My Ethiopian Adventure

Ethiopian Adventure Review: DAY FIVE

2008-08-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

Thursday, June 19, 2008.

We went to the airport today to retrieve ONE piece of luggage. We took 'bets' on what we thought it would be--I vote the guitar! *I* was correct. lol There was an armed guard & he would not allow all of us to go into the luggage area, so Larry & Brent went in.

They did tell us they found all the bags & the rest would arrive tonight, which means--which means it will follow us to Jimma on Ethiopian Air & meet us there.

I am seeing a lot of familiar plants & flowers: fern, palms, vincas, hibiscus, morning glory's, ivy & other familiar plants that I can't remember the names of.

I mostly feel homesick @ night when I am cold & uncomfortable. But it's ok & not that bad.

There is some construction going on but the scaffolding is made of sticks & thin logs.

We drove 7 hours to Jimma. Along the road I saw traditional round huts made of mud & sticks w/ thatched roofs. Appears to be much more agricultural living. I saw women & young girls washing clothes in muddy water. We passed by the beginning of the Rift Valley & a river that leads all the way to Kenya.

While we were driving & passing the homes & huts, in the 'window' of one of the huts I saw a very evil face--not a human face though, it was larger & when I looked again, it was gone. Then I had thoughts (heard thoughts) of a threatening nature--to leave, don't go, turn back & w/ a 'threatening' tone or feel to them. I began to pray & then, in my mind, saw an image of an angel above our car & then it sped off ahead of us & was fighting things that were coming in it's path--w/ a sword. Then I felt @ peace.

We went straight to a church & Larry spoke, it was very inspirational.

There is a graduation this weekend from a big University, so all the hotels are booked. We are staying in a lesser motel. Angela & I lucked out & got a room w/ an actual toilet, that is nice. The first room they were going to put us in was filled w/ extra 'guests': lots of cockroaches & mosquitoes & only had a squat toilet.

They wanted to put us in separate rooms, we said NO WAY! lol They don't keep Gideon Bibles in the nightstands---there is a box of condoms instead. We have to prepare our testimony & I feel @ a total loss. We are not even sleeping under the covers--we are sleeping on top of the bed, in our clothes.

We spread out our new jackets & I spread out my new skirt & slept on top of those. I used my Bible as a pillow...Larry told us to expect bed bugs.

Ethiopian Adventure Review: DAY FOUR

2008-08-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

Wed., July 18, 2008

Today is Berty's 6th birthday...& I'm in AFRICA!
We went to a museum, a historical, national museum. The artwork was 'painful', of war, famine & genital mutilation. There were many ancient artifacts & I was sad to see it displayed in a way that left the items not so well preserved.

We passed 2 palaces today, of a prime minister & a king.

We also passed a beautiful park w/ a nice & new looking playground. But it was empty. Our guide said that no one plays @ the park because they are afraid of terrorists. :-(

We went to the Light & Life 'study center'. It is a center where children come in the middle of the school day for lunch &/or tutoring. All of the children are orphans of Aids. I did not know what to do w/ myself @ first....then we found the kindergartners.

They were taking a nap in this concrete room, on mats, but as soon as they saw us, they lit up. They immediately got up & said hello & began to touch us, hold our hands, hug us & want us to pick them up.

My dd Berty is very physically 'needy', she is very touchy. I felt like her personality had somewhat prepared me for this moment...it was a mob of kindergartners that could not physically get enough. I felt like this was the perfect way to 'celebrate' my dd's birthday, by ministering to these 'littles', in this way.

They loved my hair, they were fascinated by it. @ one point I was bending down & told them they could braid it...so they did, I was surrounded & afraid if I actually sat down, I would never be able to get up again...because they would sit on my lap & be so crowded around me

The children had ill-fitting clothes (school uniforms) w/regular clothes under. Their front teeth had black spots, sores around their mouths...& yet they seemed to be some of the most beautiful children I had ever met.

