Waiting on a 2pm ride to the airport at a small motel just down the road from the Entebbe airport. I'm anxious, ready to get home and see friends & family. But it's only for a short time and I'll be passing this motel again in 3 short weeks heading back to my home in Uganda. I love going home. But I also love living here. My dad recently asked me what I have against living in South Carolina and why would I consider not moving back in January when my current contract expires. I have absolutely nothing against home. I have absolutely nothing against Lancaster. If anything, I appreciate small town life more than I ever did in my entire life. I understand why people move away from a place for a few years or even a few months, only to return. I get it. My heart will always be in South Carolina but I also have a heart for things outside of it. For the first time in over 2 years, I am thinking about life again in the U.S. For the first time in a very long time, I am trying to imagine fitting back into life in a place that is familiar but not the place that I used to know.
I admire people that let their hearts lead them. I admire missionaries that pack up their families and move to places that are detached from anything that resembles the american life. I admire people that are open to new possibilities and don't rule things out because they fly outside of their comfort zone. I admire people that step out and take the risk. It doesn't have to be Africa or even overseas. Everyone has a different path and some paths are closer to home. I admire many people back home that are doing things that seem riskier to me than packing up my things and moving to East Africa.
Timing really is everything. I wasn't ready to leave SC or the U.S. in my 20's. I would have never appreciated the things that I cherish now. I don't think I could have dealt with the frustrations and uncomfortable situations in a healthy manner. I don't think I could have jumped into relationships and spent time with people that are so different from myself. I don't think it would have worked. But a few years later, I was prepared. I was ready.
I've recently spent lots of time listening to the podcast, This American Life. I can't get enough and the incredible wi-fi speeds in Uganda often leave me waiting for the next episode to download. I love stories and the way life is full of twists and turns. The way that we affect others around us. The way relationships make up our entire existence. Everyone has a story. The little village that my plane will ascend over in a couple hours is full of simple life. There is no wi-fi. There isn't electricity. There may be a TV within a couple kilometers but it's probably tuned to football (soccer) most of the time power is available. However, in this small remote village, there are stories. There are relationships. There is conversation about struggle, hope, God, marriage, finances and children. It's a simpler life but no less important. The village life is often filled with happiness and contentment. Probably much more than many western lives.
I hiked Mt. Wanale a couple weeks ago. It was a small group made up of my housemates and a couple CURE staffers. A mix of ex-pats and Ugandans. It was a fantastic outing and I was glad to finally stand at the top of the mountain that serves as Mbale's backdrop. It's not a massive climb (less than 2,000 feet) but a beautiful view at the top. The one thing that I will always remember about this climb is a comment that Moses (CURE co-worker) made during our hike up to the peak. As we were taking a water break, he said "Life is happening here." In fact, he said it multiple times during the trip. I laughed at first. I thought it was a just a comment to break up the silence among the tired group as we chugged water and caught our breath. But then it hit me later that day. He's right. And although it didn't seem deep when I first heard it, it impacted me than anything else that day. Life really is happening there. We passed houses and villagers digging as we followed a narrow dirt path weaving through banana plants and small clusters of houses. For those villagers, life on the side or top of Mt. Wanale, is more than we see on the exterior. Life is similar - full of ups and downs, births, deaths struggle, celebration. Just as important as our lives. Just as meaningful and unpredictable.
I recently aquired a sticker from the charity organization, Sevenly. I pasted it on my laptop because I love it. It reads "People Matter." It's simple but perfect for the way I feel about these people that I've had the extraordinary privilege to share life with over the last couple of years. Next time someone tells you that they are planning on "serving" or "helping" in some poor, developing country. Do me a favor. Tell them to have fun learning and gaining more than they could ever imagine. Because that's what happens. You can tell them they're awesome because you think they're being sacrificial if you really feel that way, but it's not what you think if you've never been there. It's a privilege & a priceless opportunity. It's heartbreaking and breathtaking at the same moment. It's growth and change.
"Life is happening here." And at home. I'm thankful for my friends and family that have stuck with me. I'm not the best communicator at times but realize the importance of a simple text or message. I realize the impact that we have on the people around us. Wherever we happen to be.
