February 22^nd

A good day today. First, Augustine traveled 14 hours on the bus from where he works in southwestern Uganda, to say goodbye to me and Meagan and Sheila and Ian. He arrived last night and we spoke briefly, but this morning he and I had a wonderful, long conversation. I feel very comfortable talking with him. He is so bright and attentive, and thinks about what one says and responds honestly. I was a bit more open about my reasons for leaving although the main reason continues to be Helen’s medical problems. He asked me to continue to stay involved with Keframa, and I will. I will be on a long-distance steering-type committee, along with Ian and Sheila, and others who have volunteered here. We will offer and discuss ideas on how to make the school work better, and how to make the volunteer experience better.

Then at noon I met with Sheila and Ian to talk about my decision to go home early. They were wonderful, as I knew they would be, and said they had identified with so much of what I had written in the blog. Very supportive. I will travel with them to Kampala on Sunday morning (a week from tomorrow), and actually be on the same flight with them to London, early Tuesday morning. I will leave them in London and be in Denver by 5:15 PM on Tuesday.

I will write more tomorrow. It is very hot and I am tired.