The Power of a Human Being
These days it seems time is rushing, I am not sure how I have already been here for five months. I look back and I feel like a totally different person (in the most positive way) since I first arrived...all of my experiences thus far have truly helped me realize all the potential that we have as human beings in the way we can relate to each other, help each other, benefit each other, work with each other, and be with each other.
Sometimes in life it seems we are blessed with unexpected people or events that even if we tried we ourselves could not have better planned the timing. This past week I have been staying with a dear friend of mine in Kampala for the initial reason, I thought I may have had “the malaria” whereas it turned out it was only “worms.” However, as we were slowly walking from her flat to a place with a free wi-fi connection we stumbled across this banner posted on the fence outside of the Ugandan Museum. As I was winded and weak from the walk, my friend walked in to inquire about the upcoming week events where she learned that later on in the evening a short lecture about literature in Uganda was going to take place.
Walking home for our day of “work” we stopped by the Museum to check out the event for the evening. We listened to Ugandan writers give public dialogues of their own short stories and poetry and we were then introduced to a professor from Lancaster who was there to lead discussions in writing workshops throughout the week.
When I first heard him speak about his passion for writing and his love for Uganda I was beyond inspired…I wrote down direct quotes and took notes as he spoke and little did he know that right then and there he was positively impacting my approach regarding research and ignited a new passion for writing.
Two days later we went back to the museum for a book launch where we came in more personal contact with the professor and experienced another unplanned event. We were invited by another “mzungu” who has been living in Uganda for ages now who was attending a dinner party and he invited us all to join him. So there we were, driving along to a restaurant where we met a Prince and Princess of a tribe in Uganda, the oldest mzungu living in Uganda (96 years old), and other beyond welcoming people. We were served a delicious dinner and entertained by live music. Throughout the night we enjoyed one another’s company, questioning and being more open with each other than one would expect. Perhaps it was because our meeting circumstances were so unique and we were all open to sharing our life stories with each other, that throughout the night even more lessons were taken away. Throughout the week we met a couple more times and each time I took more away from our time together.
It’s beyond powerful when you meet someone you never knew existed who can sincerely impact your life in more ways than one. The conversations throughout the week have brought a renewed sense of self, new ideas, endless possibility for potential, etc. If only I carried around a tape recorder I could have been able to more fully invite you into this past week and my current thought process would more than likely make much more sense to you. However, because of this week, I have made some significant decisions in my life, become more calm about the unknown, and open to a much more open future in research, work, and writing.
The Professor quoted, “there is no story that is not true…” and this line continues to stick out to me, because even if we know that what we are reading may be based on opinion, fact, be-it non-fiction, or fiction, fable or article, perspective or idea, etc. somewhere to someone that is how the story unfolded. It makes so much sense to me that here I am writing to you about my experiences that I have had here and there you are reading and interpreting my time here in your own way and to each thy own we all take away something different. This is true in any situation in our daily lives.
Another beautiful note I took was “going from observation to a relationship with a country…” and at first I was an observer, an outsider, a visitor, but now I am here, I am involved, and I am known among my current contacts, networks, and friends…I have gone from observing to having a relationship with Uganda and this is a relationship that will always be within me. When I was younger I knew I was where I was, growing up where I was growing up, attending school, learning new things, meeting new people, but my mind was also wandering off to foreign countries, foreign ideas, and foreign passion of other cultures and here I am in one of those distant places that I only used to day dream about…it has become a process of exchange; an exchange of formulating thoughts, perspectives, and [distance] learning.
After this week, I feel now more than ever that time is racing…that the endless possibilities we all have seem to be overlooked because of the limited time we have to even try and reach the potential of what we can do. I feel that I have been elated with the thought that I will never be finished…that my work doesn’t have to focus on one area of interest, that my mission in Uganda and in life in general can be a mixture of odds and ends that make me who I am…the fact of the matter is, is that I have the opportunity here and you have the opportunity where ever you are to truly impact the lives of others…and the way we can impact each other can improve our own way of approaching challenging, difficult, overwhelming, or even enjoyable situations or scenarios.
A quote I picked up from one of my professors while studying abroad in Rome was this: “the power of a human being….” And I continue to replay that over and over throughout my life and its beyond true…the power of a human being is beyond our knowledge or even our acknowledgement…I feel beyond blessed for this random intervention of a thoughtful, well-spoken, professor from Lancaster who probably will never know how much his presence and words of advice were needed and much obliged. The thing is we too have the ability to leave such an impression on others just by being ourselves; by being open to sharing thoughts, experiences, wisdom, success, and failures. To share our talents and gifts with each other or with strangers, we have the ability to sincerely cultivate change.
I always believed that I could “change the world…” then it went to “change the world one person at a time…” but now I realize it’s not necessarily that I want to “change” people, places, or lives, it’s that I long to contribute what I can by simply being who I am to those who are open to receiving and also willing to contribute to me as well.
I realize this is not a typical blog post, but this is where my thoughts are currently. I have mentioned before that I want you all to partake in this journey I am living and now that I have been refreshed with the idea of becoming truly intimate with people in a sense of digging deeper than the surface level I was comfortable taking this route. In fact I am realizing that digging deeper is one if not the only way to truly live…to truly connect…to truly impact.
As I continue to work on project proposals and researching the best way to help Lazarus Community, I am still trying to connect with greater organizations who are willing to help Lazarus Community reach our ambitious goal of purchasing land to start our own community garden and to eventually move into the market place...I pray that somehow in some way we will be blessed with such funding.
It's hard to believe that I will be home in less than two months...hardly seems as if it could be true...although in my heart (even though I am nervous and anxious to head to the US for a few weeks) I can settle my anxiety with the fact that I know I am coming back to Uganda after a short visit at home...I know for a fact that if I were leaving UG for more than a few weeks I would be trembling...I truly have fallen in love with this country, the people, the experiences, and the way of life... I honestly believe that I am meant to be here at this time in my life...and I could not be happier with the way things seem to be panning out...
Thank you all for your continued interest in following my mission as well as for your prayers and support.
My love is with you,
Anne Therese
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