Peter Pan

Last month my family went to Disney World.  (I know... Africa and Disney are two totally different worlds.... don't get me started!)  It was the first time for my niece, Hannah, who's two, and my nephew, Zeke, who's three.

Right before we left for Florida, Zeke watched Peter Pan, and he became a huge fan!  He started watching the movie over and over, and he rode the ride at least three times at the Magic Kingdom.  The boy even renamed his sister "Wendy-bird"!

On our last morning at the park, the weather was pitiful... misty, overcast, and pretty dreary.  We were hoping to see the "Dreams Come True" show in front of Cinderella's castle, but when showtime came, they made an announcement that the conditions weren't safe for the performers... I guess dancing on slick pavement in high heels or big Mickey shoes is a bad idea for anyone!  Instead of the performance, there would be a meet-and-greet with the characters from the show.  About this time, I saw Peter Pan and Wendy walking out from the castle.  Zeke was standing right next to me.  I said, "Zeke, look, it's Peter!"  I scooped him up and we took off running.  We were third in line.  Turns out, Peter eats ice cream for breakfast.  Let's just say, it was the highlight of a little boy's day.

Some people have no idea what they're missing.  They can't imagine what life can be like if they have a relationship with Jesus.  They can't see the potential.  But we can.  We see it.  And we know just how great it can be for them, if we can just get them to meet Jesus.  So that's our job:  to see Jesus coming toward them, take them by the hand, and start running. To stay with them the whole way.  Sometimes it's a long run.  And they might even turn around-- and that's their choice.  But we have to at least try to show them Jesus.  Point Him out.  Go with them, if that's what it takes.  The experience will be one that we both remember forever.

And who knows... we might find out that Jesus likes ice cream for breakfast, too.

5 Most Common (and Most Frustrating) Questions

Since I've been home, it's funny how the same questions keep coming up over and over and over again.   Most of the time, I don't mind answering.  But, every now and then, I get really frustrated with these questions.  And I know a lot of other returning missionaries get frustrated with them, too.  So please hear my heart in this... we aren't the same as we were when we left, and we don't see things the same way, either.  All that to say, here are the answers to those oh, so common questions....

5)  How was your trip?
This question drives me crazy!  It wasn't a trip-- it was a life.  I lived there, bought groceries there, paid bills there, had a phone number there, and made friends there.  When I moved there, I left behind a life I had built here, but when I came back home, I also left a life behind.

4)  Did you learn to speak African?
I know this may be difficult for our English-speaking minds to wrap around, but everyone in Africa doesn't speak the same language!  There are over 50 "local" languages in Uganda alone.  A lot of the time I did speak English, but English there isn't like English here... "African English" has different phrasing, vocabulary, even a different cadence.  I honestly had to re-learn how to speak English there!  (And please don't be surprised when African English works its way into my American conversations... it happens!)

3)  What's next?
I have no idea.  I feel like God's calling me into some kind of missions work, but from the US-side of things.  My heart is to help believers get involved in both local and international missions.  Right now, I'm just looking for someone who wants to pay me a salary to do it... any takers???

2)  Do you miss being there?
Power outages, dirty water, wandering livestock, and body odor?  Absolutely not.  Precious friends, piki-piki (motorcycle taxi) rides, hot tea in the shade, and ripe mangoes, passionfruit, and pineapple?  Every day.

1)  Are you glad to get back to real life?  
If there's anything I've learned, it's how this life we lead here in America really isn't all that real.  I don't say that to sound pretentious or judgmental.  I know that people here have real, day-in, day-out struggles.  People here are hurting with real problems.  But, in the big scheme of things, we have no clue what survival looks like to people outside these United States.  To live in abject poverty, not always sure where the next meal is coming from.  To choose between paying school fees for one child and buying life-saving medicine for another.  To walk a mile each way just to bring home 5 gallons of water.  Or to simply sit under a tree with a friend and drink tea.  That is real life.

Yes, I'm home...

I know.  It's been a while.  And I have to say, I'm a little embarrassed to get back on and admit that in the 4+ months since I've been home, I haven't been doing a whole heck of a lot of writing.  But hopefully, that's going to change.  There are a few things that have already gotten themselves down on paper, and I think there are more to come.  So no, I didn't get stuck in Uganda.  I just fell into the hole that is America.