Where do I even start?

Ok, so as I mentioned earlier I am NOT a fan of flying, so my first flight to detroit, I didn't take my valium in time and as a result, during take off I just cried. But I lived. Then was my 7 hour flight to Amsterdam, which was very enjoyable beause it was a huge plane and so it was very smoothe. I was in the middle row of the plane and I had 2 empty seats next to me, so that was awesome. I couldn't sleep right away because there were so many movies I wanted to watch(and I did) Charlie St. Cloud, Eat Pray Love and Knight and Day. And then of course Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother and Friends episodes. Amsterdam was exciting because it was snowing!! And I've never seen snow before! Though I didn't get to touch it, I was close enough. I was the only person in the Amsterdam Airport that was wearing flip flops. Even the security lady pointed that out to me. My next gate was a million miles away so once I got there I was exhausted from carrying my 30 lbs backpack and carry on suitcase. I got through the next security, sat down at my gate, and I hear my name over the intercom, so I go to the desk and the lady says" Lauren, you do not have your passport." "Um excuse me?" I ask? " I have it right....OH NO!" The lady said, "Stop looking for it, they found it on the plane and have it at the gate where you got off." Do I  even have time to go back?" I asked. She said yes, so I went as quickly as I could back to my gate which took about 15 minutes and once I got there told them that this gate supposedly had my passport. The guy I talked to looked at me suspiciously and said he can't just give me my passport back. My heart dropped because I thought I wouldn't be able to get it back. He asked for my ticket and I gave it to him. Next thing I know a guy who looks like he works for Obama, eqipped with that earpiece that spirals down his neck. He looked at me, looked at the passport photo, looked at me again and hands it to me and tells me to have a nice flight. WHEW! Satan definitely tried to stop me from coming but of course God is stronger. The lady I sat next to was a Godsend beause she is a Christian and was going to Uganda to meet her daughter who is adopting a Ugandan baby. So we talked the whole flight and she ended up giving me a cross bookmark for my bible and some probiotics. Once we got off the plane we stayed together because we had no idea what we were doing and we were both hopeing whoever was supposed to pick us up, was there holding a sign, and if they weren't we were going to stick together. Once we got off the flight, we stood in the extremely long line for Visas and then walked together to get out baggage and then walked out to about 150 Ugandans holding signs. Luckily, we found ours and parted ways, but we will keep in touch.

My first encounter with an odd insect was in the Uganda airport, and it was something I've never seen before and never want to see again. The guy who picked me up (Collin)  put all my luggage in the van and we headed to the house which was about 45 minutes away from the house. After I told him that he needed to have his lights on he enlightened me that if they can see the road, they don't have to have their lights on, and there is no lines on the road to seperate oncoming traffic. We passed through some poorer parts of the city where there were bars and people outside and piles of trash burning. Flinally after going through the bumpiest road we got to the house, which was at 2am and I went straight to the bed the provided and slept...slept 12 hours until 3pm today which is 7am at home. I sleep under a bunkbed that is covered with mosquito netting. 2 other Americans share a room with me and it is almost like a dorm I feel like. It is just one big family here and I am glad to be apart of  it. It took me awhile to fall asleep because there is no a/c so the windows are open and all I hear are wild dogs barking, goats and some other strange noises, but atfter I did, I woke up around 8am to the team in the next room playing guitar and singing in a Lugandan. There is wifi in the house which is such a blessing. Saturdays and Sundays are free days and we can do whatever we want. Maybe I'll go into the town tomorrow. So far it has been a pleasent journey and such a different world that I am ready to see. I am currently laying on my bed listening to a mosque that is down the street playing ridiculously loud music.

Lauren