Home Stay & Such..

“Keep Calm and Carry On.”

That’s the “motto” for my cohort group in my Faith & Action class. As much as we all love Uganda, it’s definitely a challenge to adjust to everything here, even though it’s only been 2 weeks- the culture shock along with complete lack of routine here really takes mass amounts of energy.

First of all- CONGRATULATIONS TO MATTHEW AND ASHLEY FOR GETTING ENGAGED LAST WEEKEND!!! WOOOOOHOOOO!! :) :) :) I’m so happy for both of them!!

I started my first home stay on Saturday. For 12 days we’re all living with separate Ugandan families and living as if we were a Ugandan. It’s a great experience but it’s a lot tougher than I thought it would be. My mama and papa here are great, they’re so kind and very generous, but it’s soooo different to live in a Ugandan home. My mama is a tailor and my papa owns a workshop that makes placemats from raffia, which is soo cool. On Sunday he took me to his workshop and I got to see how they’re made and helped him dye the raffia. I loved it! Then my mama taught me how to make fire from charcoal, a stick, and a match. It was kind of terrifying- I hate fire. But I’ve got it down now :) And I now know how to properly cut up vegetables and a fruit, which is major progress for me because I’ve never been much of a cook- AT ALL.

Like I said- I really love being here and the people are all so great- but sometimes I just really miss home. Nothing here is easy by any means. Ugandans work harder than anyone I’ve ever met- I finally understand why everyone thinks Americans are lazy- we really are compared to how much these people do just to have a meal to eat or a bed to sleep in. At my home stay, my mama probably spends about 3 hours trying to prepare a meal. Then an hour to clean up after the meal, and by then she has to start making the next meal. Even getting clean water is hard work. I am sooo weak. I had to go “fetch” water the other day and it was a 20 liter jerry can that I had to fill and I was literally sweating by the time I got back from trying to carry that thing. Two little girls walked past me carrying the same thing acting like it wasn’t even that heavy- I was pretty embarrassed haha. I may just have ripped arms by the time I get home in May :)

The girls I’m interacting with here are so great. Everyone is just honestly so encouraging. We’re all really pushing each other to totally rely on God and let Him have control of our lives. It’s amazing how real God becomes when He’s honestly the only thing you have. So often I go to bed at night just totally exhausted from the day and really discouraged because nothing here is simple and it’s frustrating to have to put soooo much effort into the most simple things, but then I look back on the day and I can’t help but smile because I can just see how much God is working in my life. The hope and grace I’m finding in Him are the strength I find to get through the days here. I am just so at awe by the difference my attitude has been due to my reliance on God. I just have to keep reminding myself that it’s like an “endurance run” not a “sprint.” I need to take it one day at a time, one step at a time, instead of rushing and trying to figure everything out all at once. I’m learning that it’s okay to be uncomfortable- that’s when Go d really helps guide us. And silence is okay- it’s actually a beautiful thing. It’s all about presence. Even if you can’t understand the language being spoken, if you don’t know the people you’re surrounded by, or the meaning of your circumstances, God is right there and taking care of EVERYTHING.

Okay well I’m gonna go enjoy Africa :) Love you all!

PS: Facebook hardly EVER works here so if you think I'm ignoring you on facebook cuz I've been on the internet and haven't gotten back with you- don't think that :) I should be able to get facebook in the next week tho :)