time in London

I received my bags two days after I arrived in London. What a wonderful feeling to have all my belongings again. My time there was wonderful. As you can tell from the picture, they were beginning their fall. The parks were a beautiful and relaxing place to hang out.

out of the country

I've made it through my first long day of flying and my bags made it through the first weigh in; one at 49.5 pounds and the second at 51 pounds. The attendant didn't hassle me at all about going over a tiny bit. I flew AA to Washington Dullus airport where I switched airlines to BA and flew to London. Everything almost went smoothly except neither of my perfectly packed bags have arrived yet. I will be in London for 3 more days so I'm hoping that will give the airline enough time to deliver the bags. Until then, I'm relaxing inside in borrowed sweatpants. Fall has actually begun in London, so it is quite nippy and I don't wish to go tromping around outside without being properly bundled.

Thanksgiving in September

My parents asked what I would like to eat for my last family dinner. My only response was pumpkin chiffon pie. Quickly the suggestion to have Thanksgiving was offered and I jumped at the opportunity. For the last week we have been laughing as we anticipated the upcoming Thanksgiving feast. We planned it to take place right around the Cowboys' game so that it would feel just like that wonderful holiday in November. What an excellent send off!

The new date

I will be departing for Africa on Tuesday, September 25 which means that I'm back to the "crunch time before I leave" mode. I've purchased almost everything needed and have it laid out neatly. The next step is to see what all fits in the bag according to FAA weight limits.

Many of you have asked if I'm going with the same organization and I am not. Therefore a new organization will be managing my donations while I'm gone. If you are interested in supporting me, please send donations to the following address:

WorldconneX
1409 South Lamar #906
Dallas, TX 75215

All checks should be made out to WorldconneX with Kenya Kids written on the memo line. This is the name of my organization through WorldconneX.

Some unscheduled changes

I have been warned that with mission work, assignments can change radically. You have an idea about what you are going to do but overnight find yourself in a different situation. My blog reflects this sudden change in direction.

A week before my scheduled departure I learned I would not be leaving August 4. Due to some issues that have surfaced and need to be worked out at Harvesters, my church decided it would not be sending anyone at this time. After a few weeks of down time, relaxation, and reflection, I've come to realize this delay was a blessing in disguise. As disappointing as it is not to return to the kids I know at Harvesters, I'm confidant that God has a plan and I am faithfully following his direction. Romans 5:2-4 says, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

With every door that closes another opens. Not long after I found that I was not going to Sudan, another opportunity presented itself. To the Southeast of Sudan is the bordering country Kenya. I have been offered a position there at a smaller orphanage in Kitale. Called Challenge Farm this orphanage works with street kids. In January '07 it opened a school for grades 1 - 7 and offers after-school activities such as soccer, guitar, and drama. I'm hoping to teach them the great sport of volleyball in addition to teaching English.

Thank you for encouraging me in my missionary endeavors and for helping me deal with this transition. If you have already sent money to Harvesters, that money will be rerouted to my church, IBC (Irving Bible Church, which will be managing it initially.
Any new support should be held until I post the mission agency that will be managing my funds while I'm in Kenya.

a delay that allows me some breathing room

I was supposed to leave for Africa on Saturday, August 4th. This schedule only allowed me one week after summer school to shop, pack, organize, and say bye to friends and family. However, the departure date has been postponed - a true blessing as I now have time not only to shop, pack, and organize but I can relax and work on lessons for teaching ESL and read the last Harry Potter. This last month has been so wonderful. I have been able to see almost everyone near and dear to me, some of whom I haven't seen in a couple of years. My family, friends, and students have indiviually thrown me 4 different going away parties (one was a complete surprise), and Cliff Temple, the church where I grew up, had a commissioning service with a reception following. I could not have invisioned a more memorable time before leaving the country.

Packing

How do I pack everything I need for teaching and living for one year in two 50 pound bags? I must keep in mind that there are no Walmarts, Targets, Tom Thumbs, or anything close to the sort anywhere near me. With these limitations, what would you take with you? We do have electricity most of the day but I have to use a converter.

I have been thinking so much about what to pack that I have had numerous dreams of packing. Just last week I dreamt that I had packed everything I needed and my bag was still light. After realizing I could pack more, I quickly placed the new Harry Potter book in my bag. I was thrilled to be able to take the very heavy 750 page book with me.

