So after 24 hours on a plane and 24 hours lay over time, I finally got to Uganda. My flights went pretty well but made me exhausted. It didn't hit me that I was going to a foreign country alone until I was on the airplane sitting next to people who hardly spoke English. I was about to have a minor freak out on my flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi when I sat next to a lady that was from Kenya and she told me about everything I could expect and kept telling me that I took the leap of faith and because I did that, God would provide. I would not have made it the rest of the flight without her.
When I got in it felt like the first day of college. I got picked up from the airport and dropped off at our guest house with nothing to do and no one home. All that was running through my mind was...WHAT NOW??? So I took a freezing cold 20 second shower.Things got better when I got a roommate around 1 a.m. So far, I have made friends from Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Scotland. I have shamefully started picking up on words like bugger and often find myself talking with an accent. Opps.
The second day we were here we headed to the baby home and got a short orientation. I now know what it would feel like to have sextuplets. Its not easy. And I smell awful by the end of the day. The people who work at the home permanently are so humbling.
Uganda is nothing like I thought it was going to be. I am currently drinking a chocolate shake at an internet cafe. Looks like I wont wither away after all :) The people call us mezungo's which means white person. I keep forgetting why everyone keeps staring at me and then I remember that I stand out like a sore thumb. The taxis are insane but kind of fun (sorry mom).
If I had more time, I could have tried to be creative or funny but my internet time is up. More to come hopefully soon. God has already shown me so much and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me.
ahhh i am so glad you made it safely. i love the pic. and the post. praying for you from down South! xo, your sisters han and carl
ReplyDeleteI love how the Lord placed that lady beside you on the plane. What a tender way for Him to show you that what she told you was absolutely true: GOD WILL PROVIDE! I'll pray that you have the energy to do all that you need to do and that you are blessed beyond measure as you show Jesus' love to those babies. Take care. Love, Nancy
ReplyDeleteOh Ali, it sounds perfect, especially the part about the chocolate shake, ha ha. No really, that had to be one of the longest nights for me also. Now maybe you can appreciate my fears about sending you somewhere so foreign and sooo far away. What a blessing to sit next to such a wonderful lady, the timing couldn't have been any better. So anxious to hear and see more through your eyes and through your stories. Stay safe (NO more Taxi rides, please) and take it all in. Love you...Mom
ReplyDeleteKeep the updates coming! Thrilled to know that the trip went well and that you're meeting people and getting acclimated. Write down everything so that you'll be able to remember it all always.
ReplyDelete