overwhelmed

I am not really sure where to even begin processing the experiences, events, people, etc from my second journey to Uganda. As people have asked me this week how my trip was my instant response was hard but incredible.I feel like those two words contradict one another but for me on this journey they were the perfect mix. You see when I went to Uganda this past summer I was like a child at Christmas. After ten years of longing to go to Africa I was finally able to go...so I was soaking in the entire experience like a sponge. I loved everything about the experience...the food, the culture, the heat, being dirty, wearing the same clothes over and over...you name it, I loved it. This time going back my perspective was a little different. I went this time with eyes wide open to answering the question..."could I really live my life day in a day out in this culture?" For those of you who aren't aware I have felt the Lord's leading me to Uganda after last summer and so this was a question that I needed to find the answer to. I don't really think I experienced any culture shock the last trip. Between soaking it all in and being a source of stability for my team it just wasn't an issue for me. This trip I think culture shock hit me like a mack truck. To be honest I wasn't expecting it to shake me like it did and I spent the first few days being incredibly disappointed with myself. Why was it hard for me to have to use the bathroom in a hole in the ground and why was it that hard to take a bucket bathe? I'm not really sure but it just was. My first night in Nebbi while staying in a dear friend's home, I went to bed crying wondering how this could ever work. After talking with Sara Beth, our team leader, I decided to go stay in the hotel and just process what in the world was going on in my head, my heart and with my emotions. Though the time in the hotel with running water and a flushing toilet did help, I was quite ashamed that I couldn't cut it and was afraid that I had greatly offended a dear friend by not staying in his home. Before the week's end I had used more than my share of squatty potties and spent the night with another friend in his families' home and found myself coming around and being more okay with the situation. Is this going to be a major adjustment??? ABSOLUTELY! Is it enough to keep me from serving in Uganda and seeing Acres of Hope come to fruition??? Absolutely not.

Geoffrey if you are reading this....thank you for your patience with me. I hope you and Joy know that I love you like my own family and my decision to go stay in Gaaf had nothing to do with your hospitality and everything to do with the Lord rocking my world and making sure that my YES was on the table. Thank you for having us in your home!