Monday, August 25, 2008
Just Kidding
I thought I was in the clear for any complications...not! My shampoo bottle exploded, there is half a bottle of shampoo covering my entire suitcase. So after a few more tears I spend the past few hours cleaning it all out. Now that I'm more in the mindset of Africa I am so thankful it exploded here where I have unlimited water and a washing machine! So its almost all cleaned up, the clothes are in the dryer and I was able to fit more stuff into my carry on to avoid an extra charge. Africa here i come, nothing can stop me, not even exploding shampoo!
I'm Off!
So the trip started today. Bright and early (4:30) we woke up and headed to the airport. Everything went very smoothly and even Chris was able to come for the last few minutes to see me off. What a cool thing it is that he will support me moving half way across the world. I was able to get a straight flight with two stops in Tucson and Chicago. None of my bags were lost and I only had to wait about 10 minutes for the shuttle to my hotel and now here I am!
I still have tons of emotions, especially when saying goodbye. Many tears were shed but it was exciting to start my own adventure abroad. I will be meeting with my group at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon and we leave shortly after that. I will be in Uganda officially on Wednesday! Thanks to all of you who wrote the notes. I'm sure I will open that book often, especially in the coming weeks when I know it will be hard.
I received my schedule and I will be going to Rwanda right off the bat! I leave Sat and return on teh 6th. I'm really excited and can't wait to meet everyone and travel!
Please be praying taht I am able to make friends quickly and that our flight goes smoothly (and all our bags arrive). This blog may be a little boring but my adventure has just begun! I promise the next one will be filled with more exciting things. I'll see you all in December, I'm off to Africa!
I still have tons of emotions, especially when saying goodbye. Many tears were shed but it was exciting to start my own adventure abroad. I will be meeting with my group at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon and we leave shortly after that. I will be in Uganda officially on Wednesday! Thanks to all of you who wrote the notes. I'm sure I will open that book often, especially in the coming weeks when I know it will be hard.
I received my schedule and I will be going to Rwanda right off the bat! I leave Sat and return on teh 6th. I'm really excited and can't wait to meet everyone and travel!
Please be praying taht I am able to make friends quickly and that our flight goes smoothly (and all our bags arrive). This blog may be a little boring but my adventure has just begun! I promise the next one will be filled with more exciting things. I'll see you all in December, I'm off to Africa!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Gettin Ready
Ok, so here it goes, I have about 2 weeks till I leave. With that comes lots of emotions; I am nervous, scared, unprepared, excited, anxious, hesitant, elated, adventurous, sad, lonely, encouraged. As you can tell, I'm very up and down about this whole thing.
...so how did I get here? Last semester a few good friends decided to study in Uganda. That was when God began softening and preparing my heart for a big request he would make of me. I talked through the process with my friends and mentioned to my parents that it was something I would possibly like to do. Unfortunately, in no way did I actually want to actually do it, I'm very comfortable and happy living in Southern California, near the beach with all of my friend. When spring semester rolled around I really felt God tugging on my heart, asking me to go across the world and study. I completed the lengthy process of applying and going through interviews. After it was sent off I realized the weight of what could be happening. Immediately I began praying for a denial letter, in no way was I prepared to actually go through with it. After processing and receiving a lot of encouragement from my parents I began to really process things with Chris. If you don't know who Chris is he is my wonderful, supportive boyfriend. The more I prayed through the process I felt like God was telling me I needed to go. On the day I was going to tell Chris he came to me and told me if I was accepted he believed God wanted me to go. That was one of the best/worst days of my life. I knew that was my sign that I needed to trust God with the process and prepare to go. The Friday morning came around when I received the email and I put off reading it. When I finally did I found out I was accepted (yay!..kinda). I broke down and cried, realizing my life was about to drastically change. I called my mom and broke down again because I did not want to go to Africa. Not only was I accepted to the Uganda Studies Program but I was also accepted in the IMME track, Intercultural Ministry and Missions track. That means, instead of living in a dorm with other American and African students, I will be living with host family up to 2 hrs walking distance from school. I'm praying for a family with little kids!
So after 3 shots, 4 medications, $300 plane tickets to Washington D.C., buying skirts and closed toed shoes etc. I'm almost ready!
Please be praying for me for the next few weeks. Pray for me to finish my 2 summer classes. Pray for me to finished getting prepared, not only logistically but also for a prepared heart. Pray for me as I say goodbye to my family and friends. Pray for me as I leave Chris. Pray for Chris and I over the next 4 months as we will be separated by thousands of miles and limited communication. Pray for me to stay open to God and what he is teaching me through this experience. I am unable to do this alone, please be praying for me. This post is a little heavy but I will try to post more uplifting stories and pictures of my times. I will try to also post videos with my new flipvideo! I can't wait to come home and tell you all how amazing my experience was and all the things I've learned through following this call from God!
I will be able to use my email: megan.e.deforest@biola.edu and letters/packages can be sent to
Megan DeForest, Uganda Studies Programme
Uganda Christian University
P.O. Box 4
Mukono, Uganda
Thanks for your support as I begin this exciting adventure!
...so how did I get here? Last semester a few good friends decided to study in Uganda. That was when God began softening and preparing my heart for a big request he would make of me. I talked through the process with my friends and mentioned to my parents that it was something I would possibly like to do. Unfortunately, in no way did I actually want to actually do it, I'm very comfortable and happy living in Southern California, near the beach with all of my friend. When spring semester rolled around I really felt God tugging on my heart, asking me to go across the world and study. I completed the lengthy process of applying and going through interviews. After it was sent off I realized the weight of what could be happening. Immediately I began praying for a denial letter, in no way was I prepared to actually go through with it. After processing and receiving a lot of encouragement from my parents I began to really process things with Chris. If you don't know who Chris is he is my wonderful, supportive boyfriend. The more I prayed through the process I felt like God was telling me I needed to go. On the day I was going to tell Chris he came to me and told me if I was accepted he believed God wanted me to go. That was one of the best/worst days of my life. I knew that was my sign that I needed to trust God with the process and prepare to go. The Friday morning came around when I received the email and I put off reading it. When I finally did I found out I was accepted (yay!..kinda). I broke down and cried, realizing my life was about to drastically change. I called my mom and broke down again because I did not want to go to Africa. Not only was I accepted to the Uganda Studies Program but I was also accepted in the IMME track, Intercultural Ministry and Missions track. That means, instead of living in a dorm with other American and African students, I will be living with host family up to 2 hrs walking distance from school. I'm praying for a family with little kids!
So after 3 shots, 4 medications, $300 plane tickets to Washington D.C., buying skirts and closed toed shoes etc. I'm almost ready!
Please be praying for me for the next few weeks. Pray for me to finish my 2 summer classes. Pray for me to finished getting prepared, not only logistically but also for a prepared heart. Pray for me as I say goodbye to my family and friends. Pray for me as I leave Chris. Pray for Chris and I over the next 4 months as we will be separated by thousands of miles and limited communication. Pray for me to stay open to God and what he is teaching me through this experience. I am unable to do this alone, please be praying for me. This post is a little heavy but I will try to post more uplifting stories and pictures of my times. I will try to also post videos with my new flipvideo! I can't wait to come home and tell you all how amazing my experience was and all the things I've learned through following this call from God!
I will be able to use my email: megan.e.deforest@biola.edu and letters/packages can be sent to
Megan DeForest, Uganda Studies Programme
Uganda Christian University
P.O. Box 4
Mukono, Uganda
Thanks for your support as I begin this exciting adventure!
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