"Mom, I just want to go work at a kid's camp this summer," I pleaded with my mom last May. Her answer worked for me, "As long as you don't do anything crazy like go to Africa." This seemed simple for me seeing as I had no desire to go somewhere outrageous like Africa. 10 weeks later I walked into my mom's room after my last day at camp and said, "Mom, I want to go to Africa..." She was taken back, "You want to do what?!" Yea, Mom Africa. I know that going to Uganda is not in my plan at all, but the Lord has begun to show me that my plan isn't particularly the right plan. 

So here I am trusting, learning, hoping that in searching for my place in Africa, I find the Lord there. I have heard that you don't just go to Africa, that when you go- a part of you doesn't come back. I am so eager to find that part that will be stolen by the IDP camps, by the stories of hope brought out of despair, by the deep desire to be loved and to love, by the free dance and humble joy in the dusty feet of the Ugandan people. 

Why Uganda? Why Africa? Why now? If I wrote a story about how I ended up on this trip, it would not compare at all to the story the Lord had planned for setting my feet on this road. I was shown such an open door and a hand was held out to help me over the gap of the door.

And as it turns out, the Lord is already teaching me to rely on Him 100% every step of the way. I felt like going to Africa was going to teach me to rely on Him for every step and every breath- and while I am sure that that is true- the Lord is teaching me now to rely on Him for every dollar, every shot, every morning of peace about this crazy adventure I am about to emark on. 

So mom, I am going to do something as crazy as Africa, and this is just the beginning of this crazy ride.