Uganda is located in east Africa. It is surrounded by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sudan.

I will be based out of Mbarara. This picture came from the CIA world fact book, a great place to find info and maps about countries around the world- check it out!

Thirteen days to go! My biggest challenge right now is trying to decide what to do first! I have committed to working for one year in UG, so I am attempting to pack the appropriate amount of clothes and toilet paper. Not an easy task for this girl who loves to be over prepared for anything.

I have been invited to live with a local Ugandan family. The husband and wife have three sons and one daughter ranging in ages 16- 23; I am excited to get to know them. Also one set of grandparents live with the family. This is a good opportunity for me to learn more about Ugandan relationships, and about the people from a multigenerational perspective.


I have been reading a book my aunt lent me called “Too Small to Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most” by Dr. Wess Stafford. If you get the chance, read it- I identify with a lot of the core issues he talks about in working with children.
Thank you for your continued prayers.

Hello

It’s kind of intimidating starting a blog. I stare at the blank screen of vast nothingness and find it daunting, daring me to share something meaningful. Something insightful. Witty. Humorous. Worth Reading. All my shortcomings rear their ugly heads- case in point: I am terrible at spelling and grammar. Run on sentences seem to be my forte. So I ask, bear with me, as I share my inner ramblings on this page.

My intent is to hopefully paint a picture of life- life as I experience it. I can’t promise brilliance, good spelling, grammatically correct sentence structure, or even to always make sense, but I do commit to being honest and trying my hardest to put into words what I learn, what I see, and where I go.

I am just an average girl from an average place about to begin a not so average year. In a mere 15 days I am leaving home to move to Uganda. There I will work with an organization dedicated to helping children. I am excited. I am anxious. I am ready to go.

Over the duration of two trips I have spent a combined total of 13 weeks in Uganda. My first trip was the summer of 2006, the second the summer of 2007. It has been a long two years having been away from the country, or more precisely, the people, who captured my heart.


At the time I didn’t realize how drastically my life would change when my friend CC and I decided to go spend a few weeks during our college break working in Uganda. But something almost inexplicable occurred- a change, a subtle shift, a seed planted. Upon returning stateside I changed my major at school and began to prepare for a future devoted to helping children and families.

I am grateful for all the support I have received from family, friends, loved ones, and even complete strangers. Not everyone “gets” the appeal of living in a third world country- but that’s ok with me. I don’t get the appeal of a lot of different jobs out there. It is my opinion that each individual has a talent for something, a strength, calling, gift, leaning…. You get my drift- if we didn’t have different talents we wouldn’t get too far in life. My heart is for working with children.

Consider this your invitation to journey with me through life in UG.