As most of you know my mom
and “aunt Tammy” came for a short visit to my lovely home, Ekisa.
It was October 10 and almost
4 o’clock. I was headed out the door to hop in the car with my driver.
It was time to head to
Entebbe to pick them up.
I was really anxious because
for the past two weeks moms and dads have been coming to visit everyone here.
This whole month is like our
“parents weekend” that colleges have.
I was excited to see people
I’m close to closer and more real than a computer screen.
From Jinja to Entebbe is
about a 3-4 hour drive depending on traffic.
I slept, ate some food,
listened to my music, got on my computer, and really tried to do anything for
me to be patient in the Kampala traffic.
Finally 3 hours later we make
it to the airport.
We were a little early, but I
didn’t care.
I was ready to get inside and
see my mom and aunt tammy come through the doors from baggage claim.
I waited and waited.
I saw that their flight had
arrived and my stomach started getting into knots because of the excitement I
had in me.
I waited and kept seeing
unfamiliar faces.
I looked beyond the doors to
see if I even could recognize the luggage that would be coming around the
corner…. Little did I know I could have spotted their polka dotted and bright
orange suitcases from miles away.
Finally, there they were!
It didn’t seem real.
They were standing in front
of me.
Not in America, but in
Uganda.
In a country I have been
living in without them.
They were finally here!
We get in the car and begin
to drive.
Driving in Uganda is not the
most comforting thing to do first off, especially at night, but after the
distraction of conversation and a few gasps from Mom and aunt Tammy we finally
made it to their hotel in Jinja where I got to sleep in bed that was not a bunk
bed.
I got to wake up to silence…
no rowdy kids… who are simply amazing, but silence and a real good breakfast.
After being in a different
country as an 18 year old girl without your parents for now 3 months is not the
hardest thing anyone has ever done.
But after watching a very
sick baby around the clock for a week and a half, then having a child go into a
sickle cell crisis, then having a death, then having another sickle cell crisis
so bad he is admitted to the hospital where we take shifts, then another child
being admitted into ICU, and then discharged and back in within another week,
it gets hard.
Exhausting.
Never debriefing.
Only relying on Jesus for
comfort, joy, and strength not only for you but also for the whole house.
I am beyond thankful to be
here at these times and be the help that is needed.
Be the support that people
need.
Be the encourager I am called
to be for my new close friends here, but I also need time.
And because everything has
been going nonstop it’s been hard to find that time.
So having my mom and aunt
tammy here to help me free my mind a little and have time for myself and be
loved on by the people who know how to love me best was perfect.
Jesus knew the perfect time
to send them.
Right when I began to miss
home God knew exactly what to do.
Send them.
Their time here was short,
and yes it would have been lovely to have them here longer.
But I am thankful for the
time God had laid out for them.
I know the trip was not only
good for me, but for tem as well.
Seeing how I live, seeing my
kids that I love more than anything, seeing the country I love, and seeing what
love really is here.
Mom and Aunt Tammy were not
only obeying the Lord by being the amazing Moms they are, but also they were
obeying Jesus by being servants of Him.
Being generous givers.
Being lovers.
Encouragers.
Being wise woman for all of
us young girls here.
And just being the great
comforters that moms know how to be.
I read a quote from Mother
Teresa yesterday.
I loved it so much I wrote it
on my arm so I could see it.
It says, “ Let us put love
into action.”
How true.
Put love into action.
My mom and aunt Tammy were a
great example of that on their week here.
Not only to me, but to my new
friends here at Ekisa, my guy friends outside of Ekisa, the ladies at their
hotel, my kids here at our house, the children in hospitals, the handicap on
the streets of Jinja, and everywhere they went.
They put their love into
action and it was evident.
It was real.
It was from the Lord and it
was beautiful.
It was the most comfort I have
felt since I have been here.
Listen to this beautiful song.
Mary Grace,
ReplyDeleteIf only you knew the blessings we received by our short time with you. I have such such admiration for what you are doing at Ekisa. You are sacrificing so much in order to serve others. Others who are happy and loved because of the love of Jesus they are able to see and feel through you. Thanks to all 55+ of you who wlecomed us into your home and shared your love with us. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget. Love, Aunt Tammy