Adult Conference and Clean Feet

So I've been back living in Uganda exactly 8 days. It really seems like I have been back for a few weeks, but it's only been 8 days. This week was a pretty stressful week in that there was an adult conference being held here at the school, Monday thru Friday. Now, I'm not sure how I can paint this picture, but there were about 300 people here every day with most of them staying the night at the school. During the day, they preached almost non-stop. Well, I guess they stopped for meals though the timing of those meals was much later than traditional (eating lunch at 3 and supper sometimes at 9) In between those meals...preaching. Now if you don't know what it's like in other countries, they get a huge soundsystem and then blast it. They even had an outdoor speaker which made it sound somewhat like the Muslim prayer call at times. In the mornings, they would begin waking at 5:30. Not the screaming and yelling of children I am used to but instead a choir of babies crying as many mothers brought them to stay the night. I have a new appreciation for you new parents. All in all, we were blessed that they left Friday morning. Friday afternoon we basked in silence and praised the Lord for it!

So let's return to the fact that I've only been back 8 days. In all honesty, I had missed a part of the US that I think I never really appreciated until now: clean feet. For those that know me, they know I love my rainbow sandals and will wear them even when it's snowing outside in Tahoe. But I took a good look at my clean feet as we touched down on that airplane a week ago...and waved goodbye to that idea. You see here in Uganda, dust is everywhere. For someone suffering from a little OCD, that could do you in. For me, I am just reminded that much of the time I need to be a two shower a day kind of person at minimum. So there can be times that I take a shower, wipe off my feet and walk around my place for an hour only to find brown feet that are well on their way to the potential of being black. This picture doesn't do my feet justice. Because of the flash, it doesn't look like my feet are very dirty, but they are semi-black. Anyway, I can't help but think of the disciples when Jesus washed their feet. They had probably walked on streets such as I encounter every day, but for many consecutive days. Their feet and even legs were probably filthy. Yet Jesus got down and washed their filthy feet. I can only hope to be such a servant as i do my work here in Uganda. So clean feet, I bid you adieu until June when I will scrub and scrub and embrace you again for a week, but until I will use my dirty feet to remind me that I came here to serve as Jesus did.

Back to Uganda

So many of you know that I've been in the States for the last 6 weeks or so. I had an incredible time visiting family and friends. I traveled to SoCal, the Bay Area, Reno, Sacramento and many other towns in California. Six weeks sounds like a long time and it certainly felt like a long time. Honesty I was ready to return to Uganda after about 4 weeks.However, I regret that I didn't get to spend time with everyone that I wanted to. So to those that I was not able to spend time with and give you an update, I apologize. It was my heart's desire to see everyone. The problem: everyone is busy!!! There are just so many meals available in 6 weeks and only a select few that work for the schedules of both parties. Unfortunately, I may not get face to face time with many of you over the next 18 months. Although I will be back in June, it will be a very short visit only to see a few high schoolers graduate. So please keep in touch over email, facebook, skype, or whatever other means of communication possible. Thank you all for your love, prayers and support of the mission God has given me in Uganda.

To those who I was able to spend time with, thank you so much for taking care of me during my stay in the States. I am so blessed to have friends and family that love me so much. Many of you have become better friends during my time at home and I hope that distance will not separate the bonds that have been made. To my adoped family (the Aherns), I never realized how much I am a member of the family until I came back this time for a visit. I love you all so much and was heartbroken to have to leave that behind. Thank you for giving me a better picture of how much God loves me unconditionally. I will miss you the most. Thanks to my mom for being so generous and allowing me to use her car during my time in the States. You are a blessing from God.

I'll end with this. I have heard that so many of you enjoy reading my blogs. I had no idea. I'll try to write more so you can keep track of all the trouble I'm getting myself into. God Bless you all and I pray that 2009 will be full of His blessings.