the trip of a lifetime

when i was in 3rd or 4th grade, 

a missionary family that was home on furlough came to our school and spoke to us 

about what life was like for them living and working in africa 

(i went to a christian school, so this sort of stuff happened all the time).

they talked about how sunny it was, and how they got to eat lots and lots of rice. 

i'm sure they said a lot of other interesting things, 

but the sunshine and the rice were the only two things 

that stuck with my 9-year-old self. 

oh, and the invitation for us to visit them anytime we wanted. 

i still remember sitting in chapel and thinking well, i love to eat rice. and i love sunshine-y weather. 

i bet it would be so fun to go to africa!

three years ago, i was sitting in church, 

listening to a stay-at-home mom talk about 

how she'd just returned from a missions trip to uganda 

with sports outreach institute. 

she talked about dancing with the villagers, seeing a dead snake that was as long as a bus, 

and being part of a three-hour-long worship service. 

i remember thinking i can't believe she left her husband and two kids 

and went to africa on a missions trip.

and then that missionary family from all those years ago came back to my mind...

two years ago, i was sitting across from a very dear friend,

having dinner outside of dean and deluca.

she talked about wanting to go to uganda

on that same yearly missions trip with sports outreach. 

she wasn't sure if she should really do it, 

but her eyes lit up when she talked about the possibility of going. 

i remember thinking wow, something incredible is happening with her.

and then, africa would be amazing to see... i think i want to go, too.

i prayed over it constantly. i talked about it with my husband constantly.

but the timing just didn't seem right. 

this past summer, 

i saw an announcement in the church bulletin

about an interest meeting for the 2013 sports outreach uganda missions trip.

there was no doubt in my mind that i was interested, 

and that i should go on this trip. 

but i couldn't believe i was about to commit to something so huge.

 so i didn't go to the meeting.

in fact, i didn't say anything to anyone for a few weeks. 

i wrestled with it in my head and heart for a while... 

could i really leave my family for 2 weeks? 

what if something happens on the plane? 

what if we get taken and are held as hostages in some far away village? 

what if i come back with a crazy disease?

when i brought up the missions trip to my husband again,

he agreed that yes, this was something i should do, 

that the timing was right, and he would be supportive of me going.

(just so you know, 

i'm pretty sure he was fearful of those same what-if questions i was having,

but he has a really good poker face.)

so i emailed the contact person to let her know i was on board. 

within 2 minutes of hitting the "send" button on that email, 

my phone was ringing and it was her.

she said she was so excited to see my email, 

and just wanted to confirm that i was really intent on going.

i remember thinking whoa, dude - that was fast. i don't even get a few days

to maybe change my mind or mull it over??!

instead, i said "yes. i'm going."

and so began the process of paperwork, vaccinations, acquiring my passport,

and raising financial support from family and friends.

there were a few road blocks along the way,

and i would occasionally let myself go back to those scary what-if questions.

but the weeks and months went by quickly, and before i knew it,

the morning of january 15th had arrived. 

we were a 6-person team from charlotte, 

meeting up with a group from ohio

and another group from west virginia.

there would be a total of 27 of us working and living together for 11 days,

helping the sports outreach staff based in uganda,

and serving the people of kampala and gulu 

by setting up medical and soccer clinics.

the trip was incredible, to say the least. 

over the next several days, i'll be sharing pictures from our time there,

and reliving some of the best memories i've ever had. 

i hope you enjoy. :)

*these images are from our first day, 

where we simultaneously held 

a medical clinic and a soccer clinic

 in a place called bwaise slum.