Double blessing

In Africa, having visitors is everything.  Since I received my first visitor to Uganda in July, I've had a steady stream of visitors, which has been wonderful.  First, Dr Alison stayed with me for most of the All Clergy Conference, then my classmate Beatrice stayed with me the last night of the conference because she was locked out of her room (and we still don't know why). 

Then, about a week ago, SAMS president Stewart Wicker, the Chairman of the Board, Rev. Jeff Rawn, and his wife Cinde came for a short visit after the "Pathway to Global Vision" Mt. Kilimanjaro trek.  Though they were on campus just about 24 hours, it was such a joy to visit with them, share a bit of what my life is like here, and pray with them.  I know I don't talk about SAMS much, but this organization is staffed with people who are so fabulously supportive.  It is a tremendous comfort to know that my people are just a phone call or email away, and that they will do everything in their power to help me.  I have worked in organizations in which this is not the case, so working for SAMS is like a breath of fresh air.

These visitors have been the first blessing.  The second blessing is my current visitor, a missionary named Leah.  She serves in South Sudan, and needed literal peace and quiet to work on papers for her masters program.  Fighting has been increasing in her area, and she felt it wise to leave for a little bit so she could work, but also for safety.  She will be with me until the end of October.

Leah said that she's not slept this well in two weeks, and I imagine that it's difficult to sleep while there's gunfire, or even the threat of gunfire.  Many people have left the town where she lives, and she said that being here in Uganda, where it's safe and quiet, is a blessing.

However, I've realized that she is the one blessing me.  This is my first "long holiday" without the Dennisons, who were my default go-to people whenever I wanted to be around people, or go get coffee off-campus.  I am still adjusting to being "alone," and not having my students here has certainly exacerbated things.  Then Leah came, and now I have built-in community right up to the time that I go to the US for leave. 

I'm rejoicing in how faithful our God is in providing what we need, even when we really don't know it.