Sitting in the airport

Well today has arrived.

Needless to say I have been an emotional wreck all day.

Goodbyes are so hard. Especially when they involve 12 of the most precious children in the world.

There really is no way to describe how I am feeling right now. So instead of making a really bad attempt at that, I will tell you about my last day in Uganda.

It started like any other day, I woke up. Except I didn’t really sleep last night, so I woke up from a hour and a half nap.

I went downstairs and chilled with the kids before breakfast. Annet and Carol were sitting inside instead of playing so they started asking me about when I was leaving and such. Then I started crying. I think it scared them a little that I just randomly started crying, but I explained to them that I was just really sad that I had to leave Uganda.

Naturally they gave me some advice. Little 5 year old Annet in her sassiest voice said, “Well just stay!”

And right then I wanted to just say  okay and not go anywhere.

Later in the morning I read to the kids one last time and burned some CDs for my Ugandan friends.

Then I had my last Mama Monica prepared meal of posho, beans and cabbage for lunch. I don’t know if I’ve said this yet or not but Mama Monica is an awesome cook! There are only one or two things that I didn’t love eating the past 3 months.

Then during nap time I finished packing and got ready.

Once the kids woke up from nap time the real countdown was on. Only 2 hours before I had to leave. We had popcorn for snack and I taught Joel how to throw it up and catch it in his mouth (I’m sure the staff will thank me for that one). Then all the kids remembered that I had said I had sweets for them when I left so, every 5 minutes or so a different kids would ask me when they would get their sweets. Haha so cute!

Then I went upstairs, got my luggage, and brought it down to weigh it. Of course my big bag was 3 kg overweight, so then I had to move stuff around (which took way too much time and effort).

Then the goodbyes came. I wrote each kid a little note and gave them two sweets. I handed the first note to Brenda and immediately started crying… again! Which she thought it was hilarious that Auntie Cass was crying haha.

Then one by one I gave everyone my parting gift and then they all prayed for me.

After that, Mama Monica and Auntie Sara hugged me and told me goodbye. And then I had to get in the van and go.

It all happened so fast.

I still feel like this isn’t really happening. Like I’m just dreaming and I’m going to wake up or something.

But, I guess it is really happening because mothers with small children and people with disabilities can now board the plane.

Chao Uganda, it’s been real. You’ve changed my life.

So blessed!

I leave in 2 days! I really can’t believe it! I’m on an emotional roller-coaster right now!

Auntie Jo left on Thursday and Auntie Laura left yesterday, leaving me the last muzungu at Rafiki Africa Ministries. One of the staff members said that now the other two are gone they can eat me (Oh, African humor).

I’ve had some time to reflect on the past three months, and I am so very blessed to have been able to be here. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

I went to Watoto (our church) for the last time today and it was so bittersweet. At Watoto almost every Sunday the pastor asks people to join in groups of 3 and pray for one another. Today he asked us to just partner up with the person next to us and pray for each other. So Auntie Sara and I prayed together, and I cried the whole time! I really do feel like I have a little Ugandan family! Auntie Esther and Auntie Sara have become my “cousin sisters” and Mama Monica is like my Ugandan mommy! I am so blessed to have them as a part of my life.

I miss Jo and Laura! I am so glad that I met those girls and that we got to share this experience together. While I’m sure that we got on each other’s nerves at times, we never got into any real arguments or anything. And for such a random grouping of ages and personality types, I’d say that’s really awesome! They both made me realize a lot of things about myself and I am so grateful for their friendship.

I am so glad that I got to experience Uganda and see another part of the world. The differences and similarities between Uganda and the US have been very interesting to learn. I have become pretty comfortable living in Uganda, except for the mouse that lives up here with me (I discovered that he had been on the bed yesterday… not a fun realization). Although I wonder if I’m going to want to put on make up and do my hair when I come back, shocking I know.

I had to say goodbye to my favorite ministry that we work with on outreach days last Monday and that was hard. The street boys at A Perfect Injustice have captured my heart in so many ways. One in particular, Abbas, was especially difficult to say bye to. He was my little buddy!

My heart is breaking knowing that I’m leaving. My eyes have been opened to so many things since I’ve been here and my passion for adoption has only multiplied. I hope that the things I’ve learned here stick with me.

Please keep me in your prayers for my last few days here and for safe travels on my way home!