A Life like Miss Rumphius

It took a little while but I am back in my hometown of Terrace.  After another tearful goodbye to another wonderful community in Victoria, my dad came to pick me up and we caravanned for the two day drive up to middle-of-nowhere Canada.  Not much has changed in this slow-paced town, only a few new shops, and my youngest brother’s growth spurt and deeper voice (which is seriously throwing me off!).  It is nice to be back at home and stationary, not living out of a suitcase for the next few weeks.  

 

Since being back to Canada, I definitely have felt the “celebrity status” everywhere I go.  I see my face on people’s fridges, have had countless of hugs, a class of grade 2 students screaming in excitement at my return to Canada, (ya, that happened) and several free meals or coffees with many people so excited to see me. (HA! Imagine that!)  As much as I have been so grateful for all the “attention” for what I do with my life, I want to make it clear that I am no more special than anyone else.  I do what I do to share God’s love with those around me, not for self-glorification.  Anyone and I mean ANYONE who loves Jesus and wants to follow Him with all their hearts can do the same as me or more.

One particular place where I have more “celebrity status” than anywhere else is at the school my mom teaches at.  The neat thing about this situation is that these kids don’t just look at the things I do with my life and go “Well that’s nice.  Good for her but I could never do that.”  Instead, they were inspired to partner with me in my adventure to Africa through prayers and fundraisers.   It’s so encouraging to think that by me simply going to Africa, these students became more socially aware of the world around them.  Some examples of their compassion and kindness include:

- Daily prayers from the classes for me and the country of Uganda.  One teacher had to make a rule to her class that they could only mention me in their prayer time once a day!
 

-          - Many fundraisers in the form of bake sales and lemonade stands for the children at God’s Grace Orphanage. They raised over $700!!

-        -  One eleven year old boy who has made up his mind that he will be a missionary when he grows up.

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             - One teacher taking a year of absence to go teach in Cambodia (I think? don't quote me on that one)

Believe me this wasn’t because of anything I did.  Lord, keep me humble if I ever think that I have anything to do with this.  You can see how infectious God’s lovingkindess truly is and how He works through the relationships we have made in various communities to grow His Kingdom. 

Here I am at Veritas Elementary this week where I shared pictures, videos, songs, experiences, and a glimpse of my life in Uganda with the students.  

So I have a terrible obsession with children’s books.  It’s actually a problem. I can’t go into bookstores because I will always buy books.  Even the people who work there know me well enough to recommend me the latest and greatest of children’s literature.  Anyway, did you ever read the picture book  Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney?  According to my mom’s fourth grade class, I remind them of the character Miss Rumphius.  If you haven’t read the book, I’ll spare you the time.  As a little girl, Miss Rumphius’ grandfather instructs her to do these three things with her life:

1.  Go to faraway places

2.  Live beside the sea

3.  Do something to make the world beautiful

So as I sum up this blog post, I will leave you with this challenge to travel to faraway places to make amazing cross-cultural friendships, and see God in the eyes of another, live beside the sea because well let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to live by the ocean, and do something, no matter how small or insignificant, to make the world beautiful. 

Oh and I forgot a song.  I will leave you with Oceans by Hillsong United

Peace and love

Hello, Goodbye

Hello Hello

I don't know why you say goodbye

I say hello

Hello Goodbye - The Beatles

I'm pretty sure these lyrics ring true for almost everyone I have seen since being back in Canada.  Folks, it has been officially one week that I have been out of Uganda.  To say it has been hard to adjust back would be an understatement.  Sometimes all I want to do is cry which I almost did as I was sitting in a Starbucks in Vancouver and other times, I am just too busy and distracted to even think about where I am and what I miss.

As I left the international gate at Vancouver airport, my best friend and old roommate Elizabeth came running toward me.. actually I'm not really sure what happened... maybe I blacked out because the whole situation was so overwhelming.  It was so great to have her greet me there.  We then took the skytrain back to her new home in Vancouver.  Liz lives in a community house with TWELVE other housemates.  I tell you that this house is an incredible community of crazy Jesus loving young adults and I had a lot of fun living with them for a few days.  A bunch of us from the house got all dressed up and headed to a live theatre downtown to watch the travelling Broadway show of "Les Miserables".  Being the emotional wreck that I was I almost bawled a few times watching it.  To me the characters were so real, their stories were so similar to those of some of the people I met in Uganda.  It was really hard being in Vancouver for those first few days.  My old roommate was not where I left her six months ago, and even though I was back in Canada, I didn't feel at home.

