In the interest of safety it's best to keep an eye on the road surface in Bunia. If not, you're as likely as not to turn your ankle on a protruding rock or in one the gullies carved out by the flow of water. Or you'll get your foot entangled in the gunky black plastic bags and other debris that are constantly being cleared from the ditches. Then one morning, when the atmospherics are just right, you happen to look up and are delighted to see that the road that trails off into the distance is surrounded by layers of distant hills. There's beauty above ground level.

If you don't keep a wary eye in Kampala you're quite likely to walk into a bollard that edges the pavement or trip over a child that has been plonked in the middle of the path to beg from the pedestrians. But if you don't look up you lose all sense of direction in the surging mass of humanity on the streets and among the hundreds and hundreds of minibus taxis in the taxi park.

The first time I ventured alone into the taxi park I quickly found the location of the bus that I needed - more by luck than judgement, it would seem. (There are no specified bus stops where people politely queue, as in England.) The second time, I stood at the top of the steps overlooking the hundreds of similar white minibuses and thought: "I need to head in that direction." But at ground level, on a hot afternoon, carrying a box of school supplies, squeezing between the taxis all parked higgledy-piggledy, I lost my bearings. It was like a maze of white vehicles all sporting a ring of chequered blue tape. "Where do you want to go to?" asked a helpful man.

"I'm looking for the bus to Najjanankumbi. I know it's in a corner of the park." We trailed around together and I lost the guy who couldn't help me.

Eventually, I found the bus bearing the right destination board. "OK. Let me take stock. How will I get here again?" I looked up at the buildings high above ground level. "I can see the Chinese Medical Centre and the Red Cross building. These will be my markers." And from then on, the problem was solved. I could make my way through that sea of buses without getting lost.

Healthy living is negotiating the balance of keeping an eye on the road and an eye on the horizon. Much of our days is spent dealing with those things which occupy our immediate space and attention. But it's beneficial to check one's bearings to avoid getting lost in life; it's for the soul's welfare to look beyond the here and now to the realities and beauty of those far reaches.

So I'm taking a break between the end-of-year exams in July and the resits in September. I'm enjoying being anonymous in Kampala and I'm benefiting from stimulating conversation with old friends and colleagues.

We've talked a lot about behaviour which befits missionaries. As I return to Bunia and to a new academic year I want to take as my motto " ..in every way [...] make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive." (i.e. adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour)  Titus 2:10 Pray that that will become a reality in my life.

Blessings,

Bridget Howard