it’s like youth camp all over again
February 21st, 2008 @ 11:00 am
you know when you went to youth camp. they split you up from your best friends and threw you into groups with total strangers. you had no idea what to expect. but after the first few hours those strangers become fast friends, and before you know it, it’s time to go home.
in my inbox sits somewhere around 47 emails (most of them “reply to all”) from our group that went to uganda. of us talking about how we are all waking up at 12:30 am and staying up until 3 am. about how we’re struggling to adjust, but knowing reentry is all a part of it. about eclipses, crying, blogging, and…missing each other.
we went through a lot in a few short days. hundreds of children latching on to us. heads busted open. mosquitoes. meeting our sponsor children. eating weird things. bats. monkeys. aids clinics. no sleep. probably 900 bottles of water. kampala traffic. home visits. mothers. babies. stowaways. coke light. deet.
now that we’re all back home, it’s not the same.
my heart has been aching in so many ways. today, it aches for missing these amazing people.
(this picture was taken at lunch our last day in uganda. prossy is the beautiful woman in the middle. you can meet her here).
Compassion International · Uganda 08 Trip
Roger said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:27 am
I have the same feeling every monday. I have a bunch of good friends at a rehab place I go see every monday but the rest of the week I can’t talk to them. Strange feeling wanting to email or pick up the phone and call them with some news and can’t
Crystal Renaud said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:48 am
seemed like i was with my team for weeks and weeks after we got home. we did everything together. that was the perk of going with folks who all live here and go to church here. i am praying for you as you miss your new friends. these people experienced things with you that no one can fully understand unless they’ve seen it themselves, and i know that’s hard. you’re probably feeling somewhat alone because of that. i love you.
Amt said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:52 am
Beautiful picture my friend!
Carole Turner said,
February 21, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Anne, your boss is coming to my church next weekend, you need to come along so I can meet you!
John Ireland said,
February 21, 2008 at 1:04 pm
looks like am amazing bunch of peeps and loads of fun!
boomama said,
February 21, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I KNOW! I miss everybody so much.
Shannon said,
February 21, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I miss everybody too. SO much.
Brian said,
February 21, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Man, I look good…I mean, I miss everyone too.
Keely Scott said,
February 22, 2008 at 1:07 am
Ahhh I just started crying again!! Miss you!
Carol said,
February 22, 2008 at 6:05 am
Awesome looking group! A perfect pic of love and compassion! Thanks for sharing, Anne!
aaron said,
February 22, 2008 at 6:58 am
as adults we don’t have enough “youth camp” experiences…we are always guarded.