Day 1: Mama Ellen and Papa Herb

Today, I am thankful for Herb and Ellen. For those who don’t know, they run the guest house where I have been staying since I arrived in Uganda, and where I will continue to be until I move to Gulu on November 21st. Herb and Ellen have been such a blessing. My first week here, they invited me to travel with them and their family, which allowed me to see parts of Uganda I otherwise may not have seen. I was lucky enough to hear the unbelievable stories that have accumuulated over their combined 60+ years in Africa. Herb was born to American missionaries and grew up in Congo. He moved to the states for college— which is where he met Ellen. He and Ellen lived in the states for a while, before being called back to Africa, where they have been for the past 40 years.  Herb and Ellen’s guest house serves mostly families who have traveled to Uganda to adopt, as well as mission teams who have come to Uganda to serve. The families who are here, and the children they are adopting have brought such joy to my life and I delight in every day that I have with them…but that’s for a different post :). Herb and Ellen are two of the kindest souls I have ever met. They are gracious and caring. They treat everyone who walks through their door like family, and that is exactly how I think of them now. It is because of them that I fell in love with Africa so quickly. I will be forever thankful for all they have been to me and all they have done for me.