One more continent to go! New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are finished…only Eastern Europe remains before this journey is completed. Africa is a world of cultures that many of us cannot imagine, and I have been blessed to spend the last three months in this unique part of the world. I have met people who have blessed my heart and have seen the amazing work-ethics that put me and probably all Americans to shame. Before we begin our adventure back in a more familiar society, here are some of my experiences along the way.
Kenya
1. I have pulled water from a well
2. I have helped slaughter and pluck a chicken for our dinner
3. I have been able to pray with locals to accept Christ
4. I have heard “Mzungu (white person), how are you?” more times than I can count.
5. I have danced before the Lord with the beautiful people of this country.
6. I have had my hair twisted
7. I have carried water on my head
8. I have been able to experience the joy that comes only from the Lord
9. I have cooked dinner in the dark with a headlamp
10. I have walked an hour to the open-air market for groceries
11. I have had a skirt made for me
12. I have held a precious child on my lap
13. I have celebrated my birthday in a another country
14. I have helped build a new building for the church
15. I have slept under a mosquito net
16. I have watched more movies this month than all the others combined
17. I have seen God
18. I have felt God
19. I have heard God
20. I have celebrated my 25th birthday on a bus
21. I have spent time with the Masai people in one of their villages
22. I have seen many animals on safari
Tanzania
1. I have joined the praise team and sang and danced around church
2. I have been peed on by a baby
3. I have seen the paralyzed walk
4. I have celebrated the 4th of July on the 10th of July
5. I have eaten FunFetti cake
6. I have seen Mt. Kilimanjaro
7. I have made new friends in unexpected places
8. I have watched God change my heart
9. I have laughed
10. I have cried
11. I have learned/am learning to look beyond myself
12. I have walked A LOT
13. I have been on a Dala Dala with 31 people in it
14. I have been on a bus with chickens
15. I have spent more of my time reading the bible
16. I have made babies cry just because I’m white
17. I have been dreamed about (lion coming from afar)
18. I have had trouble sleeping
19. I have taught friends to do back handsprings
20. I have worn skirts every day
21. I have seen God
22. I have felt God
23. I have heard God
24. I have seen the most amazing sunrise
25. I have had my hair braided
26. I have swam with wild dolphins in the Indian Ocean
27. I have snorkeled in the Indian Ocean
28. I have mastered the squatty potty
29. I have become an Aunt…again.
Uganda
1. I have said goodbye to team Radiance
2. I have joined a new team…Imago Dei
3. I have taught about AIDS prevention
4. I have bungee jumped into the Nile
5. I have white water rafted the Nile
6. I have had the best conversation of my year with a new friend
7. I have painted a Cathedral
8. I have cried
9. I have preached
10. I have sang
11. I have danced
12. I have gotten corn rows
13. I have fallen in love with my new team
14. I have finished my first journal
15. I have drank a ton of Mountain Dew
16. I have laughed
17. I have walked miles
18. I have been blessed by the hospitality of new friends and strangers
19. I have seen God
20. I have heard God
21. I have felt God