It was all quite overwhelming & I did not realize how draining until we left. Although, I wished we could have stayed longer. I could have felt content to spend the entire 2 weeks just HUGGING those children & filling up their physical need for love, every day.

Looks like rain again & no electricity in the city today.

We went to a business building to check on the status of our luggage. Brent & Angela went to have coffee...TJ & I walked around & went up these nice stairs...all the way up. We saw an emergency exit & i wished I could exit it & take pix of the view of the city...then we saw one more set of stairs, followed it up & there happened to be a door being held open by a rope. We went out & were on the ROOF! The view was amazing--you could see all of Addis!!! It looked beautiful from afar. I took pix of the bird's eye view.

I learned a few new words today: Jesus getano---Jesus is Lord.

Ethiopia Adventure Review: DAY THREE

2008-07-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

Journal Entry:
I think it's July 17, 2008. I believe it's already Tuesday. We can see the sun rise outside our plane window & it's beautiful--red, yellow & blue. I keep expecting to see the silhouette of a tree & a lion. lol I have Lion King music in my head now....

In flight dinner was ok--I avoided the salad. The restroom was gross but it's all getting ready for Ethiopia--up close & personal right?

I feel like I've let my guard down--but I pray as i try to sleep and sing worship songs in my head.

Will I feel closer to God when we get there? Maybe it's like limbo being @ the airport. Like I couldn't do 'God's work' @ the airport? Why didn't we pray for some divine meetings @ the airport? Already a wasted opportunity these 1/2 day long flights & yet I spoke to no one but my teammates. God can & will meet me anywhere & we can serve God anywhere so why not try & serve while we were there? Did we miss an opportunity? I hope God is not disappointed & understands....

Journal Excerpt 11:43 am Ethiopian time:
We got in line for customs from the plane but we needed to get a visa. We got into another line to get a visa--it cost $20. That took about 40 min. While we were in line the lights of the airport went out. After a few minutes they came on partially.

Our luggage was supposed...to travel w/ Larry & Brent. We checked anyway jic--there was a wall of luggage but none ours. We finally stepped out & saw a guy holding a sign that read: TJ TAYLOR. We were so happy. Then he asked us: You lost your luggage too?

All our luggage was w/ Larry & for some reason--NONE of it made it to Ethiopia!!! Part one of the Ethiopian Adventure. LOl

We are staying in a 'mission guesthouse' and it looks & feels just like Tijuana, Mexico. The weather is cool--almost chilly actually. The city of Addis Adaba looks very much like Tijuana or downtown LA except all the citizens are black instead of mexican....

It was a bit of a drive from the the airport to the guest house. At first, I thought the city looked colorful & joyful but the more we drove, the more it did not appear that way. The roads are a mess, there is rubble everywhere, no sidewalks and amidst the city feel, there are goats & goat herders, very strange. There are run down buildings & shacks. Al the rubble makes it appear almost as a war zone. It looks as if @ one time it tried to look modern & then gave up? I'm not sure. It became more & more depressing--a lot of people just sitting around....

Journal Entry (late):
We went to the city today to buy a few necessary clothes & items. I had to get a skirt & Larry got me a jacket. It is way colder than we thought or expected & it did rain for a bit.

I am very cold but I am ok. I don't feel scared or anything.....

When we were prayed tonight I got a picture of a fountain & children playing in it & I was looking out a window or something. The luggage thing seemed like it could be stressful but I am not stressed just tired.

Ethiopia Adventure Review: DAY TWO

2008-07-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

A 10 hour layover in London Heathrow Airport for 3 of us, Angela, TJ & I. We are required to stay in the airport. I need the sun! I need to see a real sky. It was boring. Security was annoying.

Journal Excerpt: Mon. July 16, 2008:
My watch says it's just after midnight but the sun is bright & it's 8:30am in London--our destination. Of course I barely got any sleep or none. I tried--but it was too hard. My mind wouldn't sleep. I mostly prayed.

