Top 10 Things I Will Miss in Uganda

I am now remaining with just 2 whole days in Uganda. I absolutely cannot believe that one year of my life has passed. How could it go by so quickly????? It took me 6 months to be fully comfortable with life in Uganda and 6 months after that I  become completely content with life here only for it to be time for me to pack up and come home.

TOP 10 Things I will miss about Uganda:

10. Living where I work - I NEVER thought I would say this, but it is really nice to live where you work. Instead of an hour commute on both ends of your work day I have just a 10 second walk!!!

The teachers kids at Kireka Home

9. Tropical produce!!! I love that I can eat mangoes, yummy small sweet bananas, papayas, pineapple, passion fruits, and avocados daily and it is affordable! 

8. 12 hour Sunshine - This sounds crazy, but once you get use to the sun being up from 7am til 7pm it makes your life easier - if the sun is up you are working - once the sun goes down it is time to go home! I do miss my long summer nights at home, but 7 - 7 sunshine is far easier than daylight savings and mostly dark winter days!

7. Boda Bodas - Yes I said it! I love that I can call a friend and have a personal driver at my house in 10 minutes... he can weave in and out of traffic and pass all those cars and they get you there in less than half the time of a car! (Yes I know they are not safe but I am ignoring that part!)

My wonderful boda driver Solango

6. Grocery Shopping is only a 2 minute walk away! You know those days where you get home from work and realize you did not plan well for dinner and do not have what you need. I love that when i do that (almost every day) I can just walk to my friend Prossey's store and come up with everything I need to make a basic dinner!

Prossey's store

5. Loving on kids with special needs - I know I will be able to do this at home, but it is so special to be able to love on these kids here because many of them are not love on at home. 

My kids at Kireka Home

4. The Mugwanya family - Francis and Andrienne's ministry with Fathers Heart Mobility has been my absolute favorite part of ministry here. I am so thankful to be able to join them on their outreach trips and share in their passion for showing people with disabilities and their families how much God loves and cares for them. They have been wonderful friends and a wonderful support system! 

With Francis, Adrienne and Hannah at a distribution to a children's home for children with disabilities last Thursday

Assembling chairs with Sabrina, Adrienne and Adrienne's friend visiting from Canada

Ragiba (sp) a sweet little 5 year old girl with severe sickle cell. She cannot walk because are bones are too brittle and keep fracturing. But she could really smile and warm your heart!

3. My AIM Family - This group of missionaries have been a wonderful support system while I have been here. They are people that I can call whenever there is a problem and people that I can rely on. There have been good friends that I can meet for dinner to laugh with and good friends that I can be accountable to. I am so thankful for my AIM family!!

With Cassandra and Heidi two full termers with AIM

2. Esther - Yes do not judge me but this little girl stole my heart and I will miss her following me around everyday. I will miss her coming and knocking on my door so early that she has to join me for breakfast, I will miss her accompanying me as I walk around the neighborhood doing my shopping, and I will even miss her making a huge mess of all my therapy toys while I am trying to do PT with another child.

Just found this old picture from Esther in January... she has gotten so big!!

Esther playing with a singing card while I packed on Friday

1. And I am sure this will come as no shock to all of you - Most of all I will miss all of my wonderful Ugandan friends. It is very hard to say good bye especially since I do not know if I will every see many of them again. God has given me such a wonderful family here and I am so thankful for the relationships with everyone I have met here. I am so thankful for Kireka Home as they completely welcomed me in and made me one of their own. I am so thankful for each and every student and staff member there and I will miss them terribly! 

With Margret and Matthew

This is my last post from Uganda! I will try my best to do my usual Friday post this week, but will be posting from Scotland! Please be praying for my travels this week - I leave Uganda on Wednesday morning.

I cannot thank each of you enough for your prayers, love and support over the past year! I pray that God blesses each one of you!