Uganda Update

    

(Henna fun at a LOTR Marathon in May)

   It's hard to believe that I will be leaving Wilmore in less than a week. In some ways, time went slowly because it was hard to be away from family and friends. In other ways though, these past 6 weeks flew by! (This realization has helped me to determine to document and hopefully blog so much more in the coming weeks).


   I've been able to learn so much more about photography and travel to beautiful places in Kentucky. I've been able to read so many more books and hang out with many friends. I've had a lot more time by myself, which has helped me to appreciate those I love and keep my priorities in check. I was able to take Christian Theology and devote so much more time to studying than I would have allowed myself in the regular school year. Nathan and Cydil kind of adopted me into their family for a bit. I've loved being with them and sharing in their summer experiences. Yes, this summer so far has been really great! (Not always easy, but still always good).


    With less than 2 weeks before I head out to Africa, perhaps it is time I gave a little information about the trip. I will be leaving from Detroit on July 3rd @ 2:40 p.m. and flying into Entebbe, Uganda July 5th @ 7:45 a.m. I will be stopping briefly in Chicago and  meeting up with a team for the rest of the trip across the ocean. We will have a 14 hour layover in London in which I hope we will get to spend a little time seeing the city.


    In all, the estimated time it will take me to reach Entebbe is 33  hours (counting layovers etc.). From Entebbe I will be traveling all the way to the northwest corner of Uganda to a region called Arua.  I'm not quite sure, but I'm fairly certain it will take quite a few hours. :) 


     I was talking to my good friend this week, and we agreed how sometimes we actually look forward to those long flights. It is a good time to be still, think, process, and pray. I haven't done a whole lot of long flight travel, and I'm sure it becomes much harder if you add more people to the equation. The family I was going to be staying with whilst in Africa, needs to fly back to the states shortly after I arrive. They will be making the long trek with their young daughters. Please, be praying for their travel safety.


     To give you a little background info, Uganda's capital and largest city is Kampala. Rachel (a friend I met at VIA orientation) should be working in Kampala right now. I keep thinking of her and hoping that somehow we will meet up at some point. Uganda's population is just over 30 million. The lingua franca is English (British), but I think more commonly used/known would be Luganda or Swahili. There are over 40 indigenous languages besides these three. Protestants and Roman Catholics make up about 65% of the population. There is also a relatively large group of Muslim (about 17%).


     This past weekend, I started reading a book called The Price of Stones. The book tells the story of a man who grew up in the southwest region of Uganda, traveled to America to pursue a college degree, married an American, and eventually returned and built a school for AIDS orphans back in his hometown.  I'm only halfway through the book, but it has been very interesting. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see an example of God's provision. It has been a challenge to me.

     I was blessed with having a long conversation this week with one of my friends who is from Kenya. She was such an encouragement to me. She taught me some common phrases in swahili (I've been trying to learn some from a phrasebook I picked up from the library....but its so much better when you can hear someone say it out loud). She is so joyful and courageous. I'm so thankful that we crossed paths.


     Everyone I talk to about this trip says that Africa will CHANGE me. You always go hoping to be of service, hoping to help out, hoping to share the love that God gives to all; yet I know no matter what, God uses other people to bless and encourage me through these type of experiences. I'm not certain all that I will be doing while I am there. It looks like I will be there mainly to help at various orphan ministries in Arua. I am so looking forward to this, but know that plans can change. I'm praying that I will have the mindset of service, flexibility, and patience with whatever comes my way in the next few weeks (This really should be my prayer more often huh?).  


I suppose this gives just a little info about what's ahead. Please continue to pray.


blessings,
Mer

Expectations

6/11/2011

Salama.

·      In 15 days I will be on my way to Michigan :)

·      In 21 days I will celebrating in Ohio! My dear friend Joy will be married. How awesome to get to share with her family and friends in this exciting change! p.s. (expect a package soon!)

·      In 22 days I will be on my way to Africa.

·      I’m sitting at McDonalds in Nicholasville. I wanted to start a new blog entry just to re-cap about the past week and what I’ve been learning. I was interrupted from my thoughts when a boy asked for a piece of paper and pen. Flustered, I searched my purse and found paper. I had seen the boy earlier. He had been pacing around the McDonalds in a very anxious manner. He obviously had been out in the heat all day, because he was quite sweaty and looked a little dehydrated. His clothes and hands smelled like motor oil.  I guessed he was about 16 years old (later he said he was 18). He left for a couple minutes and then came back again and asked if he could sit down. I’ve been asking the Lord to open my eyes and make me aware of the daily opportunities of showing His love. I said yes even though it made me a bit uncomfortable.  He asked me a little about myself and then I started asking him some questions.  At first, he avoided sharing much about himself. There were a few moments of awkward pauses, but eventually he let down the barriers and just started telling me about his life. He talked; I listened. I think that was all he needed. Eventually his friend came to see him and he left. It was a funny little exchange, but good. I really didn’t know what to expect when he first sat down, but everyone needs someone to listen to them every once in awhile and when I’m to that point I sure hope someone will allow me to take a few moments of their day to listen to me.

·      Well, on my way back home from McDonalds, my car broke down. I can’t say that I didn’t expect this day to come, but really whoever “expects it to be today.” :) Thankfully, there were so many blessings about it happening today. Today, I had just put the updated registration tag on my car, the angry UK man behind me graciously pushed me out of the intersection once he realized I was actually having car trouble and not just texting or something like that, my classmate Brandon, his wife, and their little baby stopped to help not even realizing it was me who was holding up the Nicholasville Rd. traffic, Nathan and Cydil were five minutes away and were willing to drive me to the autoshop, I have two full weeks to hopefully get it running so I can travel home, my work is all within walking distance so the fact that I'm carless for a bit doesn't mean my job will be affected, etc. Yes, I have much to be thankful for. Pray that I won’t let the fear of expenses consume my thoughts over the next 3 days. ha I guess God gave me an opportunity to witness what it truly means to show God’s love. So many people actively desired to help me out, even though it was inconvenient to them. It’s been a humbling day. More and more I realize how much I have yet to learn about life, love, and service.

Blessings,

Mer