It has been a while since I've written an update on my life in Uganda. That is largely because nothing "big" has happened, so I am not sure what to write about. But even though there is nothing big to report on, life continues and I am not sitting around doing nothing. So here are some reflection on my week.
This week has had many ups and downs. Friday was end of the term at EMI. That means is that we have finished the reports for the projects that we started in February and this group of interns departed over the weekend.
It is sad to see this group of interns leave. One of the interns, Alex, arrived in Uganda the same time I did. We lived together for the first two months. I have really enjoyed getting to know him over the past nine months. He has been my closest friend here so it is hard to see him go. We had been going to Doors Ministries together and leading a bible study there on Wednesday nights. I would go over to his place and talk with him one or two nights a week. He is a great guy and I am going to miss him. I have been sharing an office with Christine, another one of the interns. I have enjoyed getting to know her. We had a lot of laughs over the past few months and I enjoyed giving her a hard time. My office has been very quiet this week, a reminder that she is gone. I had the privilege of being Tom's mentor this term. I has been a great experience. It is not easy to say goodbye. But that is also a praise, that I have developed relationships that I am going to miss.
The internships at EMI are a big part of our ministry. Each of the interns that comes is assigned
a supervisor to oversee their office work and a mentor to meet with and
discuss how life is going. I was a mentor this past term. I definitely
did not feel prepared to do it. It sounds like a daunting thing to
mentor someone, especially someone who is only a few years younger than
me. I wasn't sure what I had to offer. But over the term I realized it
is not just about sharing wisdom and advice but about sharing life
together. We would get together and talk about how the week was going,
how things were back home, discuss the book we were reading, and pray
for each other. I enjoyed the time we spent talking each week, it was a
reminded that work (and life) is bigger than structural engineering or the plans for the day. As I
reflect on the experience I realize that sharing life with people who
are older and wiser than us is a great benefit. It is not something that
I have sought out much in my own life, but something that I realize is beneficial. Have you or do you have someone who mentors you? If not
is there someone who you can do that with?
My week at work has been different and quite frustrating at times. One of our staff is going to the US for the summer and her duties have been spread around the office. One of the things that I have been given it IT. Our internet was out of service for a week and a half because the line was vandalized. Our office called the provider about 50 times before we had a temporary solution for internet. It was frustrating to deal with. I have also been getting ready for the new interns that are arriving on Saturday. I have been organizing computers and phones for them. This week has been a reminder that I enjoy structural engineering.
I had a long skype call with a good friend from Canada that I haven't spoken to for a few months. We talked for three hours. It was great to catch up and share how life is going. Moving to a new country has been a great experience, but I have left behind all of my existing relationships. While I love the people around me in Uganda, it takes time to develop deep relationship. I am missing the close relationships I have left back in Canada.
I was starting to feel down about life and wondering why am I here. I was sad to say goodbye to some friends. I was not enjoying work. I was missing friends and family from home. I thinking about a friend who is going to be in the US for the next three months and another friend who is going to be in the US for the next five weeks. I was thinking about the new group of interns coming this weekend and the energy that it will require for me to invest in new relationships. But then I went to Doors last night. I usually go to their house on Wednesday night and lead a bible study with the boys. But the agenda las tnight was different. The leadership at the house wanted to spend some time encouraging each of the boys, letting them know how we see them and how God sees them. We spend the night singing songs together and sharing encouragement. It was awesome. It was a reminder of how amazing these boys are. These boys who used to live on the streets, stealing to eat, sniffing gas to dull the pain of life, wondering if they were going to get beaten by the police that day, but now they are full of life. They are compassionate, caring, thoughtful, selfless. They are growing into godly men. They are growing into leaders. It was a blessing for me to be able to speak truth into their lives and hear others do the same. It was a reminder of the power of Jesus to transform each of our lives. I was reminded of the privilege I have to be a part of it. I came into the night feeling drained, but left feeling full. I am so proud of these young men. I cannot describe how I feel.
It was one of the highlights of my time here in Uganda. A reminder of the investment I have made in the lives of people around me and the investment they have made in mine. God is great with his timing, last night was just what I needed. I woke up this morning full of joy and praise. I am so blessed.
Thank you for reading. It is a blessing to have so many people supporting and encouraging me. I would love to hear from each of you how life is going as I am not able to be there experiencing it with you.
Prayer Requests:
-It is a quick turnaround between terms. We have 10 new interns arriving on Saturday. Pray that we would receive them well and be open to investing in new relationships.
-I am missing friends back home. I am missing the friends that left Uganda this week. I am going to miss the two friends who left this week to visit the US. Sometime I want life to be easier, but then realize that my life is better now than when it was "easy".
-I am blessed to be friends with many godly women here in Uganda, but there is a lack of single men in the same situation as me. I am starting to realize this more.
-Pray for God to bring someone to mentor and guide me.
-I injured my knee playing soccer a couple of weeks ago and it is still to sore so I have been missing out of playing basketball and soccer which is disappointing.
-I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to be involved at Doors Ministries. It has been such a blessing in my life. Pray for them as they adjust to changes at their house and the start of a new term at their school. Pray that God would continue to provide for their needs, especially their urgent financial needs.
Blessings,
Matt
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