From Tennessee to Uganda: Home

Giddy.....there I was walking out of the Entebbe airport, running on 3 hours of sleep, over 24 hours of travel, and I was giddy. I took in the fresh Uganda air, and I smiled. I was right where I was supposed to be, and I knew it without a doubt in my mind.

Backup to 24 hours earlier...well to be exact, 3 months ago. The goodbyes were starting. I knew in my heart that I was moving on to a new chapter in my story, and it was time to leave what I knew and what was familiar. Yet, still it hurt. Since then, I have had to say goodbye over and over again. I tend to be an I'm going to bottle it up and act like I am not phased by it type of person, but this summer...this summer was different. I was phased. I was hurting. And, I was heartbroken leaving people and places I love so much. Making a decision to move across the world seemed pretty easy for me at the time. After all, it was my dream. I never took into consideration the mess of tears that would come of it. This summer came with lots of processing and trusting that I had never experienced before...would I raise all my support, would I pass my NCLEX in one try, would I be able to get all my stuff ready to move during the short period of time I had given myself, would I be able to say goodbye to everyone I care about...and it goes on. God taught me a lot during this time. Often times when we are stepping into places He has called us...places that will change the lives of others and ourselves as well...He is at work big time...but just as much as He is at work, the enemy is at work as well. I definitely felt that this summer. Lies after lies flooded in. Who am I to move to Uganda and be a nurse? Who am I to be given such an incredible opportunity? Who would ever want me to work for their ministry? This was a constant battle going on in my head that I had to continually counteract with Truth. I am loved. I am called. I am adequate. I am His. And, the biggie....He will equip me. FULLY.

Sitting in the airport at 6 am waiting to board my first plane to Uganda, I realized what a gift my emotions were. Yes, goodbyes are hard. Trusting is hard. But, how incredible that leaving a place brings tears flowing down my cheeks. I wrote in my journal..."Goodbyes are hard when you leave behind people and places that have stolen your heart. I'm thankful for my hard goodbyes." So you sitting there reading this....you that I hugged 20 times and said goodbye to over and over. You who have cried with me and prayed with me. You who supported me. You who reminded me that I was made for this. You are a gift. You have made my life great, which makes it hard to walk away from you. You, dear friends and family, are my greatest blessing. And, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness.

So, here I am sitting in my room...my room...in Uganda trying to gather my thoughts and soak all this in. How do you comprehend a calling you first felt when you 13 years old that is coming true? For me, I listen to Good Good Father (many of you could have guessed this) over and over again and praise my Father. The one who created me and wrote my story. The one who said, "This is Caroline Flippin. She will be many things. She will love life and laughter. She will love people. She will be bold to go where I lead her. She will be a nurse in Uganda. Her life will never be the same, because of the grace I will pour out over her." And that, that story brings me to my knees and humbles me and reminds me how blessed I am. What an honor that the maker of the world chose me for this simply because He loves me.

Two days ago if someone would have asked where home is for me, I would have said Tennessee. Where my roots are. Where my love runs deep. But, He's been teaching me a lot about the word home. Home isn't a building or a place. Home is simply where He has you right now in this moment. This is my place. This is my family. This is my kingdom.

Welcome to my home.

I spent my last week in the states with my mom's family. Our last night, they all prayed over me, and I am so thankful for the support and love they daily give me. It's such a gift being a Speropulos.