Next steps

Currently we are in Nairobi and we stopped here for a little over 24 hours. We get to stay one night at Mayfeild Guest House before we fly to Entebbe Uganda which is just outside of Kampala. We are still processing our time at orientation, and thinking about what the next few weeks look like for us.

Once we get to Uganda we will be at Matoke (Ma-toe-kay) Inn for about ten days. Over those ten days we will begin our language training that follows the LAMP model of learning language.  I have no idea what that entails but maybe I will shed some light on that when we learn more. The language that we will be learning is called Luganda and we hope to be sharing words and phrases with you soon! We will also spend some time getting acclimated to the new city we will be living in and hopefully getting our housing figured out.  

After those ten days, if we have a place to live, we should be able to spend a day at our new place before we do a "home stay." A home stay is an opportunity for us to live with a Ugandan family in order to learn their language, culture, and home practices. This time will be very eye opening.  We will learn so many things that will help us get to know the ins and outs of some amazing people we will be spending a lot of time with over the next few years.  

I don't know yet how open I should be about some of the things that challenge us, but I have decided to step out a bit. We are having a great time learning things and we are loving that we are finally on this wonderful continent. At the same time we are so ready to be in one place for a while. I really enjoy having a place for Kyle and me with our own space, the ability to make our own food and be on somewhat of a schedule. The last three weeks has not given us much of the freedom to do those things and the next two weeks will further challenge us. As I contemplate these things, I get ready to make a big push for the next two weeks and just "pull myself up by my own bootstraps" and get through it. I am really ready to have a place to call home again, even if it is in a totally new city with a totally new surroundings.  A few nights ago as I spoke to the Lord about all of this, the Spirit reminded me that "this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." Although I can sometimes sing that song with a light heart and silliness in my voice, it is true of us and it is something that I need to remember. So my desire and my aim is to remember that core truth when I get fed up with living out of a suitcase, or having to walk down the hall to a shared bathroom, or when I am told of what schedule I have to keep or handed a plate of mystery food :) Thanks for letting me vent a bit, I pray that you remember to that this world is not our home, and that the hope of Heaven outshines all of the struggles that we could face. 

2 Cor. 4:16-18

"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."