Post-Trip Thoughts

I’ve had several people tell me I’m an “angel” or “such a good person” for spending some time in Uganda. I can guarantee you one thing… I’m no angel, and I’m really not that great a person either; however, I do appreciate that some people recognize the fact that I chose to spend my time doing something constructive, which is unlike the norm. It’s strange for a 20 year old recent college grad to choose to spend half of her summer and her 21^st birthday doing labor in a third world country. Sometimes I wonder what my summer would’ve been like had I chosen to do something more “fun”, comfortable, or easy, but I don’t regret one singe second I spent in Uganda. God showed me SO much, and I think those children helped me 1,000 X more than I helped them.

I based my decision to spend my time in Uganda on a few things. These few things are the basis for all major decisions I make. I think all too often people my age just decide to do whatever they want, whatever they think will be most fun, and honestly, whatever’s most comfortable for them. It’s so easy to make decisions that way. It’s too dang easy. That’s when people start settling for mediocrity, when they make decisions based on those things. I truly believe that life begins at the end of your comfort zone, and in order to discover what we’re truly passionate about in life, we HAVE to step outside of our comfort zone or accept the fact that all we’ll ever have is mediocrity. So here’s my list of decision-making criteria that I wish more than anything my entire generation would consider.

What is God’s true purpose for your life?

What do your parents get to tell their friends your doing with your life?

What are you doing to make this world a better place?

What will you tell your kids that you did with your time?

If we all focused our time and attention on bettering the world, just think of what all we could do. It’s astonishing to me that so many people set their bar so low and just settle for what they think they can do. I like to challenge myself to think big. I’m not saying that I changed the world by spending a few weeks in another country, but I at least took a small step in the right direction.

Another question we should all be asking ourselves is “what are my goals?” I have several goals that I’ve written down, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I reach them.

So what are your goals? Getting followers, likes, compliments, a significant other? Watching a tv series on Netflix? Getting a job? I’m not saying these things are bad or you’re dumb if you consider them your life goals, but seriously just think about what you’re actually contributing to the world and yourself by reaching these goals.

One of my goals is to share about Jesus in the right way. I have friends who aren’t Christians, and I would love for them to be believers, but I respect their thoughts and opinions and won’t shove my religion down their throat. It’s a boundary that’s really difficult not to cross. It’s our duty as Christians to share the gospel and witness to others, but I want nothing less than to scare people away from God’s love for them. God has called us, commanded us, to share the gospel, to go and share with all nations. My question is… why aren’t we doing that? Why aren’t we all making that a priority in our lives? Most of us don’t even prioritize telling people in our own town about Him, much less people all over the world. 

So why did I go to Uganda? Honestly, I used to wonder why people went to places like Africa for missions work when there is so much need in our own country. Now, I get it. Even if you are homeless in the US, I mean the lowest man on the totem pole, you have it so much better than the majority of the people in a third world country. In America, we have opportunities. Like I said, even if you’re living on the streets, you have opportunities to better your life – there are soup kitchens, you can get a job, even dumpster diving here is an opportunity for food. In those countries, they have no opportunity. It’s not that they’re too lazy to work, it’s that there’s no opportunity for them to work and make money. That’s what ‘s so incredible to me and breaks my heart when thinking about America. We, as a country, waste SO many opportunities that are handed to us.

Why am I interested in helping orphans? My parents and my brothers are my absolute favorite people in this world. They have seriously shaped me into the person I am today. I honestly cannot imagine who I would be without them. That’s why my heart aches for those children who have no families, at least none that will help mold them into the men and women they need to be. Those children need positive influences in their lives, and because of my family, I believe I can be that for them. I want to give them even a small portion of the support, love, and guidance that my parents have given me.

I didn’t write this post to talk about how awesome I am and how much I’m changing the world, because that’s not the case. I’m doing so little with my resources and need to do so much more. I just hope that I can help at least one person understand that they could be doing so much more with their life than they’re choosing to.

God Bless,

Amy

Goodbyes

My last few days in Uganda were awesome. Sunday was our last day at Lulwanda. We went to church with the children, had my favorite meal (beans, rice, chapattis, and avocado) made by our chef, Aboo, handed out more goodies to the kids, and had some time to just hang with everyone and say our goodbyes. The goodbyes were hard, but I seriously felt so good about leaving them. I felt at peace, and that’s exactly what I prayed for. Thank you to everyone who prayed that for me also!

Momma Joy in her church clothes.

Aboo! 

My fellow future lawyer, Felix. 

My favorite boy ever, Wycliff.

My Ugandan BFF, Gift.

 Laughing With Gifty!

Monday morning we packed up the vans and headed to Jinja. While in jinja, we had a small bit of time to shop in the local street shops. I enjoyed that a lot! It was nice to actually do something for myself, my friends, and my family. After a good lunch near those shops, we visited a really interesting weaving shop. We got to watch them make some of the products such as wraps, tablecloths, and scarfs. They’re using stuff that I read about in my history books – like a spinning wheel. It was seriously like going back in time.

Then we went to our “hotel”. The term hotel is being used very loosely here, hence the "". It was more like a luxurious camp ground. It was a SUPER cool place called the Nile Porch. Our rooms were right on the Nile River. I think this is what we need to set up at the deer lease! It was just three concrete walls and one gated wall with two beds and running water. Like I said, luxury camping.

