and we're back...

ahem, where was i... i'm actually not sure where i was headed with all that. so i'll just move along. suffice it to say, the trip over was exhaustingly long. long long long. but once i landed i really felt much better. i was greeted by adeline and vincent (two UCU folks i knew from last year) and phil, the other intern. it was so refreshing to see familiar faces and phil could not have been more kind. i felt very much embraced. and back on campus, it was odd actually. i was here only a few short months ago so it reallt feels like i just went on vacation and now am back. nothing much has changed.

i've seen a few of the students that i was in class with. neo and jones and esseza. but it is really strange to be here without my usp group. i keep expecting to run into shannon or will, seth or kari, just around the corner. but it's just me. that's gonna take some getting used to. it's funny, i don't think i gave enough credit to the fact that i would be here on my own, essentially. i sat next to the sweetest woman on my flight into nairobi. she was headed to the congo for mission work and she asked me what i was off to. when i explained it to her she said, 'wow, that's neat! and how many are with you?' and then i told her it was just me and she said, 'oh my! that's very impressive. really, it shows that you don't need someone holding your hand the whole way, you know?' i think it was a compliment. but then it just got me thinking, what's so great about not having someone hold your hand? sometimes that's all it takes to make a sad day feel better. just someone to hold your hand.

i'm house sitting for an american professor and his english wife this week. they live in a lovely house with some rare luxuries. ie. a dvd player, hot showers, cats, and wireless internet. the dvd player will come in handy since movies on my laptop seem to be all that can get me to sleep these nights. as you can imagine, hot showers for a week will be an incredible treat. i'm a little nervous about the pets. they have cats, fish, and a hampster. all have to be fed at various intervals throughout the day. if the power goes out the fish tank needs to be uncovered. if the hampster bottle quits working he needs a separate bowl, if the cats wont go out at night just beat them out with a pillow (???). but apparently, of all the creatures in the house, it's the hampster that has to be payed special attention to. i was told that it really doesn't matter if the fish die or the cats run off into the african bush. it's the hampster that matters. their daughter is border line in love with it. no pressure or anything... so wish me luck! and hop on your skype around mid-day your time! i'll (hopefully) be able to use mine about that time while i'm at the house.

as far as other excitement is concerned, debbie and justin got married yesterday! usp gang, you'll remember them. debbie was a student here and justin was a usp alum. and now they're married! the wedding was lovely. a mix of africa and america. there was a really lovely sermon and some delicious food and speech after speech after speech. i forgot about that part of ugandan culture. :) speeches. it was a fun experience.

and now on to tomorrow. my first real work day. i'm ready to get busy. to feel purposeful. i send all my love in all your directions!! i hope everyone is happy and healthy and having an excellent life! please keep me updated. post comments. send emails. (anniebegins@gmail.com) letters even.

annie carter
uganda christian university
usp
box 4
mukono, uganda

or CALL me!! or text even. :) 774280059. it works like so: dial your calling card number first. then 011-256-774280059. YAY! i love voices.

and i love you all!! everybody off adventuring in their various directions, in and out of doors, on and off of airplanes, starting and finishing school. our lives just like the pevensies. and i pray we all of us get to look Aslan in the face. just every once and a while. just enough to not believe that we're on our own.

have a happy day! talk to you later...