I'll be home for Christmas...cuz I'm already home!

Hey all, I am home! After 3 days of sitting on a plane I have made it. Things went very smoothly leaving Uganda (although the only form of security was taht a woman asked me if I had anything sharp or any weapons, I said no but when we got to Amsterdam and went through their security I ended up having scissors and another girl had 5 knives she was bringing home...oops!) We had 9 hour layover in Amsterdam so we made the most of it and went into the city. It was beautiful but so super cold! We made it into Washington D.C. about an hour late only to find they had lost one of my bags, the one with all the presents :( I was told it should arrive at my house today (Friday) so I'm praying that comes true. On the way to Phoenix I was delayed and ended up getting in about 2 hours late, not fun! Sky Harbor's computer system went down so I spend over half an hour sitting on the tarmack waiting for a spot to open up so we could park our plane and go see my family. But I am home now, I have eaten good food, taken a bath and slept a whole night in my bed! Chris comes today so once that happens I will really feel at home. Oh, and my host dad called today!! I AM A GODMOTHER!! My Godson, Christopher Daniel was born on December 17th! I just barely missed the little guy but he is here and healthy. They are all very excited about the new addition to our family. If I get pictures I will post them, I'm sure he is so super cute! As far as pictures, here are a few of my favorites. There are many to choose from considering I have over 7,000 on my computer right now!


The entire Uganda Studies Group on Trevan's BirthdayMy sweet sister Faith, she fell asleep at our farewell dinner which is totally out of her nature but so so sweet!
I met this little girl when we went to the circumcision ceremony, she was drunk on local brew but was so happy and playful, I think, other than Faith, she was the cutest kid I saw.
Another picture of Faith, wow how she has grown in 4 months, I loved her smile and laugh!
This is the waterfall we hiked to the bottom of in Sipi Falls, I don't think I can even explane how impressive it was, it was absolutely incredible!

More pictures to come! If you live in Phoenix and go to ODF, see you on Sunday! Everyone else, I can't wait to catch up although the next few weeks are super busy. Merry Christmas everyone!

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas...even in Uganda!

Last night about 10 of us went Christmas caroling to our families. We had an absolute blast! Everyone got to pick 2 songs they wanted to sing to their family and then we closed with We Wish you a Merry Christmas! If they were traditional songs they would usually sing along. We had many visitors at my house when we went and they were all super excited to see us. Unfortunately my dad wasn't there so we sang to him when I was dropped off at the end. It is customary here that when a visitor comes you give them a snack and tea, instead we accepted juice and bread at one house and told the rest we didn't have time. But as soon as I walked in my house I was given my bread and nuts! We also went to the three leader's houses and to honors college where the rest of the American Students who stay on campus live. I bought chocolates to give my family so when I came we all shared some "sweets" It was so fun, oh and it rained here, finally!! So it actually got cold, it felt a tiny bit like winter weather.

I'm getting really sad to leave my family, I have ahd my stuff packed for a few days (only because I do it when my family is gone so I don't miss out on family time) so my room looks super sad and empty. We officially leave on Saturday at 8 for debrief so I have about 48 hours left in Mukono. Our plane will leave on Tuesday at about 11 for Amsterdam, after an 8 hr layover we will be in Washington D.C. on the afternoon of the 17th. I fly out the next morning and will be in Phoenix at 4:15 on Thursday! I can't wait to be home but it will definately be bitter sweet.

Tomorrow night I will celebrate Christmas with this family, the highlight of the gift time being a sewing machine for Rachel!! Thanks Grandma for doing that!! Faith will get books, the girls pencils and my parents will get pictures and baby things!! I can't wait, I will probably not update again, until I'm back in the states so don't get worried. I am fine and I'm comin home!!!

Preparation for a Long Awaited Homecoming

I'm not even sure how to start this one off...I feel like that with most of these blogs...

I come home 2 weeks from today, in 8 days I leave for debrief and in 12 days the plane leaves for the States. How do I prepare, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically. Yes I can pack but how do I bring all the emotions, memories, struggles, heartaches, joys, stories, pictures, and delights of the past four months back to everyone? I feel so overwhelmed and I haven't even started my journey back. So I am now asking something of you. Please be patient with me, be slow and let it come with time. I don't even have it sorted out so how can I tell you? Fresh off the plane or 5 years from now I will not be able to answer questions like "what was your favorite/hardest part of Africa? What was the biggest struggle or most impactful experience?" I can't/won't do it. I cannot put Africa into a box. From the outside this may seem like a vacation or merely a study abroad experience but to me it was a spirtual awakening, a glimpse of God and a time when I changed more than I think I even know. So please be slow, my heart is hurting, excited and broken from living here. I am confused and excited and the stories and pictures will come, I promise, I am so excited to tell you all what it is like but I need some time. Right when I come home it will be Christmas which will be spent with family and Chris and then I will spend 2 weeks with Chris in Sacramento before he goes to Costa Rica for 3 months. And that will be equally hard for me to process and come to grips with him leaving now. My parents and I have already talked about doing a big time of sharing and showing pictures which all are invited to but it will not be until the end of January at least. I don't need things to all be figured out before I can share but I can't be as open about specific experiences until I figure out what I even feel about them.

I am not trying to scare anyone off from talking to me, even about Africa, but don't be suprised if my answers are vague or even if I start crying. And trust me, there will be pictures to share...over 3,000 of them!

On a happier note, cuz I don't like to end these quite like that...school is over for the primary schools here so my mom and dad have been a lot less busy so they are home a lot more during the day. And Joan was confirmed 2 weeks ago and her 14 yr old sister came and has stayed ever since. She is really sweet! I love her tons! Tomorrow my mom and I are going to buy a sewing machine for Rachel that I will give her sometime next week before I leave. Still no stinkin baby but please pray "he" is born before I leave (I think it is a boy, we shall see !!). Tomorrow Stephanie and I are going into Kampala to get some really cool Christmas gifts (can't tell what it is :)...) and ingredients to make pancakes for my family on Saturday morning. Then we are going to come into school and skype my family!! Both of my familes will finally meet!!

I can't wait to see you all in just 2 weeks! I'm really really looking forward to being back and not killing cockroaches (4 last night) and listening to mice all night! And finally a hot hot shower!! Yay! But most of all seeing my family and Chris and just spending time being together again!