Dinner was pasta, carrot cake & I can't remember what else. Breakfast was apple pancakes or cheese omelet. We chose cheese omelet w/ chicken sausage, fruit cup, strawberry yogurt, orange juice cup, tea & blueberry muffin. It was quite filling.....

12 days seems so far away. How will I be when I am on the flight back? Will I be changed? Will this trip be 'amazing' as I hope? Will it be the adventure of a lifetime? Will we get a chance to serve? to serve people & God? Will I really get to see God work? I hope so....Will I really make any difference @ all?......

Journal Excerpt: Mon July 16, 2008 London time 9:43 pm
Bag x-ray is separate from shoe x-ray. My backpack was selected to be gone through manually & have every article taken out. Line after line after line. I'm glad I stayed awake mostly because even though it's barely afternoon CA time, it's nighttime for London. So if I can sleep now, in the morning we will be in Ethiopia. Let the adventure begin....

Boarding the plane was an interesting process. Everyone rushed & crowded @ the door--they called seat numbers but everyone just stood crowded @ the door--no order--You could not get through even if you had a number they called. I wondered if that was how it would be in Ethiopia--no more personal space--less order--respect?...

So much prayer & mixed emotions accompany this team & this trip--I wonder if that means there will be no danger or if we may still encounter dangerous situations but we will be safe within them? Will we still encounter various questionable situations or not?

Our bags were supposed to be transferred automatically but wen we got to the counter--we discovered that they had all gone w/ Brent & Larry. We can only hope that they knew enough or realized that ALL the bags had been transferred w/ them.....

Here we go...Ethiopia Adventure Review: DAY ONE

2008-07-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

We were the first, of our team, to arrive @ the airport. I FORGOT my sleeping bag. Good thing a couple other team members had NOT left yet & could stop by my (messy--embarrassing) house real quick & grab it for me.

As I kissed & hugged my family goodbye, DH surprised me w/ 12 cards w/ sealed envelopes. Each envelope addressed as Day #1, Day #2 & so on all the way to day 13! I was so surprised & touched & of course then felt guilty because unbeknownst to him, I had planned to do the same thing for each of them but did not get a chance. Berty gave quite an extra long hug as I said goodbye. I think she did not want to let go.......

Journal excerpt June 15, 2008 3:47pm Sunday:
We're @ the airport. Got about an hour till we are in the air. Finally got a moment to sit. Passed baggage check-in, then baggage drop off, then line for check-in security, thru the x-ray machines and now we sit.....

Journal excerpt 4:39 pm:
I don't think it's much fun to watch a movie alone, I've decided. We are not even in the air yet. Seems like this flight & our time trying to get to Ethiopia is just a few minutes short of forever....

...I got 2 dolls done before I left & was able to give them to Berty for her birthday. One had black fabric (w/ stars) for skin & deep burgundy colored velvet for her dress. The other had brown floral fabric for a dress. She said she liked them. :-) Here we go--taking off--we're over water--I saw a boat. I got Daddyboy a smaller version of the "Dangerous Book for Boys"!

This adventure would require I miss both my littles birthdays. One 2 days after I left & the next, 2 days before I return.

The airplane seats have a screen on the back of them & a remote control on the arm which controls the screen in front of you. You can from dozens of movies to watch, or some tv episodes or play a video game. It was boring but what else was I going to do?

I had wanted to bring my crochet but had no room to pack it. Kicked myself for that. I did not bring any reading material besides my Bible. Figured I'd be too busy and it was all I really was going to need anyway....so I 'wrote'! lol

yah, yah, yah...

2008-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

It's been harder than I expected being back home. I was prepared to experience 'culture shock' (which I didn't) but not when I returned home, not this 'Reverse Culture shock' madness.

I feel like I have been back forever, but it's only been about a week.

I've been processing everything, the trip, the faces, the children I met ect.
I haven't even been able to bring myself to open up my journal & read it.

