I'm Back

As I write this on Saturday night, almost two days have passed since I arrived back on Ugandan soil. A little over 24 hours ago, I arrived back in Kasana, which even after being here only five short months gained the place in my heart of a third home after Dallas (where I grew up and where my parents are) and Siloam Springs (my college home town).

I am so so glad to be back! I can’t even tell you what a blessing it is to be back in this place. And I am so grateful to each and every person who has enabled me to return here through their encouragement and support!

What “I’m back” means in daily life – the positives and the challenges.

It means I get to live with Deborah, a lady I knew some from my last time here, and two other ladies. Today I was able to visit with Florence and get to know her – she also kindly made me tea and helped me “lay” my bed! {And made me breakfast this morning!}

It means that power has been mostly off during the days. (This is because the power lines are being serviced to hopefully make them better! I actually saw one of the workers up a pole stringing some wire.) And in the house where I now live, we only have three bulbs that are solar power (bathroom, hallway, sitting room, and those are spotty) and no sockets.

It means that the past couple days I got to catch up with Aunt Jill, and this morning I got to be with Worcester family again for a couple hours! It was so good to see them all, and they welcomed me back warmly J

It means that I walked into a completely bare room. Tonight will actually be my first night to sleep in my room, because the bed I’m borrowing for now was just moved over this afternoon! But it also means a western toilet in the bathroom! :D

It means being able to walk over to the Institute, my home last time, to see Betty and Harriet – two of my favorite ladies! I love being able to drop in on friends using just my own two feet to get there. This community aspect is one of the many reasons I wanted to return!

It means a return to the dust and the bugs….Today I had started unpacking and sorting my stuff to reorganize it….and my feet were filthy from my bedroom floor. So I swept (with our two-foot broom made of wispy plants/twigs) and mopped (which meant a bucket of water and laundry soap + an item of clothing that has been retired from wearing and relegated to the rag pile).

It means that I awoke the past two mornings to a plethora of beautiful bird songs out my window. :D I have so loved getting to see the beautiful birds here again, especially the cute little finchy birds I so fell in love with last time! (Red-cheeked Cordon Blues and Pin-tailed Whydahs)

It means showering evidently requires making a choice between clean water fetched from the water tower (as a cup/basin shower) OR running water (that comes from our house’s rainwater collection held in a cistern, and so is considered dirty….and will run out during dry season!). Neither of which are hot, unless the power is on to heat the water we fetch from the tower, OR unless the sun has warmed our tank enough that our running water is somewhat warm.

It means I will get to know Ugandan culture (and hopefully Luganda!) much more thoroughly from immersion in it by living with my housemates.

It means I have yet to be on Internet since leaving the guesthouse in Entebbe on Friday morning (I haven’t succeeded in getting Internet from my new house yet, and haven’t tried going closer to the main source to connect)

It means that tomorrow morning I get to worship once again with my Kasana family!

It means that I am here following God’s call and hopefully serving His purposes.

It means that soon I get to start helping Aunt Jill with her work in the sponsorship office!

And so, despite the challenges, the cultural uncertainties, the minor inconveniences, I am excited and so very blessed to be here!

{As I mentioned at the beginning, most of this was written last night. This morning, as I opened my windows, I looked out at the greenery and the flowers, and listened to the birds, and just couldn’t help leaning against the windowsill and thanking God for bringing me back! Worshipping with my Ugandan brothers and sisters this morning was also such a blessing!!! J}