Well well well. . . This is my last blog of my African adventure. I absolutely cannot believe it. I don’t think my mind can fully wrap around the idea that Uganda is not going to be my home anymore. It’s actually coming to an end, and that’s the last thing I want right now. I have developed friendships that will last for a life time. My life has been impacted by so many people. A Christian missionary once said that Uganda is “the pearl of Africa,” and I have come to realize this first hand. The people of Uganda have shown me love; the love they have for the children, the love they have for each other, and the love they have for us “Mzungus.” Out of everything I have learned here, the main lesson I have learned is to have more faith. Ugandan’s have an endless supply of faith in their lives. Whenever I get worried that a project won’t be successful or a trusted business partner won’t pull through I am constantly humbled by the faith of my peers. They never worry. They have so much assurance that life will always work out. I’ve had my fare share of rough times in Uganda and it’s embarrassing to say that at all. My “rough times” aren’t nearly as comparable to the rough times the majority of the people here face every day. . In Left To Tell… Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, Immaculee Ilibagiza declares “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I am trusting Him. For He rescues you from every trap and protects you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with His wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark anymore, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning. Though thousand fall at my side, though ten thousand more are dying around me, the evil will now touch me.” With so many children the women bare, they barely have enough to feed their babies at night. My wonderful cooks have to run from their husbands for fear of being raped. It’s common for men to return home from their second families and demand sex as a payment because they are the ones who have income. My dear friend from the women’s group I work with had to run from her home to avoid being beaten to death. She is now separated from her children and has to cope with the emotional distress she has been inflicted with. There are countless innocent men and women who face challenges daily that would tear apart and knock down the average person. However, the people I have met are not average; they are extraordinary individuals and contain the faith that can empower nations.
I chose this last photo with much thought. This photo perfectly sums up my experience in Uganda. I came to Uganda as a Mzungu; a white girl with expectations who had no idea what she was getting herself into. I was an outsider to the community; I came with ideas and projects that I thought the people needed. To be honest, I didn’t really know what the people needed. I didn’t know what I needed. With time, I came to realize the people needed to get rid of their back pain. I opened my mind, rid myself of my expectations, and created a program to aid the people with their back problems. I didn’t know I needed to coach a boy’s soccer team. I didn’t know that I needed the love of 40 beautiful boys. The people of Uganda have touched my life in a way that has made me eternally grateful. Uganda will always have a place in my heart, and I can only hope I hold onto so many of the precious memories I have gained. After three months of living and surviving in Uganda, I have become a part of the community. I am one of them now. We are the same. Ndi Mufidika. I am African.
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