Things I will Miss…

          I had a whole other blog planned and I had a lot more meaningful things to say. But as I sat here to type it out, and thought about the fact that as of today, I only have 13 days left in Uganda, I suddenly had nothing to say except how much I am going to miss this place and these people. So here is a non-inclusive list of some of the things I will miss. This doesn’t even scratch the surface, but it’s a start. I really feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when she is leaving Oz to go home to Kansas. Part of me wants to go home, but part of me wants to stay and hang out with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Oiy vey, I am a hot mess of emotions right now, lol. Anywho, moving on!
 

Things I will Miss
 

1. The fact that I cannot walk down the street without at least 5 children chasing after me yelling, “Moono Bye!!” Meaning, “Bye white person!!”
2. That the response to asking most any child, “What is your name?” is “I am fine!”
3. That I can buy lunch from the Pork Joint, one of my team’s favorite places to eat, and get pork, cassava, and cabbage for 3,500 shillings, which is about $1.50 USD.
4. The African night sky and worshipping with my team underneath it.
5. Cooking dinner with the Alpha ladies.
6. The way the Alpha ladies greet us when we return, even if we have been gone for under an hour.
7. The way that Africans worship with such freedom and passion, and that no one is too self-conscious to bust a move for Jesus.
8. That there are really no driving laws whatsoever and the more people you can cram into a car the better.
9. The fact that I have yet to go on a drive in Africa where the vehicle does not run out of gas, bust an oil tank, blow a tire, have the battery die, have the brakes go out, or have a horn with Tourrette’s because the wiring has gone out.
10. That when crossing an African road you must look out for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, people, cows, chickens, goats, dogs, pigs, and the occasional monkey.
11. That it is never a question of if the electricity will go out, but when and for how long.
12. That I will be clean for about 0.5 seconds after showering before getting covered in red African dirt.
13. Adorable African babies! And the fact that I have been offered about 10 to take home with me.
14. How welcoming the African people are and that no matter how many people show up to their home, they invite everyone in for tea and say, “You are welcome!!”
15. That I do not have to worry about a job, bills, my cell phone, my car, rent, groceries, TV, movies, or the internet, because my only concern since January has been to be a missionary.
16. Spending everyday, almost all day, with my team.
17. Beans, rice, chapati, and cabbage! A.k.a. my favorite African meal.
18. The Victory Outreach Church praise and worship team, and all that comes with it. Such as practices that never EVER start or end on time. The fact that on any given Sunday there may or may not be power, so we may or may not be worshiping A Cappella. That no one knows ahead of time what key the song will be sung in, because there is no sheet music, so the singer starts and then the keyboard follows after. Also, the person playing the keyboard most likely doesn’t know how to play. And in case that wasn’t fun enough, 80% of the time, someone will hop on the drums. Again, probably someone who doesn’t know how to play. But somehow it is beautiful and it’s fun and we are definitely making a joyful noise onto the Lord.
19. That if I feel like being a teacher for the day, I can just wander into a school and the teacher will let me teach. If I feel like being a preacher for the day, I can tell Pastor Johnson and he will arrange for me to preach. If I feel like being a doctor for the day, I can go to the hospital and stitch someone up. So, pretty much anything I have felt like doing here in Africa, I am able to do, and that is neat!
20. That even though the Ugandan people have been through so much, and they live in such poverty, they have this crazy unexplainable faith, joy, and love that could only come from God.

 
          Thank you for reading and for your comments! Please be praying for me and my team as we enter into our last week here and start saying our goodbyes, because it’s going to be rough. I love and miss you all and I shall see ya in 2 weeks!
 
Peace and Blessings!
Sarah : )