I've been documenting the pix online w/ my online board friends & that has helped, but it's not the deep stuff. It's superficial experience.

I hope to be able to start blogging my adventure this week w/ excerpts from my journal.

It really was a truly amazing experience & adventure of a lifetime.

Some things just seem so silly now, back home. Useless....& it's hard to realize where you fit in again when you feel so different.

It doesn't help that everything I eat has done nothing but make me sick for the past week. It was awful & no fun. I didn't get any mosquito bites in Ethiopia but I brought something back w/ me that has covered me w/ tiny, itchy bites. yuck! SO I now have all these tiny scabs. Nice. Add jet lag & major fatigue, physical & spiritual, to the mix & you've got the makings for one crazy momma & wife.

My family has been so great & understanding, as well as they can be, considering.

Reverse Culture Shock is real.

2008-07-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of Reverse Culture Shock

Challenge to self-concept:
torn between two cultures
loss of national identity
changed behavior
changed ideas and values
changed way of thinking
international experience has to be integrated in the day-to-day realities of life in the home country without compromising important values acquired in the home country

Disconfirmed expectations:
nobody is prepared to experience a culture shock in coming home
most returnees have extremely unrealistic expectations for the home culture
the reentry is idealized
friendships aren’t as intense as they were the day one left
others have not enough capacity to listen to fulfil the returnees need to communicate about his experiences abroad
family and friends expect that the returnee will be happy to be back home, which is not always the case
they want him to get back to normal as soon as possible
family and friends do not expect the returnee to be so critical of the home culture
family and friends generally expect the returnee to be interested in catching up on popular culture and local gossip
people will be confused by the returnees’ lack of interest in things about which he once was passionate

Sense of loss:
much will get lost forever when returning home (friends, landscape, career, lifestyle etc.)
one gets less value, notice and appreciation back home than abroad
loss of status, salary, benefits
loss of the closeness of the expatriate community

The ten top immediate reentry challenges
Boredom. The excitements and challenges of the host country are gone.
”No one wants to hear”. Everybody deals with his/her own concerns (the ”uncle Charlie syndrome”)
Difficulties to explain coherently what really happened. Those who listen don’t have the frame of reference or travel background to understand.
Reverse ”home” sickness. Feelings of being lost and lonely.
The relationships at home have changed. The returnees as well as those who stayed at home have altered.
Some people don’t appreciate the changes of the returnees. This may be caused by jealousy, fear, or feelings of superiority or inferiority.
People misunderstand. They interpret words and actions. Humor may be understood as sarcasm, an offer to help as criticism, the expression of affection as ”showing off”.
Feelings of alienation. The feeling of being ”back home” is not as natural or enjoyable as expected. Inability to apply new knowledge and skills. Lack of opportunities to apply the newly gained social, linguistic, and practical coping skills.
Compartmentalization and loss of experience. The pressures of job, school, family, friends, often combined, may contribute to a feeling of loosing the experiences.

Preparing to return home: Quick tips
Prepare for the adjustment process. The more you think about what is to come or consider the alternatives, the easier the transition will be. ”Worrying helps”.
Allow yourself time. Give yourself permission to ease into the transition.
Understand that the familiar will seem different. This might cause new emotional and psychological reactions to being home.
There will be much ”cultural catching up” to do. A lot has happened at home during your absence.
Reserve judgements. Returning home requires as much openness and tolerance as the entry into the host culture.
Respond thoughtfully and slowly. Quick answers and impulsive reactions in connection with frustration, disorientation, and boredom in the returnee can lead to behavior which is incomprehensible to family and friends.
Cultivate sensitivity. Showing an interest in what others have been doing while you have been on your adventure abroad is the surest way to reestablish rapport.
Beware of comparisons. Making comparisons between cultures and nations is natural, particularly after residence abroad. However, you must be careful not to be seen as too critical of home or too lavish in praise of things foreign.
Remain flexible. Try to establish a balance between maintaining earlier patterns and enhancing your social and intellectual life with new friends and interests.
Seek support networks. There are lots of people back home who have gone through their own reentry and understand a returnees concerns.

