Finally the Cress team arrive in South Sudan!

After an early breakfast of the now essential coffee and bacon omelette, we left Entebbe for Kajjinsi airstrip. It was a beautiful morning, again the sun overcame the predicted rain which meant our flight could leave on time. We were fortunate that the suitcases all got through security, though repacking them was some times a bit tricky! It is now only midday and we have seen so much and been transported between suburban city outskirts to rural Africa. We drove down firstly main roads, turning off onto a rutted track passing children on their way to school, cows, goats and someone having a shower outside to a field next to which 2-3 small aircraft were waiting. The smallest was a 4 seater – we were relieved that this was not ours although ti could have been done if needed but they would have needed to remove half of the seats to fit our luggage in!

We were enormously grateful to MAF for taking all our bags despite problem of weight, which to achieve they needed to remove half their fuel and rearrange their refuelling schedule!  All of which they did just to get us and our luggage in!

The flight in a Cessna Caravan 1, was absolutely fantastic. Our pilot, Rembrandt, prayed before take off, ensured our seat belts worked and flew us over Lake Victoria, the green and sometimes swampy lowlands of Uganda, Muchison National Park and the River Nile to Moya. We stayed at about 8000 feet which enabled us to get a feel of the terrain, though Adrian was disappointed we didn’t see an elephant. It really was amazing – a real wow moment for Adrian and Maggie, and Jeremy was in his element sitting in the front seat doing his best not to fiddle with the dials. Andrew reassured us earlier today that ‘you can actually see really well from the pilots seat’!

Landing was the smoothest we had ever experienced.  Rembrandt checked for livestock by performing a ‘Fly past’- onto the runway – a dirt track in a field.

Another great welcome from Joseph, David and Edward from Kajo Keji. Hugs and delight all round.

The road from the airstrip to the town where we stopped for a drink should be the subject for another article, and we will try not to forget our initial impressions  during the next few hours, where sensory overload is possible as we cross the border and arrive in South Sudan.

For those of us who have been before there has been a wonderful sense of homecoming. The familiar things we see help to balance the overwhelming input of the wonderfully varied people and vast land. The road to Kajo Keji from the Moyo landing strip was well rutted and full of gullies, making a relatively short journey last a few hours. A forty minute inspection of each of the 19 large bags of gifts and materials did not make the journey faster. The inspector only stopped when Jeremy’s ‘thank you’ implied the end of a job well done and helped him to skip the final five.

All of the stresses of the journey dissolved with the welcome we received at the Bishop’s house.

Thirty minutes later we were equally lovingly welcomed by the delegates from seven dioceses. The special Kajo Kejian welcome involved many people coming up and doing a bouncing dance; and yes we bounced too.  It is not only stress that is dissolving as we are having an unusually hot period. We had prayed for the release of money for the conference held in a Ugandan bank and for rain. The money was released, praise God, and we got a little rain, but not enough to break the heat. It is great to be here and begin the conference on discipleship.

Maggie and Jeremy Metcalfe left shortly after we arrived to have an adventure in Liwolo where we will open the health clinic later in the trip. We all have grown close in the last few days and we are learning a new way to be complete. God bless you all.

Caroline Lamb