African Muzungu

I know this will come as a surprise to all of you, but I actually just arrived back in Colorado Springs with my family! I know this is unexpected and I would love to be able to articulate all of the reasons for this, but for the sake of the other people involved I just can’t say everything right now. But here’s what I can fill you in on: In the past couple of months, there have been several very traumatic situations that I have gone through. The betrayal of several people close to me has been incredibly painful, and while I have chosen to forgive each one of them, the wounds have gone deep. I know that the only one who can heal me from the pain of those betrayals is Jesus. So for now, I’m back in Colorado seeking healing and rest from Jesus so that I can go back to Uganda filled up and ready to pour out all of the grace I’m receiving from His hands back into the precious people of Kamonkoli. I know and believe that when I do get back to Kamonkoli, I’ll be that much more re...

I never knew how much could be packed into 8 weeks until now. Over Christmas, none of us really had a holiday since we had a team coming right after Christmas and a huge event to plan for on January 3 rd . That meant that really only Christmas day was off and we were back at work again on the 26 th . The team of 18 people arrived on the 28 th and we enjoyed several events with them including a seminar for the youth on New Years Eve as well as a teaching/tea time with the ladies. But the really big event came on Friday the 3 rd when we had invited the First Lady of Uganda as well as about 700 other guests to a big event commissioning the opening of the new school building we’re working on for Genesis. The event was a success, and although the First Lady was sick and at the last minute was unable to make it, she sent the area Member of Parliament as her representative, and we had most of the other important political officials present also. It was truly an inspiring day to see all...

Christmas in Uganda is the time I feel the sacrifice of living overseas the most. The rest of the year it’s only on occasion that I really have to fight feeling sorry for myself. I wish I was a super-star missionary that never had any thought of being anywhere else but here. I wish I could say that I was always 100% content exactly where I am. I wish I was always happy in being where God wants me. But the truth is that I’m not. The truth is that there are moments when I’d give anything just to be in commercialized, snowy, wonderful Colorado Springs with the hugs, comfort, and familiarity of my friends and family. I look at the faces of the people who I love here and for the briefest of moments wish I was looking at the faces of my family instead. I sit in the two room, cooking-smoke filled house of some of my dearest friends and wish for a second I was on the comfy couch in front of the Christmas tree. I drive the sunbaked dusty red roads in the hottest time of year and long for sno...

 Can you believe it's only 7 more days until Christmas??? Neither can I! This year has just flown by, and I find myself approaching my 3rd Christmas in Uganda. While you're enjoying time with your families, I thought you also might enjoy a look at the newsletter I wrote for my mailing list, and if any of you would like to be included in future mailings, feel free to send me an email at melanie.a.may@facebook.com. (click to open image, then right click, 'view image' to enlarge) 

I thought you all might enjoy a glimpse of Ugandan culture: this is how we decorate cars for weddings in Uganda. In the states, only the getaway car is decorated, but here in Uganda there is a bridal procession of cars to carry the couple, bridal party, and all other important people to the wedding. Each of the cars gets decorated, and all the cars drive very slowly honking their horns in a steady 'beep, beep!' I got to drive the bridesmaids around so my Rav4 also got all dressed up. Annnnnd it give me a chance to show off the new tires the Lord provided through you all! My car sporting its brand new tires and all decked out for the wedding

These past few  weeks months have been overly full! When I sit down to try and remember everything that has needed to be done in these weeks, I am just amazed. To start with, Genesis is approaching the end of its third full year of school! Which is wonderful! And hectic. Final exams needed to be typed and printed. Teacher evaluations needed to be created, printed, and administered.  We had a visiting team 2 weeks ago who spent several days at the school. And all those extras are in addition to the usual work load of supervising teachers, preparing and teaching Bible study for the teachers, planning for AWANA, putting together presentations for the AWANA clubs back in the States, taking sick children to the clinic, troubleshooting all manner of weird circumstances (like the time the school's pit toilet started caving in), etc. etc. etc. And all of that adds up to early mornings and long days. Annnnd in the middle of it all, I'm needing to find a...

I've grown up my whole life dreaming and expecting to be a missionary. In the beginning it was much more like a dream, full of dark jungles, strange people just waiting to be converted, me in a prairie dress with my arms full of orphaned children, etc. But as I grew, the dream took on more and more of reality. I researched high and low. I pestered other missionaries with many questions, and I began to form a more accurate picture of what life as a missionary really looks like. I remember many things people would say trying to scare some sense into me..... But it's not safe. Aren't there terrorists over there? But you'll be so far from your family. But don't you actually want get married? Don't you know that missionaries are poor for the rest of their life?  And to be honest, some of the things did scare me a bit. Being so far from the family I so adored was a really hard thought. But I was still determined. I knew God wanted me in Africa, and I just knew He ...