The Crazy Adventures of an American Mzungu

I returned to Boise on January 3rd. And let me tell you -- it has been a whirlwind of emotions! I cannot explain the way my heart longs to be back with the beautiful faces I had the pleasure of meeting. However, I love seeing familiar faces once more, and watching eyes light up as I share the triumphs and hardships I faced, and the plans God placed on my heart. I am amazed at those who have that spark in their eyes. People I barely knew (and even people I never met until coming home) are some of the most excited. I cannot even express how that blesses my heart! On top of meeting with loved ones, God has been working greatly in my heart. The church I attend always starts a new year with three weeks of fasting and prayer. I have taken that time to seek God in my reentry. I need God's direction in my life, as well as a job as I start life over in America. I know God is a mighty big God (as my favorite Ugandan worship song says, "He is always by my side"). I know He will put...

No part of me can believe that I have been back in America for a month. This concept blows my mind. Every time I wake up, I feel the need to wake up from my dream, to wake up under the safety of my mosquito net. To already be drenched in sweat, even though the sun just rose. However, I am no longer in Uganda. Slowly this reality is setting into my mind. Adjusting has been interesting. I have learned that store clerks do not appreciate it when you try and bargain. I mean come on, I am giving your business plenty, the least you could do for me is give me a good deal! I also had to teach myself how to drive all over again. Speed limits. Traffic lights. Stop signs. Traffic police that are not just stationed in one place. These all seem so foreign to me once more. But praise God! I was able to purchase a Subaru Legacy last week. I named her Sandra, and she will be an excellent car while I am still around. I am excited to see where she will take me! I have been in Vancouver with my family ...

I am sitting in the Entebbe airport, when a woman strikes up a conversation with me. I am always so thankful when someone else starts the conversation. I am horrible at small talk, and always feel awkward when there are only two white people in a room and they are not talking. She asked me where home was. That is the most complicated question for me to answer anymore. I grew up in Oregon, then moved to Boise for school and decided that was “home”. Then the big move to Africa. One of the first questions mzungus ask is “where are you from?” Depending on my mood, I flipped back and forth between Oregon and Idaho. Sometimes, I would say one and want to slap myself because that was not the one I wanted to come out of my mouth. Then I take five minutes bumbling through this weird explanation on why both Oregon and Idaho are home. Well, now let's mix Uganda into the mix! I started through my bumbling mess when this complete stranger asked me where I was from... and being way past my be...

 I grew up in Central Oregon, where the Cascade mountains bust through the skyline, and here is where my love of nature comes from. Moving to Boise, I appreciated the hiking trails that would take me through miles and miles of God's creation. There are also the best sunrises I have ever witnessed! But Uganda -- oh! Uganda is the most beautiful place I have laid my eyes on. I am always amazed at the glorious splendor God sets before me, as I soak in His artwork. Lush vegetation, amazing scarlet soil, the Nile River, Lake Victoria, sunflowers (my personal favorite), trees, and the most amazing skies I ever witnessed!  So often, I get caught up in whatever I am doing – work, ministry, life – that I forget that I am surrounded by God's glory. I forget to take the time and soak up the beauty God created for my pleasure. He created it to woo my heart. I must admit, this past year I have been bad about enjoying the beauty of God's Hand. But when I do stop, I find myself com...

In 5 short days, I will be heading back to America. I must say, going home proves to be a much larger leap of faith than when I came here to Uganda. I had three weeks to prepare. I knew that God was calling me, so I dropped everything and came. Now, I am returning to basically nothing. Sure, God continues to provide for me, and I know He will continue once I land and jump back into American life. However, I am still nervous. For the past couple months, I have been praying that God would go before me and pave the way. A few days ago, a friend of mine was praying over my return. She prayed that God would not only go before me, but go with me. Those words struck my heart, and I have been mulling over them for the past couple days. I cannot count how many times I have prayed God would move before me -- to work in hearts of those I would be meeting -- to guide me through a new adventure. Yet rarely, if ever, have I prayed that God would go with me, where He should be in the first place. I ...

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 This precious face is one I met earlier this year. A dear friend of mine continually invited me to her village, in hopes of reaching her Muslim family with the truth of the gospel. It was the last time I went out there, I met this beauty. His smile can capture the coldest of hearts. He is both deaf and mute and would be considered less, but lit up the dark hut! He was treated well, and even took charge of the other children. While out there the final time, his mother (my friend's sister) accepted Christ as her Savior. A moment of sweet joy! We then left, and I cherished the precious smile of this boy who captured my heart and his mother's decision. This week, I ran into my friend in town. She told me things in her village were not going well. The uncles in the village were angry to hear of the new Christian in the family. When the...

No persons were harmed in the making of this photo.... THIS photo.... the real thing is a different story.... Six months ago, my friend Brittany and I were getting on a boda (motorcycle taxi). I was in a skirt, so I needed to ride sidesaddle to be culturally appropriate. When we took off, I could tell I was going to fall off. I chose to jump instead of attempt to stay on the boda. I knew if I tried to stay on, I would only cause more damage! So I decided to jump. I landed on my feet, and it was no big deal. Elegance. Grace. Class. Three things that did NOT happen today! Once again, Brittany is in town and we were on a boda. This time, she was in the skirt, but when she tried to ride sidesaddle, the boda man made her "sit properly". When it came time to get off, Brittany wanted me, who was sandwiched between Brittany the boda man who sat on my lap the whole ride, to get off first so she would have more room to modestly get off the machine. I was grateful I was not the one...