Life is better with mangos

It is also better with a sleeping 3 year old sprawled across you. Musana  is EXACTLY where I feel like I need to be.  After my London expedition and my plane ride full of excitement we got to Entebbe and made our LONG trip back to Musana.  Andrea picked us up and we drove straight to the kids.  The van doors opened and I almost wet my pants with excitement. Seriously.

Mangos are in season. I repeat: MANGOS ARE IN SEASON.  I had 2 yesterday, while holding Abote, a REALLY precious 3 year old who had too much excitement for one day and thought that Auntie Lindsay was a nice place to rest her head and drool on.  I didn’t mind it at all.  Musana has 2 AWESOME dentists visiting from Denver and they are one by one checking the kids, pulling teeth and hoping for no break downs.  Some kids are excited, most kids are not.  Yesterday I was welcomed back with posho and beans DELICIOUS…not.  Thank goodness for mangos and avocado.  I woke up yesterday morning with a spider on my hand and a mouse in my bag.  I didn’t squeal. YES.

Today was the most peaceful I have felt in a really long time.  Musana has a chapel for church this year, meaning no 5 hour long service like last year.  The kids sing and dance and worship.  Watching them worship made me cry as I was holding Gideon’s hand.  TK (one of the fantastic volunteers) spoke about fear and faith, 2 things that often coincide while I am here.  After church we handed out clothes and shoes for the kids which does not happen often and it was really entertaining to watch the picky girls (and boys) search through the selections.  Bella received overalls, as if she couldn’t get any cuter.

Uncle Bryan taught the kids capture the flag which spurred my competitive side and resulted in my face getting sat on, several tackles and mud experiences as well as mysterious bruises that have begun forming.  I know what you’re thinking….I’m hard core.  My feet are already stained red.  Sometime in September I am hoping for them to return to normal color.  The kids have also been pointed out that “last year you were big auntie, this year you are small and little” golly gee kids, you are SO BLUNT.  In Uganda it is a compliment to be called big….Americans tend to have a hard time getting used to that one.  This just adds to the humor of living here.

I got a phone but, like last year, am realizing how nice it is to unplug from the crazy busy life I lead and to slow down and enjoy the little things.  I’ll try to post once or twice a week on the blog and return emails but I’m sorry America…I don’t miss you yet.  Life is better with sleeping 3 year olds, singing MCH kids, church, capture the flag and even the annoyance of being called Mzungu EVERYWHERE you go.

"Head bobbin, brit talkin and cruisin through Kensington/London"

London rocks.
I slept the entire way here (thanks to a magical concoction of resources I figured out last summer).  I stored my bags and took the tube to Kensington, ate fish and chips and frolicked through a DOWNPOUR.
On the tube, my head was bobbing. Ya know what I'm sayin? The awkward bob when someone is sleeping and their head is going up and down probably threatening the muscles that hold their brain upright.  YEAH that was me.  I would like to say I enjoy providing entertainment for the British.  It's like a big thank you or a warm hug for the incredible city they live in. 


I also made comments in my british accent. I was not questioned once.

Now I'm in the airport, paying for internet that I have no clue the price of because I haven't figured out the pound thing in 9 hours.

See..I told you, London rocks.

OFF TO UGANDA! I'm so excited I may continue my accent all the way to Entebbe.

Leave at 5, pack at 3:30

I'm at the airport. 3 hours early. Sitting in front of my gate with a plane 40 minutes late.
I can breathe for the first time in 3 weeks/ 5 months.  This is figuratively and literally.  I have a sinus infection.... AND my life has been CHAOS all semester.  
Please, let me explain my day. Really. You'll see what I mean....

6 am- Woke up a little sad that the memory foam mattress consuming me and the black dog next to me won't be a comfort for quite some time.  I was exhausted because I finished a paper for school at 1 am and realized I should probably check in for my flight.
7:30 am- coffee with my lovely, wonderful, enchanting, amazing friend Hillary.  We spoke Pochahontus and laughed... typical. She is SUCH a huge blessing in my life.
9:15 am- bought a new handlamp that I had to really restrain myself from wearing all day because it is really, really neat.  I tried it while using the bathroom. Epic.
9:30 am - visited the incredible Gore family to be presented with cards and notes for everyday that I am gone. WHAT?! Seriously friends? I've seen you write ridiculous notes and snicker at the inappropriate things that are probably in my cards for a couple of weeks now but to have a note for everyday I am gone is just down right absurd. I'm shocked. I'm appalled. I am awestruck...

I am seriously blessed.

After saying bye to the wonderful family that has made a huge impact on my life this year I drove home (with very little gas in my tank just to insure I don't waste money on Terry who will be parked for the summer)

I quickly compiled a list of things to buy and then made my way to:

The bank for some rather amusing transactions
Borders (YESSSS NEW JOURNAL!)
Ross for some clothes
Walmart to buy out their stock of hot sauce and other random items I may need for 2 and a half months.

