See Ya Later

While the past week has been stressful with making sure my health is good to go, the past several weeks have been filled with fun! As hard as saying "See ya later's" (not good-byes) are, it also makes for lots of good excuses to have fun and enjoy those relationships that are so special. Below is a little picture review of the past few weeks. My next post will be from Uganda!

Family picture at my Bon Voyage party.

Me and Rachel at the top of a lighthouse in Maine.

Siblings in our finest threads :)

My cousin, Scott, kissing his bride, Tracy!

Addie making her "monster face" at our family Thanksgiving-in-September dinner.

Me and Mom in Maine...lots of M's!

I went crabbing with Tony and some friends for the first time. Learned something new!

I also was able to visit friends at Nyack and spend a wonderful 24 hours there--no pictures were taken though. Oops!

Leaving Sunday despite it all!

Here is the email I sent my supporters this morning:

I just wanted to let you all know that my ultrasound went well yesterday and nothing was found on it. I’m feeling better—still not at 100% but I am planning to leave on Sunday. The doctors aren’t entirely certain as to what is causing this “lump” feeling in my throat but it could easily be a virus, allergies, reflux, or just stress. Everything that could be done medically has been. So, I’m believing that God will heal me completely and that the stresses of this week will be forgotten when I land on Ugandan soil!

I leave Sunday evening around 9 pm. I will travel from Philadelphia to London to Kampala and on to Bundibugyo. I think I’ll be arriving at my new home about 3 days after I leave! Here are some things you can be praying about:

• Please continue to pray for my health—that I would be at 100% when I walk onto that airplane!
• Please pray for my luggage. That may sound ridiculous but it is quite a challenge to fit everything into 50 lb. bags. Pray that my luggage would not be lost and that I would not struggle to get them off the baggage carousel onto a cart when I arrive.
• Please pray for my family as I prepare to say good-byes to them. It is so hard to know I won’t be with them for so many months but pray that we would have peace as well as excitement for the two years ahead!
• Please just pray for details to work well. As I meet people in London and Kampala, pray that I’d have no trouble finding them. Pray that all would go smoothly with immigration and customs. Pray that my flights would be on time. Pray that the weather would work so that I can land on the air strip in Bundibugyo. So many little things but thank goodness they are all in the Father’s hands!

Hopefully my next email to you will be from Uganda! And thank you for your prayers—they are felt!

Until the darkness turns to light,

Chrissy Chipriano

Just keep praying!

I went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with esophagitis, given steroids and an antacid. I've been taking them for a little over a day and a half now and I also had an endoscopy done today to double check. The endoscopy was fairly inconclusive--nothing really showed up on it. So tomorrow I have an ultrasound scheduled to be sure that it isn't my thyroid. The doctor dilated my esophagus today which may help but because my throat is sore from the procedure, I can't tell if it has really helped or not. Please pray for my health, for the ultrasound tomorrow, and for my faith. I'm struggling to keep my morale up, believe that I actually will leave on Sunday, and will be feeling well soon. Can't wait until I have a positive update to put on here!

Please pray!

Please be praying for my health. Within the past week, I've had some trouble swallowing and it has gotten much worse the past few days. I'm here in Maine for my cousin's wedding this weekend and struggling to enjoy it while eating very little. I've scheduled a doctor's appointment for Monday and hope that I can get this figured out soon. Please pray that any tests I need would be expedited and I would find answers and help well before my Sept. 26th departure date. Pray that I would not have to delay it and that I would leave the U.S. healthy and happy! Thanks!

A Lesson in Humility #1

When we were at MTI, they reminded us regularly that we need to be prepared to make at least a million mistakes in our new host culture. In preparation, I decided to start chipping away at that 1,000,000 by having my first stick shift driving lesson this week.

Driving a manual car is a life skill I've been wanting to learn for years. But, it was hard to find people in the U.S. that even have manual cars and my desire to learn wasn't big enough for me to really search out those opportunities. Well, necessity came knocking as I learned that there is a "singles" car in Bundibugyo. My desire for mobility and knowledge of driving stick in case of an emergency won out and I started looking for the chance to learn.

My dear brother, Tony, has a very dear brother-in-law who offered up his new Jeep Wrangler for my practice. Tony then offered to give me my first lesson. Woo hoo!

As the day for our lesson came closer, I found myself feeling legitimately nervous. The last time I had driving lessons was when I was 16 and I did well pretty fast, considering that I had spent countless hours in the car during my growing up years. I think I felt even less confident at age 21 sitting behind the wheel of that Jeep than I did when I sat behind a steering wheel for the first time ever. Isn't this a step backwards? Can't I just be independent and learn this through osmosis or something?

