The thing about being blindsided in the middle of a conference by cancellation orders from the President of Uganda, folding up the tents and retreating back to our staging area to rethink everything the trip was about, then hearing the orders from the State Department for all Americans to return home immediately, then not being able to get tickets out, then getting tickets but for a flight before you can be ready, then getting ready, then finding out the President has closed the airport only hours after your flight is scheduled to leave…well. Wild ride!
We’re home. We can’t believe it. So many other Americans are now stranded in Uganda, trying to manage a “work-around” arranged by the US Embassy and the Ugandan government that won’t leave until tomorrow, then will have to piece together flights into the US from Qatar to get home maybe next weekend.
We have realized that we are a bit shocky – disoriented. Not thinking so clearly. Stress?…probably.
Not only did we think we were arriving at 9:50 p.m. on Monday even after the pilot’s announcement that we were arriving in the “a.m.,” but we still didn’t believe him until we landed, and they raised the window shades to morning daylight over DFW. We got all our bags, surprisingly had no screening issues, probably because we came from Uganda, one of the few places in the world without the virus until Sunday, the day we left when someone who arrived was diagnosed at the airport.
We slept for 10 hours straight when we got in.
Now we’re sitting here in our living room at 2 a.m., wide awake and looking at each other in wonder about what just happened. We are looking at 14 days voluntary quarantine in our house. We are grateful to our “Bray” family, who sent our daughter and grandson to meet us with our car at the airport and waved at us across the parking lot, grateful to our other son and daughter who filled our larder, grateful to Jesus who parted the sea, grateful to all of you who watched over us in prayer and followed our journey with interest and love.
Bob, I’m glad you posted about your and Gail’s journey. I’m at a loss for words. That should remind me of God’s servant Job, I suppose. I looked for a verse saying, “…let all the earth keep silence…” I found it. May the Lord bless your fourteen days of voluntary quarantine. Our pastor preached to a vacant auditorium Sunday. Who knows how many watched it? He talked about revival. I want myself to be in the mode of praying for and looking for God’s hand in reviving hearts and changing lives. Exercise the body, look for God’s touch in this lull of activity(I’m preaching to myself). This suspension of routine is a great thing in its physical magnitude. May it be great in its metaphysical magnitude. God, in your mercy, and in your love, glorify your name in this.
Welcome home! We are so happy you are safe. Let us know if you need anything delivered during your quarantine. ♥️
On Tue, Mar 24, 2020 at 3:57 AM meade international wrote:
> Bob Meade posted: “The thing about being blindsided in the middle of a > conference by cancellation orders from the President of Uganda, folding up > the tents and retreating back to our staging area to rethink everything the > trip was about, then hearing the orders from the Sta” >
Ok…my concern has been answered. The Lord does indeed part the waters. Love and hugs and gratitude for your safe return.