While this was hectic my beautiful and pregnant sister in law assisted me in staying chill and composed.

2:15- arrive home, ate spinach dip which is probably still in my teeth and relax to realize....

OHMYLANTA its getting late.  I ran downstairs and began packing.
Seriously. I'm not kidding. I started packing at 3:30. For an 11 week trip.
No... this isn't a sick joke.  I had a big backpack and 2 donation bins to throw together.


Some called this denial. I was denying the fact that I was leaving.
My mom said it was because I am confident and not worried (golly gee thanks ma)
I called this simply a sheer, undeniably hectic day/life.
I'm packed. I have no earthly idea what is in my bags.  I'm hoping I have a pair of underwear in there somewhere and if my chipotle tobasco sauce made it in to put on top of my posho I will be so thrilled I will probably squeal.


5pm rolls around quickly.  With wet hair and some questionable luggage items I hopped in Adam's car.  Adam and Todd are my new Iowa friends.  They came with Sam.  I met Sam in Uganda last year and we have been adventuring ever since.  These fine midwestern gentlemen took me to the airport.  In what looked like an adventure in disguise it was really just part of my plan to have 3 good looking men walk my awkward luggage to the airport check in. muhahahaha. KIDDING. kinda. 

Which brings me to the present.  I am surrounded by British individuals.  I have my earphones in but it is only to disguise the fact that I am listening to the charming accents of these people and not really jamming to tunes.  Ooooops.  

Admittedly, my sinus infection is coinciding with some sad tears.
But... phew. I made it here. I don't think a delayed flight or 18 hours in the air could frustrate me.  I get to see Musana Children's Home kids on Friday and I am SO excited.  My 18 credit semester is over.  My maymester class on awkward intimate relationships is finished.  I got over my sickness, for the most part, just in time.  I went skydiving  Monday with my Iowa adventure friends. IT WAS AMAZING.  I would highly recommend it.  Seriously. I got to hang out with Sam. I moved home to my mom's until I graduate in December and while I love my apartment in Superior, it will be great to have a home and a dog for once. 

I'm going to miss a lot of people this summer, but I remind myself constantly  they'll be here when I get back and hopefully ready to go camping and enjoy summer with me in August :).  For now, I am going to journal, read a book NOT about psychology and I am going to love harder than I have ever loved.  I want to shine God's light in Uganda and I want to live my life this summer running after the heart of Jesus.  

I couldn't be sitting here in DIA on my way to Uganda without the amazing support of my friends and family. Financially, emotionally and spiritually I have incredible people in my life and am so thankful for the overwhelming support I have been given. So thank you. Thanks for the support and thanks for reading this obnoxiously long post about my crazy day. 


 
"We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?

It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out.

I want to repeat one word for you:
Leave.

Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed."

-Donald Miller

 



 

Way too serious...

I read a lot of blogs. Most of the time they are of completely random people who adventure the globe in interesting ways. Or of really cute families that Moms spend HOURS on uploading pictures  because they think their new baby smiled at them but really the kid had to pass gas.  So in reading my own I noticed my first entries were WAY too serious for such a fun trip that is coming up and too serious for me, Lindsay Erin Wilkins, in general.
With that, some less intense thoughts on the past couple of weeks...

I cry when I get REALLY tired.  Just ask my roommate. After 6 finals last week and very little sleep I cried because I was taking a hot shower and realizing  that this summer that would not happen.



This is HILARIOUS.  I really don't mind cold showers. I can't wait to go to Uganda. The only reason I cry there is because one of the kids or Sally makes me laugh really hard.


I had a summer break for about 3 days last week. It was great.  But it's over. Now I am enrolled in a summer school class for 18 days that I thought was about family and friendships when really I was deceived. It is not about family or friends, it's not even much about psychology. The class is actually the Psychology of Intimate Relationships and already seems filled with individuals that like to discuss their personal relationships and dating lives with 35 strangers on a regular basis.  I may be the sole, single individual in the class making odd remarks. While this is often amusing, 3 hours every morning of this makes me even more ready to graduate in the fall. Phew. It is going to be an AWKWARD 3 weeks.

I leave in 15 days. I think. Until then I will continue laughing at my classmates, running, packing, camping, moving out of my apartment, skydiving (AH), hanging out with family and friends, and oh yeah.... trying to raise money for Musana. Come to my fundraiser on Sunday. Dad's making baked potatoes larger than your face. 4pm. Brighton. I REALLY hate goodbyes. Similar to Lloyd Christmas. So come hang out with me so I can "see you later" in August.