A rant...

This particular post has no real theme. You have been warned.

Today I did a lot of inward observation. I do this a lot, actually. Believe it or not, I'm actually an introvert. So today was one of those days where I needed some quiet to balance out being around so many people.

And here is what I learned.

In an unpredictable turn of events, I've become even more Western in a few ways since being here. For example: Back home, I would wear shirts and pants sometimes three times before washing them, depending on where I had worn them. That may gross some people out, but it never bothered me. I did the same with my bath towel. Here, though, I just feel like I cannot do that. 

I've come to terms with the fact that I smell. Always. And no matter what I do, I will continue to smell. Every night before bed, I lather up plenty of my Suave Mango Mandarin soap on my pretty pink loofa (yep), scrub until I'm red, and then apply and reapply deodorant. Despite all this effort, it's guaranteed that within a few hours, I will begin to smell again. It's a musky, B.O.-mixed-with-dirt smell. And yes, I have come to terms with this odor. 

However, because of this stink that is permanently on me, I cannot bring myself to re-wear clothes other than my pajamas. (That has been only out of necessity- I brought way more day-time clothes than night-time clothes). 

As I was thinking this over, I realized that I am surrounded day-in and day-out by people who may only have two or three outfits, and they certainly wear and re-wear. 

Maybe culture shock is setting in after all.

On the complete opposite end of the Western spectrum... I have quit using my face wash. There's no need for it here. The heat causes your pores to constantly clean themselves out, creating a clean, if slightly shiny, complexion. 

And if you know me well, you know that inward observation doesn't happen while I'm sitting still. No, never. In fact, it happens as I run around the three-square-foot bathroom chasing a mosquito to kill it before I shower. 

Rant is over for now. More observations, stories, and pictures to come. Love you all!

Love and prayers,

<3 Robin

Of babies and culture...

This is Peter, a baby in the "Hippos" class at Bullrushes. 

I could go on and on about the babies. They're so precious! We have babies that come from all kinds of circumstances: they were abandoned, their families are deceased, they were born to a young mother who needed help, or they were premature or have special needs and require the attention and medical assistance Watoto can provide. 

I don't know the exact story of each child- I think few volunteers do. Which makes it all the easier to love every single child with the same love and attention as the others. Every baby here gets cuddles and kisses and a warm bath (two, actually) and fresh meals and clean diapers and a faith-filled atmosphere every day. 

Today at my official orientation, Vicky (the head supervisor of Bullrushes) said, "I don't want people to think this is an orphanage. Orphanages are the places the child leaves one day and never wants to return to visit. This is a home, where the baby can have care and love."

Now about the culture here. I'm not yet in "culture shock"- I'm told that doesn't come until the second or third month. But there are several things I've noticed that are really different. 

For example:

There are three traffic lights. Three. One, two, three. I've been told that's the number of traffic lights in the whole country, but don't quote me. Regardless, that makes traffic insane. I have three intersections to cross to get to work, and there are certainly no crosswalks. So, you look both ways, say a prayer, walk halfway when one side clears, then the other half when the other side clears. Walking on the grass is not permitted. 

Paper products usually do not tear on their perforation... Lol. I have nothing else to add to this.

There are birds in our yard that sound like hyenas. Every evening and morning, they let out a "Ooooooh, ha-ha-ha-ha!" noise. 

Milk comes in a box or a bag, and both milk and butter can be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery or on the shelf. Sodas are called "fizzies" and potato chips are called "crisps." If you ask for chips at a restaurant, you will get french fries. The chocolate is good everywhere.

There is something about being around the world from home that makes one crave junk food, and you need it like, yesterday. I would gain weight, I'm sure, except for the hill I walk up every morning that is about a 45-degree angle. Abs of steel!! 

Our power outlets are the British style: three points, one on top and two on bottom. However, some plugs only have the two on bottom, which I don't understand. To get them to work, you have to trick the outlet. You can do one of three things: 1) Plug it in diagonally, with one in the top slot and one in one of the bottoms. This way has never worked for me. 2) You can trick the plug by using scissors to open the top slot. I saw a Ugandan do this, and I decided to try. I couldn't get it to work, either, but probably because I'm too scared of electrocution. 3) You can trick the plug by using a British-style adaptor in the top slot, and then plug in your appliance. This has worked like a charm every time, and I feel quite clever every time.

