Whether it was schooling for my Nursing
degree, Liverpool school for Tropical Medicine, a medical missions
conference in North Carolina, or working in Uganda, I have been
thankful beyond words by those I have met, spent time with, and
learned from. Not knowing anyone from the start of these occasions, I
have come away changed by the new sisters and friends He has led me
to - some halfway across the world.
Of the girls living at Suubi, Mardi was
the first to meet me - the new girl from Kampala. We had just been
receiving a tour of the Watoto Villages and on return, Kelly asked
her what the new girl was like. I had been in the van, sitting next
to the elderly volunteers and being friendly with them, thinking I
would be sharing an apartment with the older ladies when I arrived at
Suubi.
“So what is she like?” Kelly had
asked Mardi when she returned back to their house. (I was to arrive
at Suubi in a week).
“She's nice” Mardi replied.
“And...”
“She's kind of like an old person.”
However, plans changed and I was
relocated with the younger volunteers, and soon unpacking my bags in
the Suubi apartments above the Babies Home. I pulled out a book I had
found during my stay at the Grand Global Hotel, “Diaries of a Pupil
Midwife.” Seemed nursing enough, and something informative to read
on slower days. I glanced over at Mardi who was quietly sitting in
her own corner like an old lady, a book propped up on her knees.
“Tales of a Midwife.”
One day early on, when the girls had
left on an excursion, I spotted a jar of “Nutella” on one of the
volunteer's shelves. I thought I could make it without during these
months, and was trying to be strictly cultural. It was a lie to
myself (and Steph Heron), and I resolved I was going to fess up to
whoever owned the jar. It is easier to ask for forgiveness than
permission (and this completely applies as they were nowhere nearby).
The jar was Mardi's, of course, and from that night forward we
started creating “snickers” with biscuits, peanut butter and
nutella and double-creaming oreos with peanut butter (sounds
disgusting but it is really not, and this is Uganda), and this later
led into the traditional biscuit and tea evening. (I guess Mardi was
not so off about the elderly lady comment, but perhaps it was a
surprise to herself).
In meeting someone, you normally get
down the basics and sometimes are surprised (yet it happens) at the
things you have it common. Mardi is in nursing, specializing in
midwifery, and me having been through nursing school could relate on
these medical conditions. Moreover, same “financial” goals,
travel aspirations, kitchen plans, we comment in movies all the time
(that is the fun of them),
are reading in the same book of the Bible, and strangely enough, have
had the same prophesies spoken to us. The list could continue,
but when I knew we
would be friends was the night I offered her a leg in the pair of
shorts I found. She jumped right in, and we made a spinning ground
out of the room.
When Mardi arrived at the clinic after
her work shift and we headed home, it wasn't a surprise when we found
we were seeking God in the same ways, asking Him similar questions
and looking for direct answers, frustrated that it didn't always seem
to be as direct as we wanted. Yet able to pull from two perspectives,
share experience on either side, and resolve to keep with each other
in prayer, I was once again thankful for who God had placed in my
life at this particular time. Moreover, I was reminded how He has
done this over and over, showing me His goodness and encouraging me
through another, time and time again.
I believe that God intends certain
people cross paths, maybe for a season, perhaps for a lifetime, but
always for a reason. Therefore, this isn't just to Mardi, but Steph
Heron, Anne Galgano and Aleisha McPhail - Friends that I have once,
and yet again learned from, in single hours of being with them. This
is because God ordained the timing, having us all jump into
experiences on our own, full knowing that we would meet another one
of His own who would challenge, change and grow us for the path
ahead. It is a reminder that we are truly not on our own, but when
stepping out by ourselves, God provides with exactly what will we
need and whom we need, in order to fulfil His purpose. This is
truly a good gift, demonstrating that no matter what is ahead...He is
a good Father.
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