Reflections

Today is Saturday May 31st, My program officially ended in Uganda yesterday. I was supposed to be back in America tonight, I am missing my brothers graduation party, I'm stranded in Nigeria's airport for the next 18 hours and I am desperately home sick. With all that being said I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to write my final blog. AND instead of dwelling on those things that i'm not so pleased with right now, I am choosing to use this time and focus my energy on allowing my experiences over the last four weeks to sink in, and allow God to really speak to me (escpecially since I have NO one else to talk to for the next 18 hours)

Yesterday was my last day at work. The other volunteers and I stopped my the center to drop off come donations we had, give the children letters and say our final good-byes. The trip that was supposed to take only an hour quickly turned into 4. In true Ugandan style they had planned a full out good-byr celebration, students, staff, parents...EVERYONE! It was amazing! I promised myself I wouldnb't cry...I did enough of that the night before while writing letters to the children. Obviously I lied to myself. We were all doing well until the vocational girls (those teenagers who had not recieved sponors to go to schoold so were bring trained in certain skills like needle work) got up and performed. We spent perhaps a totoal of 5 afternoons with these girls the entire time we were there. They are often "left out" for lack of better term b/c many of then dod not speak English well. So needless to say I was completely shocked and moved when Ithey got on the stage in full costumes and performed a good-bye dance/song in English with our names! It was a moment I will never forget. The children danced and sang as did the boy vocational group alomg with the male staff members. As they showered us with sangs, dance, gifts and thanked us for our "self-less sacrifice of volunteering our time to come all the way to Africa to be with them" I somehow felt like I was the one who should be thankful. I did get a chance to share this with the entire Meeting Point family as I was volunteered to give a speech on behalf of the volunteers. I feel as if I did absolutely nothing as "self-less" as the seem to think. I just allowed myself to learn from them...which was more of a blessing than anyting else.

Saying good-bye is never easy. I found out the night before I left that the two children I shose to sponsor, Evalyn and Joseph, are both HIV+. It was one of those things that in the back of my mind I knew but hearing hte words as I spoke to Momma (the Exectutive Director) became a heart breaking reality. Joseph (12) has spent most of his days drawing me pictures and writing me sweet letters. I just love him, he has a slight studdard that I adore and smile that brightened many of my rrainy Ugandan days. Ms Evalyn (8) is a true diva which probably why I am so drawn to her. She has a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e, but is the sweetest girl ever. Her people are from Rwanda. She loves to dance and singing songs in my ear was her favorite passtime. I know I shouldn't pock favorits but these two hold a special place in my heart! They are so much more than a deadly virus...but on paper that is what they are reduced to.