After Vancouver, I hopped on ferry back to my old stomping grounds of Victoria, where I have been living for the last five years.  As I got off the ferry, I ran into my friends that had got married while I was away.  Our conversation went like this "Did you just get back from Uganda?"... "Yes, and did you just get back from your honeymoon?"  Ya that was weird....  My dear old friends Sarah and Alastair Beddie then picked me up from the ferry terminal and took me for lunch on the beach by the ocean.  They both really helped me adjust and feel comforted as they listened to my a billion and one stories.  Funny part of the day was when we made a quick stop at my old university so we could see our friend Breanne at her grad ceremony and take a picture with her.  To think a year ago I was the one graduating and taking pictures next to the fountain at UVic with all of my classmates and now this year, I am fresh out of Africa, looking like a dirty hippie next to my two dolled up gorgeous friends as we take a picture together! WHO AM I?

That day continued its awesomeness with dinner on another beach with my friend Allyson (these people know the way to my heart is the ocean!!).  Again, she listened to my a billion and two stories about Uganda and then she drove me to pick up my car which is way out of town at my youth pastor's home.  They ever so kindly have been storing all of my things and my car for the last six months and it was so great to see their family.

As I drove back home, trying to get used to driving again on the other side of the road, it hit me.  In my first few days in Canada, I was devestated about leaving my friends in Uganda and my beautiful community there but then I realized something.  I actually have an equally wonderful community of caring and loving friends here in Victoria.  I am so thankful for this community as well but wait a minute, I AM LEAVING THEM TOO!!!  Oh crap!  Another week of goodbyes!  This sucks!

The next day, after the fiasco of having to install a new battery in my car, I went to visit my friends Matt and Jill at their home, and see how much their little boy has grown up.  I tell you Jasper is the cutest kid on earth and it was neat to see him developing his own little personality.  My friend Nicole and I then went for coffee, climbed up Mount Doug (well actually we drove to the top this time) and then heading to the Mustard Seed Street Church to help serve and visit old friends at the Saturday night street dinner.  In my time away from Victoria, I think I missed the Mustard Seed the most.  I was also quite worried that by me being away, some of the friends that I have made there might no longer remember me.  It was a great night as an older woman played the piano as myself and this little old French man, who always kisses the top of my head when he greets me, sang hymns and songs from My Fair Lady together, or when I got a tour of the place after the big renovations, or when I heard Alex's usual safety speech, and listened to Joker's new comedic routine.  It was a bitter sweet time having everyone so excited and welcoming to me upon my return but then at the end of the night, it was back to the farewells.

Sunday was yet another day of hello goodbyes as I visited my church in Victoria.  This community has been so faithful to me in prayer and partnership as I ventured to Uganda.  I seriously owe a lot of credit to their faithfulness in praying for me.  Because it was the one and only Sunday I would be able to attend at church, I shared a bit about my experience in Uganda and then what my next plans would be during the service.  It was so nice to be back there having Buck smack me on the back while saying "HEYA TEACH", have little six year old Natalie hold my hand during worship, having Edna tell me about her grandsons up in my hometown, and listening to the worship team singing the song I introduced as a worship leader right before I left.  It was very hard to say goodbye to them but I felt so supported and encouraged from my church community about my next steps.  My friend Kristan goes "Emily we are excited for you.  You are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing."  The affirmation really helped!  After the service and then after many conversations with different church members, the young adults group and myself went for our traditional burritos after church.  Again, it was so nice to get a chance to catch up with some more incredible individuals that I so happen to be priviledged to call friends.

This morning I had a great skype conversation with my old roommate and amazing friend Hannah who is still in Uganda doing an internship with Watoto.  It was nice to hear from someone who I have been so close to over the last six months and it was comforting to hear about the familiar people and places as she filled me in with her life.  Today Nicole and I planned an adventure day.  I don't know if I ever will be living in Victoria ever again and there are some things I have yet to go see there.  For instance, I have never been to the huge tourist attraction of Butchart Gardens.  It was absolutely stunning with all the bursts of colour and perfectly manicured gardens.  We then headed out to Thetis Lake for a picnic, some sun-bathing, swimming and cliff-jumping.  It was so nice to be back at Thetis Lake.  I have spent a lot of time there hiking through the trails or swimming in the lake.

Exploring through Butchart Gardens

 Cliff-jumping at Thetis Lake!!

