This is why I am here.

After our amazing time/trip with my parents here, it was time to say goodbye :(  It was difficult and so fast! After they left I was really missing home because they gave me a 'taste of home', and I was ready to be back in the U.S. With 2 months left, the end was seeming a million miles away.

It was a tough week back at Smile readjusting from traveling around Uganda and having a more "tourist" week than usual. I was exhausted and praying daily that God would give me strength. I was listening to a song called, "I surrender" daily as well remembering that Jesus is the reason I am here. I surrendered my life to Him when I asked Him to be apart of my life. When He asked me to come to Africa I again surrendered what I selfishly wanted, a good paying job and the comfort of my own home. That same week there was a large group of about 40 people from Hope4Kids International visiting the many different organizations they serve here in Tororo. On Thursday they were throwing a glow stick party for the kids that live at Smile Africa. They invited us and we were thrilled to go!  We arrived at Smile that evening and while we were waiting for the team to come the Smile kids, Pastor Ruth and us were worshipping and dancing in the shed together. In the midst of the evening approaching, the kids singing, everyone dancing, I felt God speaking to my heart, "This is why you are here". Which doesn't really explain much but I felt comfort, peace, and joy to be sharing that special time with them. I was so thankful that God gave me the strength I needed to make it through that week, to get over my selfish wants, and to continue on the race I am running, in this thing called life. 

Pastor Ruth was wearing lots of glow stick accessories!!

Some of the kids and their glow stick attire!!