#2 in the ''Ugandan Journey'' Series

Following the Call:  

Many people have asked me, "How did you know you were doing God's will by going to Africa?" I always answer the same way.

One day I went to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and approached Jesus a little differently than I usually did. I had been feeling lackluster in the spirituality department for several months. Even though I had been part of the Nursing Home Ministry for quite a while, even though I had been feeding the poor on Tuesdays with the Franciscan Friars, something was missing. I didn't feel I was doing enough.

To that, I say be very careful what you ask God for!

Almost immediately the Gospel, the homily, and the people coming into my life all pointed to giving it all away and moving to Africa.

We went for a three week trip and one of the first places we visited was Nkokenjuro. We went back to our apartment every night and literally sobbed, moved by The Holy Spirit.

Our three-week discernment trip encompassed visiting 14 villages and towns and meeting hundreds of people. We listened to and looked for the face of Christ in everyone we encountered.                 

Deciding on the village of Nkokenjuro, it was a "simple" matter of returning to Texas and beginning the process of raising funds for our trip, collecting religious items and clothing, and giving away everything we owned.

We returned to Uganda in January 2016, just before my 69th birthday, with two suitcases each.

My husband and I were able to serve in Uganda for three months. What forced us home to Texas was a diagnosis of Melanoma in my right leg.  After a second surgery and skin graft, all my checkups have been clear.

Lately we have been talking about Uganda and going back. Africa is like a virus, and once you have it, you cannot get rid of it.