredible stories of heartache that you will have a hard time believing when we have time to tell you the whole story. And yet in spite of the heartache and tragedies that these guys have overcome, they trust God to light their paths everyday. They are both leaders at church and are fully devoted followers of the God they trust to give them hope in the midst of what many of us would call hopelessness.

A quick update on our travel plans, while I am communicating. I was on the phone for over an hour tonight, giving Joyce a break from the nightly routine, but I too was unsuccessful in getting an earlier flight than what we've been given. We are getting close enough to our departure date, that it looks like we are going to have to accept that Tuesday is the soonest we can get home.

We look forward to a joyous reunion with all of you, and the opportunity to tell you the stories of our great adventure!

We love you all!

P. Roy