After a 7.5 hour flight from Entebbe, Uganda, to London. With a week break in London traveling, and then a 8 hour flight to Atlanta, GA. Stayed overnight in Atlanta, then a half day of debrief, then a 2.5 hour flight to Minneapolis, with a 2 hour rain delay, then a 50 minutes flight to Grand Forks, ND.....
I'm Home.
The travel home definitely made me realize just how FAR away Uganda is, and now wishing it wasn't so far away (or expensive to get there). As I was in my last little flight from Minneapolis to Grand Forks, ND never looked so good! I could hardly wait to get off, felt like I had "ants in my pants". When I got off the plane, finally through the terminal and into the greeting area I was blessed to see my parents, sister, Greta and Brittany, good friends! It was an inexpressible feeling! I've seen it in the movies and on the news of people being separated for so long, or soldiers at war coming home and now I think I got a taste of what that is like to return.
As I had tried to prepare myself, the best I could, while in Uganda, for my return, I really don't think you can prepare. I got home and could still hardly believe all that I had seen just in the last two weeks and believe I was really in America and at the farm...(relaxed sigh). When I got to my parents I just walked around the house to see what was different, mom likes to rearrange/decorate, and just took in the smell of home. I went to my room and was instantly shocked by my things, a common reaction. Before I left I had moved home, got rid of a lot of things and packed the rest up. The boxes were all stacked in my room. I was really upset. I had just lived the last 8 months out of 2 suitcases and arrived to all that I had at home, this too is an inexpressible feeling.
I spent the next 6 weeks traveling, seeing family, friends, speaking to groups and churches to give updates and thanks for their support. "THANK YOU AGAIN!!" It was a crazy busy time and I did get to do some relaxing, blessed by family with their cabin for me to retreat too. Mom and I took a trip to CO in prep for my moving for Grad School.
I have now been in CO for 2 months, and home from Uganda for 4, only 4! It feels much longer than that. Has it been difficult? Yes. I have had break down(S), long thought processes, physical hurt of missing the family I had in Tororo and those precious children that have touched my life in a way they will never know. I will continue to process and try my best to keep some of what I learned about life in the way I live today; slowing life down, enjoying conversations and relationships, and appreciating other countries.
There are random moments where I want to say "Asante Sana" (Thank you) or just random Swahili phrases when I am out and about. Or different things just trigger me and I get really frustrated with American life which reminds me of Uganda and the processing begins.
I can hardly believe it was 1 year and 12 days ago that I left on that incredible journey. I am so thankful God gave me the courage to step on that plane. So Thankful. It is an indescribable time and all the Glory to God for what He did!
