Hannah Grace Cicciari - Uganda

For the last 16 years of my life it has been a dream of mine to go to Africa, and the Lord clearly opened the door for me to service in Uganda for 5 weeks. I went in knowing the place was going to feel like home and that it was going to be better than I could have ever expected. All of this was true, but it was also the hardest thing I've ever done. I was sick 3 out of the 5 weeks we were there which caused me to wake up every single morning asking Jesus to be my strength for that day because I could not do it on my own. I had so much dependency on Abba during this trip, and even post with processing how this time has changed everything for me. Uganda very quickly became home to me, as I remember texting a friend from home saying how at home I felt. What God taught me during this trip is that home is where your absolute best and worst/hardest are allowed to coexist, and how to invite other people into that. From learning now living in an apartment I continue to ask myself how can it be home to anyone who enters, and even how can my presence alone feel like home to those around me so that people can show up as they really are. The question I'm currently asking myself (among several), and challenge you to ask yourself, is: If I am made in the image of God, and His presence allows people to show up as they are, then what can I do to help create that space around me as well?