On Being Born...

My Friends! Here I am; I grew my wings, flew over and ocean, and landed safely here in Uganda. I can’t say thanks enough for all of you prayers and well wishes. Quite amazingly the trip was pretty uneventful (meaning no hair-raising sprints through the airport, no surly (or smelly for that matter) plane companions, and (drum roll please) no lost luggage…which is quite a feat considering I did the trek with three 50-pound trunks, a 50-pound “carry-on,” a 70 pound box (containing 2 desktop computers), and a backpack (which I considered my “personal item.” Sure, it weighed the amount of a small child, but since it still was able to be crammed beneath the seat, it totally qualified :)

 

And so after roughly 34 hours of traveling I arrived in Uganda (successfully avoided the customs people) and was greeted by the smiling faces of my new roommates.

 

Day 1 was a bit rough simply due to the fact that I arrived at 8am and so I faced a brand new day after minimal sleep. It was kind of a blur -  met lots of new people, ate new food, moved into my new place…lots of “new” to be had.

 

Day 2 started my “orientation” here – logistical things for WorldVenture,, then a day out grocery shopping with the Davis family to give me an initial taste of everyday things like going to the bank, shopping for food, and…..traveling around the city (insert crazy face here). The goal is for me to become somewhat “familiar” with the city and “used to” what it is like to drive here before I actually get behind the wheel. I’m not sure I can paint an accurate picture of this for you… but start with driving on the right side of car, driving on the left side of the road and add roads pocked with potholes and numerous speed bumps; then put it all into the context of 3^rd world country driving – more people walking on the side of the road than driving, “taxi’s” (vans for public transport) that turn one lane into two or three, countless “boda-bodas” (motorcycles for public transport) weaving and squeezing anywhere and everywhere between and around cars, with the added benefit of a general lack of roadway laws. Needless to say, these elements combined with my inherent lack of any directional sense makes me wary of conquering these roadways as a driver anytime soon.

 

To continue on with this theme, today starts day 3, dedicated to more lessons on transportation (as this is an essential parts of everyday life). The specific task of the day is to travel around town using taxis and bodas with a local Ugandan friend….I have no doubt I will have stories to share J

 

I feel like everything is still to fresh to offer up any sort of meaningful cultural observations, but I will say I have had the warmest of welcomes from my American and Ugandan teammates here.

 

My biggest reflection is thoughts on being so “new.” It feels, in a way, like born all over again. Not only do I not understand complex things like the culture, even the simplest of things bring confusion and require conscious effort. “How do I turn on this light? I don’t’ know.” “Where is my toothbrush? I don’t know.” “What is this person’s name again? I don’t know.” I need help with everything. I have a question for everything. Pretty much the only things I know how to do are breathe, sleep, and go to the bathroom J

 

For an independent person like myself it is not only difficult to realize you know next to nothing, it is also humbling. And this is actually really great because then I can go to the only place I should be living – under the grace and sufficiency of God.

 

I’ve been reflecting on verse for quite some time now before I left for Uganda and it is just as aptly appropriate now – 2 Corinthians 9:8:

 

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

 

I pray that for each and every challenge and struggle in your own life you will also find the Grace of God steadfast and in excess of what you need.

 

So for the next hours, days and weeks to come I will be working on baby steps (“Hey, I can buy loaf of bread!” “Hey, I recognized that building!”) and practicing first words (it takes a while for the sound to become familiar) – “I live in Uganda!”