Uganda: Day 12 - The Connect

After a marvelous experience on the other side of the world, we returned to the Entebee airport ready to go home. As we sat in the tiny sitting area, waiting for our plane to arrive, we met a very interesting man. He had traveled to over fifty countries and was on his way back home to Ireland. We swapped stories and got to know each other. When he asked us where we were from, we said Los Angeles. He proceeded to ask if we were near Hollywood and we explain how we were there weekly. 

Shocked, he laughed and said, "You're from Hollywood yet your visiting Uganda. That's huge difference!"

He's right of course. How can you even begin to compare the slow country life with the fast-paced city of entertainment? You really can't. For the past few weeks. I've been writing about both Hollywood and Uganda. Interestingly enough, I've meet a number of people who have a similar heart as mine for both. What I've come to find is that God made the world a whole lot smaller than we sometimes. There are some people in the world who have been designed with a heart ready to help and a talent ready to share.

This life is too short to waste. In my journey to change the world, meet people of all cultures and develop my craft, I've learned several things:

1. Travel Far. Too limit yourself to one place is to miss the miraculous wonders, experiences and people out there Take advantage of every mission trip, vacation and cultural experience you can find. Learn as much as you can and take the steps necessary to see the world.

2. Take Risks. You'll never know if you never try. You can spend your life wondering forever, or you can just go for it. The scariest things may change your life. It won’t be a success, but if you’re willing to try for the experience and the learning process, it will always be worth it. 

3. Love Deeply and Freely. To love every person you come across is a beautiful thing. You never know what stories or knowledge is hiding behind a person's eyes until you take the time to reach out to them. Forgive and move on. True happiness comes from the liberation of being free. To allow old scars to bring you down or hold you back only prevents you from discovering all you can be.

At the end of the day, Uganda and Hollywood are the perfect combination. Where else can you find a heart and passion stronger than that of a starving artist or a grandmother who has led her babies through war? Both are fighting for something. I hope this Uganda series has reminded you of the great suffering that does happen daily around the world. I hope you take the initiative to make change and never take for granted the joy that comes daily with simply being alive. Seek out that greatest joy inside of you and watch what can happen as you do.