 Hammock in our room with view of the Nile.

 Now THIS is some cool outdoor eating, Dad!

 Sunset view over the Nile from our room.

Tuesday we made our way to the airport with several stops along the way. We stopped at two secondary schools to see Lulwanda children then two “beach” areas along Lake Victoria. That was all very enjoyable. At about 9 PM, we went to the airport. Our flight didn’t leave until 1:30AM. We had about a 2-3 hour layover in London then made it to Houston around 2:30PM. I then rushed through customs, rechecked my bag, and flew to DFW,which is where I am now for the next few hours. I should be in Monahans around midnight tonight! YAY! That's seriously about 36 hours straight I will have been in an airport or on an airplane. If you hadn’t guessed, I look and smell REALLY good right about now. To be honest, a fly seriously just landed on my head if tat tells you anything.

I’m already missing Uganda, but I’m excited to be home with my family and friends for a while. Oh and I’m especially excited about this chips and queso I’m about to eat!! :D

I’m going to post one more time on this blog with some post trip thoughts and things like that. 

Almost Home,

Amy

One Last Field Trip

Yesterday we took the other half of the Lulwanda children on a field trip to Sippi Falls. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! The hike was actually pretty challenging and many of the younger girls had a pretty hard time with it. We started off on the top of the mountain near the falls. We first had to climb down a wooden ladder.

The girls were so terrified. I mean what 4-12 year old girl wouldn't be? On top of their fear of the ladder, some high school boys came up behind us with their beautiful puppy. Because the dogs they've had experience with have been wild and mean, they are so afraid of them. The dog and boys were all super friendly. I was in the back of our group so I got to chat with them quite a bit. After the ladder, we had to hike down the mountain side on the most sloped and slippery trail I've ever walked on. I was falling all over the place, but those boys grabbed my hands and kept me on my feet the whole way down. It was the sweetest thing!

The bottom of the water fall was just so cool. That was the first real water fall I've ever seen super close like that.

We hiked back to camp a different way then had a few hours just to hang out on the grounds for a bit. This tree swing looked like something out of a movie or a magazine.

I enjoyed yesterday SO much. It was a great day spent with some amazing kids. Today is our last day at Lulwanda. We are leaving for church in just a little while where we will worship with the children. After church, we're going to have lunch, take care of a few things at Lulwanda, say our goodbyes, and head back to the hotel to pack up. Again, I must say, please pray for my strength and peace as I'm saying goodbye to this place and these people.

Anxiously,

Amy

Nearing The End

We’ve worked hard on finishing the library these past few days, but I’ve mainly focused on enjoying some good time with the children and staff at Lulwanda. I’ve had some really good conversations with the mommas here. They’ve taught me all about the Ugandan culture – mostly the food (‘cause that’s the most important thing, right? ;)).

Now remember, I said I’m not really a kid person, but my heart has changed more and more everyday throughout this experience. I am so in love with these children. Here’s a picture of me with some of my favorite girls, and you can see my braids! The braids are on the one side of my head and all along the bottom. The next picture is some of my favorite boys and me. They are in 6^th & 7^th grades and are just the most handsome, funny, and wonderful young men you could ever meet. The next photo is two more of my favorites, Wycliff and Usuf, holding the Ugandan flag that they’re in charge of.

Felix, Usuf, Saraji, Amy, John, and Moses

Yesterday we delivered some extra textbooks to a few schools in the area. It was really fun riding in the back of the truck and seeing the children at the other schools. When we pulled up, they were seriously screaming and jumping up and down they were so excited to see us. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to meet more children than just those at Lulwanda. Also, seeing the different schools was a good experience and helped me realize just how great Lulwanda is. 

Please notice how perfect this little boy in the bottom left's teeth are.

We went to the market after school yesterday. It was really neat to see where the people of the town do all of their shopping. It was a huge 3-story concrete building with 5X5 concrete booths filling the entire thing. There were people selling and making all kinds of things. There was even a section of tailors!

This morning we had a very (exciting?) experience. On our way to Lulwanda, we went down a hill and got stuck going back up. The roads here are already crazy, but when they are wet and you’re going uphill, it’s so much worse. It was like off-roading X 348237423948. Mr. Safetly (AKA: my dad) would not have been too thrilled about it! We finally all got out of the van in fear that it might tip over at any moment, and some men came to help push the van out of it’s spot and up the hill. It was not an easy task, and I won’t lie, I was mighty terrified when we were slippin’ and slidin’ around in that van. 

When we finally got to Lulwanda, I spoke for all of 2 minutes at Friday Fellowship. I told the children about making the pillow case dresses in Monahans 4 years ago and then having the opportunity to give them dresses and shorts made by children from my hometown. They (especially the staff) all thought that was pretty special. One of the white boards from Edwards Elementary, which is where I went to 1^st & 2^nd grade, was hung up in the 7^th grade classroom today, and Mary told them about it coming from my school. It’s really neat to see how I’m connected to this place in so many ways.

Tomorrow we are taking the other half of the children on a field trip to Sippi Falls. I’m really excited to spend as much time with them as I can. Sunday, which is our last day with them, is going to be so hard for me. Please pray that God will give me the words to say goodbye to these people and the ability to be strong and enjoy everything throughout that day.

 Love To My People In America,

Amy