How in the absolute WORLD is it Month Seven of the World Race?? I remember being in Month Two watching Instagram stories of people in Month 7/8 and thinking, “wow that’s so far away,” but boom it’s here. I was telling my squad leader, Mads, the other day that thinking about going home seems so weird because I can only remember some things about America. I have been away for so long that when I think, “back to the past,” I think of Colombia or Peru, not college graduation and Christmas. You will only understand this feeling if you are a racer because it is a feeling like no other. Time is not really a thing out here.
I wanted to post about this month in Uganda and what is happening! I am living like a refugee! I never thought I would ever say those words in my life. It didn’t truly hit me until I was on the phone with my mother after I picked up water from “the well” (water system out here), and started hand washing my clothes while sitting on a wooden chair and she was just throwing her clothes into the washing machine. One took an hour and the other took five minutes. I have been working with an incredible organization that is amongst 10+ organizations on the Imvepi Refugee Settlement. We are a little below South Sudan and two hours east of Arua, Uganda. We are in the middle of nowhere, but still have excellent cell service due to the phone towers for the government and charities. Its truly funny.
It is my first month using my tent and I don’t know how people like camping for fun. I am living off beans, rice, and fruit. I drink about 80 water bottles a day due to heat and I run into the office every chance I get to charge my phone when the electricity is on so that when I go to bed at 8pm, I have some power to watch a movie. We live our lives around when the sun rises and when it sets or else it’s just very dark outside. We escape to our tents pretty early in the night for that reason. It’s been a struggle, for everyone, since ministry is light this month and we are not allowed to leave the base. I find myself scrolling on Pinterest or reading many books just to ignore the fact that I am bored. I even started running again. I literally exercise for fun. If you knew me, that may shock you.
I wrote a blog about “Abandonment” that will be released next week and it goes into depth about what it truly is like living out here with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I just wanted to update everyone and say… I am alive! The organization we are working with is incredible! I really want to work alongside an organization like this someday. Month 8 will be in Kenya, month 9 will be in Ethiopia and I will see my parents, month 10 will be in Romania, and month 11 will be hiking the Camino from Portugal to Spain! I will spend a week in Europe with my parents before returning home to America.
Thank you, again, for your continuous support and prayers! I am in need of it always. Much love xx
