Lots of pictures, a few words: Masaka Youth Camp

While I was in the States, I was given the gift of a wonderful camera.  It takes great photos, so I have decided that these photos will walk you through my updates.  Here we go!

Masaka Youth Camp 2013

Senior 4 students (just finished sophomore year)

Delta Youth Center

2013 Cornerstone Veritas Interns attend the Youth Camp

Color

Yes Michael, you Defy Gravity!

African Shoues

"These are African football shoes" Jude says.  "Why?" I ask.   He sticks his finger into a large hole and rolls his eyes, smiling... "See"?

Carol

Father Michael, the priest with swag

Long time, dear friends of mine:  Stella and Pauline

NET Team leaders, and great friends:  Carol and Frank

Gaby is growing up! 

Favorite Photo:  The happy family

Gloryia... I've known her the whole time I've been in Africa!

 "When's the wedding?"  Gloryia smiles hugely, "We introduce on April 27th, and get married May 28th." 
"Where's the ring?"   ... "Not till the introduction!"

Intern Emmanuel, sharing with the group

Up everyday before sunrise.  Good morning Africa!

Student thinking

My teammates!  We all worked hard to run this week long camp!  Well done guys!

A new baby

Thank you Jennifer Versluis!  Through a specific donation, Jenn allowed me to get a guitar!  I am so excited.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Her name is Black Beauty. 

The View from here

Travel.  It's a way of life for some, and I am one of those.

As I walked through DTW yesterday evening, I thought about how I feel like my life is one giant trip:  airports, bus stations, train stations, taxi parks, road sides, motorcycles, bikes, walking... moving, always going. 

My time in America was no exception, as the previous post showed.  I didn't stop "going" the whole time.  This was inevitable, there were a lot of people to see, and a lot of things to do.  Still, somehow I deeply wish I could slow down.

Thankfully, this coming week will be slower.  I was supposed to go to Ethiopia, to train some Cornerstone contacts there.  I wish I could detail the whole story here... but I feel it would not be the kindest thing to do.  Let's just say, the trip was canceled due to Christmas.

I didn't realize that the trip to Ethiopia was stressing me until it was canceled.  As soon as I knew I wasn't going, and I was instead traveling straight home to Uganda, my outlook on the whole trip drastically improved.

I am going home.  Or, to a type of home.  I have many homes, I believe home is people, not places.  I belong on many continents.  But I do have to say it is very nice to know the physical space I am going back to, my tiny little tiled 4th floor apartment, ready and waiting for me to live my life again.  This African Life. 

My time in America was nothing short of excellent.  It is somehow hard to leave.  My eyes were opened to the AMAZING and incredibly numerous deep, consistent, loving relationships I have in my life.  It's a powerful thing to have a "people".  I have my "people" in Uganda, but my "people" in America have known me for exponentially longer.  And that makes a difference.

These 2 months in America were intense.  Tons of traveling, tons of family time, presentations, visits with friends, a good number of hours of work, visit to a grad school, lots of emotions, learning, growing, and some lose and change. I needed this time.  I feel more able to face life in Uganda, after these 2 months.

I couldn't have gotten through these months without the constant support of family and friends... especially these 4 great people:

My families! The Hughes and the Gorniks! 

And away I go... thousands of miles behind, thousands ahead, let's live this adventure to the end... someday life will be different, so I am going to enjoy this while I can!