You know that feeling you get on a rollercoaster ride when your stomach and your heart become one, and you scream with your hands in the air like that may help with the dizziness? That barely begins to describe the past few weeks on the road. We have experienced unconditional love from host homes, been praised and supported at screenings, and even applauded by people who see our van, but we have also been argued with, walked out on, and forced to defend ourselves to people who just want to hear us give in. It has been inspiring and exhausting, both renewed our resolve and forced us to lean on the amazing Invisible Children community more than ever before.

In the midst of it all, we were lucky enough to have a weekend off, and a team date with the Northern California Roadies. We reunited in the wee hours of the morning at a wonderful host home in Medford, Oregon, where we embarked on our epic adventure to a tree house hotel. That’s right, a Tree House Hotel. We found solace in the smiling faces of our good friends, s’mores, and sleeping in a tree. A tree with plumbing and electricity. With everything that was going on, it was so necessary to be with others who understood exactly what we were going through without having to say a word about it. At the tail end of our mini-vacation, we stopped at Crater Lake, which had re-opened after a snowstorm just hours prior. The Ugandans and Westerners alike were taken aback by the snow—and how cold it was! We stumbled upon the most magical places in the most unexpected parts of Oregon, and it could not have come at a better time. Here, we not only realized once again that we are touring the most beautiful region in America, but we were able to recharge, refresh, and ready ourselves for the many weeks still ahead. We will tackle whatever comes our way.