Me?

 I have been received well since returning to the States. Everyone is excited to hear my stories and see pictures.  I am thrilled by these responses. I have to admit though, I have found it difficult to say anything about my trip. I have to assume I am experiencing culture shock, although it looks differently than I anticipated.

People want to know, "what was the most.... the best... the one thing..." I couldn't answer these. After two weeks in Uganda, I felt that the vast experiences could not be compared. Which is "better"? A woman I met once, never knowing her name, but when I gifted her a mattress she hugged me so closely, pressing her cheek against mine? Or, the group of 22 educators that I bonded with over three days of laughs over language barriers? I can't call one better than the other, or more meaningful even.

I am gradually becoming more "myself"... if that's possible. Many will say things like, "I could never do that!" or "It takes a special person..." Maybe many of you feel the same way? That it takes a special person to poop in a hole and eat weird food? For me, that is the easy part. The challenge is coming back home and finding balance in my life. Discovering the new "myself," how my life will change, and how to let loose of these memories and experiences I have been holding tight and keeping private.

The trip was amazing! Indescribable in many ways., but I will keep trying to find the words :)

Maybe God is nudging you to do something. Overseas, around the US, in your city, in your home. Maybe your return question to God is, "Me?"  Get up! Go, do, experience. The one thing I know for sure, as Christians we can't afford to keep quiet and sit still.


Laura Willowby