My pride had to take a hit as I told Tony, "This is pretty terrifying to me" and sat down in the driver's seat. To make a long story short, I think I did pretty well. I didn't stall out the first time or even a few times after that. When I did stall out, it seemed to come in rushes and I would stall a ridiculous numbers of times in a row. But, I managed to get the car out onto the road and even managed to go in reverse and start on an incline. Tony can now add "spectacular stick shift instructor" to his long list of talents.

I know that my 1.5 hour lesson is only the start of a lot of learning if I do end up driving in Uganda. While it was good to practice in the U.S., I'll be driving on the left side of the road, using my left hand to shift, and also driving on Ugandan roads which I hear are full of goats, kids, and potholes. Quite the obstacle course. I have a feeling my driving pride will be chiseled down to powder by the time I learn to drive in Uganda, if I learn at all.

Sometimes I look forward to the adventure of learning new things in Uganda, whether it be driving or buying groceries or anything else. Other times I wish I could shelter my pride a bit and remain independent, competent, and knowledgeable. Either way, I am excited to see all the ways God works in me and brings me to a new understanding of Him through these lessons in humility.

A Good Day

On an entirely different note from my previous post, I just want to write about a good day. I had a good day today. It was filled with lots of sweet, little morsels that I will remember as I go to Uganda. It started like a typical day. I went to work. The copier was acting weird. I wrote some emails and answered the phone.

My mom met me at work to take me shopping for a dress for my cousin's upcoming wedding. I had an appointment at 3 so we had just enough time to eat lunch and speed-shop for dresses. This is where it got good:

• We ran into my brother, Tony, and I got a hug from him. A sweet treat.
• I sent my sister, Emily, picture texts of the two dresses I couldn't decide between. We both agreed on the same one. And my mom liked that one the best too. Decision made for an indecisive person! Check!
• My mom found a dress too--mission accomplished!
• Laughing with Mom as we (literally) ran into Marshall's for a 15 minute browsing spree before having to turn around and go to my appointment. Our time management and estimation of traffic time wasn't the best but we made getting there an adventure :)
• Meeting my parents for dinner. After getting half-lost, I met them at a store and they offered to buy me a new piece of jewelry--anything I'd like! I've never read the 5 Love Languages book but I'm pretty sure giving is one of mine. I love giving and receiving gifts. My new necklace is a cherished gift.
• Eating a delicious dinner at Home Grown complete with chocolate mousse trifle for dessert.
• Driving home and the air was cool enough to roll the windows down.

As I get ready to leave for Uganda, I find myself cherishing moments that might not be so special otherwise. I know God is going to provide incredible memories for me no matter where I am or who I am with though!

He'll Carry Me All the Way

While I was at MTI, there was one night that I felt particularly discouraged. I felt overwhelmed by the task ahead of me in Uganda. I grumbled to God about my loneliness and feeling entirely incapable of what He had called me to.

That night I opened my Bible to Deuteronomy, remembering a random passage I had wanted to look up. I never found that passage. But I did start reading the book at chapter 1. And God yet again amazed me at His ability to speak fresh and anew through his Word to me.

I'm not a Bible scholar so I might get this background info wrong. But, from the bit I read, it seems the Israelites have made it out of Egypt and were camping on a mountain in Moab, perhaps after wandering in the desert for a while. God tells them they've stayed there long enough and it's time to move on to the land He had prepared for them. I'm pretty sure the Israelites were less than thrilled about this whole plan. They had to travel through a "vast and dreadful desert" and then reached land that was currently occupied by the Amorites. They sent some spies in who checked it out and said it was good land. But the Israelites still doubted God's good intent.

They grumbled. They said, "God hates us and delivered us from Egypt only to deliver us into the hands of these Amorites. These people are strong and tall and there are big walls around the city. God doesn't realize that this is just impossible." [all of this is my paraphrasing]

Moses's reply is fantastic. He says:

"Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

The story continues of course. And the Israelites continue to grumble and rebel and God allows them to be defeated by their enemies.

But, when I stop reading after Moses's reply, I find so many parallels to my own life. Sure, sometimes I'm excited for all the adventures ahead in Uganda. But sometimes I feel completely inadequate for the needs of Bundibugyo. (Read this post from my team leader to get a feel for it) I'm not afraid of Ammorites and I don't plan on invading and staking a claim to any territory, like the Israelites. But I can find it easy to fear my lack of expertise as I try to help with a nutrition program without any medical or nutritional schooling. I can find it easy to fear as I leave my familiar surroundings and the support system of friends and family I've known my whole life.

It is easy to fear. But, God is going before me. He has fought for me so many times in the past. And above all else, he will carry me. He will carry me as a Father carries his daughter all the way. What encouragement!