Our team arrives at the bus station in Lira, Uganda, and boards a mini bus to Gulu. It is a 14-passenger vehicle, but I count 22.
Our luggage is tied to the roof, and we’re praying the ropes are strong because these dirt roads are bumpy.
The mini bus is loaded. Not only are there too many passengers, but we’re also accompanied by a chicken and numerous cockroaches.
Don heads to the back seat. Shannon sits in the third row and is handed a baby boy to rest on her lap. Kendra and I are beside each other in the row behind the driver, and ken and I are separated by Sara who is headed to Gulu for school. Katie is up front next to a lady that is taking baby Grace to the hospital. Sitting on the floor in front of Ken is the older brother of the boy Shannon is holding, who looks to be about eight years old.
The bus ride is sweltering. Everyone is crammed, sitting on top of each other with no room to move. We are driving slow because the bus is overloaded and won’t go much faster.
I look back and see Shannon comforting the baby in her arms. Ken continues to comfort the boy in front of him by smiling at him. Katie tries her best to speak to the young mother beside her even though they don’t speak the same language.
Shannon leans forward and tells us to pull the Rockets (M&M’s) out of her purse to give to the boy sitting in front of ken.
He is now my buddy because I’m the lucky one who handed him the candy. We smile at each other throughout the rest of the ride.
We come to a brief rest stop, and local venders swarm the bus windows to offer us different items. Kendra buys a bottled water to give to the boy sitting in front of Ken.
The little boy in Shannon’s lap returns to his mother, attracted to the food and water in her hands.
After several hours on the bus, we finally arrive in Gulu. The bus station is a busy place. Many people are offering to help, but we deny them; otherwise they will expect payment for simply carrying our bags five yards from the bus to our team.
As we are unloading, the little boy in front of ken comes and gives me a hug. It makes my day.
We are now waiting on Pastor Patrick and Pastor Stephen to pick us up, and some of the local men are telling us we owe them for helping with our bags. Ken tells them we don’t owe them anything.
Then the guys start harassing the lady who sat by Katie and Sara. Sara begins to cry. I want to help, but I must be smart. I pray that God will make them go away.
Then I approach her and comfort her. I put my arms around her and ask her if she is ok. She tells me they are being ugly to her, so I speak words of love into her ear. I pray for her and hug her.
They finally stop bothering the women.
Sara seems to be better so I help her gather her things to leave the area.
The pastors finally arrive, and we are ready to see what our home for this month is like.
On the way to our new home, I look back on the bus ride from Lira. It would have been easy for our team to complain and be irritable. But I noticed something different in my team. I saw Christ in them like never before.
It was a moment that I saw us die of ourselves and gain more of Christ. Each member was willing to be Christ to the ones around them.
I believe it’s going to be an awesome month for team Olur.
