Looking out over a heavy cloud layer at about 36,000 feet – nothing but clear blue sky, the sounds of fellow travelers and the roar of the jet engines. Our 7:30 a.m. flight finally departed after a nice coat of pink de-icing fluid set us free to lift off…it was 11:45 a.m.…heading to New England where I grew from childhood. The memories of several Thanksgiving holidays over 60 years started there and since have found me in many places to continue to enjoy and bless me around the globe. T.S. Eliot had a great quote that comes to mind right now. He said, “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

After 20 hours of combined air travel to reach Uganda’s capital city of Kampala from the US, I am finally back on a familiar country road heading to the east toward the town of Nkokonjeru. A feeling of joy grows in me, anticipating the time ahead to be back with friends, our children, sisters and many I have come to know and love over the past 13 years.