It’s been 2 weeks in Uganda…so hard to believe! In some ways, it seems like it has been months…but in other ways it still feels so new. Mzungu is a common term that we have heard or been called…it usually refers to the “light skinned” or “foreigners” in East Africa. It’s been so interesting to be thrust into a new culture and receiving various reactions from the locals. We have been embraced, harassed, treated like royalty, and had our pictures taken with strangers. My favorite is seeing a group of kiddos jumping up and down chanting and yelling “Hey yooouuuuu!!!” Their innocence and enthusiasm is infectious and so encouraging.
So for the past 2 weeks we have been in training, and in many ways our training has been hands-on. It feels as if we are infants learning how to walk, and our mentors and coaches are here holding our hands with each step. We have graciously been given time to reflect on our current spiritual walk, and truly get into the “why” we are here. For me, it has been such a fantastic echo of reassurance of the work I have personally done over the past 2 years. We would be in group discussion or in prayer and I would lovingly hear God whisper “Remember that? Remember when we walked through that together?” The peace that comes when you know you are exactly where God wants you to be…it is craaazy good y’all!! Then going out into the villages and markets and interacting with the locals…and practicing and learning how to rely on the Holy Spirit and watching Him move through us…so powerful. We have also been eased into the different diet, transportation, and ways of living norms for this region…it is amazing to me how much I take for granted when in the states!
One of the young ladies we met during our training camp is particularly on my heart, and I want to share a little bit about her. I will call her T, and she is about 21 or 22…she wasn’t 100% sure of her age. T grew up without parents and was a child who received sponsorship from Compassion International. One of the reasons I got to know T so well is because she is one of the worship leaders at the college we stayed at. At her young age, she has a heart of service and a gift of music she uses to serve The Lord through leading the choir. T has the most beautiful giving heart…she took the time and money to make each of our squadmates and leaders a bracelet! The night before we left the college, T was talking to me and two of the other girls and she told us how she admired our “freedom in everything”. It took some more explanation from T until I truly understood what she meant by “freedom in everything.” T has the heart to go and serve through the race also, but the amount of money that we fundraised for our trip is more than T will hope to make in the next 34 years. Ouch. Talk about reality slapping me in the face. She hopes to make what is equivalent to our $500 USD per year…and that would be a good year for her. My mind was completely overtaken with a strange combination of responsibility+gratitude+heaviness+heartbreak and I could name several more… T also explained that she admired our freedom in expressing ourselves as women and the freedom we walk in with the Lord. Talk about a paradigm shift in the first week…I just want to encourage you to please keep T in your prayers. I also want to encourage you to be thankful for what you have, and not take your blessings for granted.
Praise report: I’M FULLY FUNDED!!!! Thank you to everyone who contributed to my trip financially or otherwise…I’m absolutely amazed at God’s provision through my friends and family. I can’t tell you how blessed and loved I feel. Thank you.
Prayer requests: Please keep our teams in your prayers as we get ready to venture out with the Holy Spirit as our guide. Also safety and provision with traveling and lodging for each team as we separate from our large squad. Team Deep is my team, but please also keep in your prayers Team 6-Pack, Team Jehovah’s Pride, and Team Gentle Warriors.
Love y’all.
