Hello everyone and welcome to my first blog! I am excited to have this little space to be able to share with you all that God is doing in my life as I prepare for the World Race, and especially once I’m on the mission field to be able to tell you and show you what He is doing around the world.
It was a year ago this Labor Day weekend that I stumbled upon the World Race online, and I can’t believe that in just four short months in January I will leave for the field! Lots of preparation – assigned reading, researching gear, lots of phone calls and meeting with family and friends, forming my prayer and financial support teams, etc. – is taking place and sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming. But other times God brings some unexpected activities my way that offer an opportunity for some fun.
When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, and now one of my closest friends, Maggie, is a 5th grade teacher in the area. Several times in the last few weeks I thought that it would be fun to write her students while I’m away, sharing about the culture and what I’m learning in different countries. I know I would have LOVED that if I were in school and so shared the idea with Maggie. She also loved the idea and it’s grown a bit into a possible Pen Pal type “assignment” with the students, plus I get to visit her class next week to share more about what I’ll be doing next year! It’s exciting to watch God weave my childhood dream of teaching into His grand design for my life. 
So, to prepare for my trip and my visit to Maggie’s classroom, I’ve compiled a list of basic information as well as fun facts for each country that my team will minister in. I hope this will be fun for you, too, as you learn a little bit about the nations you are sending me to through your prayers and support. I would love for you to pray along with me for the people we will meet, that God would go before us, preparing their hearts, and creating open doors to share the Gospel.
Our first country is Uganda! Because we are a Fusion route, meaning we are a team made up of international racers (individuals), this is where our entire squad (group) of about 20-30 people will meet for the first time. This is also where our team training will take place the first 1-2 weeks of our World Race. One of my favorite books, Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis, takes place in Uganda, and in researching the country I’ve already fallen more in love with this place and am ready to get my journey started! Thanks for coming along with me on this adventure!
Fun and Interesting Facts of Uganda: aka “The Pearl of Africa”
- Capital: Kampala, also the largest city
- Population: 37,101,745 – 355.2 people per square mile (90.6/sq mi in the US)
- Similar in size to the state of Oregon
- Official Languages: English and Swahili
- Religion: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 42%, Muslim 12 %, other 3%, none 1%
- Life Expectancy: ~55 years
- Literacy Rate: 73.9%
- Was a protectorate of Great Britain until they gained independence in 1962
- Much of northern Uganda was troubled by the Lord’s Resistance Army which heavily recruited child soldiers
- Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world with 48% of the population 14 years old and younger (19% in US)
- Their diet is mainly composed of plantain, starchy roots (cassava, sweet potatoes) and cereals (maize, millet, sorghum)
- A favorite treat is pan fried grasshoppers
- 1 of 6 African countries located on the equator
- Average temperature is 78° and sunny; rainy season is from March – May, and Oct – Nov
- “Boda bodas”(motorcycle taxis) are a common means of transportation
- They drive on the left hand side of the road
- Home of the endangered mountain gorillas
