There have been so many moments of joy for me on this trip that’s slightly overwhelming to try and just pick up one moment to write about. Instead of a single moment, I think instead I’m going to write about the people which I’ve also brought me so much joy. I remember when we first got to Uganda we were staying at a place called the Green Valley, Hotel, and we were preparing to do a slam educational seminar with all of our east African leaders. When we arrive at the hotel, we were greeted, but all of our friends from Africa. My heart was so overjoyed and full that it pushed out all of my feelings of tiredness, my feelings are not being well, and all other negative thoughts out of my head.
I think my whole life I’ve always been a very people oriented person. I gather my joy, my strength, often times even my sense of purpose from the people that are around me. I’m not sure what my feelings were coming to you east Africa. I had some semblance of excitement, but I think that mostly it was a sense of mission that we had to accomplish. However, after seeing all of our friends, everything changed. My time here the last few weeks has been some of the best I’ve had in several years. Every single day I’ve been here has been an absolute joy. But it’s not because of the situations that we go into, those are often filled with incredible poverty in need they can suppress Any human being. It’s not even because of the beautiful landscape that we’ve been able to encounter, or even the various activities we’ve been able to be a part of. The joy has come from the people. God has blessed me so much these last years of my life. I now can say that I have true deep friendships with people all over the world. My relationships this year with all of our East African friends has grown tremendously, and I find myself dreading the end of this trip. Though I miss my family and my friends, back home, and even often times my bed and a hot shower, none of those things nullify the fact that I wish I was able to have more time with our friends here.
I forgot it’s a very special place in my heart. I often reminisce and think about who I was even just as soon as a couple years ago. If you would’ve told me then that I would have such deep rooted ties and connections to people in both Kenya and Uganda, and then I would’ve been several times, and planning to go several more times I would not believe you. Jesus has given me so many beautiful friends, and expanded my family network there something far beyond flesh and blood. this trip is reminded me that the people are the mission. Im constantly reminded that “We are his workmanship, created in Christ to do good works”, and that realization has come on the other side of incredible investment with beautiful people.