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.
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.
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