A Short Update

I'm sorry it has been so long in between posts. A lot has happened but at the same time I don't have a lot to write personally. Last week I got to travel to Burundi to participate in the YPI Burundi conference. We were in a smaller city called Gitega up in the mountains of Burundi and it was absolutely gorgeous. My impression was that the conference went really well but I actually got sick during the conference and so my memories of it are only so-so. On the way back we had an 8 hour layover in Rwanda so we left the airport and got to sit in a coffee shop for a bit and attend another short meeting with some people there.

Last week I somehow managed to catch  a stomach bug and a cold all at the same time and while my stomach bug only lasted about 3 days my cold is still lingering. Mostly I just have a pretty bad cough that keeps me up till the wee hours of the morning; which is unfortunate but not the end of the world. However I have deep-rooted and abiding hatred of coughing that probably comes from my extra long bought with it last year; so this really isn't my favorite form of being sick. I would appreciate prayer to get over this quickly so I can get some sleep at night and enjoy running around the city during the day.

Hopefully soon I'll have something a little more fun to post, and maybe eventually I'll take out my camera and actually take some pictures.But until then I will at least try to keep my promise of posting once a week!

Giving Thanks

I have been in Uganda for about 3 and a half days now and I am flying out this evening to Burundi. Today I just wanted to write a short blog about some things that God put on my heart to be thankful for.

I am thankful for the people all over the world who are passionate about the Lord's work and His plan for the global community. I am thankful that we are all given different talents and gifts with which to serve His kingdom. I am thankful that the Lord does not discriminate by racial, social, or cultural differences. I am thankful that the Lord has given every single person a part to play in His kingdom. I am thankful that the Lord holds a plan for the world  that is for His glory. I am thankful for the determination that comes from knowing that we serve a just and merciful God who loves the world and seeks to use us to do His work in it. And lastly for today I am thankful that the Lord has given me the peace that comes from knowing that the Lord uses weaknesses and strengths so that His glory will shine despite me.

Safe and more than a little bit jet-lagged....

                For some reason I had in my head that I had two 8 hour legs to my journey and a stopover in Amsterdam…. So discovering that both legs were actually 10 hours was a bit of a mental shock and the fact that I only slept that weird airplane sleep for 3 hours overall which didn't really help. But nothing uneventful happened. I got to watch one movie on my flight to Amsterdam before my video system crashed (and the rest of that flight was a bit painful….) and on my second flight I had a seat mate with whom I could actually converse so we just chatted for at least half of the flight.  I would never claim that I was organized…. But I made it on and off all of my planes without losing anything and that is all that matters. While I was traveling (and incredibly bored) I recorded a couple of thoughts that ran through my mind that might share some of those airplane events; if you are really bored I’ll include them below.

                My first day in Kampala was fun but it has been a little hard to process. I got about 6 hours of sleep last night and that wasn't nearly enough to properly realize that one is living in a foreign country….. This morning Don and Trina, friends of my parents who are living here, showed me around the city. I got a cellphone, exchanged some money and took a driving tour past all of the major landmarks. They pointed out a couple of good restaurants here and there but if I remember a third of what I saw I will have impressed myself. We at lunch at a restaurant that overlooks Lake Victoria and the view was lovely. It has been a little warm here but over all really pleasant. I’m sorry if this blog doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I’m hitting my wall for the day and I can only hope that I am actually communicating something here! I’m excited to be here and see what the days will continue to bring!

Airplane thoughts:

After Security

                “They didn't take my knitting needles!!!!! I don’t have to start over!!!”

                “Oops. I didn't screw the water bottle lid on right…. Only like 23 more hours, the wet spot on my jeans isn't that awkward….”

Seattle to Amsterdam

                “Seriously?  You wouldn't think screwing on a water bottle lid would be that difficult. I’ll just use my jacket to mop up my seat, it’ll dry soon. Nope that didn’t work as well as it should have, I’ll just fold up my blanket a couple of times and sit on that for the entire flight…”

                “I forgot how much air conditioning there is on an airplane, I should put on my jacket…. Oh wait it is still wet. But I have a blanket!!! That is even wetter….”

                “I”ve watched on movie and read a book!!! Only 7 hours till Amsterdam!!”

                “I really forgot to lock the airplane bathroom doors? That could have been way more awkward. Maybe I messed up my med this morning.”

                “My video screen broke a half an hour ago…. Only 5 and a half more hours till I land in Amsterdam…”

Amsterdam to Entebbe

                “Finally! A seat mate I can talk to!”

                “I hate these immigration forms…. I don’t even always know what I will be doing in Uganda, what do I tell them?”

                “My seat mate and I just pounded out the basic logistics for an intercontinental monkey battle… I think I need sleep…”

                “This is the flight that never ends, never ends, never ends, this is the flight that never ends only three more hours to go!”

                “Okay I lied, I forgot the Kigali stopover. Five and a half hours to go…”

After that I was so incoherent I can’t even translate my notes now, but the important bit is that I still made it through the airport and I found a bed to crash in :)

Thanks so much for all of your prayers!!!!

Heading Out

It was just a month ago that I found out I could have the opportunity to intern in Uganda this summer and it was still about a week later that I finalized the general plan. Since then I have been finishing final papers and exams at school and I have been tackling all of the little things that come with a trip like this! It would be so unfortunate for me to run out of contacts halfway through my trip!

I am writing this post on a Monday and it is more than a little bit surreal to think that I am flying out on Thursday! I have a million to-do lists that are partially crossed off, random piles of stuff to pack and a couple of logistics that are still falling into line.I have been praying for an opportunity to work overseas since last fall and I feel so blessed that God opened up this project for me.

I'll be in Africa for two and a half months which seems like the perfect amount of time to me and maybe a bit too long for my parents. While I am in Uganda I will be working with Breakthrough Partners on their Young Peacebuilders Initiative. In their words this is "[...] a ministry of Breakthrough Partners that is devoted to better equipping children and youth as peace builders in Majority World nations impacted by or at high risk of armed conflict."

For anyone who knows me you can safely assume that I am beyond excited for a chance to be working abroad this summer and I am also really excited about this project. Part of what specifically appeals to me is the fact that this is such a universal project; the ideas and research surrounding young peace builders can be adapted in different global contexts. I know that God is going to use this experience to teach and grow me in knowledge both surrounding this project and in Him.

I would appreciate prayer from anyone who is willing as I set out on this project. I am very excited about this opportunity but there are lots of challenges that come from living in a different culture. I would appreciate prayer for the program, that everyone involved with it would be blessed with insight and creativity to lay the foundations for continuing efforts. I will also need prayer for my contribution; that God might grant me the wisdom and the skills needed for this job and that He will use my shortcomings to display His glory more brightly than I ever could in my strengths.

This last year at school wasn't the easiest year from me and while I was able to learn more about myself and about who God is I am incredibly happy to be moving forward and engaging in something this summer that is life-giving!

I promise to try and keep this blog regularly updated, even if it is just a couple of lines. I don't have a great track record for that but all I can do is keep trying! Hopefully the next time that I write I will be in Uganda!

So farewell North America!! I might even miss you a bit!