I love being an American, I really, really do – and living overseas confirms that feeling in my heart more every day.
However, despite my love for my nationality, the more time I spend in other countries (specifically 3rd world countries) the more challenging being an American becomes to me.
Take a look at the every-day (literally, every day) questions that I've been asked by locals all over the world in the past 8 months:
"Oh, you're from America? Can you find me a job there?"
"Can you take me back to America with you?"
"Can you pay my salary?"
"Can you pay for this girl's hospital bills for the rest of her life? It will only cost $20 a week."
"Can you find me an American wife?"
"Will you marry me? No? Well, will your friend marry me?"
"Can you help me get accepted into such and such a University in America?"
"Can I take a picture with you?"
"Can I touch your hair?"
"Can you pay for my wedding?"
& on and on it goes.
This morning I was sitting in the waiting room of an optometrist's office with my friend Flavia, waiting for her to get some tests done so she could get proper glasses fitted for her. As we were waiting, conversation between the two of us and the other customers in the room arose – with the topic being about me, the muzungu (nothing unexpected there…). The conversation quickly came to a man asking me, "I want to marry into America. How can I do that? You see, I am getting nowhere here in Uganda and won't move up in life if I don't marry into America."
Ummm… SERIOUSLY?!
Thankfully I have learned to have grace with people like this over the past 8 months and have learned that really the only way I can respond to these questions is with brutal honesty and strong encouragement for these people to stay in their own country. There really is nothing else I can do.
So I responded to him: "Well… I'm sorry to tell you that what you're asking for just simply isn't a possibility. People in America have a choice in who they marry – they marry because they have fallen in love with someone… Women aren't just walking around offering themselves up in marriage to foreigners so that those people can move to the states and be successful. Sorry (not sorry)."
"But there are not as many jobs here in Uganda for me as there are in America…"
"Sorry (not sorry) to tell you, but there really aren't that many jobs out there for you in America either. You should stay here in Uganda and support your own economy! It's awesome here!"
Whew.
I really am finding that my new goal (aside from ministry) on the race is to convince people to stay in their own countries and learn to thrive in those places… And to help them realize that America isn't the end-all to all of their problems. How is the world going to become a better place if everyone is fleeing to America?
To help me in this task,I debated making up some kind of story about a lockness-type monster that lives in America that people should fear… "Don't go to 'Merica or Nessy will eat you!"
I also have started toying with the idea of telling people that I'm from Europe – to take away the reputation of being a fancy American. Plus, I can pull off a British accent pretty well if I do say so myself!
Anything to make my American situation a little bit easier… Right?
Not right… After thinking about it a little more, I decided that: 1a. I'm a terrible liar, so both of those ideas simply could not be pulled off by me in the first place. 1b. Some people would probably pick up on the fact that monsters aren't real… 1c. I would probably run into some Europe-loving fanatic that would ask me a million questions that I don't have the answers to and would catch the fact that my fake accent fluctuates between British and Australian at times. 2. I can't take the easy way out, it just wouldn't be fair to myself or anyone around me.? 3. Being an American is actually a privilege that creates so many opportunities to talk with and share truth with strangers, so I really should take advantage of it while I can.
That last point is the one I want to focus on as I close.
Despite all of the challenges that it brings, being an American really is a privilege. Over the past 8 months I have learned to let go of my pride and simply take joy in the opportunity my nationality brings my way. To smile and laugh when people chase after me while I'm running. To answer people's ridiculous questions as we sit in the waiting room of the doctors office. To wave at people and smile when they call out "Muzungu! Muzuuunguu! How are YOUUUU?!" as I pass by. To be patient with them, love them, and have grace with them, just as Jesus did when He was here on this earth and experienced many similar things… And just as He does with me… Every. Single. Day.
Whew. So thankful for challenges, growth, and grace today!
