In Conclusion?

It's been 58 days since I said goodbye to my teammates at the Atlanta airport. I really should have written sooner, but to be honest, I've been busy. And to be even more transparent, I've been unable to write or say anything real about the conclusion of my time in Uganda, about the conclusion of the community I lived in, and about the next steps in my life. It's been easy for me to ignore because upon returning to the states I was thrust into Miss Arkansas preparations. My first appearance was only three days after my plane landed in Memphis. Since that time, I've been happily engrossed in getting ready to compete for the title of Miss Arkansas. That competition will begin just three days from now, and as I am putting the final touches on my prep work, I am realizing that it is important for me to say some things about my trip now that it has ended and before I leave this weekend.

So here goes...

To my team,

I miss you people! We first live together again in Lira with these ones of Sankofa around the corner! I thought about writing this blog as just another blog written to random readers comprised of my friends and family and who knows who else, but I don't want to miss this opportunity to address you specifically. So, that being said this note is to you.

Thank you for the constant encouragement, the strength you gave me, and the never ending prayer and worship we lived in together. I thank God everyday that He brought us all together in His infinite wisdom and divine grace so that we could live together, learn together, and reach this world for His glory together. I'm not going to lie. It has been difficult being back in the U.S. without you around for feedback. I know this is just another part of God's plan and that there is a time and a season for everything under heaven, but grieving the loss of our season in Uganda is just plain tough. 

On a brighter note, I am pleased to be praying for you all as you enter into the next season of your lives. Whether it's a new job opportunity with an amazing organization with ties to Uganda, medical school, nursing school, college, worship leading, returning to Uganda, getting married, or leading more people all over the globe with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is an honor for me to join with you in prayer about these next steps in your lives. I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us, and I'm just praying that one day it will include us all being in the same place again, even for a short time.

Apoyo Matek #besties,

Some-air 

 Family of Pastor Thomas Amone

I cannot say thank you enough to all of the people who supported my trip to Uganda. Whether your support came in the form of money or prayer, you have been a part of God's plan for my life and for that I am truly grateful. I'm not finished with this plan that God has for my life. In fact, I hope that I'm still fully walking in it and that in this next season you will get to see more of that. I'm probably not done writing about my experiences in Uganda either. I've learned too many things and I am still learning things from the first four months of this year and on some occasions I may be apt to sharing those with you. Most of my communications over the next few weeks can be found on my pageant blog http://somerallen.blogspot.com.

Finally, I want to leave you with a reminder. I think it's a healthy reminder for all of us who have ever allowed it to get stale in our lives. I pray that this word ring truer with every day and every breath in our lives so that we may more fully discover our purpose in this world as followers of Christ.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -Matthew 28:19-20

Go. Baptize. Teach. Make disciples. Repeat.

That's all I've got for now, but I'll be around!

Obanga mi gum