Also, we have a gas stove. I feel like I'm risking my life every time I cook. 

The Ugandans have really cute things they say. When you say, "Excuse me?" they answer, "Yes, please?" 

They also say "Sorry!" if anything happens, even if they weren't involved. For example, you drop a towel. I'm talking to you a few feet away, but I still stop to say, "Sorry!"

In a nutshell, I love Uganda. I love all these cultural differences, and I love working with my babies! Thank you all for the love and prayers. More updates coming soon!

<3, Robin

Getting There...

I am typing this from my new home in Kampala, Uganda. *cheesy smile*

Getting here was not easy, but God knows what He is doing. I have seen His sovereign hand at work through the last two days.

Thursday morning, my family brought me to New Orleans to catch my first flight to Miami. Due to bad weather, that flight was delayed, and all flights out of Miami were delayed. Again, God knows what He is doing. The attendant at the check-in desk quickly had me on a different flight to Dallas, then on to London, still in plenty of time to make my connecting flight to Entebbe.

I had to say goodbye to my family... :(

In London, I had enough time between flights to go out and do a bit of sight seeing.

Border Patrol in London was no big deal, and everyone was very helpful. I came to the conclusion, however, that no matter how pretty London may be in some spots, it's far to gloomy in the rest of it for me to ever want to live there. 

My final flight was from London to Entebbe. We boarded the plane right on time, and I quickly made friends with several people that were going to Uganda or on to other parts of Africa for missions work as well. Suddenly, the captain announced on the intercom that we had a hydraulic leak in our engine, and the crew was doing the best to find the one tool that could fix it. I just laughed. The stewardesses came down the aisle offering drinks to those who wanted them. I ordered Sprite, and the boy beside me (his name is Brenn, and he's from Wales) ordered Coke and a Jack Daniels, and then he MIXED them TOGETHER. You can imagine my horror. That's disgusting, and I told him so. He just laughed. Quickly we were talking about my stands on liquor, smoking, etc. Then he asked, "So. You're probably the type that goes to church every week." I laughed and said yes. He nodded, and then said, "I've never been to church." I was sorta shocked, which I know I shouldn't have been; but I asked, "So, do you know what church is?" 

He replied, "Well, yeah. It's about God." 

"But do you know God's story?" I asked.

He shook his head no, and then he asked me to tell him. So I did. And for the next hour, I got to tell the gospel to someone who had never heard it. He asked several questions, even challenged me on a few points, but in the end he said, "I think you might be right." I told him, "I dare you to open a Bible, or even just to ask God to reveal Himself to you. He will. But I'll warn you, it will change your life."

He grinned and said, "Okay. I'll do it."

As the plane finally took off and the lights turned down so everyone could rest, I prayed, "God, the plans you have for me are so much bigger than I think. All this time I thought I was only moving to Uganda for You to use me there; but maybe You allowed a hydraulic leak in the plane's engine so that this boy could hear the good news for the first time." 

I still get goose bumps thinking about it.

We arrived safely in Entebbe, Uganda, two and a half hours later than scheduled. All the same, as I pushed my two buggies of luggage to the arrivals room (that was an adventure itself), I saw a Watoto sign with my name on it. Fred came and met me and helped me push the buggies of luggage out to a van that was waiting for us.

Market on the drive to Kampala

We went straight to the guesthouse, where we unloaded my luggage. One of the girls that worked there offered to make me lunch, and I said yes. However, during the thirty minutes or so that it took to make it, everything suddenly hit me at once: leaving home, exhaustion, frustration of not being able to talk to my family, plus the sudden heat and lack of air conditioning. I got very sick that afternoon, and was very emotional when I got to talk to my dad later. 

Emotional days happen. And then they are over, thank God. :)

Today, I woke up feeling rested. I could keep down my breakfast, and then Fred took me to buy a Ugandan phone, an internet modem, and groceries (all of which were little adventures- they call soda "fizzies"). Then I got moved into my new home, where I live with six other ladies of all ages and nationalities. I got moved and settled, then I went to church with Lisa (from California), Joanna (from Sweden), Jacqueline (from Canada), Lilly (from Virginia), and Amy (from Australia). And what a powerful service it was! Four or five worship songs and then a message about...

