incredible strength

Just about every day since I have been in Uganda, I look around and think to myself, "Am I really in Uganda? Is this real? How did I get so blessed to have the opportunity to come to this incredible place and meet all of these incredible people?" I can't believe that I'm actually here. I have learned so much from being here, it's like every day is an adventure full of new experiences that open my view of the world. Would't that be amazing if everyday of your life was like that?

Since the conflict here was so recent, everyone's stories include experiences from the war. Everyone here was affected by it in some way. Death is such a common part of life here and most, if not all, people have lost multiple loved ones. I have never lost anyone super close to me in my life yet, which makes it difficult  for me to fully comprehend what it's like to lose your parents, your husband, your best friend. The other day I was spending time with a friend of ours who does our laundry. She pulled out a very old, worn picture album and started telling me about her life a little bit with the pictures. She would be going through pictures, point to a girl and say, "She was my friend, but she died." Telling me about her family, she explained that she lost two of her full siblings before her dad passed away. Yet she goes on with her life working so hard to provide for her 6-year old daughter as a single mom. She's so extremely giving and loving and always makes sure I am comfortable. She laughs and let's any of the neighborhood children come in her home whenever they want and cooks amazing food. She is so strong and I admire her so much.

Another woman I met out in the village of Awer, who also works making beads, is fighting in court to get her daughter back. Her 16-year old daughter was kidnapped by a much older man over 3 months ago and her husband won't help finding her because he's not her father. This woman was kidnapped during the war and had her daughter with a LRA soldier. She lived in the bush for 2 years before escaping. I admire her so much for working so hard to do everything she can to find and get her daughter back because she wants so much for her daughter to go to school and have the best life she can have.

I just really hope and pray that I can be as strong as these women are and have the faith and ability to press forward no matter what trials I face in this life.