Memories from March

Uganda is no longer some far-away country where I wanted to go and study for four months; Uganda has become a place of comfort.  I have found myself using terms like “home” to describe a location that I desperately wanted to leave not so long ago.  I am caught up in living life where I am at that I have been neglecting some of my responsibilities (Sorry, mom!).  This is the reason for my lack in sharing many blog posts.  But I hope I have a way to make it up to you!  This post is going to contain more pictures than my previous posts and will contain short summaries of my experiences.  

The cows gathering in the yard for their daily drink

My rural home stay was learning the importance of being over doing.  Most of my time with my family was spent sitting around and in silence with others.  Whether it was in the “kitchen”, in the back of my brother’s shop, or in a neighbor’s home, I spent a plethora of time simply being present with others.  Life has a much different pace in the village.  There are far less distractions and, without the noise of television or social media, it becomes easier to recognize the worth of another human being.  While I was incredibly misunderstood by my family, I have never felt more valued and appreciated.  They valued me for who I was and being able to live alongside them was only an added bonus to simply physically being in their home.  

Fetching water at the bore hole

Looking like a true "African woman" with my momma!

  

Can you see the hippo?

I had the privilege of going on a weekend safari trip.  Animals are not necessarily my favorite.  They are neat and fascinating creatures, but I am not passionate about them.  In fact, there is a cat that lives around our dorm and I have trained it to stay away from me.  However, animals aside, my original intention for going on the safari was to be able to have an experience that I would never be able to have back at home.  As we cruised through the Ugandan plains and watched animals live as they were created to be, I was overwhelmed with the great sense that we all live in “exotic” places.  We do not need to travel to Uganda and put on our best safari gear to have an adventure.  If God created all of life, then what makes the Ugandan wildlife better than the deer that roam in the forests of our backyards?  Creation has become distorted and I have gained a sense of renewal for the way the world has been created to work.  

The view from Murchison Falls

Sunrises on the water

Candid bromancing

The meaning of what it means to be a friend has been redefined.  I have been challenged by two Honor’s College students, Emma and Alvin, to take a look at the type of friend I have been to others and it all took place in less than 24 hours.  These two gave up an entire Sunday to spend time with me and another USP student in Kampala because they wanted to make sure that we were not completely “blind” in the city.  All day they made small sacrifices: they spent several hours with us in a craft market as we slowly made our way from shop to shop; they walked with us instead of riding bodas because we were not allowed to use them; and they took us to get frozen yogurt and entertained us by answering all of our questions.  As if the daylight was not enough time, we concluded our day with a movie back on-campus.  In a nutshell, they invited us to do life with them.  Their behavior throughout the day baffled me because they were willing using their time in ways that did not necessarily benefit themselves.  Instead, they spent their time doing what my friend and I wanted to do.  I was convicted by their acts of true hospitality – an open invitation of welcoming into one’s own life – and realized that I have often chosen myself over others.  Friendship, when done right, is sacrificial, communal, and found within the crevices of our hearts.  I can no longer continue being the type of friend that I have been to others for so long.  

Froyo fun

Selfies in taxis

I wish you could experience the lessons that I am learning because they are so much better felt than read. 

xoxo,

Emilia

*Some of the pictures above were taken by Emma and Alvin!

My trip was made more financially affordable thanks to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program)!