A Whirlwind

Five cities in just a few weeks.

After a very busy summer in Uganda, Scott and I were able to visit the U.S. for quick stops to see our parents and our girls. We also had a few very productive days at Pepperdine University in L.A. for work.

We were able to visit Maggie in Michigan. She and her roommate, Sarah, put up with us for a couple of weeks. Between zoom court and calls to Rwanda and Uganda, Scott rebuilt Maggie’s back porch. He borrowed some tools from the neighbor and bought a compound miter saw from the local pawn shop. I walked Bingo, made dozens of trips to Home Depot and relished being back in Cadillac.

We especially appreciated spending a weekend with the Klickers from Walla Walla, Washington IN Cadillac. Nancy is my oldest friend and helped Maggie move to Michigan last year. She and Kirk came to see her new house and we just happened to be there the same weekend.

We ate mouth-watering pancakes at the local diner and looked for the best bug killer at four different farm supply stores (Kirk grows strawberries and was determined to help Maggie get rid of her spider and bug infestation with a pet safe insecticide). We watched University of Washington beat Michigan State in football and we hit Lake City’s “Festival of the Pines.” Kirk and Scott really wanted to be there for the “Largest Beer Belly Competition” but we came too late. We also missed the chance to purchase the cool red and black buffalo checked baseball hats commemorating the event. The Chamber of Commerce went out on the limb and had purchased 50 to sell but they went like hotcakes on Friday night before we arrived on Saturday. We asked Maggie to get there early next year.

Best of all, we visited Maggie at work. She gave us a tour of the Timber Wolf Lake Young Life Camp. We helped her test the race cars and the giant swing before the campers had free time that afternoon. We met a number of the staff and enjoyed an evening of darts at the Camp Manager’s house. So fun to see her serving in such a beautiful place.

And with no time to spare – Scott finished the porch.

We then zipped to Dallas, Texas to visit Anna for Parent’s Weekend at SMU.

Anna’s a Senior and felt it was important for us to attend at least one Family Weekend before she actually graduates. Anna made a lot of time for us between school and work. We were really grateful.

The Texas sorority girl scene is not really my jam but Anna said I was a really good sport. We “Boulevarded” (tailgated) before the football game. My shorts and denim shirt didn’t quite fit the "frilly cotton sun dress" theme for female attendees but I proudly displayed my “DG Mom” button and held my head high.

At the football game, we survived the 100-degree heat (which was likely about 110 on the metal bleachers in the stadium.) I amazed myself for making it through most of the first half before retreating to the shade of the concessions stand. We had to laugh that it was much hotter in Dallas than it ever gets where we live in Africa.

Due to COVID and being in Uganda, this was Scott’s first opportunity to see where Anna lives. We were able to meet a bunch of her friends and have dinner with her roommate and her folks. It helps close the circle a bit more and make us feel a little nearer to the life she is making in Dallas. We are really proud of her and will visit again next spring for her graduation.

We have been back in Kampala for a couple of weeks.

One of the most encouraging things about our time in the US – The work in Uganda continues.

While we were away, the Ugandan Pepperdine staff resolved 88 cases through Plea Bargaining. 55 of those inmates were able to leave prison immediately due to the resolution of their cases and sentences which were for time already served or dismissals due to lack of evidence. So many stories to tell.

And this week – Plea Bargaining begins in Rwanda.