A little update

I realized the other day that I hadn't written on my blog in a long time. There have been plenty of times where I've wanted to share something or update you on a part of my journey, but life here has been incredibly busy the last few weeks. I don't know how it happened, but suddenly we're down to only three weeks left in Uganda. That is so hard for me to believe. As much as I'm trying to savor every moment and not let it pass me by, I still feel like the time is flying. All along, D-rae and I have talked about how busy April would be, but now that it's here, it's even crazier than I expected. Ok, let me try to briefly update you on the last month or so.

We welcomed new teammates in the Hutton family on March 11, and we've been enjoying spending time with them and getting to know them these past few weeks. Last week we did our last big touristy adventure and went gorilla trekking. Awesome and worth every hard earned penny we spent. Each Thursday in April we've been going to a different village and spending time with a family that we've gotten especially close to. So the goodbyes have started and they are not fun or easy. This Thursday we are spending the day with Gigi, and while I'm looking forward to spending the day with her, I'm not looking forward to having to say goodbye to her in a few weeks. This past Sunday and Monday we went on a quick team retreat to the Kingfisher Lodge near Queen Elizabeth National Park. It was great to spend some time with some of the people who have come to mean so much to me and supported me so much this past year. Again, not a goodbye I'm looking forward to.

The next few weeks will be equally as busy. We've got more goodbyes planned as well as our last day of school next week. The kids are coming over for their last sleepover on Friday, and we're going to spend the night in our last village next week. We're also going to an island for a 4 days womens' retreat with all the missionaries in East Africa. We've got all of our last Bible studies and time with friends planned. Basically it is going to be a whirlwind these next few weeks and I'm going to be back in the States before I know it.

It's incredible the mixed emotions that I have right now. I am so sad to be leaving this life and leaving the dear friends I've made. I will forever take with me precious memories of this year and the lessons that God has taught me along the way. I know I'll never have an experience like this one, and I will eagerly anticipate my visits back to Uganda in the future. But at the same time, I don't think I've ever been so excited about an approaching date...May 10th!!!! I can't wait to see my family, my friends, and all of you who have supported me in this journey. I can't wait to be a phone call away and within driving distance of everyone that I have missed so dearly this year. I can't wait to play with my nieces and meet my new niece and nephew. But most of all, I can't wait to share with you what God has done and the ways He has changed me. I can't wait.

In the past, I haven't always handled being busy in the best way. I seem to get so focused on the things that need to get done, that I forget to do the most important things. I get so worn out and so tired that I feel like I don't have the strength to go on. This time around I'm trying to be different. I've spent a lot of time praying about my last few weeks here, and I'm really praying for God to bless it. I'm exhausted, but I'm praying for God to give me a strength that only comes from Him. I'm praying for his Spirit to fill me all the time, but especially when I feel worn out with nothing left to give. In his great mercy, He's been teaching me a lot lately about just how helpless I am without him. This year would have been nothing except that God was in it and controlling it. No good was done by me, but only by God. I've realized lately just how fully dependent I am on God, and how much I fail every time I try to do things on my own. My prayer for these next few weeks is that I fully surrender my time left in Uganda to the one who's been controlling it all along. This year has been incredible, and I've been blown away by God's faithfulness, and I know the next three weeks will be no different.

Many of you have emailed and asked what you can pray for specifically in these last few weeks. I'd like to take you guys up on that offer and just list a few prayer requests as my time comes to an end. Thanks for being such prayer warriors.

- For me to live fully present in Uganda, even though I am so anticipating the future.
- All the goodbyes that we will be saying
- My future as I look for a job and continue to seek God's leading in the next phase of my life
- Desarae's time at home with family and going back to Harding in the fall
- The continued work here in southwestern Uganda, and for God to continue to raise up more workers for this field
- Our transition back into American culture and American life
- That God receives all the glory for what He has done in the past year