So all and all, I have experienced some change, found comfort in old familiar things, found it hard to be away from Uganda, and hated bidding adieu as soon as I was welcomed back.   However, I know things have changed and that my life in Victoria would be very different if I were to stay.  I know I'm called to bigger and better things in a new season.  It's just hard, that's all.

Peace and love

Going Back Home to the West Coast

For the last few weeks, we have been missing our bus driver Abbeh.  We have had a private hire taxi take us to school for the last few weeks.  The taxi driver was a very nice man but not Abbeh who is the coolest person on the face of the planet.  He didn’t just drive us to church every day or take us to our different ministries.  He joined in!!  We were sad that we wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye and thank you to him.  On Saturday morning before we left for Suubi, Esther goes “You better hug Peter when you see him today”.  A few minutes later, we heard the familiar honk of Abbeh’s bus at our gate.  All of us jumped up and down and yelled… well not all of us… I’m pretty sure Thomas was still sleeping at this point.   We had Abbeh drive our bus for our very last two days of classes!

This week has been filled with many goodbyes and last times of doing things.  The last time to go to classes, last time to visit my slum family, last church service, last time in the downtown market (praise Jesus, that’s over), last time in children’s church, last time being called mzungu, last time eating posho and beans, first and last time eating a grasshopper, last time eating way too much at my home in Suubi and the last time as a whole class.  With the many things coming to an end, emotions ran high over this whole week.  For a while, I wasn’t sure how to cope and how I felt about leaving.  I mostly was in denial.  The first break down hit on Saturday night at the very last church service I would attend before leaving.  Earlier that day, I had received many kind notes from my classmates telling me how much of a blessing I was to them… wait a minute, back it up.  My classmates were such a blessing to me with their welcoming hearts, life stories, and passion for serving.  I do not deserve these incredible people to be my friends.  So that started to hit me on Saturday night and then the thought went through my head about what I would be doing in a week’s time and the tears began to flow.

 

 Visiting my slum family one last time.  Sharifah was all smiles!

 Saying goodbye to Auntie Margaret, my Living Hope client.

 Getting prayed for from all of my kids in Children's Church.

 One child thanked Rosemary and I on behalf of the class.  It was so precious!

 Out for icecream with Rosemary, Auntie Janet, Sandra, and Nancy (my friends from Children's Church)

Speaking of amazing friends, thank you to all those from back home who encouraged me, made me laugh, and reminded me of Canada with your letters and pictures you sent me.  You filled my heart and my WALL!!

Last night was our very last hurrah as our Watoto 360 class.  We all dressed very smart and boarded our buses to the Golf Course Hotel for our grad party.  The night was very fun being among our classmates, district pastors and our leaders however all good things come to an end.  The night ended with a tearful goodbye. 

 My Suubi sister Miriam

                                                             They all look so smart!

 

                                                                  Miss these guys!

My two crazy best friends!! I love them so much.

The internationals had been planning to stay up all night after the grad party, play games, watch movies, and eat a butt load of icecream… Instead, we made a raccoon nest in the living room with couches and mattresses, and slept.  So our epic night failed but it was still awesome.  This morning us three Canadians got up extra early, said very tearful goodbyes to our little Bukoto family and drove to Entebbe to head to London.

Right now I am in London for a night and it is surreal!  I feel bad for the other people in my hostel room because I am just a ball of emotions and undergoing a strange state of culture shock.  It is weird to see so many mzungus, walk down the street by myself, use a crosswalk, use pounds instead of shillings and see pigeons instead of storks.  WHERE AM I???? WHO AM I???  WHY DOES MY HEART HURT SO MUCH FOR UGANDA???  I’m undergoing a bit of an identity crisis here. Anyway, tomorrow I will walk around London in the morning, meet Danielle and her Dad for lunch and then board my plane to the west coast of Canada.  I never would have thought that six months ago, I would be so heartbroken for leaving Uganda and so incredibly blessed to have made the forever friends I now have. 

Because I miss you.

Going back home to the west coast.

 I wish you

 could put yourself in my suitcase.

 West Coast by Coconut Records

Peace and love,

Cry Up

My friend Natalie shared with me that a lady at her church used to tell her, in a very thick southern accent, to “cry up, so you won’t ruin your mascara.”  This week has been filled with things winding down, final goodbyes, and moments to “cry up”.