Tips for those who stayed at home
Support the preparation of the returnees for coming home. This can be done even from far away.
Be prepared that a new person – somebody you don’t know – will come home.
Mark the reentry clearly for the returnees and for those who stayed at home.
Avoid criticism and mockery for seemingly strange patterns of behavior and new attitudes.
Be attentive towards your own expectations. Avoid to push the returnee into old roles.
Create opportunities for the returnees to report on their experiences. Listen carefully and try to understand their significance for them.
Acknowledge that the returnees have lost something: friends, a stimulating environment, the feeling of being special, responsibilities, privileges...
Encourage contacts to friends and institutions in the former host country.
Encourage contacts to people who have successfully gone through the experience of returning home.
Accept critical comparisons of culture and lifestyle – you might be able to learn something...

I'm back?

2008-06-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Well, yes, physically I am here, home, in CA...but I feel like I am in 2 different places, on so many levels.

Over the next week I will post all about our wonderful adventures & lots of pix....

We arrived home Friday night.

But the last few days I've just felt 'off' & it's more than just jet lag. I feel surprisingly disconnected from home. I know it's normal, I'm sure.

But it's still weird.

How can you be gone from a place you've lived your WHOLE life, for only 2 weeks, & wish to be THERE instead of here? kwim? What is that about?

And another weird thing, why did I keep feeling, as I was preparing for this trip, that I was going HOME?

sigh.....God has one silly sense of humor or something.....

This is it...

2008-06-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

We're off....to our great adventure, or MY great adventure.

I'll be in Ethiopia Tuesday, it will be about 11:30 pm our time on Monday when we arrive, but 7:30 am Tuesday, @ least I think they are 9 hours ahead .

It'll be a whirlwind of waiting today, you know airports...

Keep us in your prayers.

Packing up.

2008-06-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Everything has pretty much been in a pile in my living room. I need to get a flashlight still. Gather up my clothes. It seems I need to take more than what I initially thought. I don't know what to think.

I've got wipes, I've got medications (which make me feel really sick!), I've got %100 DEET bug repellent, sunblock, glasses, trail mix, various OTC meds, baggies, boots, socks, beef jerky, peanut butter, journal, passport. blahblahblah....

Now what? waiting, waiting, waiting. I wrote notes to my littles....still want to write one to older & DH. What to say? When I wrote the cards last night, I felt like I was writing my last words. I know it's not true, it only felt that way.

I've been told this is only the 'first' chapter of my 'story'. Interesting that it was the 1st chapter & not just a new one.

Ok, I need to stop procrastinating & get to it.

We leave tomorrow.
There is nothing more I can do to be prepared & I still feell so UNprepared.

I guess it's all of the 'unknown'.

Got my boots on...

2008-06-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Only a few more days.

I put my boots on today, to try & break them in. I can already tell where there may be a sore spot or potential blister.

Really though, I can't help but be reminded of the last time I needed to get boots....I was 14 yo. I was going on a mission w/ an organization called Teen Missions. Boots were a major requirement. I knew I was supposed to go but for some reason I didn't know how to articulate it to my mom when it was realized & suggested I transfer to a different team that cost less. I didn't have all the necessary financial support for this particular team.

Thinking back now, I don't know how the rest of the money came about. Maybe my parents paid for it themselves. They never mentioned it.

But the boots....they weren't attractive, but they would do the job. They had a height requirement & they actually would measure them to make sure the sides fit the description & if not---bye bye! They were practically embarrassing to wear!

They started out so nice & clean & bright, that yellowish boot color. ya know? By the end, they were dirty, worn in & comfortable. AND very muddy. lol 'Boot camp' (really, that's what they called it) was in Florida, very tropical. It would suddenly begin to rain & there was no warning except you could hear it coming. It took a few seconds for it to arrive right on you but you could hear it hitting down on the leaves of the trees. It was hot & humid but the rain would be refreshing and heavy. It was no CA drizzle. It was pouring, soaking wet rain.

