One week.

One week. It is hard to believe that one week from today, I will be back to a world that seems like a distant memory. I’ll be back to the “comforts” of home, yet leaving behind so many things that have become comfortable. So much about life in Uganda took some getting used to, but now are just a part of life here.

Just this morning, as I was locking one of the five padlocks that it takes to keep our house “secure,” I was thinking about how much I will miss every little detail of my time here. Most days when it is taking a good five minutes to lock up and leave, all that I can think about is how I cannot wait to get home where I can push a button to open my garage door and use one key to enter my home. Today, I was reflecting on how I will miss the way that every morning during this process, I am able to slow down and think. Back home my schedule is hurrying from one place to the next, not taking time to slow down and enjoy life. Life in Uganda is about relationships. In our “lock up” and walk up to House 1, Rebecca and I were starting to have the conversation about the things we will miss the most… Our list was a list of people.

When we arrived to House 1, Mato and Alex (Sozo Uganda staff) were outside sweeping. I told them that I just had a conversation with Rebecca about how much I would miss them when we left. Somehow in the midst of teams in and out all summer, they did not realize that we would be leaving Sunday. Their reaction was priceless. I asked how we could stay in touch, and Mato said, “Book face.” As conversations usually go, there was a lot of laughing, some learning of Luganda, and a lot of questions from the masomesas (teachers — evidently teachers are known for asking a lot of questions). When I told them that I wanted both of them to transport us to the airport on Sunday, Mato said he would not because “the tears will remain hidden.” I’m not sure that mine will.

I know that this week will fly by, as every other week in Uganda has, but I also know that it will be a long one. It is a week of good-byes. We will be going through our schedule, doing everything one last time. There will be tears and heartache, but I pray there will also be intentional conversations and an outpouring of love to those that God has called us to build relationships with this summer. I thank God for every moment this summer, as I know that I have been stretched and have grown in ways that I didn’t know was possible.

Please be praying for this last week, that my heart and mind will stay present where He has me now. God has already started to prepare my heart to leap back into another school year, as I am getting excited about the return to my own classroom. But, I don’t want to get the cart before the horse. God has me here for one more week. One week.

I pray that I am able to look back at the end of the week and say: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:6-7