Life is full of Hellos and Goodbyes.

Is it already April?

“Happiness is not about what you can get, but it’s about what you can give.”

Oh Africa. How I will miss thee. I cannot begin to comprehend what a blessing this semester has been to me abroad. It has truly been the “Best Semester”. Love, presence, community, joy, trust, sacrifice, and simplicity are just a few words that come into my mind when thinking about the past four months. These words have all been redefined in my mind and how I live my life.

I made no-bake cookies the other day and it is the big hit around Honors College. My friends are beginning to become family now. Even my students at my practicum sites have become my teachers in life. I have had so many fun times out with friends these past months…there are too many to mention but some highlights are: going to the law dinner (tiffany it was so fun), having frequent porage and tea dates with friends, watching movies outside (watched Blindside and loved it), rolling almost every night, watching the African stars and the sky light up with lightning at night, field trips around Uganda...living life in Africa.

Some other highlights…
I went to my first African introduction and wore a traditional Gomesi. An “Introduction” it the marriage tradition in African culture of having the bride introduce her groom to her family and friends. It is also to display the bride price. It was so fun. Got a boyfriend for April Fools day…and I was able to meet my German relative on Good Friday. I love how out of all places to meet my German relative, I met her in Africa. Oh, The Unity of Christ. Easter in Uganda was amazing…spent the weekend at an orphanage and then Easter Sunday with my host family. It was so fun to spend Easter with my family in Africa.

From my family home stays to teaching at two schools and orphanages…from playing on the girls futball team to spending time with my friends in my dorm…there has been too many good times to recall…I have so many pictures to post too, but the African net has not been working lately (T.I.A.). But don’t worry you will all get to see them!

All good times must come to an end…

I just completed all my courses for this semester and I did my final exams for this semester abroad. What an experience exams were in Africa…3 hours+15pages of Essays=My History Exam. The Lord gave me the wisdom I needed though. Exams are taken very seriously here, worth 50% or more for the overall grade.
Besides finishing up classes, I am also beginning to say my good-byes…I leave for Rwanda in 5 days and then I will go to Nairobi, Kenya for two weeks to visit my Kenyan family. And then home to Oregon on the 20th of May. Just thinking of how fast this semester had gone by, I am sure the next month will feel like a week.

I love you all and miss you so much. Again, thank you so much for all your prayers…this semester abroad wouldn’t have been the same without them. I have learned so much spiritually…for one of my classes, Faith and Action, we have to write a paper about things we are learning almost every week. There is so much I want to tell you about what I have questioned, realized and thought about this semester. We will just have to meet when I return, so I can read you all my faith and action thoughts of this semester.
The power of presence, the trueness of time, the importance of discipleship, the act of humility, and how to live simply are just a few things I have grown to realize this semester in Uganda.

Thank you Jesus.

Please pray for continual provision, especially while traveling this last month in Africa.
Also, be praying for these next two weeks in Rwanda, it will be a very difficult time while learning about the genocide, but also pray that instead of focusing on the negativity about the past, focus would be around the power of reconciliation in the present.