For whatever reason, I have been missing Uganda like crazy these past two weeks or so, and instead of driving my friends up the wall talking about it, I figured I would go ahead and write a new post and share my thoughts with whoever is interested in reading them. I have been able to talk to a few of my friends who I studied abroad with in Uganda and they, too, are feeling that gut twisting homesickness for the place we all consider a home away from home. It's a hard feeling to explain if I'm being honest. I sometimes wake up thinking I smell Momma Katherine's chapati cooking over the charcoal stove. When walking to class, I often look down and realize I'm not actually walking on those dusty red dirt roads and I'm not breathing in the heavily heated Ugandan air dodging boda bodas. After cooking dinner, I sometimes whisper, "wabale kafumba" (thank you for cooking) to myself and chuckle a bit. My roommates will call me from another room and I often want to yell, "WANGIIIIIII?!!!" just like my host siblings used to do. It's those small things that creep into my mind that always make me sit back and think for a moment just how much of an impact Uganda has on my life.
So I go back to my questions. Why have I traveled down the roads I've been on? Last night I was alone in my apartment sobbing like a baby in awe of how wonderfully my Father has knitted my life together (and I'm not usually a crier, so this was a big deal). In just a short while I'm going to be graduating college and a whole new window of opportunity is going to open up for me. Where will this road lead me? To be honest, I have no idea. What I do know is that each and every road, each and every bump, downhill fall and uphill climb has a very specific purpose for where I'm going. As I rest in those moments when Ugandan experiences fill my mind, I remind myself not of the homesick emotions that try and take over, but of the opportunities and revelations those experiences are opening up for me. The Lord has promises sealed in His heart for me. He has them for all of us (2 Corinthians 1:22). Sometimes it's a challenge to put all our trust in Him, but He is a constant and faithful God who has yet to let me down. Life isn't necessarily about where we've been. It's about where we're going, and where we're going gives us the potential to see beautiful promises from our Father come to life before your very eyes.
To my USP family, remember the Faith and Action cliche be present? We shouldn't forget about that. Being present means all of our attention is in the here and now. If in the here and now you miss Uganda, then allow yourself to miss Uganda, but I encourage you not to allow it consume you because our time there has such a greater purpose than simply dwelling on the past. Be present in your own life. Enjoy the journey of today. Enjoy the process of reflection, look ahead to the promises of your future and live today knowing that God has His soft, tender hands wrapped around your heart. He is incredibly in love with you and wants more than anything for you to step into your destiny with Him.
Why have we been where we've been? Why have certain people had such an impact on our lives? Because God's love for us is magnificent. It's zealous. It's mind-blowing. It's more than we can comprehend. It's faithful and worthy of our trust. There is always more of it and God is more than willing, in fact, He is yearning! to pour it out over you. The promises God has over your life are found in the process, and if you embrace the process, the promises will embrace you.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19
Ps. If any of you need prayer or want to talk about the process of your journey please feel free to contact me :) I would LOVE to talk to you!
**SEVEN SECOND VERSION!
Why are you where you are? God loves you, that's why! Embrace the journey and know that your future is going to be amazing when your trust is in God.
