Week one done.

*** I wrote this bit on Sunday, but didn't have Internet access readily available to post it until now. So, there's that.

Alright. The first week of tour is officially under my belt. And I can honestly say I’ve had a pretty wide range of experiences just in the past few days. We visited one high school where more than 900 people turned out to hear from Boni and the rest of our team, and two days later we had another function where less than 40 showed up. We stayed with a great farming family who introduced us to their cows and machinery, and then also spent the night in a home that boasted an elevator and a personal movie theater.

It's been fun traveling around Indiana and meeting countless people who are so supportive of what Invisible Children does. It reminds me of why I signed up to be a part of this. It’s encouraging to hear how lives are changing and schools are transforming by becoming involved with our organization, serving a need greater than their own. The contacts in this area have certainly done well to spur us on as we continue throughout the next few weeks.

Outside of our screenings, we have had some time to relax and explore. We caught some of the Olympic games this week, and had a free afternoon to visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The museum had four floors, and it was SO beautiful. I especially loved the level that housed the modern art – I could’ve spent hours getting lost in there. But probably the best part of that whole adventure was that admittance was free…! That’s what I’m talking about.

Another highlight of the week came last Tuesday, while we were in Fort Wayne. We woke up that morning to find snow falling all around us. I wasn’t too impressed, considering I’ve seen this same thing thousands of times before. But for Boni and Leo, it was the first time they’d watched flakes fall to the ground. So, it was definitely cause for a celebration. We laughed and danced around and took pictures in the beauty.

It’s so incredible to be traveling with these Ugandan friends. They help me to keep everything in perspective, and remind me that there is so much in my everyday that I take for granted. I am learning to appreciate even the most ‘ordinary’ things, because I am realizing that not everyone around the world can share in those. I am beginning to understand how small I am in comparison to the bigger picture, but I am so glad that this is the story I get to live out.