Then it would stop as suddenly as it started. All the while the sun was shining. Definitely NOT Ca! lol

Those boots walked me through the swampy mud of that boot camp in Florida, the airport of NY and the grey streets of England. On the way back my boots took me through NY, where I stayed w/ my grandfather I barely knew, (& had only met a handful of times) for a few days & met the 'Puerto Rican' side of my family. They took me through the dirty NY subway w/ the cold hard, plastic seats, which were quite a contrast to the cushioned, fabric seats of the English tubes & trains.

I had no use for those boots once I got home. They sat in my closet. Eventually they were loaned out, never to be seen again. I regret that. I haven't forgotten what they look like though. Or maybe I have? But I certainly haven't forgotten their significance.

In the end, the boots no longer seemed embarrassingly garish & awkward. They felt as if I had always had them & always worn them. A part of me now. As if, you'd think, doesn't everybody wear big boots?

Will we see this?

2008-06-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

Article on Hunger Crisis in Ethiopia

It's possible we will be facing needs like this in Ethiopia. sigh. A few weeks ago, or was it last week? I was getting prayed over & those that were praying over me, prayed for me to be filled w/ the Holy Spirit (which I was) & also spoke prophetically over me.

One person said they saw me doing things I'd never done before {in Ethiopia} (besides the fact of actually going to Africa!). They told me to remember what they were saying---that they saw another woman's face, right in my face, & encouraged me if I locked eyes w/ someone to grab an interpreter & speak to the woman & begin praying...they said it would happen once my heart became broken.

My heart would be broken & then I would be filled w/ the Holy Spirit...& in that moment, for me to step out....in faith & see what God would/was going to do!

My heart nearly breaks to see the photos associated w/ the above linked article. I can't imagine what it would be like in person.

For the person I am, who craves to have as much information up front as possible, and yet is very 'adaptable'...I wish I knew more what to expect. Expect the unexpected, right? lol

I am not afraid, but excited, like I (& the team) are on the 'verge'...that feeling you get when you are on the peak of a roller coaster & you know it's about to go down but there's that split second of hesitation before the ride takes off. It's that feeling.

I had a similar feeling before everything started w/ my mom--& then she died, but it wasn't so 'exciting' in a positive way. Am I in denial?

Other's are reporting some major spiritual warfare...but I'm feeling pretty good. hhhmmm...I have had thoughts of imprisonment or injury, but I push those away quickly as 'discouragements'. I don't dwell on them & they are quickly forgotten. They have only been brought to mind recently when someone else mentioned experiencing something similar.

Then others are speaking much encouragement for me on this trip. Someone who did not know me did say something interesting about going through some trouble, but that God would be w/ me. No one else that day said anything near that. And he said it as if it was going to be happen, not had already happened. BUT in the end....it's true, God IS w/ me & will never leave me. Of that I am sure of.

I do believe that my life is not my own, anyway......

I'm not scared

2008-06-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should be? I don't know.

Maybe it is this new place I am in in my life today. My life is not my own. I do not even own it. I do not have a right to do w/ it as *I* will, it belongs to God. So what is there to fear?

Plus the fact that so many times (even recently) I have been in, what can only be described as such nightmarish situations, that I survived. God saved me. I have not perished physically & have yet to perish spiritually. I have not starved, I have not been homeless...nor as I wrote in an earlier post, have any of my utilities been shut off. And heaven is NOT OAC, so I'm good in that aspect too. lol

I am not afraid of going to Ethiopia. I do operate under the idea of respectful caution. I will be an 'American' in a foreign country...I am fully aware that my rights are only good in my own country.

I know that there is no way I do this or move forward upon my own strength.

I am fully aware I am @ the mercy of my Heavenly Father.

