First Steps

                Jumping off a bridge. Heart racing. Nerves surging through your whole body. The feeling that your heart dropped to your trousers. Knowing that to jump, you have to close your eyes and command your body to obey. Knowing that you will miss out on something wonderful if you don’t. That’s the feeling I get when I know what God wants me to do, but it scares me senseless to take those first steps.

                Well, all is well here in Kampala, Uganda. It is hot and damp but not unbearable. There is a breeze and when the clouds sweep up from over Lake Victoria, you have a small number of hours before you are hit by a “light” rain. The palm trees are all around in all shapes and sizes, and the birds’ call is loud. There are a lot of beautiful parts of Kampala and I happen to be living in one of them.

                My plane from Denver to Washington D.C. was tough. Just saying goodbye to family and the seats were not very comfortable. I fidgeted and tried not to worry about my 5 minute allotment to get to my next plane. Thankfully, I made it in one piece and my 8 hour flight to Brussels, Belgium went much faster than expected. I had a seat next to a lady from Nigeria who was a comical relief when I couldn’t sleep. Once getting to Brussels, I meandered through the airport and took a shuttle to find my next gate which took some effort mentally and physically. A girl who would be with me through orientation in Kampala, arrived an hour after I did and we boarded the plane to Entebbe, Uganda together. After stopping in Kigali, Rwanda to drop and pick passengers, we had arrived in Uganda. Our new temporary home.

                Two staff from Africa Inland Mission whisked us away to Kampala the next day. The next couple days were spent at Matoke Inn, a guest house next door to the AIM Central Region office and operated by AIM. I was able to rest, get over jet lag, and get more information at orientation day. A lovely AIM staff member (Ugandan) let my partner and me follow her around downtown Kampala to show us the ropes of taxis (matatus), bodas (motorcycle taxis), and crossing the busy roads on foot. She was such a great teacher; not giving us more than we could remember and giving us tips in case we ever got lost. I observed how much more relaxed town feels compared to Nairobi and I was thankful. Not so overwhelming.

           Our orientation day was full of helpful information and good things to know. I came away from it excited but also nervous and overwhelmed. That next day my partner and I were to be in our different ministry sites and I was feeling a little sad to be apart from her; not only because she is a lovely person, but because she was a security blanket. I am not here to feel comfortable. Reminder.

                My room was not ready at Kyambogo (Chi–am–bo-go) University, so they put me in a 4 bedroom guesthouse with a kitchen and bath that is right on campus. It is a big place when there is only one living there. We (me and AIM staff) are hoping my flat/apartment will be ready within the next couple of weeks so I can completely settle in. Until then, the watchman for this guesthouse seems protective and he is willing to take care of me. There is some unrest here at the University, so he will also keep me informed about the happenings on campus. Students are here taking exams, but the teachers won’t report until term starts the first week of February so I have a couple weeks to build relationships with those around. The autism program I will be helping with/learning from is in one of the three institutions at Kyambogo and I hear there aren’t many children in the program.

             My mission here, though, is to make relationships and be with people. That was a needed reminder. I am praying that God will shape me and mold me to be His light on this campus. The first steps I took outside of the guesthouse my first morning were difficult; to jump in or not to jump in. Because I chose to jump, I have already made friends with a lady who works at the university’s post office and some students/graduates who volunteer at the Compassion International program (also on campus). Praise God for those connections! Even now, I have contacts from church and a girl who is graduating. He placed those people in my life right away as I have been walking around campus. With each day, the steps will get easier as I try to continually focus on the Lord and ask for daily wisdom as I interact with a new culture. Step by step.