Things we saw

Crater lakes are adjacent to the game park and are part of the reserve. I have to say that they were truly one of the most picture perfect places that I have seen in Uganda. They seemed so completely untouched by humans, in the two hours or more that we spend driving around the craters and crater lakes we only saw one other car.

Here are a few of the animals that we saw. The hippos were so neat, it was my first time seeing them. From what I saw they seemed cuddly and sweet but in reality they kill more humans than any of the other animal. Very territorial, although you wouldn't know it by the way they cuddle us beside the buffalo and the crocks in the water.

Another crater, this one without water. Isn't it pretty!!!

Places we stayed

Here are a few pictures of the places we stayed while on our Christmas trip. We don't have pictures of the first place but the lake sunset
pictures in the following blog were from there.

The first picture is from Mountains of the Moom, AKA MOM, which is in Fort Portal. It was my FAV out of all the places we stayed and I really hope that we get to go back at some time. We're talking, great view of the Rwenzori Mountian, gardens galor, huge fire place, stone pool, sauna, steam bath (just watch out for the naked guy, seriously), great food... alltogehter a neat place.

The next two pics are from King Fisher Lodge which is near the Queen Elizabeth game park. Awesome view from the lodge and while we were around there we had a blast weeing tons of animals, including chimps!!!

The last picture was from Bunyonyi Overland Resort. Nice clean place with cool furnished, raised and covered tents but AWFUL service.

More Pictures from Christmas Trip

Here are a few pictures from the beggining of our trip. We had just arrived in Fort Portal after a beautiful 6 hour drive on gorgious paved roads and then a 45 minute drive on a rollercoaster dirt road. I can't take credit for many of the pictures that are to follow because despite how prepared I felt we had forgotten to charge the digital camera. Thankfully Amber and Terril had their camera and were picture happy so we got a lot of good picture from them.

SKYPE

PEOPLE,

We have pretty good internet at the moment so PLEASE get on SKYPE so we can talk.

Thanks :)

Little blessings

Last week I started dance classes again. I was planning on doing the classes at a new location where there are beautiful wood floors and not much furniture to move out of the room but sadly the floors are in need of repaired so we are not sure when we will be starting classes there. Meanwhile the classes are at our new house which although the living room is much bigger there is also twice as much furniture to remove from the room. But in spite of the slight hassle we have to hold classes here I am so blessed each week by the classes. It is such a privilege to prepare lessons and teach these little girls about an awesome creator who made us in His image, who inspired us to be creative and the best part how through dance we can bless Him with our creativity. The girls are so eager to learn and so excited about blessing God. I thank the Lord for the ability to share that excitement with them. I'm considering starting an adult class but now that Travis and I are keeping so busy working with AIM I'm not sure if it is going to come together.

Thinking of AIM reminds me of another little blessing I want to mention. Travis and I started last week working at the AIM Air office here in Entebbe. It was CRAZY at first, there were so many things that were unknown and others forgotten from when we did some training. There were also things going wrong right and left with our day to day life like the car BROKE, the power was off for over 30 hours, the car got back to us then started having issues again.... and so on. You know the craziness of it all just mounds up. I'm getting to the blessing in this :) Anyway, we felt totally overwhelmed and exhausted!!!!! Then one of the many times I was taking it to the Lord God blessed me with some of His heavenly wisdom. Here it is, sometimes life gets so hard that we just want God to take the obstacles out of the way, move the hurtle so that we can really run the race, however it is through jumping over the hurtles and finding a way through the obstacles that we get stronger and wiser. Its hard, YES, and sometimes that is our own fault, sometimes we are making it harder on ourselves by trying to carry all kinds of stuff with us as we jump the hurtles and go through the maze of obstacles. You know carrying doubt, resentment, fear, confusion...... when actually that stuff is suppose to be in Gods hands while we run. It makes us look completely ridiculous and exhaust us way more that need be. Rather than coming out of that particular obstacle course tired but feeling good we are dead with exhaustion. So in the end the blessing was actually the hardship, was the hurdles and the obstacles, it was the realization that I can give the baggage (in this case expectations) to God and then run a bit better through the course. To be fit you can't just sit on your butt, you have to exercise. I don't want to be a weak and lazy Christian so I'm thankful that through last week Travis and I gained a little muscle that will hopefully help us to face the next set of hurdles with a little more grace.

Monkey buisness

Mare remember when we used to carry those silly little stuffed monkeys around with us? Well last week I got to experience our dream come true. I got to see what it was like to have a pet monkey. Travis and I went to a MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) pilots house to pick up a few things for a friend and as soon as we pulled in to the driveway I knew we would be there for a while. First two cute little dogs came out to greet us which were followed by a soaking wet (supposedly he likes to take an occasional swim in the tub) little MONKEY. Now I have seen a tun of monkeys while living in Uganda but they are the annoying Vervet monkeys which are completely untameable and to be honest just plain yucky. They poop all over the yard and try to get into things but anyways back to my dream come true monkey. He was a little Red Tailed monkey whose name was Sheeta (which means something like trouble). He was one of the cutes things I've ever seen, full of trouble yes but also full of fun. I got most of the pics outside but it was inside for the next three hours that I really fell in Love. The little guy got into everything and literally swung from the chandeliers but it was so adorable when he did it. In one of the pictures you can see him trying to get a drink from Travis's Mountain dew bottle. He would come and sit on my shoulder and them swing from my arm to jump on the back of one of the dogs and take a ride until the dog could knock him off. It was three ours of pure entertainment. I can't leave out the amazing couple who take care of him. They were SOOOOO kind and ended up feeding us the yummiest vegi Lasagna that I have ever put in my mouth. They have been Missionary pilots for over twenty-five years and are real troopers. We really enjoyed their company and are looking forward to getting to hang out again with them and enjoy the chaos of their littlest family member.

Christmas cookies

Here are the pictures of the Pontier gals and I baking up some yummy sugar cookies for Christmas. This was super special to me cause Christmas cookies are a very important tradition to the Binkley's. Travis was willing to participate if he had to but he got off the hook when Amanda and Brianna joined me. It was great to have the girls to crack up with, it made it more like being home with my sisters.