Love is not a feeling, Love is an action

*The following is most of the email I sent home to family and friends about my past week in Uganda. 

I said to many of you that the reality of what I was doing wouldn't fully hit me until I had actually arrived in Uganda. Oh baby, that was most definitely the case. It was around 11:55 pm on December 31st that I glanced at my watch and realized this was the most unique New Year’s Eve I’d probably ever experience. Last year at midnight Caitlin and I jumped off the top of our boat on Jos Van Dyke Island of the British Virgin Islands. This year at midnight I managed to mumble a faint Happy New Year to my co director, crawled into my mosquito net covered hostel bed, and attempted to fall asleep. Even though I wasn’t celebrating, the rest of Uganda was. I spent the night jet lagged and listening to loud fireworks and celebrations. 

I resigned myself  sleeplessness around 5 am. I got out of bed and let that tally as my 29^th hour without rest (don’t ask me why I didn't sleep on the plane). We still had to take a five hour bus ride to Mbale so we headed out around 7 am.  Because it was a holiday no restaurants or stores were open that early in the morning. Dazed, tired, and hungry we walked around a few streets trying to find something. Finally we stumbled upon a group cleaning up after their New Year’s party. The only thing they had left were drinks, and the only thing nonalcoholic was yellow Fanta. All I could think about as I drank was Jordan doing that Fanta commercial dance for me… Fantaaaa Fanttaaa, here’s your Fantaaa Fantaa. Ha ha!  Also I didn't know Fanta had a yellow flavor (Lemon?) but boy oh boy that now officially ranks as my most delicious and unhealthy breakfast of all time.

The bus ride to Mbale was stop and go. We all know about Wades and car-sickness, so I bet you can imagine what I felt like in the non air-condition bus as it stopped and went through the city. I had some Dramamine so I tried taking that, but apparently I should have eaten something along with it because that just made things worse. This is the part of my trip where I got a little bit delusional. It was all a wild combination of fatigue, hunger, sickness, and relative bewilderment that I was now officially halfway across the world.

After about thirty minutes of driving out of the city we reached the countryside. 

Now I want you to stop reading this and go watch The Lion King. It does me attempting to describe it all much more justice. 1. Because it's the greatest Disney movie of all time (besides Robin Hood) 2. Because I really want to pay homage to all those years mom wouldn't let us have cable. All those old VHS' really did make a difference. Thanks mom.

So,

Africa is as beautiful as everyone told me it would be.. and then some.

Suddenly I  forgot everything. I was no longer tired or sick. All of the nerves, anxiety, and fear I'd been harboring over the day just disappeared. I stared out the window at the majestic countryside and a few tears may have trickled down my face. Because there I was... sitting on a bus... in Africa. Two months ago the only thing on my mind was graduation, school, work, and how I was going to avoid the snow as much as possible for another winter in Provo. Now I was facing an entirely different future among a new people and culture. It was utter excitement, thrill, and happiness that took over.These feelings have only increased in the past few days.

I do not know if I can accurately depict the people for you. I can say that they are warm, friendly, kind, and hardworking--but even that doesn't do them justice. They aren't just treating us this way because we are white “Mzungus” who they know are here to help them. They treat their family and neighbors this way as well. I love being around them. The types of conversation I have with every person I meet are full of sincerity and genuine interest. It has been a refreshing way to communicate. 

We woke up on Wednesday (after sleeping for 17 hours straight) ready to get to work.  The past four days have thus been spent meeting partners, getting to know the community, and preparing everything for our volunteers to arrive. The passion I have for development work has been ignited once again and I am very excited for some of the projects we have already begun planning.

The food here is bland but delicious. Rice and beans for days… and days…and even more days. There are actually a lot of Indians here and so that means lots of good Indian food. Katie… yesterday I had sweet potato fries mixed in with all of these vegetables in a curry. Does that make sense? Well I couldn’t stop thinking of you and wanted to get you the recipe to try at home. It seemed like something you could make.

One more experience and I’ll end this email:

Yesterday we met with a group of people that have started an organization called The Christian Faith Academy. They have started a school, medical clinic, and social groups in a remote village on a mountain near Mbale. It takes an hour to hike up into this village/can't be reached through car. HELP International has assisted this group in building the school and health clinic over the past few years and is thus good friends with them. Their mission is to “Reach the Unreached, and Touch the Untouched.” This group works very hard to educate, inspire, and do good for these remote villages. I was inspired as I listened to Tess (the hospital administrator) talk to us about how God has enabled her and her sister to do his work, and help these people. Here is a woman who doesn’t have much, but commits the skills, knowledge, and time she does have to helping others.I hope that one day I can be a women with half the strength, love, and hope that she has. Before we left we clasped hands and prayed together. As she prayed I couldn’t help but think about how we all have the same God, and that he is aware of every single one of his children in the most unique and individual way. I am glad I know that.It pushes me to work harder and love more for them, and ultimately him.

 -Rachel

Group of kids from a village we passed through on our hike yesterday. If you look close enough you'll see that the last and smallest one is carrying a machete. They were gardening with it up on the mountainside. 

Lunch. the beans are actually really great.