from here to there

In the almost 8 months (yikes!) since my last blog post, I have developed a bad habit of thinking way too much about what I want to write. As a result of said habit, I write nothing. Radio silence. I’ve come to view Gulu, Uganda as my home; I’ve settled into a life and a routine here and writing about my normal day-to-day activities feels self-indulgent.  However,  my life here is rapidly changing, and writing about those changes now feels more therapeutic than self-indulgent. 

 As some of you know, I am able to be here in Uganda thanks to the support of Merinda Condra from the organization Adoption Covenant. Merinda graciously pledged to support me financially for a year, while I pursued my dream of living and working in Uganda. Her selflessness and charitable heart has made that dream a reality and I don’t have the words to adequately express my gratitude to her. The year mark is rapidly approaching I am in no way prepared to leave Africa. This year in Uganda has been the best, most rewarding of my life…and it has passed FAR too quickly. As I sit here writing this post, the power is out, the Internet is down and I am battling a never-ending illness, which seems to have taken up permanent residence in my body. Yet, I can’t imagine being any happier than I am in this moment, in this place, surrounded by people whom I have come to love, respect and consider my family. 

This past year, it has become abundantly clear to me that Africa is exactly where I belong and, for the past few months, I have been searching tirelessly for a paying job over here. This has proven to be much more difficult than it sounds and for a while it was looking like it might not happen. 

However, through random chance and some divine intervention, I was recently offered a job to help start a school in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo! After careful consideration, and many long talks, I have decided to accept the position!! This means, come September, I will be saying (a temporary) goodbye to Gulu and Jambo/Bonjour to Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC. Thus beginning my 2nd year of life in Africa! 

I will be going into greater detail in subsequent blogs about my decision to move from Uganda to DRC, what this means for my future and more about DR Congo itself. For now, I just wanted to share my exciting news with you all and to thank you for all of the encouragement, support and love you have shown me this past year! I could not have done this without all of you—which is why I promise to start showing this blog, and you, the same love which you have shown me! I hope that by sharing my last few months in Uganda with you, I will be able to work through the array of emotions that I know will come with leaving this place I’ve come to call home. And I hope it will help you all better understand why, despite how much I miss all of my family and friends back in the states, Africa is right where I belong. 

side note: I’ve had a lot of people requesting a more updates on my day-to-day life here in Gulu. My most consistent updates are, without question, through pictures. So the best way to get the most consistent and up to date happenings in my life, is to follow me on Instagram—my username is ‘blissg333’. Facebook is a great way as well, or you can ALWAYS email me at bliss.gustafson@gmail.com. I LOVE receiving emails from everyone back in the states, so please feel free to drop me a line now and then :) 

I guess that’s all, for now. Until next time…

all my love and happiness,

Bliss xx