My top two answers to a common question

Every now and then someone will ask what I miss from the states.

I'm extremely blessed that my answer to that question is often very simple and short.

Today marks 11 months since I had feet on the ground in America. I often think about potential posts and things to share on here. I think I had often considered writing something on the year mark about what I have missed during my first year in Africa. I have decided to jump the gun by one month.

So....

11 months consecutively in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and I can honestly say that I really miss only two things. I will also say that they switch back and forth for the top spot.

PIZZA!!
I want pizza so so oh so bad. There is pizza in Africa. The quality varies greatly and people can usually tell you the best places to get it in their area. The snag is that gluten free pizza has not hit Africa yet.

HUGS!!
It is a classic case of not fully appreciating something until it is gone.
Hug-tackled by kids when returning from work.
Embraced in a welcoming hug from friends at life group.
Sunday morning hugs from so many that are part of my church family.
Family hugs at holidays.
Friend's embrace at any time as we catch up on life.

A moment in time.....

It is a Sunday evening.

I'm sitting in a flat in Kampala, Uganda.

I was feeling rebellious so I put on shorts when I returned from church.
Wearing shorts made me feel exposed and improper so I put on a kanga* around my waist.
The kanga was a gift from friends when I arrived in Tanzania earlier this year.
I facetimed with my mom who is in Tennessee, USA.
The shirt I am wearing is from participating in a short term trip to Ethiopia and Uganda with Visiting Orphans.
I listened/watched a live stream of a church service from where I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
I'm texting a friend that is in an airport in Texas, USA (but lives in California, USA) as we are both streaming the same church service.
Then some friends asked if I could facetime them also. Of course, I said yes.

In this moment (that is spread out over the evening) I am positively overwhelmed with how geographically diverse my life has become.
How did this happen?
When did this happen?

Sometimes it is stressful because I want to stay connected with so many people.
Other times I simply feel blessed.
Blessed because of a variety of freinds.
Blessed because of so many travels.
Blessed because of countless opportunities.
Blessed because so many that have made this opportunities a reality.

Blessed is the one word that describes this moment.



*Kanga is a piece of fabric that is rectangular in shape. It has a border all the way around and is often composed of bright colors.

It sneaks up on me

Behind the office is gazebo that is well known to anyone that frequents the compound.

It is many things:

a place for meetings 

a place for orientations 

a place to work and enjoy fresh air 

a place to escape the walls of the building

a place for language lessons

a place to hide

Even though it has been almost 4 months since I left the village and about two months since I made the decision to come to Uganda and accept the position in the office, the grief of the events of those months still sneaks up on me from time to time. 

Today was one of those days. 

It is like any other part of life. The most random of things can trigger a memory. It may come from a picture, smell, something someone says, or somehow the brain just follows a random train of thought that leads to a memory. I can't say for sure what happened today. It may have been a combination of things to be honest. Then, of course, it rains. My leaders are extremely understanding of the ongoing transition I have been in for some time. They know it is difficult and will do whatever they can to make it better, including allowing me to leave the office early. I would have gladly left but the rain was heavy enough that transportation back to the flat would have been difficult. 

I needed to hid and to escape. 

I hid in the gazebo and escaped into the story of a book.

(initially unknowingly to me, someone captured the moment through a window; see above)

It was like the grief was reminding me that I can't just jump into this new position and everything will be fine and dandy. Today was only the beginning of my second week in the office. It will take a few weeks to figure out what tasks can be delegated to me and then some time for me to learn the ways of things. I know I need to acknowledge the pain of what happened and my brain seems to be smart enough to make that happen from time to time. But it is hard! 

Various aspects of my time in Tanzania were challenging. I can not deny that on any level. But somehow I still loved it. I don't think I realized that until I felt the pain of losing everything that was there. 

This grief I feel is pain of what I loved.

There is not going to be a profound conclusion to this post. 

I've actually been trying to conclude this for some time. The truth is that this is what it is. It is grief, sadness, heartache, and pain and it doesn't stop just because a new chapter has started. It is still there just as the previous chapters of a book are always there and the characters are what they are only because of what happened in those chapters. I am who I am because of the previous events; because of the heartache; because of the new friendships; because of the waiting and the transition; because of everything that has happened. 

I know the grief will sneak up on me again. 

It will probably happen more than once. I'm learning to embrace it when it happens. I try not to limit the grief (not too much anyway). It is there for a reason and the last events of the last few months will forever be part of my story. This includes the actual physical events as well as the feelings that came with them. 

Now, all I can do is try to tackle each day as a new day with new opportunities and new chances for joy. Some days will be harder than others, but I can try.

NEWSLETTER: November 2015

Continuing a journey with new beginnings.......

Continuing with another beginning

The journey continues in Africa; however, right now it feels like it is just beginning with so much newness surrounding me. I came to Kampala, Uganda on 17 November and have been settling in both at the office and in the flat I will live in for three months. The flat's usual resident is on home assignment and this will give me time to learn about Kampala as well as be with other AIM people in the same building.

Although this is like a new beginning, it is still a continuation of my time in Africa and it is interesting to process expectations with what has happened and how that has varied with each phase. For example, the flat I live in has a microwave. Having come to Africa expecting to be in a village with no power, a microwave is mind boggling. On the other hand, I love having a balcony on the third floor. It is a pleasant place for breakfast or evening reading.

Don't worry, be happy.

I was opening a few notes from friends and family this past weekend. One of them had a picture of my brother and I. [See below] The envelope said just the same has my brother's shirt: Don't worry, be happy. I thought that to be very appropriate. So much transition has happened this year for me and now to start again. I'm sure people in the states are trying to figure out everything for gifts, parties, families, and more related to the holidays this time of year. I enjoyed this little reminder and thought maybe you would like it also. 

Saturday breakfast on the balcony.

A blast from the past. My brother and I, age 4 and 2.

The other members of the team in the office, allowed me almost two weeks to get settled some and start finding my way around. This time was such a blessing!! Yesterday was my first official day in the office. The office staff has also gone through significant transition the last few months and it will take some time as we each figure out how to delegate tasks and and define our roles. For now, I am getting used to new computer systems, the behind the scenes process for placing new missionaries, and helping with other tasks around the office.

Please join me by praying for:
-smooth adjustments and ease of settling into a new country, city, job
-quick and easy process with immigration and application for work permit!!!; (Praying everything gets cleared before my 90 day visa runs out or I will have to jump the border to get a new visa. This is tricky with the holidays and other factors that may delay the process.)
-friendships in and out of the office to form quickly and with a solid base
-thankfulness for wonderful ladies that are helping me learn the ropes of Kampala and AIM's central region
-wisdom for the office staff as we define our roles and delegate tasks with the ongoing transition
-hear, follow, and have assurance about God's direction for myself

I would love to hear from you!! You can respond directly to this email to let me know how God is blessing and/or challenging you as 2015 starts to come to a close.

Grace and Peace,
Katherine