It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?
Sometimes I find it difficult to blog here. The lessons I’m learning and the things happening are often too personal to share on a blog. Or the opposite: what I’m dying to write to you can never be said here because of privacy restrictions. So, I find myself staring at the screen, tapping the keyboard absently and wondering what to say to my friends across the ocean. I often draw a big, silent blank.
The other day we heard Americans talk in a cafe, loud and happy laughter. So American. We started to miss home. As we work with the Ugandan people constantly, we feel the tension of embracing the culture and loving the African ways while offering a fresh perspective on child development. It’s a good, healthy tension. We who work in another country dance a complicated waltz of giving and receiving, offering and taking, listening and talking, embracing and refraining.
It’s a journey of love.
We are on a six month journey of walking with Uganda, learning and growing and loving together.
It is now half-time in our journey.
We are taking a week off to rest and reflect. We are emotionally tired and need a break. Seeing loss and tragedy everyday starts to get to you somewhere deep inside and messes with your perspective. You either numb out and become a robot, or you take everything too personally and assume responsibility which is not yours.
So we are going to a tent by the Nile River for four days. It will be over Valentine’s Day (kuddos to Del for suggesting we go over February 14!). We look forward to swimming, reading, being together, enjoying the Ugandan beauty… and asking ourselves questions about what God has been teaching us the last three months and where we are to go from here. A key word of the week? Processing.
And, of course, while we enjoy our half-time week… we will miss the tight hugs of these little guys:
I love reading your blog. I understand the whole having lots of lessons learned but for me I don’t ever know how to say it. I am so proud of you guys for being over there and wish I could hear about it in person. Does your flight back to the states by any chance take you through L.A. with a few days of a layover??! Love you guys and praying for you.
Aw, I wish our layover would take us through LA… but not this time… We look forward to the day when we can share and talk and laugh with you two again face to face! Love you too!
have a GOOD rest & renewed spirit! compassionate hearts (entering into other’s pain) come w/a cost but it’s not beyond God…be blessed today!
Your words are beautiful and coherent, just in case you’re wondering. There’s no need for the slightest insecurity about your blogging skills.
I’m delighted you are taking time to be alone and away, to process and regroup. Sounds precisely like the sort of thing you’d urge me to do.
Love you and can’t wait to be together again, talking in the loud and happy American fashion. *squeaks happily*
PS. I want to know what Delmar’s shirt says.
A loud and happy American-fashioned chat with Linda? Yes Please!!! And Delmar’s shirt says,”Keep staring, I might do a trick.” It’s one of his favorites.
oh oh oh… that little guy on the right … you can bring him home with you for us.
Yea I know you can’t. Praying for you … and miss you guys!
Hey dear Lauren,
i love catching glimpses of your love for those kiddoes in Africa….it encourages me in my love for my China kids. 
hugs to you!
I love reading your posts. And I love how you have always let Him overwhelm you with His compassion for the hurting. You might not remember, but I will never forget the evening you held me in the Charity Fellowship office as I cried and cried. Wish I could see you and Megan someday and person and hear ya’ll’s stories face to face.