The One Where They Went to Murchison

Jeff and I both had birthdays recently so we decided to celebrate with a trip to Murchison Falls, our favourite national park in Uganda! 

As far as safaris go it was a huge success, we saw 4 leopards hanging out in trees, 4 lions, even the cutest tiny cub, and hundreds of giraffes, buffalo and elephants. The most memorable part of our trip was a family of elephants that decided to charge our family! 

Of course the trip didn't go exactly as planned; the safari vehicle was having problems our whole drive up North so we had to stop early and have the vehicle switched out, the next day we reached the hotel we had booked but it was having problems so we had to switch to another place, but that was complicated to get to because a ferry was closed due to flooding. It's always an adventure traveling around Uganda but we love it! 

Avin made a video of our family safari including the charging elephants, check it out here! 

This was a really nice family of elephants, not charging us at all! 

We stopped counting how many giraffes we saw around 200!

It's always special to find a male lion!

2 leopards hanging out in a tree, leopards are really shy so we got to see them jump down but then they just hid in the grass.

Elephants are our very favourite, even when they are scary! So much personality.

Cheers to turning 43!

We got to see this lion climb down the tree to protect her sweet little cub.

This is the youngest lion cub we have seen on safari!

Lions are usually pretty boring and sleepy when we see them on safari, but getting to see them so close up makes it more exciting! 

One of the charging lions, it seemed so sweet when we first stopped to watch. 

The rest of the family starting to getting angry!

I was finally feeling far enough away here to get a photo of the charging elephants, but I was definitely still afraid! 

#placesfinnflips

Lately in Uganda

The last few months have looked a lot different than they were supposed to! This was going to be a busy season of school in Uganda, construction projects, several teams and visitors coming to serve, and then our family getting ready to spend a couple of months in Vancouver. 

Although it has been a very different few months, they have been really good! We are so encouraged by all of the staff in Kibaale we get to work with, they have been amazing! Everyone is working around the new rules and restrictions due to the pandemic to make sure the community of Kibaale continues to be helped in every way possible. 

Our kids have also embraced all of these changes really well; they are doing a lot of school, helping out in Kibaale and getting creative with cooking and new activities. 

Early on in the lockdown we had a meeting with the Heads of School to figure out how even if all the students can't come to school we can make sure they are still learning! Education packages with bible studies were put together and have been given out regularly, either the students come to school in small groups or they are delivered to them at home. 

Food delivery! Our social workers are going out every week to check on families and deliver food as needed, we love to help out with this too when we can.

It's really different to see only one or two students at the school at a time these days! 

Our good friends Arthur and Sylvia had to change their wedding to be much smaller, we were honoured to still be a part of it! 

Esther and Isabelle came to stay with us for a week! We often are helping out with one of these sweet girls but having both at the same time was a lot of fun! 

Mazzy and sweet Natasha

Usually there is a daycare for these sweet staff kids but of course that is not happening right now, Mazzy was very happy to help out with entertaining them though. 

Photo shoots, a new kitten (Fiji), corn hole and growing a lot of herbs and vegetables! 

The kids working on school while Fiji naps close by. 

Spent the day in Masaka with 2 of my favourites! 

Mazzy was happy to entertain Micah while her Mama was working. 

A very quiet Kibaale. 

Jeff made the kids a slip and slide, which has provided hours of fun!! 

Betty got a brand new house!!

Uganda has been a lot more strict with their lockdown, we actually aren't even all allowed in one car yet. But if we're going to be stuck somewhere this is a very beautiful place to be! 

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10