Arrive Arrive-O

As I write, I am sitting outside my front door in the veranda listening to the approaching thunder storm. This will be my home for the next eight months. It is hard to believe that I have now been in Uganda for a week.

It all started about two years ago, after I returned from a short visit to Uganda with my family. At the time, I felt very unsettled following my return, so I started to consider a career break to allow me to volunteer somewhere.

On my first Sunday back, I went to my church in Belfast. I have to be honest – I didn’t really feel Iike going so I prayed that God would just be there. Well I got what I prayed for, (I don’t know why I was surprised). The subject that morning was about having faith, following God’s will and stepping out and taking risks. They also sang a song which I now love “I am yours” by Vineyard UK; there is a line in it that says “I’d do anything, I’ll go anywhere for you”. After hearing that verse I just wanted to cry. I felt God saying “go for it, take the risk and go.”

Two years later, after lots of praying and looking for opportunities, I am now in Uganda. When preparing to come out here, at times I felt nervous, scared and anxious but I also felt happy and excited. Now that I am here in Uganda I can’t believe it. I felt slightly overwhelmed when I first arrived but after spending a couple of nights in Entebbe, meeting up with friends and going for a walk to look around, I soon settled and knew that this is where God wants me to be.

I am now at Kiwoko Hospital, where I am looking forward to seeing how the next few months will pan out. I have been able to spend time with Lana, which has been great, and visit the nursery where I will start working in September. I have also had my first slightly unwelcome visitors (a gecko, beetle and a hairy caterpillar).

It is early days, but I look forward to seeing how my role in the nursery will develop and how I can get involved in Kiwoko life. I know that this is where God wants me to be, I look forward to seeing what He has in store for my time in Kiwoko.

Prayer requests: I am so grateful for everyone who has been praying so far, many who I have not met before. ✦ Please pray that I will continue to settle into Kiwoko ✦ Pray that I will be able to build good friendships here ✦ Pray that God will guide me over the next couple of weeks as I work with Lana and prepare to start in Sunshine nursery Emma Lougheed is spending eight months in Uganda on a Short-Term-Experience Placement (STEP) with CMSI.