I do not expect it to be easy, but I am not afraid of it either.

I don't know exactly what will happen in Ethiopia, but I am very excited. I have been given many encouraging words about it.

I also realized for the first time, today, that this trip is not just about God stretching me, but my family & my husband as well....maybe.

This time next week....I will be in the AIR! SQUEEEEE!!!!

Got my Passport!

2008-06-05T21:16:00.001-07:00

Yay! it's So pretty. No really. And very patriotic. It's very colorful, each page has a patriotic scene in American history. Also, in the back cover, there is an embedded microchip. There is a barcode & in certain customs area, if you see this certain symbol, you can move quicker? Because they can just scan the bar code & it contains all the same personal identifying information.

I am scheduled for the rest of my shots (3 @ least) for next Tuesday.

Today I also went in for a long overdue eye appointment. Ordered 2 pair & they should arrive in time for me to actually enjoy SEEING Ethiopia! :-)

It's all coming together.....I wish my mom were here to experience this w/ me. I know she would be telling all her friends/co-workers & be so excited. I just know it!

Calling the Shots!

2008-06-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

Yikesabee! The travel department of my health insurance finally called me back (blahblahblah). The girl on the phone said I needed 9 shots! what? My 'teammates' all told me it was 4 or 5.

I got to my appointment & my 'orders' were not there. The nurse made a phone call & then got orders for only 4 shots....ok? It wasn't so bad. I had my 2 not-so-littles w/ me & aren't they witty? Birdy kept telling me to just take deeeeeep breathes (like I always tell them), then S says: all you need to do is wash your face & take a drink of water & you'll be fine. Again, what I tell them for everything! lolololololol

I questioned the order for only 4 shots & the nurse assured me that was what she was told...w/ the disclaimer that if it was incorrect, she would call me & that 4 was enough for one day anyway. Sure enough, by the time I got home later, there was a message waiting for me to call the travel department again. sigh. I think I need 3 more diff ones.

The Team

2008-06-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

3 weeks to go....

2008-05-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

I feel SO discombobulated & the most inadequate of our team.....3 are 'younger' & single, our pastor has a grown dd then there is ME. I've still got 3 school age chillers....for starters...Parts of me still thinks this makes absolutely no sense....that whole 'why me?' idea I guess.

It's not a 5 hour lay-over in London...it's 10! We fly from LAX, departing 4:30pm on Sunday June 15, arrive in London 11:30am (their time) Monday & our team separates there. (impossible tickets!) 3 of us hang out in London for the day! Sounds fun...kind of! lol Then we leave 9:35pm & arrive in Ethiopia 7:30am Tuesday morning!

We'll be together for the flight back. Due to the timezones, we will leave Ethiopia Friday June 27 @ 4:30 AM & arrive back in LAX by 7:30PM the same day! LOLOLOLOLOL

That's REAL time travel!

Increase my faith Lord!

Oh my WORD!

2008-05-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

The airline tickets have been ORDERED! This is for REAL & it's exciting & scary & exciting & scary & did I mention EXCITING...& SCARY!!!!

I planned on going to turn in my passport application first thing Monday. I got my passport pix & then it was too late. NBD! Go first thing this morning. I was all ready, had all my paperwork, pictures, ID, birth certificate, money & my 'number'---you have to take a number.

As I was sitting there @ the post office, checked over all my paperwork, reading the fine print...I looked @ my birth certificate, & realized the version I had really gave NO personally identifying info. hhhmmmm???

NUMBER 4!

My turn. I go up to the counter & it is a different woman than I got the number from. She said 'uhoh!'. That couldn't be good. Yep! As is typical for MY life, the birth certificate was not appropriate.

Off to the county registrar recorder to get a full copy. The line wasn't too long. I hoped I'd be done in time to return to the post office. Plus now there was this extra BC fee I wasn't planning on having to pay...

Well, PTL! I finally got to the window & in less than 30 seconds, the clerk took the BC I had in hand, printed out my complete one & I didn't even have to PAY! cool!

