Leaving
Lira, Uganda was hard.
For
the second time on the race, I didn’t want to leave a place. (I left
the beginning of Montenegro with a heavy heart as well). Usually, I’m
anxious to go, ready to see the next place. It’s slightly annoying
leaving for the next country. Usually, I grow accustomed to the
schedule, people, ministry towards the beginning of week three, and
then we leave at the end of that week. So sometimes leaving is sad,
but it’s not really a sadness to leave the people, it’s more of a
sadness to leave what has now become comfortable.
Lira
was different.
We
worked with Pastor Johnson and his church ‘Victory Outreach
Ministries,’ and we stayed at Pastor Johnson’s hotel called ‘Alpha.’
When we first arrived, and I saw our living conditions, I threw a
mental fit. We had running water, a cold shower, and we each had our
OWN bed. “I came to Africa to live in a hut, not a hotel,”
I thought. God convicted me of my insanity and, after a few minutes,
I apologized to God for my ungrateful heart, and He opened my eyes to
ministry everywhere around me.
We
had numerous ministries: Aids meetings, working with Compassion
International, doing a youth retreat, preachings, prison ministry,
small groups, Sunday schools, but my favorite ‘ministry’ was doing
life with the Alpha Staff. I should give props to Michelle, who led
the charge in working alongside the staff. I just followed suit.
The
staff there was amazing, and I loved being with them and working with
them. Some of my fondest memories are drying dishes with the staff in
the back while discussing God and life. Also, I can now make
‘chapati’ so look out Bananarchy, here comes a frozen banana wrapped
in chapati… kidding… although…. hmm… yum.
In
Lira, God
opened
my eyes to suffering and his redemption.
opened
my eyes to how I was changing.
opened
my eyes to the reality that everything else is changing.
opened
my eyes to what it is that I am hoping for.
and,
when it was time to go, I knew that a piece of my heart would always
be in Lira.
Other
things I learned:
–
Africa doesn’t need financial aid, it needs ‘economic empowerment.
–
‘Flutentahg’ (check out my ‘about me’ for more info) is a game that
unites anyone. I played with mostly children, but then I played with
the mayor-elect.
–If
Africa has taught me anything, it’s that cars can handle more than I
thought.
When
I get home, I’m taking Theodore, my beautiful 96 Ford Taurus to the
Texas greenbelt for a little off-roading.
