It is time to prepare for a great journey. In the final week before we leave the US to head to Uganda, there is scarcely time to think about anything other than the details and preparations. But in the few quiet moments, I am reminded of the homily I was blessed to hear on Pentecost Sunday (thank you Fr. Jared). It is God’s gift of the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength and desire to live in Him. We often think of that gift in the form of a dove, but Fr. Jared described the Irish image and it rang so very true to me. In my heritage, the spirit is thought of as a goose – an aggressive, demanding, and not always nice bird to say the least. The Spirit is this, truly, and it demands much of us. As we journey to a land where beauty and faith mingle with poverty, disease, and despair, I will remember that the Spirit of God lies there and demands to be heard. As much as I think I know where we are going, I also am sure that I know nothing. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us on our mission, and that we will be open to his work – whether he comes in the form of a dove, tongues of fire, or a honking goose!