Greetings from Gulu!

Hey !

So I am very sorry I have not updated yet! I was unable to get to my blog from the internet cafes around Uganda for some reason. So here is a long update!
We spent 4 days in Kampala - explored the city- ate wonderful food- met many people and grew close with my group here. On moday we all got in the vans/taxis and traveled 5 hours to Gulu which is in Northern Uganda. Gulu is one of the places that the Lord's Resistance Army terrorized a few years ago. Children were abducted, huts were burned, and many people were killed. I am living with a family here and it is amazing! They take you in just like a family memebr, and I am now their daughter. I have two sisters and one brother. I have my own room which is nice- (but I think the rest of my family is sleeping in one room becuase of this) they are such servants. The first morning I woke up, and there was a dead rat on my floor, and I am constantly jumped out from under my mosquito net at night to smack big red cockroaches to death! haha so it is an adventure!
I have been taking a boda boda (motorcyle thing0 you ride on the back side saddle as a girl) and they take you to school. We have speakers every day and we walk around the town and converse with the people. The people here are the nicest that I have ever met. Everyone loves you and wants to get to know you better. Their faith in God is astounding, especially after all that has happned to them. They are also the happiest people I have ever met. It is just amazing.
I have been in Gulu for 6 days now and have 3 days left before we pack up and go to Lira. In Lira there are IDP camps- for people that were displaced during the conflict. Thousands upon thousands lived and still live in these camps while government soliders protect them (or try to) froim the LRA. Disease, rape, and death is rampant in the camps. After we visit Lira, we will go back to Kampala for 3 days and then travel to Rwanda, where we will stay with families in Kigali.
My classmate group is just awesome, and we get along very well.

I am sooo thankful to be here, and at times, I never want to leave. It is just the most amazing experience I have ever had. The culture is so different here- so selfless, so loving, and never busy. I really love it:)

I love you all and hope that you are doing well. God Bless and enjoy your summer months!

-Love Lauren