My Journal Entry: Sunday, July 1, Day 172, Entebbe, Uganda
My heart is so full. I am experiencing with all my soul the joy I have so desperately been seeking the past two months. Here it comes so easily. I am at peace in Africa. Today was honestly one of my favorite days of the race.
Africa was always the big question mark on my race route, the unknown. I didn't let myself think about it all that often, not knowing whether to be thrilled or terrified. But it's finally arrived, and my instant love for this nation feels as if it's always been there, hiding in the deep places of my heart. I am obsessed with African children. They had me at their dance moves…see the video below.
This nation is so precious in His sight. They LOVE the Lord. The church across the street was rocking from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today. No kidding. I snuck in for awhile and sang and danced like I never thought I could, or thought I would, in church. I cannot resist these kids, or the adults for that matter, when they're so joyfully rejoicing and worshipping Jesus.
I felt my race turn around as soon as I stepped on this red soil. I now refuse to count the days until I'm home, choosing instead to savor every sweet moment I have left. Africa has stolen my heart. I know it will not be perfect, it certainly is NOT perfect. It smells and the water is out and I'm hungry more often than not and we have to sleep under mosquito nets to avoid getting malaria. But it's wonderful. It seems I'm finally experiencing everything I expected the World Race to be.
It's only been two days, one really, considering I slept the better part of the first 24 hours we were here. But I already feel a deep connection with these people. These children have crawled into my lap and into my heart forever. And this is only debrief! We're not even at our ministry site yet.
God is so real here. I can see Him and feel Him all around me and I know there is no place I would rather be, then here in His love. As my squad leader Leah spoke tonight, this is a season of newness. A season of beauty.
Isaiah 42: 5-17
