Wow it's kind of hard to believe it has been a month and a half since I was in America. It has seemed like the days here go by so quickly yet, the weeks go by slowly, it's hard to explain but that's just African time for ya. My trip has definitely been filled with different feelings in different moments, there has been times when all I've wanted to do is go home, and then there has been times when I've never wanted to leave because this place felt like home. Busia itself is hard to explain, it's bigger than a town but no where near the size of a city, there is trash everywhere, and sometimes there is just so many people that you feel overwhelmed. What I have found is that Busia is like an onion "it has layers" (straight up Shrek reference right there). But honestly if you were to just pass through this place, your opinion would most likely not be great. It isn't until you dig deep that you find the treasure you were looking for. The beauty in this place is not found in its surroundings or the landscape, but in the people that inhabit it, and the moments that they help create that will remain in my heart forever. This is not somewhere where you can take a picture and post it on Instagram and title it "look at the beautiful sunset God has created", because its most likely a smog and hazy filled sunset. Nope, the beauty is found in little Franks beautiful smile every time you walk to the church, or the conversations you will have with Mama Christine about Jesus, and of course the non stop laughter you come across every time you enter Chef Lucas' kitchen.
So I think maybe the biggest lesson God has given me in my time here, is that I need to find the beauty in every aspect of life. You can't always want to go half way around the world to serve people because its Africa and you think you'll be building schools or constantly changing lives. Because next thing you know you'll find yourself living in a 12 by 12 square box with a window that has bars on it and a metal door that could give the Hulk a run for his money, while sharing a bed with another dude cause there are 3 extremely fast mice also living in your room. If there was anymore room in my comfort zone God has definitely destroyed it on this trip, and there are so many things I am grateful for in America.
After saying all that I have come to love this place, I have made friends forever, and there is no doubt I will attempt to come back someday. I will miss our team times (except for feedback), I will miss sitting on the roof of one of the only buildings in Busia and just people watching as the sun sets, I will miss the infinite wisdom of Pastor Charles, I will miss talking with Pastor Willy, I will miss the street kids so much, and I will miss hanging out with Dan and Fred as I truly consider both of them to be great friends now. Most of all I will miss my team, we have truly become like a family, we have faced trials but have always gotten through them, and we have spent the past 2 months of our lives together, that's crazy.
In closing Busia has taught me that I need to love the unloved and be able to go out of my comfort zone at all times, I mean I actually preached a message on faith in front of a crowd last Sunday. There is no doubt living here has changed me for the better and I will "never, never, never!" forget it. So in these final 5 days I will say my goodbyes but also remember this is not really goodbye.
