One step closer

Dubai:

Well I made it to Dubai! I don’t know if I will ever get used to that flight; 16hours?! I mean come on, that's crazy! It was a pretty good flight for the most part just watched movies and slept. When breakfast was served I got sick but I felt a whole lot better after. The man sitting next to me was like a sleeping rock, I couldn’t get around him even if I tried, and sometimes, he would even sway around in his sleep. Not going to lie I was a little afraid that he would fall in to my lap. I am here at the Copthorne Airport Hotel in Dubai, I just had dinner and I am praying it all stays down. Traveling alone is such a odd experience, but it also makes me feel empowered like I can conquer the world or something. I do miss my nights here with the Rockharbor teams; these hotel rooms bring back so many memories. Tomorrow I will be in Uganda; gosh what a crazy thought. I am excited for this summer; I don’t really know what to expect but my constant prayer is to be used, to be used every day and to have my presence be significant. I don’t want to come all this way and feel inadequate, or a waste of space, I don’t want to let anyone down. These are some of my fears, fears that I don’t want to get in my way or contaminate my thoughts. I don’t need to be thinking that way. I don’t think it has hit me yet that every morning after tomorrow I will wake up in Uganda, and I will be surrounded by joy and people who leak Jesus. Happiness fills my heart when I think of that; I am thankful to be here and I am ready to be used.

These past couple weeks, as I anticipated, were crazy, but I survived. I finished this semester with straight A’s, now that was something to be excited about. There was so much worry, stress and loss of sleep over those last few weeks of school but finishing didn’t really relive that. When school got out my focus went to packing to move, packing to leave and get everything ready to do both of those things. I had to move all my stuff into storage (thanks Cara!), clean up as much as I could as well as get everything I needed for this trip. With all the craziness and some unexpected drama I finally got it all done, not how I wanted to but I did it. There is no turning back now, my slightly over packed suitcases are on their way to Uganda and most everything I left back in America is accounted for. 

If I could bring all the people I love to Uganda, I think it would feel even more like heaven then it already does. I am not homesick quite yet, but it was hard saying goodbye to my family, friends and my crew members at fish camp. I know its only two months, but those people are people I see multiple times a week if not everyday; it will just be weird not seeing them for two months. I am really excited to see friends I haven’t seen since last summer, oh man I cannot wait to see Sharif, Simple, Sunday, Nixion, Jessica and everyone I have made friends with these past two summers. Lets go already! Bring. It. on!

Time to get ready for bed, I have an early morning ahead of me and a beautiful country to get too. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

Prayer Requests: Wisdom beyond my years, to be used, to be significant, to not listen to the lies, to soak up every moment and to not miss what God wants me to see, learn or do.

Love always,

Mary Joy