Smiles, Smells and Scenery

Aaaahhhh

 I ‘m back I’m back I’m back….I’M BACK!!!!

 I woke up to singing and drums this morning and literally started laughing. What a welcome! The university students have their meetings here at the Cornerstone property on Wednesdays and I had forgotten. I got so displaced thinking I was at the girls home… it took me a second to remember where I was (Given, I have been all over this world in 11 months, so that’s really a normal occurrence now)  I walked out and saw a few of my favorite women who work here. Joyce makes up my bed, Rose makes fabulous fresh juice every day and Sarah makes all the sleeping arrangements at the Cornerstone house.  What a welcome I have received. After hugging them and catching up, I literally ran up the stairs to see David, Madam Sarah’s husband. It was like a dream to see his face and hear his voice and yet seemed like I had seen his yesterday. We laughed and caught up. I quickly made plans to go to the girls school with him tonight. I CANNOT wait to see the girls!!!! Even thinking about it makes my heart pound.

For lunch, I met up with some American friends from Texas, now living in Kampala. We had some amazing Thai food and caught up on all God is doing and where we are all at. It was so good to see them. We have all grown so much in the past year (or even 6 months since I have seen them)  that it was super fun to exchange experiences. After lunch, we walked my errands (air time and a fresh mango were on the docket) and just talked. We hung out until David pulled the car up, we loaded my luggage and David and I drove off. The entire time I was trying to focus on what he was saying, but my mind was racing about seeing the girls, being back, loving the African sunset and realizing… I’m back!

When we pulled unto the all to familiar red dirt road, my heart literally started racing. A smile stamped my face for the next minute as we pulled into the gate. It truly feels like coming home here. We pulled up to the classes and some of the girls started running out. After about four of the girls started yelling (one was Sofie and another, Hadija, who as soon as I saw them my eyes filled with tears) as we started down the path that leads to my guest house. There were about 10 girls there at the house, waiting, jumping up and down, shouting, yelling and full of African smiles. My hearted melted. I got out and didn’t even know what to say except to hug them and call them all by name. In the middle of the hugs, another car pulled up and Sarah got out… JUMPING AND SCREAMING! We both, 30+ year old women, started jumping up and down, tearing up and repeating “You’re here, you’re here, you’re here!”. I literally was lost for words and just kept saying, “I’ve missed you. I love you girls”. Girls kept flooding to the front porch to hug and scream. Shamim arrived saying “Mommy, you’re here”.  It was truly the best welcome ever. ‘You are most most welcome Auntie Deb!” Haha They led me to dinner, but I was literally too excited to eat. I just kept hugging them and laughing. They wanted to know all about Alaska, my family and friends and how my journey was. Dinner was filled with stories and laughter. One of the sweetest and worth it all comments was from Medina: “Deb, I just want to thank you for being a woman of your word, you said you would come for graduation….and YOU DID!!! Thank you for being a woman of virtue”. They say, when you talk to an African, tell them only what you can promise because they take you for your word… praise God I kept my promise! I got chills when she said that. After I “ate”, I walked around campus and hugged every single girl as they studied. All of them saying, “We had to wait SO long for you to come”. I responded: tell me about it!  It is exam week (they moved graduation up to Nov. 26, total African style,  so now both Rwanda and Uganda graduations are on the same day. I’ll be staying here and figure out a trip to Rwanda) so they are all studying extremely hard. After every girl was greeted, I headed to Sarah’s house.

Danny, Sarah’s little guy, ran out laughing and jumped into my arms. I was surprised he remembered me, but he did. We instantly started playing. Then the girls and Perez came outside while Sarah cooked dinner. Both Sarah and David wanted to talk about the US elections… and hear of family and friends. They send their love and greetings. After playing and tickle fights with the kids for about an hour, we sat down and ate dinner. The rest of the night, we caught up: Alaska, the neighborhood, life and what God has been doing. The time was priceless and perfect. Laughter, reminiscing, admonishing etc. We realized it was 10:30, so they “pushed” me back (escorted) me back to my guest house. I had told Sarah I had gifts for her and the kids. I couldn’t help but pull out a few things to show her what treasures YOU have all helped me bring! She literally sat there and cried as David kept saying ‘thank you Deb, thank you”. She only saw about 1/16 of what I have, but she was blown away by the gifts given to her and her family from the States. I wish I could have videoed it…

So, now I sit here, everything is laid out for her to come and see tomorrow. Plus, I have all the gifts for the girls laid out and ready for them to come “pick and shop through”. I CANNOT wait to give! After I laid everything for them out, I went and folded my clothes, laughing bc I barely brought anything for me! WHO CARES! Every shirt, skirt, book, shoe, sock or sandal is worth it. It is 1:20am and I am still on a high (and maybe somewhat adjusting to the time change) as I sit here, blessed, stoked and peaceful.

The 24 hrs it took to get here was all worth it. The 3 hours of sleep, the airplane foot, the sore butt, sore joints, and multiple movie time fillers … all worth it. The smells, smiles and scenery bring me to tears as I remember God’s faithfulness and all that HE has done in me this year.