Andrew and Adrian arrive in Moyo

Wednesday 28th June 2017

It was a 5am alarm for us this morning. We repacked our bags ready for the MAF flight, then it was 6am breakfast before Patrick, our regular taxi driver, arrived at 6.15am to drive us through Entebbe and out to Kajjansi MAF airstrip.

Once through security, we boarded the 11 seater Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft where our pilot, Dave gave us a briefing before leading us in a prayer. We took off in rain at 8.15am but flying over some spectacular scenery the sun shone. Stopping off at Moroto to refuel and  Kotido to pick up more passengers, we finally landed in Moyo at 11.45am. 

Taking off and landing on mud & grass airstrips can be quite ‘exciting’, but Dave made it look easy and the flight was very comfortable. At each landing, local children come over to the airstrip to watch, fascinated at all the Mazungu (foreigners) getting on and off the plane.

Landing in Moyo we were met by Bishop Emmanuel (chair of CRESS board), Bishop Joseph (Head of CRESS), Fred Taban (Operations Manager) and Canon Henry. It was good to see them again after so many months.

We visited the Diocese office and theological college which has moved lock, stock and barrel from Romoggi in South Sudan into rented premises. We also met Francis Candida who is the youth worker and handed him footballs and skipping ropes for the youngsters.

After lunch, we visited Budri camp, a small refugee camp nearby and then on to Morobi camp, one of the largest in Uganda. It was a humbling experience and a massive privilege to stand with these resourceful who have lost everything and yet remain cheerful in the face of dreadful hardship.

We then set off for Arua, our last stop of the day in the late afternoon. It was a 3 hour drive which was like a 4×4 experience! We got stuck in the mud on one occasion and eventually turned off on to a smoother road after the Africans said it had been a Rigi Rigi (earthquake) ride! Now settled in for the evening after a long but rewarding day.

Andrew Robertson