TIA : This is Africa

It has been over a week since I left SV to begin the travels to UG. A lot has happened during that time. It is strange, time seems to move so slowly in UG, but passes by quickly. Tuesday morning my friend Caylin and I got up early to drive to the airport (mom, dad, and Dylan dropped me in Tucson Monday evening). I met some really neat “traveling companions” on each leg of the journey. In Amsterdam, where I had a short layover, I met up with Mr. A. His Daughter, RA, is teaching in UG with JAM. He was heading to UG to work with the ABIDE program and to see how RA is doing. Three long flights from home I arrived in UG- only an hour late! Mr. A and I were met at the airport by RA and our Ugandan friends PT and M. We traveled to Kampala to stay the night at the Reverend T’s house. In bed by 12:15 am, up by 4:30 am to shower and hit the road (yes, shower!!). We drove for about 6 hrs, stopped in Mbarara for lunch, and then drove to Kishanje. We arrived around 8 pm in time for dinner.

Friday was great. Got to see some of my kids at the school and catch up with them. It is school vacation time here, so I haven’t seen all the children I know and love, but it has been nice getting some good one on one time with them.

Saturday we left after lunch to drive the three hours to Kabale. RA and PT (who I genuinely love) were mean as can be and made me do some shopping all by myself- in Rukiga!! It was intense, but I am thankful for their tough love. RA, Mr. A, and I spent the night at a hostel, got up early Sunday to bathe, went to Church, then PT drove us to Lake Bunyonyi. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by neat camping sites, hiking trails, and some little touristy B&B’s. It is also a type of “taxi” ground. You can take a long canoe across the lake (which is huge) to reach the far villages and towns. RA is excited to introduce me to this form of public transport. I am not so sure….

We spent a short time at the lake then headed back to Kabale where we met with Uncle AH who drove us to Mbarara. Upon reaching the children’s home, we dropped off Mr. A and RA and then headed over to meet my host family. My friend NM (who CC and I lived with our first summer) came with Uncle AH and me to introduce me to the family. It was nice having a sister with me on this new adventure.
I am still not clear on all the details. A hard thing for me to deal with- I love details, I love clarity, I love plans…. And yet I find myself here in Africa. God has a sense of humor. The family I am staying with is preparing a room for me with a separate bathing area which I really appreciate, but for now I am in the main area with them. Unlike what I was told, there is electricity!! I can charge my phone to use, but all computer work has to be done at the ABIDE house / Children’s Home or in town. On the positive side, my host family is kind and welcoming, on the negative side I think they live on the other side of the moon. Thankfully some of the ABIDE guys and some of my boys have escorted me home in the evenings. The walk is not so daunting when you are walking with friends. Each morning I make the trek down alone though.

Things are difficult for me here. I am not a fearless person. I have to go WAY outside my comfort zone. Already it is feeling a bit overwhelming. Different culture. Different languages. Different people. Different places. Different expectations. Different responsibilities. Different challenges. One day at a time, by the grace of God is the only way I will get through.

Final thoughts: Being here is good for my “self esteem”. Already many people have told me “you are sooo fat!!” some of the children informed me that now I look like a mukaaka (grandmother) because I am so much older than before, and Uncle AH asked me why I cut my hair- because this hair cut “is NOT smart” (meaning it looks bad). Finally, one of my girls told me that another girl had told her that "Aunt Le is so humble and nice, she is not attractive though, but because she is humble people can like her anyway." -excellent-

There is so much more to share, but for now I will end with this thought: as tired as I may be from travelling, from being bombarded by language, culture, and mosquitoes, as far away as I feel from my friends and family, and as hot and sticky –uncomfortable as I may become, it is all worth it: If I can show just one child they are loved and they are valuable, then this is all worth it.