Another Go-'Round - An Update

My dear family, friends, and family friends, 

     There has been a theme in my East Africa updates; I do well in keeping up with my blog for a certain amount of time and then I putter out and write nothing for...well, years. So I am writing you now to give a brief update since I left my year-long assignment in Uganda, to thank you for supporting me in prayerful and financial ways, and to give you some fun news!

     After coming home, I had a difficult time with adjustment, I was burnt out, dealt with mild depression, and just had an apathetic attitude all around. It was a hard year but I am so glad that I was loved through it by a God who relentlessly pursues us all. I continue to learn that God is enough, and being content in all circumstances is important albeit hard.

   Now that I am “on my feet” again in many ways, I have been accepted to join Africa Inland Mission once again to be on a Focus Quest team from July 8^th  to August 10^th this summer. Though it is a short trip, I will be able to return to my current job at Arapahoe Ridge Elementary and will continue paying off my student loans. My small team will join a full-term Focus team in Kwale, Kenya (not far from the Indian Ocean coast) who have been building relationships with the Digo people.

   Here comes the support part of it! Because of the overwhelming financial generosity from many of you that allowed me to be in Uganda in 2014, I had a surplus of funds that I am able to use for this upcoming trip. It has been an answer to prayer…the leftover funds and the assignment in Kwale (where my heart has been since 2011 and it is not far from my boyfriend). This assignment will allow me to look at another part of international missions as we will be with an unreached people group. Having a desire to look at being a long-term missionary in the future, this will serve as part of my “searching”. Therefore, my request to you is for prayer. Prayer overall is not my strength…at all, yet it is a big part of life as a follower of Jesus. Not only will it encourage me to know people are thinking about me, but it will allow you to be a part of this assignment. God commands us all to be a part of building His kingdom for His glory and there are many ways to do that. One of them is prayer. I ask you now to pray for my Quest team, the current full-term team who will host us, and for the Digo people to experience God in powerful ways.

   There is a lot of gratitude in my heart for all of you who read my letters/updates, who pray for/with me, who has financially contributed, and who continues to be in my life.

Many blessings (mungu awabariki sana),

Missy Barnett

Like a Dream

“Twelve thousand miles of it, to the other side of the world. And whether they came home again or not, they would belong neither here, nor there, for they would have lived on two continents and sampled two different ways of life.”
~ Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds

                 Air travel is quite an amazing thing. You sit down and hours later you are in a completely different environment and among a completely different group of people. One moment I was in Uganda and 24 hours later, I was in cold Colorado without the people and life I had become accustomed to. My brain feels like it is in slow motion. You know? Like in the movies when there is a high speed chase and some very ambitious guy jumps over the space between one building and the next. That is how my brain feels. It even feels like that to this day, over a month later. Similar to a dream with sights and sounds swirling around my head before I can completely comprehend what is happening. Was I really living in that different country for a year? Did all of those “dreams” really happen?
                My last months in Uganda were great, hard, challenging, exhausting, lovely, exciting, and all of the emotions you’ve heard from me in the past. The reality is since June 2014, I have not updated you on my life or what God was doing in my life. That is not helpful for me who needed prayer and it is not helpful to everyone supporting me with prayer, thoughts, or with finances. I owe everyone stories of God’s great provision from June to December 2014. Some funny and awe-inspiring tales will be intertwined as well because, let’s face it, living in a country far, far away for one year as a single, white lady generates unexpected twists and turns.
                The point is, I am deeply sorry for not doing my part and sharing my life with you during the last part of my year in Uganda. I discovered that it is more difficult than expected trying to think about two completely different worlds at once. My Kampala life complete over took me. I don’t think that is a bad thing, but I wish I could have taken time to inform all of you what God was doing in my heart and mind. He is worthy to be known and His deeds should be proclaimed. I am unharmed and here because of the Lord.
                I’ll stop with the confession there. I am anxious to share what the Lord has done. Hopefully, I’ll be able to write many stories in the near future for you to read.
              
                                                  As of now, I am still dealing with “the dream”.

My family created "me" to hang out with them while my real self was in Uganda. I cannot explain their actions, so don't ask me.

Dis(ABLED)

With many centers and schools for children with disabilities in Kampala, God enabled many key people to organize an Awareness March along Jinja Road and a Sports Gala (field day) on June 7, 2014. About 500 students with disabilities marched with signs, stopping traffic, to raise awareness on inclusive education. The students, parents, and teachers also gathered to enjoy a day of games, fellowship, and food after the march down Jinja road in the city. Under the surface, these parents and

teachers were encouraged beyond anything I can express. They are living in a country where disabilities are despised and these children are mistreated, so knowing they are not alone is very encouraging. God made these children in His image and they deserve to be loved, especially with the love of Jesus.

Awareness March

After the march. 

Fancy Ugandan lunch: g-nut sauce, matoke, potatoes, and rice pila

ou.

Closing remarks.