Joy of Sending

With Sarah and Olvie, interns to Bundibugyo, before heading to the airport.

Sarah and Olvie with their 400 lbs of luggage, mostly filled with goodies for the team!

I spent last week in Philadelphia at the WHM Sending Center. I had been looking forward to this time for about 2 months and was not disappointed! Ever since I realized I would not be in Bundibugyo to serve as the intern coordinator (one of the parts of my job description I was most excited about), I decided I would plan everything around the intern orientation in Philly.

Having spent 3 summers overseas with 3 different organizations during college, being with interns is being in my element. Internships led to my decision to pursue a lifelong commitment to missions and it was so exciting to be a small part of these 13 interns' experiences. Who knows how God will use this summer in their life story!

I was blessed by many aspects of my week with them. It was remarkably therapeutic to be peppered with questions about Bundibugyo, rather than my health. Ranging from "What is the weirdest bug there?" to "What are the symptoms of sickle cell disease?" to "What are funny African English phrases they use?", I loved answering as best I could and being reminded of funny stories that had been temporarily forgotten. As I talked and laughed harder than I had in months, I was also reminded of my passion for Bundibugyo, its needs, and what God is doing there. It is humbling to be reminded yet again that He is working there in my absence. His kingdom is coming and it takes pressure off to remember that He can do it without me. It is an honor to be a small part of what He is doing as He redeems the whole of the groaning creation.

I also found unexpected joy in being a "sender". I loved being able to pray over several of the interns. What a privilege! I loved being able to share my own experiences and hear some of their stories too. I loved helping pack bags and I especially loved taking them to the airport. Literally every time I've gone to an airport, I've been the one flying somewhere. I had no idea how to park my car there. Ha! So it was not only something I needed to learn to do, but it was meaningful to wave good-bye to the Uganda interns as they entered security. (And I can't say I was terribly jealous of the 36 hours of travel ahead of them! I did, of course, wish I was with them to see the team and my Ugandan friends though.)

I left Philadelphia with renewed hope and eagerness for the future. Things I need as I go into surgery again this Thursday. God continues to bless me and whisper to me "I haven't abandoned you. I love you. I will take care of you. See how I am working around the world? I'm working in you too."