My homecoming was a pure joy; greeted by mom and my camera-happy dad, a delicious meal on Grand Avenue, and a late night spent catching up with my best friends.
It was like I never left; everything was the same, everything was good. But to me, that’s the hardest part. It’s as though the past 3 months of unbelievable joy, sorrow, discomfort, inspiration, and relationships didn’t happen. As though you could just rip the months of September, October, and November out of the 2009 calendar of my life.
But I desperately don’t want to do that. I want the perspective I’ve gained in Uganda to stick with me daily for the rest of my life. I don’t want to revert back to anyone other than the person I became in Uganda; the person these 91 women helped to mold, shape, prod and pull into becoming a fellow Suubi women (and that is the highest honor a woman can become).
Unfortunately most of these ladies don’t have email addresses, phone calls cost a small fortune, and they aren’t familiar with the the postal system. So for the rest of my life when I want to connect with Mama Patrick, Mama Fima, Jaja Margaret, Aballo Janet I will have to say a little prayer for them, and trust that the Lord is keeping them safe in his hands.
I want to thank everyone who has been following me through this blog along this incredible journey into the heart of Africa. Thank you for your prayers, your emails, your love and support. I don’t want to become that foreign traveler who passes judgment on all things American, all thing consumeristic or all things superficial. I want to always stay a Suubi woman at heart for the rest of my life; which means living with faith, love compassion, joy and Suubi (hope in Acholi).
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