This trip is an answer to my prayers. Ever since I was 16 I knew that one day I was going to be involved somewhere in Africa. In 2014 it led me to Uganda. For those of you who don't know my full story, that first trip to Uganda could have been my last. Not only did I travel to a far away place by myself never having met anyone I would be spending the next 2 weeks with but on the 3rd day there I got so sick I believed 100% that I was going to die, I laid in bed in complete surrender knowing that Gods plans far outreached those of my own.... after a few days recovering I was back on my feet again. Albeit a little weak and shaky I managed to make it back home. My life was forever changed. Upon my return stateside my sickness followed. I spent the next 8 months in and out of emergency rooms and then eventually a 3 day stay in a hospital landed me in a spot I had always feared. I was told I probably had cancer. I went to doctors and the oncologist only to find out I didn't. Then they thought something was wrong with my brain. I saw neurologists and specialists only to find out I was ok. I spent every other week driving to UCSF to get blood drawn and tests done to figure out why my body was shutting down. The doctors never had an answer. Yet during this time if you asked me where I wanted to be, I would answer simply... "back to where my feet were stained red in the country my heart broke wide open" .... my health kept me from returning the next year and I was devastated. I cried and cried and just when I thought I didn't have any tears left I cried some more. Then something crazy happened. I realized I was meant to be right where I was. I started school and a new job and while I did it with a heavy heart and dragging my feet I soon realized that I needed to be present in the present. I worked on myself and faced some of my biggest, scariest and darkest fears and I grew in ways that terrified me.... but I embraced it.... I stopped trying to kick down doors that weren't open and I knew that if I was meant to go back to the country that started this new journey for me, then it would happen. 3 years later, 3 years of pain, tears, anger, hurt and growth and now this opportunity has been thrown in my lap, no strings attached... I know that the last 3 years have been preparing me for this trip. It's like all the puzzle pieces are finally starting to reveal the bigger picture. This is where I am meant to be in life right now. I'm leaving June 14th to embark on a journey that I believe is only going to be a new beginning in this beautiful country that my heart has been called to. I am just really excited for what Is in store for this trip, I feel deep down that it is just the beginning of my future trips to Uganda.