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)
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.
Peace and love,
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