An Unwelcome Visitor

I had a little “visitor” last week, making itself at home in my kitchen and living room. There are very few things that instill fear in me. I have jumped out of an airplane at 20,000+ feet and moved to the middle of Africa by myself….but this little, tiny mouse caused a great amount of anxiety and stress for me. There are many visitors that I welcome….lizards, birds, an assortment of insects, malaria-infected mosquitos (okay, maybe not that)….but not that little mouse. I had never realized my phobia of mice before now, but I guess I have never had to share a house with one quite so brave. I found myself avoiding being in the house at all costs. As silly as it sounds, it was really the first time I have experienced fear since I got here. It was quite ridiculous now that I look back on it.

I put my guard Museveni on a mission. He got three traps to put around the house and checked them daily. He thoroughly got a kick out of my crazy antics about the stupid mouse. Museveni is very loyal and takes great care of me. He tried to assure me many times that the mouse could not actually hurt me. And finally, a few days after setting the traps, we caught the mouse. The little thing may have won the battle, but I won the war! (At least until the next one comes along.) Museveni was so excited about catching the mouse, I think because he knew it made me rest easier!

The good Lord taught me a little lesson about fear from this experience. The fact that I let something so tiny and insignificant instill worry and anxiety in me caused me to really think about fear. I am in the midst of a country and people who have experienced real fear….a fear that has justification. Everytime I would think about this, I re-evaluated my thoughts. However, the Lord did give me comfort, even in my trivial times of worry:)