God's assignment for you. It was like God sat me down and affirmed me that yes, I am supposed to be here. Yes, He is with me. Yes, it is difficult and will be really difficult at times. But yes, He sustains me. 

I am so thankful to everyone for your prayers. Continue to lift up Brenn, that He would have a personal relationship with Jesus! 

Love you all! <3 Robin

P.S. I definitely have more pictures, I just haven't uploaded them yet. They're coming! :)

All at Once...

All at once, you find that the thing you've said forever that you're going to do is suddenly there... like, not tomorrow, but the next day. Like, tomorrow is my last full day in the States for five months. 

It comes with a lot of goodbyes, which actually are not goodbyes. "I'll see you soon." "Have a wonderful summer and fall." "It'll be here before you know it...." and it will. If the time it's taken to plan and prepare has gone by so quickly, I know these five months will fly. 

I've been given so much practical and spiritual advice in the past few weeks, but here's the best I've received: 

• Have a sense of humour.
• Embrace everything from the first moment.
• Don't try to solve everything- You can't.

I'm posting this partially so you can know it, but mostly to remind myself when I look back. 

And now pictures, because they're worth a thousand words and I've nothing further to say tonight:

Packed to move to my parents' house until the big day.

My brother's graduation! So proud!

My going-away party- I faked this jump, I'll admit.

One of my boys and his family got to come to my party! 

My aunt and uncle gave me a Nook for my trip! (I've always been strongly against E-readers, but when your luggage weight limit is exceeded by a dozen books and you've already changed out your selection at least twice because you don't know what you'll want to read for five months... I'm actually very grateful!)

My brother and I got to eat dinner with a Ugandan family from our church! They cooked Ugandan food for us and gave me so much practical advice. 

I finally was able to spend some time with my dear friend Rachel! She has been on the mission field in Europe for the past five months, and we caught each other just in time! Thank the Lord! It was so encouraging to catch up with her. 

On that note, I'm calling it a night. It's 12:04 AM, right at the beginning of my last day in the States. 

Love and prayers. 

<3 Robin

Only Sustain Me...

"Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties but the tie that binds me to Thy service and to Thy heart." - David Livingstone

I hope you remember this part of the movie, Tangled. It's exactly what my mind has gone through over the past month, emotionally. What with the excitement of a 30-day countdown, and now a 7-day countdown- plus the sadness of leaving my job and already having said goodbye to several of my good friends- plus the frustration of packing, repacking, and then taking everything back out to reevaluate what I need- plus the nerves and even slight anxiety of moving to a country where I've never set foot, traveling across the world alone, having to exchange currency without someone to do the math for me...

In a nutshell, my emotions have gone crazy.

So when God wants to get a point across to me, He usually lays a particular word or phrase on my heart, and it pops up EVERYWHERE for at least a month, or until I have learned what He wants to teach me regarding that subject. During this month of insanity, that phrase has been "...only sustain me."

I came across this quote by David Livingstone as I was preparing to present a message at Shreveport Life Church, and as I read it, something sparked in me. Sustain. 

David Livingstone was a famous missionary to Africa- one of the first, actually. He was so dedicated that he even went years at a time without seeing his family, or any white people at all. He faced malaria among other diseases, a lion attack that maimed one of his arms, and was partially blinded from a tree branch that hit him in the eye. In this frail condition, he returned to his homeland in Scotland to present a lecture at a school. He hobbled across the platform, silently demanding the respect and attention of every student in the room. 

"Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the trials and hardship and loneliness of my exiled life?" he asked. And then he gave them the answer. "It was a promise, the promise of a gentleman of the most sacred honor; it was this promise, 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'" (Matt. 28:20)

The way I figure, if God can sustain David Livingstone through all the craziness he went through- not to mention Paul the apostle, each of the disciples, Daniel in the lions' den, the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, Esther in the court of the king, and so many, many others- if He can sustain each of them in their moments of weakness, fear, and crazy emotions, surely He can sustain me. 

And He has. And He will. 

Psalm 55:22, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved." (ESV)

And He will sustain you, too. 

Love and prayers, 

<3 robin