Home! ...and the hospital.

So today marks two weeks since my return from Uganda! Sheesh; doesn't seem possible! There are days when I feel like just yesterday I was building a mud hut and boating on Lake Victoria and the Nile River; and there are some days that I feel like it was so far away. Either way, I would do anything just to go back for a little bit longer! Never in my life have I felt so connected to God, and so disconnected to the American society and way of life. (Which is quite an excellent feeling, I might add.) The people I met, things I did, and friendships that were built (which you'll hear more about in later blog posts!) were unforgettable. I can't wait to start sharing those experiences with you!

As you might've heard, a week ago I was in the hospital. Turns out I had malaria...so that was interesting. I guess I can check, "get deadly foreign disease" off of my bucket list. But thanks to the wonderful doctors, (and JT who just so happened to have a malaria test kit) it was diagnosed early enough that I started feeling better after just 5 days! However, I think I'm still a little light-headed from all the blood that had to be drawn! So thank you for all of your prayers in that situation, it really did mean SO MUCH! :)

I'll be posting new blogs soon about some of the stuff I did and people I met while in Uganda, but for now I'll just leave you with this:

There are some things that God engraves on our hearts that we don't understand at the time, and six months ago, that was this overwhelming passion for missions work, specifically in Uganda, Africa. I had absolutley no idea why God was sending me to this third world country on this poverty stricken continent, but God knew exactly what He was doing, and He knew that He was going to use me to not only reach others, but also teach me things that I didn't know about myself. Leaving the United States and heading to Jinja, Uganda is quite the culture shock, and I think the thing that really made an impact on me was that everyone in Uganda, through all their troubles and trials, were some of the friendliest and most joyful people you will ever meet. They didn't have much, but what they did have they were beyond grateful for. They show their appreciation for everything people do for them. They are willing to give whatever they have, even if it's not much, just to show how thankful they are for you. I'm guilty of being ungrateful and unappreciative of everything I have, when in reality, I own far and beyond what I would ever need. I learned to be grateful, appreciative, and content with what I have. Looking back, I realize exactly why God sent me on this trip - to open my eyes to the world around me. I am beyond blessed, and I thank God everyday for finally showing me how blessed I am to live the life that I have. God is so, so good.

Proverbs 16:3