Well, first of all, walking through the Detroit airport was incredibly scary, and I felt really weird as I watched the all-American families going about their days as if nothing had happened. When I was in Uganda, it felt as if there was no other world besides that place. Nothing else existed, and even if it did, it had stopped to watch and see the things I was seeing and feel the things I was feeling. But then I saw the poster families with their strollers and designer diaper bags, I saw girls in these teeny jean shorts spending how much money on a magazine? I wanted to slap the five-year-old who was throwing a temper tantrum because his dad wouldn't let him get the sucker he wanted. I also wanted to slap the old bitty on the plane who instead of asking politely if the person in her seat had the wrong seat, yelled at the stewardess, loud enough so the whole plane could hear her (it was a small plane) that someone was in her seat, as if she was just as mature as that little five-year-old. That was when I realized that for everyone else in the world, life went on. The people I was walking past, some would never know what I had seen, some will never even know that the things I've seen are real. That frustrated and saddened me, a lot.
However, I was very very blessed when I got to see my family at the airport, and on top of that one of my best friends from school Heidi was there. She had driven the three hours from her house to mine, and then took off a few days from work so she could be with me for a few days when I got home. I was floored. Something I have struggled with recently is the fact that in my life, I haven't had very many solid friends. Friends that I can count on to want the best for me, support me, who will love me regardless of what I say or do, and who will stay by my side for a long time. This was one of the reasons why it was so hard to leave my friends in Uganda, I didn't want them to just be another memory. But seeing Heidi at the airport, it's hard to describe how blessed I felt. I couldn't really hear because my ears hadn't popped yet, but apparently I screamed really loud, ran and gave her the biggest hug. In that hug, I simply looked heavenward and I could almost see Him just smiling at us saying, "This girl's here to stay, and she is a good friend to you. The others that I have gifted you with as well, and you know which ones have been given to you by Me, are here to stay too. They are my gift to you, enjoy them."
I said a quick prayer of thanks and began my story-telling.
In all, yes, I miss Uganda. I miss the way life is lived there. I love that lifestyle, and for some weird reason, I can honestly say that I know I will be back there someday. I don't know for how long, where, with who, or when but I can just tell that I will be back. I have to go back. I miss the people, I miss the culture, I miss my kids, oh man how I miss my kids. I have talked to people who are still in Uganda since I've been home, and there is one girl Riyanna, the 3-year-old neighbor kid, who I got very attached to. I would be outside in the compound and I would hear her yelling over the fence, "Emily, I want to come down and play!" I would let her down and we would just do the same thing over and over again, but she loved it. I loved that girl so much, I still love her so much. Apparently she has been saying my name now that I'm gone, and that just makes me want to board a plane tonight just to be able to hold her again and let her kiss my face. I miss my squatter kids, the place where my sponsor child Josephine lives, and all the times we would go over there and they would sing songs for us, praising God that we would take the time to visit them and love them.
At the same time, even though my heart desperately wants to be in all those places with all those kids, there is an unexplainable peace in my heart. I know those two months were exactly what I needed, and where I needed to be, and I know that going back to school in a few days and for the next 3 years is exactly what I'm supposed to do. They will always be in my heart, and hopefully I will be able to see them again, if not just to say that I remember them. But, for now, I am exactly where I need to be. I will be moving into school on the 25th and I could not be more excited. I now know that I have some amazing friends that I am eager to see, to listen to their stories, and tell them some of my own. I have some amazing professors that I am eager to have coffee with and discuss deep topics of life with. I am eager to start my classes, all of which (except for French) are classes for a Social Work major, and I am excited to see how I will like this and if this is what He has really planned out for me.
Their beautiful, joyful, faces and their incredible faith will always be in the back of my mind.
But today, today I need to pack for school and get ready for another year, another fresh start. Today I am taking the childlike faith that has inspired me for 2 months and practicing it. I am taking the hand of Jesus and letting Him take me on an adventure.
See you at school.
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