Christ Alone Is My Hearts Desire

It takes me about 20 minutes to walk to school everyday; it feels like I am in the movie, Slum dog Millionaire, kids playing in the trash, people bathing outside, it is an experience…Many of the University students also live in hostels. Africans walk so slow: They take every moment at a time. I have learned to live simply. I am getting to know myself, and understand my own culture from another perspective. One thing I am grateful for in American culture is the Egalitarian way of living. (Ex. In the States, we would think it was cool for the President to have a beat up car, because he is like one of us, whereas in Uganda, they would be ashamed if there President was driving a lower class car) Things are different. I am usually late to class; but so are my professors There are about 200 students in my Ethics class, and the Professor always points me out, since I am the only Muzungu. Thank you so much for your prayers! I am learning so much about missions here and what a better way to learn, than to be in Africa! The Lord continues to reassure my love for teaching in many different ways; by teaching my little sister English. I gave my first in-class presentation this past week and my Professor was half an hour late…It went great…Good times! My host mom took me to Kampala where she teaches, oh was that an eye opener! All they have is a chalkboard, chalk, and a room. She was amazed when I explained to her that in America, many Primary teachers use a “Smart-Board”. We are so blessed.

Things that were first trying have now become second nature. Like bringing toilet paper to the bathroom, using the squatty potty, putting in contacts without a mirror, bucket bathing, hand-washing laundry…

I am in Uganda not to change lives, but to be apart of lives. I am so used to going on short term mission’s trips and accomplishing a goal, something concrete, but all I have to offer during this period of my life is my time and myself. I am excited to see what the Lord will do with my willing Spirit. It feels like my first semester in college. New People, new places…I love it. When something is new; the Lord can teach me so much about myself and others. I am moving from selfishness to selflessness. The Lord is teaching me humility.

I took my little sister out for a day and we climbed monkey mountain and I had her experience eating Smores, she now is addicted to Smores We even cooked lunch; just the two of us. I am starting to love cooking! I thought it would never happen! But there is just more TIME in Africa, I enjoy cooking...I even cooked a meal for my family on Thursday, I made Chapatti (An African dish) and Hot Dogs (An American Dish). They loved it so much! It took about all day…by the time we had gone into town to get the food from the market and walked back home it had already been 3 hours and we hadn’t even started to cook, we finally had supper around 9, which is the normal dinner time here.

Last Sunday we had a family service at our house, and my host parents asked to me do the family prayer/sermon for that day. It went great; God is so good! My family sings and does prayer every night, they remind me so much of the Seibert Family Momma gave me my Ugandan name the other day, Nanteza, and it means to be humble and free. My sisters have also called me their albino sister, because I am white on the outside, but black on the inside...haha! My sisters have also taught me my new favorite word in the Luganda language, it is “Mukwano”, which means “my love”. After our family service last Sunday, we had a sister day where we went swimming at a local hotel. It was so much fun, even though I got burnt badly. I forget how powerful the sun is sometimes. At the pool, I saw so many grown men almost drown; it is crazy how in America we are used to swimming, where here it is a challenge. But I got to teach some people how to swim and it was so much fun! Friday was my last day with my family. Mom and dad “pushed” me to school, that’s what they say when they walk people places. They also say “Are you lost?” when they haven’t seen you in a long time. My last night with my family I gave them all purses I got at the dollar store back home and they loved it so much, and I gave my sister my last piece of trident gum and she chewed it all night and even had it after breakfast the next morning. Oh how the little things back home, go such a long way here.

Went to R-Kelly in Kampala on Friday, it was crazy and amazing. I felt like a true college student in Uganda All I have to say is that it was AN EXPERIENCE! We had our Honors college retreat this week to Lake Victoria and I partied with my College peeps. I saw the most b-e-a-utiful sunrise I have ever seen over Lake Victoria. We watched the movie, War Dance, a movie about the Acholi tribe and I was able to talk to some people from the Acholi Tribe, it is crazy to think I am in Uganda and talking with people who have experiences the War in the North. My passion for Invisible Children grows everyday. Today, things are becoming better in the North; many people are leaving the displacement camps and going back to their villages.

There are so many things I could say, but this is all for now! I can’t wait to tell you all my experience in detail and person…Love you all so much and thanks for all your prayers!

Prayer request- Health. I have been blessed with no sickness thus far and I pray it would continue as so.

Fav. Quote: “We cannot put ourselves in other people’s shoes; because we will always feel our own feet.”