There is a lost art in walking everywhere. The ability to journey alongside of someone is something I've grown to love.
Everyday, I slide on my raggedy old pair of Rainbow sandals that I've had since my Junior year of high school. They have molded to my feet in the most perfect way and have accompanied me through slums, suburbia, dirt roads, and neatly paved neighborhood strolls. My feet have seen a lot of life in these bad boys.
You see, I used to cruise through everyday in my little candy red Mazda 3 - probably one of my favorite material possessions of all time. We went together so well. My Mazda 3 took me all across America - over mountains, through the desert and to the seashore. Some days I thought I could never live without it... Major drama points for me :)
So, as my life of luxury has changed to a life of "take only what you need", I have found the richest joy of my 23 years. I have a backpack and duffle bag of things to my name and I couldn't be happier. This journey of life has been shared with so many people as I walk to the market, walk to the slum and stroll through the village where our future school will be. I have made lifelong friends and have gained family members by the dozens here in little ol' Uganda. I have a brigade that walks me home every night. I have Matthias, my favorite 13 year old, that walks with me to the market, to the bank and every place in between. He loves biology and will be a doctor one day :) I have shared rich conversation with our Ugandan Founder, Jackson, as we walk the land where Mt. of Olives Nursery and Primary School will be built. We talk about our families, our dreams, the hard times and the epic ones. I have ridden on the back of my favorite Ugandan dad's motorcycle, Randall, as we cruise through the rolling Ugandan countryside on the way to school. He waits at the end of my street for me and welcomes me home literally every.single.day. He rules.
In all of my wandering, some days with a purpose, some days without, I have found the beauty in simplicity. I have found my priorities shifting. I have found that these nearly 8 year old Rainbow sandals and these nearly broken down legs of mine will do just fine :)
There's a journey to be shared as fellow travelers. There are laughs to be shared and dreams to dream. Africa has done so much right with living life to the full. Time spent and love shared is worth so much more than any dollar could ever amount to. There's this currency of grace and salvation that has transformed my heart time and again. My African family has taught me so much about being pure in heart and living for Jesus every moment of every day. To be a breath of fresh air even when the journey is long and the walk into town is 90 degrees with humidity that makes you sweat without even moving.... It's all beautiful.
So join us as we fall out of love with this world and fall into a deep, crazy love with The Kingdom.
Our journey: www.raysofgrace.org
ONWARD.
endless amounts of love&grace always,
britt :)
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