It was too late to go back to the Post office by then...so first thing tomorrow......

I do have another prayer request though...I called my health provider to make an appointment for my required-if-you-leave-the-country-shots & you have to leave a message for the 'travel nurse' & the message says they will call you back WITHIN 2 WEEKS! What? I heard one of the medications you have to take for 3 weeks PRIOR to leaving. This is serious stuff so...please pray that they will call me back to make an appointment like YESTERDAY!

Where is my life & what have you done w/ it?

2008-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

EVERYTHING I thought my life would be is NOT!

Not.even.close!

I would have, could have, WAS, happy to be "JUST" a SAHM! Although I resent the implication of ever being a JUST anything. iykwim.

But it was fine w/ me. I would make my own adventure. I loved my life. I loved to imagine it was the glorious 1950's I lived in. lol

The biggest change of all? The most insane thing ever?

I am going to ETHIOPIA!

What?

I thought missions were things for singles, couples or people w/ NO children. God has been challenging ALL I ever thought about everything & MY role within this life.

Missions IS something I have always been interested in, if you can call it that: an interest.
Why? I don't know. Is it my sense of adventure? What? Is going w/o running water & actual toilets considered adventure? Is it some inner desire to get away? I think I can imagine nicer places to 'get away' too, right?

I need to fund raise. Travel is not free. Anything over & above trip expenses will be donated to the native churches we visit. I need to get a bunch of shots & a passport. Hiking boots, light weight rain coat/poncho, travel toilet paper, cargo pants.

It will be the HIGH rainy season, downpours in 80 degree temperatures. No running water, toilets, much less hospitals. No complaining, whining or crying allowed. Period. We will be escorted by 2 armed guards. There will be virtually NO communication 'home' for the two weeks we are gone. No telephone, cell phone or net access.

This is insane. I know. And I WANT to go w/ every part of my being!!!!!

Is THIS the journey?

2008-05-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks go @ a morning service we've been attending regularly for about a month....2 members went around & prayed for each person, prophetically or encouragingly, however the Lord led.

When they got to me they shared a few words then also said they saw me w/ a 'backpack' going on a 'journey'. Being the type of person *I* am, I wondered if the backpack was a burden. lol

Then they prayed for JOY....but the woman came back w/ a puzzled look on her face, The Lord gave me a sword for you? The other woman said she sensed it was a rod...@ the same time we both responded that it was like a walking stick.

I had an image of myself hiking up a mountain or on a trail, w/ a back pack & a walking stick, heading towards the giant sun in the sky & once I reached the summit, was awe struck @ such an amazing view.

Another interesting point is that my Dh was not w/ me but rather off to the side w/ the ktbunch, his arms around them protectively as they were watching me.

I pondered on this for awhile, not knowing what to think....thinking the worst, of course. My DH wondered if I had a walking stick BECAUSE he was NOT w/ me...

Then....I was 'invited' to go to Ethiopia! Was that the journey we all saw as they prayed?

I can only wonder & step out on faith. It makes no logical sense. We cannot even pay our own bills but yet I am going to go on a endeavor that requires so much money. Would God really want me to fundraise for this trip while my utilities get shut off?

It all makes no sense...leaving my family, missing my 2 littles birthdays....why ME? Don't get me wrong, I truly, really want to go. I imagine it will be the adventure of a lifetime. But is it appropriate? Is this desire within me (that even DH recognizes, I've always had) sincere?

I DO realize & admit, that now, I feel like I actually have something to offer. I have learned so much in regards to my personal relationship w/ Jesus Christ...it's everything else in this world that confuses me, such as MY place in IT!

I want to share this amazing Love & Grace w/ any & all who will listen. I know I have changed & been healed & released of some oppressions I did not even realize existed. I have had a serious life transformation.

I am being challenged & learning so much. I feel like all the dots are starting to connect...why did it take me 35 years to get here?