 

Thursday was my very last day at God’s Grace Orphanage.  While I was there I fetched water from the nearby well, changed babies’ diapers, and washed the a million and one cups and plates from the children’s’ breakfast.  Honestly though the main thing that I do when I am at God’s Grace is give the children hugs, hold their hands, or cuddle with them.  There are so few workers there and about 120 children so these kids crave individual affection and love.  They just want to be held.  It was really hard to leave and say goodbye especially to the children I really connected with over the few times I visited there.  I found it challenging leaving Martha, a beautiful little eight year old who I befriended.  It broke my heart to tell her that I am leaving and not sure when or if I would ever come back.  She was very excited to hear that I got a teaching job and that I would be teaching the grade she was in but her little face fell and tears filled her eyes as my bus rolled up and I had to leave.  What do you say? What do you do?  I am not going to give this little girl false hope and empty promises as she has probably heard it all before from the other mzungus that have previously visited.  The best thing that I could say to her (thanks to the advice from Natalie) is that I love her very much, have been so thankful that I got to be her friend and that one day in heaven we’ll see each other again and have a huge party. 

My sweet friend Martha

Last day at God's Grace with Martha and baby Jeremiah

So Watoto church is a cell-based community church in which every church member is a part of a cell, a small group of people that meet once a week to study the Bible, and support one another.  Cell groups also organize seed projects which are events to reach out to the cell’s immediate community.  This Saturday our class joined a group of cells from one region that were putting on a free medical clinic for one of the poorest areas in Kampala.  We helped usher people to the various services including TB testing, HIV testing, pharmacy, malaria treatment, dental, eye clinic, and counseling.   The area that we were in is where my two Living Hope clients live and guess who was there volunteering alongside me throughout the day, Auntie Margaret, one of my clients.  Auntie Margaret is one of the coolest people I have ever met.  I was so happy to see her as my team already went for our very last visit to her place and I stayed home sick that day.  She is a very caring and compassionate person, always giving us tasty treats when we go to her home and asking us to sing and pray for her.  I was pleased to hear her son is now out of prison and I got to meet her thirteen year old daughter who was there getting treated for malaria.    Please pray for her daughter’s recovery from malaria.

This weekend was our grad ceremony at the church services.  There is no way I could have possibly forgot or not believed that I graduated this weekend from Watoto 360 as we had to undergo the grad ceremony six times, one for each church service at Watoto Central.  Over the week we had been practicing a song (More and More by Israel Houghton)  to sing as a special in the church service.  You may not believe me but our class sounded better than the original!  Watoto Church is well known for its quality talent when it comes to music and my classmates can SING like no other.  For the church service, we joined the choir in the worship songs, were commissioned and prayed over by Pastor Julius and our course leaders, and a few of us, including me, shared a personal testimony about how 360 has impacted our lives.  A long tiring day it was but I really enjoyed sharing the experience with all of my classmates of being commissioned to now go and change the world.

 Our class singing our special More and More

 Singing with the choir

 My good friend Danielle kicking a** leading our song

 Mamma Shirley commissioning our class

 Sarah sharing her testimony from 360

 I reread my original application to Watoto 360 that I wrote last August.  I was expecting that as I was reading it, it would be like when you read your middle school journal and you are absolutely repulsed by the self-centeredness and lack of maturity of your fourteen year old self.  I discovered that before I came to 360, I struggled to maintain a regular routine of devotional habits.  Since my time here, I now crave to read my Bible everyday while listening to some Hillsong (If you haven't heard Zion, your life is not complete).  I see the importance in diving in the Word all of the time.  Also in the application, I wrote that I wished I were a more eloquent speaker.  I am not saying that I am now an eloquent speaker by any means but I have been given numerous opportunities of public speaking in class, ministry, and at church to express my opinions, preach, and share something from my life.  It hasn’t been easy!  I thought I was going to die when Pr. Julius asked me to preach at staff devotions and felt really uncomfortable as I did a video interview to promote 360, however I definitely think that I have become more confident and might even now slightly enjoy to speak now.

Some of my housemates and I have been gathering with the children from our neighborhood once a week to play games, sing songs, and get new and creative hairstyles.  From day one up to now, these kids will chase our bus with huge smiles and waving arms as we return home and will hold our hands as we walk to the grocery store.  They captured our hearts and we have been dreading the last day with them and wondering how we were going to say goodbye to them in a way of showing them how much we love them and will truly miss them.  Tonight we will have a little party right outside our gate.  We will blow up balloons, bring out candy and pop (a rare treat for children in a slum) and play until dark.  We also will give each of the children a picture we took of our times playing with them where we wrote N’kwagala nnyo on the back (which means “I love you very much).

 One week today I board a plane to London… AHHHH CRY UP!!!  I don’t want to think about it.

Peace and love