I am back home now in Uganda after a wonderful 10 days in Italy. This was such a blessing of the Lord for me… great break and a wonderful time with great friends, great food and a beautiful country. God’s kindness was really evident to me in His allowing this trip to be planned so long ago – He knew exactly what I’d need and enjoy during this season. Only He knew I’d be living in Uganda and would love so much an opportunity to catch up with dear friends in the midst of a wonderful experience – when we planned it, I certainly had NO clue that I’d be quitting my job and moving a third of way around the world. What grace and kindness!
I can’t wrap up this experience with just one word (and all you who know me well are likely chuckling right now in complete agreement that “one” word just isn’t me!)… it was stellar (that’s as close as I can get, but probably not close enough). We began the trip meeting up at the Florence airport. As it turns out, there were a couple of flight changes for us all and we actually arrived within minutes of each other – perfect! We spent a couple of days in Florence. Oh, the Uffizi was beautiful, the food was outstanding (one lunch in particular…can’t remember the name of the place, but – YUM!) and it was great to have some chilled “tourist” time with my friends Mardee and Meitra. Then, Saturday it was off to our cooking school in Poppi, Italy…not too far outside of Florence (even though we went the “long” way … another story for another day – but a beautiful ride into town).
What can I say about Casa Ombuto…oh, it was a gorgeous setting. The house was quite old – a renovated structure of a large “apartment” upstairs and two downstairs. They’d also built a huge kitchen and dining room into the hillside just outside the house. Tuscan law prevents the building of new structures in the region (to preserve the beauty of the environment there) unless they are built “underground”. The care they took with the new construction was admirable - and it really seemed that it was part of the old… almost as if a couple of great wine cellars had been uncovered. The care they took with the guests and our comfort was also really lovely. We felt at home immediately.
We were part of a group of 13 people at the school for that week. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out with so many people, but working in the kitchen with everyone really was “controlled chaos”. I can’t remember who first labeled it as such, sorry, but it was certainly an accurate description. In the end, all the courses of the dinners rolled out and most all were really delicious. The day started with breakfast, then either chill time in front of the huge fireplace or out on the balcony – with lots of reading time – or travel to close towns or shopping nearby. Then it was lunch at 13:00 and “school” beginning at 15:00. We had discussion time with Chef Paola to go over the evening’s menu then off to the kitchen to prepare a “school break snack”, dinner and lunch prep for the following day(s). We were assigned our menus for the day and worked either independently or in teams. If one were simply watching – it would probably have had a dizzying effect! But it was quite a choreographed dance. We did the usual food prep stuff but also got to work on things we’d never made before. I was particularly excited to make pasta (not in a machine) and actually prepare a successful and tasty loaf of bread (my first – since all my prior bread experience pretty much had ended in bricks!).
Alas, at the end of a wonderful week, it was back to Florence for the trip home. I didn’t like saying goodbye to my friends and certainly could have easily been convinced to stay in Italy for some time…but it was time to come home and get back to life in Uganda.
The few days I’ve been home have been good… wonderful news that we only have 6 more children on the list for school sponsorship for next year. That’s a great blessing and has been awesome news. Thanks so much to all of you who have been willing and wanting to sponsor these kids. The schedule for all the “home visits” is getting put together tomorrow so the rest of the year will be busy to say the least!
Blessings to each of you… God is good and I remain awed by His grace and gifts of love.
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