**Disclaimer: This post is going to be kind of venting. Everything is fine, I promise it's just there are some things that I need to get out. This is not a cry for people to feel sorry for me or to think I want to go home now. That is not the case. I love it here and I am so happy for this opportunity to be here. So please just bare with me.**
I had a pretty easy transition to Africa. I was very comfortable with being here and with my family. But I'm going to be honest, it is hard to leave family, friends, and comfort for a period of time. I do miss my family and friends and I miss the fact that my friends would only be a short walk down the hall and that my family is a car ride away. Now, if I really want to go home I would have to get on a plane and travel for almost a full day.
I have been here a month. Which means I have 3 months to go. Part of me is counting down because I am a future oriented person and am looking forward to the day when I get back to the States. The other part is saying, "Shoot! Time is running fast (Ugandan phrase)! I only have 3 more months?!" I feel as though I have so much to do in such a short amount of time. But then I remind myself, that I have time and do not need to stress. I need to learn to be more present here and learn to get through a day, one day at a time. Not to worry about what's going to happen next week or what life is going to be like when I get back to the States in 3 months.
I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Oh Lord, help me not be anxious!!!
I also feel as though I am at that place where I have nothing to write about for people back home to read about. I have gotten into a routine and it just seems like life is normal now with classes, homework, and interactions with my host family. It's almost like I'm a normal college student. Even though I'm not living a typical college life because I am not involved with anything on campus. But I do promise if something worthwhile happens I will write about it for all you to see.
It feels as though things take so much time here. Like walking to school. The bathrooms are half way across campus so it takes like 3 minutes to get there and it's not always guaranteed that there will be toilet paper or soap there so you have to bring some with you. Cooking takes a long time. My host mother comes home at like 6:30 and is cooking dinner until we eat at 9-9:30. Most of what she makes, could be cooked in an hour tops in the States. Bathing takes longer because my host mother boils water for me and I pour it into a bucket and then add 3/4 more cold water to make the water bearable. Doing the laundry is a 2-3 day task. Because the clothes get washed and then are put on the line to dry all day, and then someone has to iron them. And because there are so many clothes, ironing takes 2-3 hours. And ironing is not done right as soon as the clothes are dry. The clothes sit on a shelf for a day before they get ironed. I would iron, but my family hires a neighborhood girl to do it so if I did it I would be taking away a paying job for her. Washing dishes take a lot of time because there is no dish washer. My host mother is the dish washer (she has yet to let me help her).
Here's the thing. It's okay. This is the way life is here and I knew that going into it. Ugandans have the time to do life this way. In the States we would complain because we are so used to things getting done fast and efficiently. I need to take a page out of a Ugandan book. These tasks force a person to be present. I need to take time and just sit with my host mother when she is making supper and just talk with her. I need to be broken of my Western mindset.
I am also having to process so much. There are many questions that have been raised in my Faith and Action class, that I am wrestling with. Such as, what is salvation and how is a person saved? Is it different from culture to culture? How do we really do cross-cultural missions? What parts of a culture should we allow the natives to practice and what parts should we challenge? And how do we even know what would be acceptable and what wouldn't?
There are quite a few cultural difference here that I know would be looked down upon in the States, but they are perfectly acceptable here. So who is to say that they are right or wrong? How much should our cultures influence our walks with Jesus or should it be the other way around? Oh goodness, my head is spinning just thinking about all this. Maybe I will never know the answers to these questions, but they are good questions to be asking and processing. I'm hoping to get some guidance on these questions by the time I leave. That does not mean I will be an expert or have all the answers. It's a journey that I will be on the rest of my life.
Now unto something happy....
I went bungee jumping last Sunday morning. It was awesome!!!!! I was not as scared as I thought I would be. I was fine up until I was on the edge of the platform. That was when I was starting to get a little nervous. I even looked down and the guide said not to, so I looked up again. That helped me a lot. It made it easier to jump. I was holding onto a bar above me and then I had to drop my arms and then I hear the words, "Take a couple deep breaths. Okay, now you are ready. THREE, TWO, ONE, BUNGEE!!!!" And then I jumped. I had my eyes open the whole time and so I saw everything below me. And then I shot up again and back down and swung back and forth. Ah, so great. I would probably do it again if the opportunity arises. I do have a video of it, but it won't load on Facebook so you will have to wait until I get back to see it.
Other than that there is not much to write about.
Prayer Requests:
To be present here
to be up to date on homework and to get this Politics paper written because it is due on Thursday
Be in the Word daily
To be able to process as much as I can
I just want to say thank you for all who have been praying!! I am so happy for the support. Please continue to be praying!!
Be Blessed All!!
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