Forgot to add:

Embrace Uganda's big "Save A Child" fundraiser is coming up on November 29th at Angus Barn. We are hoping to raise enough money to complete the new clinic and provide scholarships for the children in the scholarship program. If you are interested in donating or being a part of the event, check out the EU website. www.embraceuganda.org

I hate/am truly terrified of public speaking and have never been good at presentations. I’ve been told on numerous occasions I talk way to fast, mumble, etc. in everyday life and it only gets worse when I am put in front of a group of people staring at me. I hate being the center of attention and I don’t like all eyes on me. But I have something that God has really laid on my heart and something I have become really passionate about that I WANT and NEED to share with everyone I come in contact with. So while my heart races like it’s about to beat out of my chest, I start sweating profusely, and my words tend to become a jumbled mess, not to mention I will most likely start ugly crying at least once over the course of my spiel … I’m working on overcoming my fear so I can share my experience in Uganda and the stories of the children who have stolen my heart!

I also have this problem with taking compliments. I think a lot of people have this problem … it’s not just me. Last week my best friend Hannah and I did a presentation about our trips to Uganda for Dr. Tippett’s class at Meredith College and it was the first time we’d really received the kind of feedback we did. Immediately afterward Dr. Tippett and Lina were grinning ear to ear obviously excited about what we had shared and told us how inspirational and great it was. To which I simply replies … Thank you, at least I made it through! This was also the first time my mom had heard me do a presentation … of course she hears me talk about it nonstop and has listened to me showing my pictures to tons of people but this was different. She told me how proud she was and how inspiring the presentation was. She left out the part about how terrible I am at public speakingJ. Then we got an email from someone who was in the class that day which just made me cry when I read it. She thanked us for encouraging, inspiring, and motivating her and her classmates to do more for their community and in the world and how much she appreciated us extending God’s love and compassion through our stories and pictures. After I read that I texted Hannah and said first of all go read the email and second … That’s what this is all about. For me, if I can spread God’s love and compassion by sharing the stories of the children I’ve met in Uganda and the experiences that have changed my life … that means more to me than anything else I’ve done in my life.

I don’t get to share my stories as much as I’d like because honestly it scares me but … hearing things like that from people is so encouraging and so motivating for me. I’ve also had the opportunity to share Uganda with some of my new friends here at school. I had one friend text me and say … I know you didn’t invite me but I really want to go to Uganda … uhmm YES PLEASE … let’s go! Then one of Hannah and I’s best friends is ready to go on a trip with us, which will hopefully happen soon. I’ve also had friends tell me how much they love what we’re doing but how can they help us here … in the US. The more we inspire people and share with them God’s love, which for me is through talking about my trips … that’s what it is all about!