Suffering for the Kingdom

I think it's easy to romanticize the life of a missionary.

My life looks different than it did in America -- I wear different clothes, speak a different language, eat different food, and fit into a different culture. It's not okay to eat while walking. That's different.

However, I build relationships. I talk and laugh with my friends. Some things are hard and we do have to deal with children dying, women wanting to commit suicide, people not having food, HIV, and a whole list of other things that make life in Uganda different, but at the end of the day I come home and read a book. My sister said her reason for being exhausted wasn't as good as an excuse as mine because she stayed up late reading her book the night before. While I do get tired walking many miles throughout the day and going to different villages, my excuse is often the same -- I stayed up until 1am reading my book last night.

As much as you may think that my life is so hard and that I'm really giving up a lot to be here, you might be surprised to find out that it's not. I do miss family and friends, chocolate, cheese, skinny jeans and scarves, and pumpkin spiced lattes especially now when all of you are talking about autumn (it's still sunny and gorgeous here, everyday). But the past few days I've eaten delicious desserts, drank hot chocolate while sitting cozy with my book, and enjoyed a few hot showers. I have electricity most of the time, hot water, drinking water from a filter, and an oven to bake delicious foods in. We even have oreos in town now; you could say life is not that bad.

Right now I am slightly spoiled in the house that I'm at. I most likely will not be as privileged at the next place, but I'm still not living in a hut. I'm not exactly "suffering for the kingdom".

With that being said, things have really settled into routine here now. I have a schedule that I follow (as best as possible, until big rain spoils our plans) and love getting to know these beautiful people. Life seems normal now -- I go to the Jores, Masese, Buzika, Aunt Tina's, the office, the market, and a handful of other places, and this is life. Days are never the same here, but I love having a semblance of consistency here!

Yesterday I told Sarah and Robina that I needed to go to the grocery store. They leaned in close and asked what I said. I repeated myself and was confused when they were still not hearing me. Robina asked, "Are you speaking French?" It finally dawned on me, they are called supermarkets here. Oops.

Sometimes I'm still overwhelmed though. I see a lot of hurt each day. A lot of people come to me and ask for money, food, or medicine. It's hard when I tell them that the only thing that I offer is the Word of God and prayer. Sometimes I feel like I'm failing them. Today I sent a woman away. That hurts. I know God loves them and I want to fix their problems. However, that's not my job. I don't have the save the world. God already did that in Jesus. I repeat that to myself multiple times a day.

Sometimes I don't feel like loving some of the people I know though. Last week I sat with a woman and was so frustrated with her that I was tempted to get up and leave, but suddenly it dawned on me that she is God's daughter as well. God sees her and loves her just as He loves me. It's humbling to realize that. There is much freedom in that though. I'm not obligated to love them because I'm above them, I'm free to love them because we're in the same boat. We're all sinful humans that stray from the King. And the joy is that He still loves us and calls us back to Himself!

Prayer requests:

• Lydia and Ruth are coming tomorrow! Pray that they transition well to life here and find a place to plug in. Also as we all shift to a new house shortly. 
• Finances -- God is able!
• As I seek to disciple specific women, that God would speak through me and go before to soften their hearts. 
• Wisdom in knowing where to help and where to pray and let God work. 

Thank you so much for your prayers!