Medication is the biggest area I have to consider, even before clothes. I have to imagine what all I might get sick from in one year and take the medication needed. As for shopping, town has what would be equivilent to our Thrift Store and even sells some American clothes. While I was on my trip last year, I recognized a dress that the compound nurse was wearing. I used to own the exact dress from the Gap and bought it in 1997. She chuckled after I told her and said, "That's what happens with some of your clothes you give away. They end up in Africa." What a wild thought - our old clothes may travel to far, tucked away places in the world.

saying bye to Dublin

Dublin is my gray Tabby. Friends may describe her as not being the most personable cat, but I love her and she returns this love. She's been a part of my life for almost seven years now and the longest Dublin has been without me was about a week and a half. For my birthday this year, my aunt gave me the greatest present of all. She volunteered to take Dublin for the two years that I will be in Africa. Up until that point, I did not have a clue where she would live.
Last week I flew my cat to New Hampshire where my aunt lives. I stayed for 6 days while trying to get her adjusted to the new home. She did all right while I was there but things have been difficult since my departure. My aunt informed me two days ago that Dublin usually sleeps on the only thing left in the house that has my scent. It brings tears to my eyes thinking about how much I will miss her during these next two years.

While staying in Jackson, NH, I visited the local grammar school and the Montessori school. I would like to say a special hello to the students I met from both schools. To the Jackson Grammar school, thank you for allowing me to attend your weekly school meeting. I was very impressed.

an eye opening experience

I awoke at 9:30 to the sun sneaking through my blinds, causing my eyes to open slowly and adjust to my room and a new day. I am often thankful these days for all the blessings, gifts, and comforts that God has and continues to give me. Not that I haven't always been thankful, but I see days, activities, friends, and family with a new set of eyes. Knowing that my days in Dallas are numbered, counting down to the biggest move I will have made so far, I want to soak up every moment and capture each hour as though I could play it back like the T.V. show 24. This is of course without any violence. As in this morning, I was taking in every feeling of the comfort of my bed while looking beyond my bedroom into the space I currently have in my 900 sq. ft. apt. that I live in alone. I will be sharing, for the second time in my life, a generous 300 sq. ft. apartment - this time in Africa. The first time being in NYC where my roommate and I had a medium sized fridge, a small stove, sink, cabinets, a well running toilet, and a tub/shower. It is humorous to look back on the first time I saw what little I had in the way of an apt. Now to look at what my new home in Africa will be like, I know there will be days that I long for what I had in NYC. Just this living situation shows me what a humorous God we have. How He constructs our life experiences to prepare us for the future comforts me and helps me to walk in faith for He does have complete control. (In a few weeks I will post a picture of my room in Africa to have as a comparison to the above picture which is part of my apt. in Dallas.)

A Turning Point

I’ve reached a pivotal point in my life, this one taking me where my dreams have been for six years. In 2001, while attending my brother’s wedding in India, I was offered a job at the Woodstock International School. Though excited about my first teaching offer, I declined, but I knew from that point that I wanted to be a missionary in a third world country. I wasn’t sure when the time would come, and I prayed I hadn’t missed my opportunity.

In June 2006 I participated in a mission trip to Yei, Sudan. How God led me to that trip instead of a return mission trip to Honduras is precious to my heart. Before I left for this short term trip, I had considered moving for a longer period but while there felt a lack of confidence in my teaching skills. I was not worried about the area, the living situation, or lack of American comforts. Instead I just felt a distance from God; the great desire I had had for moving there disappeared. Back home, friends asked the ever so burning question, “Are you moving to Sudan?” My answer varied from time to time. I was still missing that conviction I had had in India. My distance from God grew.

Around November 2006, four months after the Sudan trip, two friends and I began a Bible study by Priscilla Shirer, titled “He Speaks to Me.” Each of us was facing big decisions. This study brought me back little by little to those desires I had had prior to my Sudan trip. The excitement grew each day, but I wasn’t ready to mention it to anyone. I wanted to know for sure. That assurance came on Friday, January 7, when we were in the middle of our Bible study; it became very clear to me that I was to move to Sudan. The drive home was a blur as my thoughts settled on the Yei orphanage. I felt like Mexican jumping beans were bouncing through my body. Monday, I emailed Amy at Harvesters stateside, who promptly emailed Mama Lily and Dennis, head of the Yei orphanage. I could not have been more uplifted by their response. Within one hour, I received more positive emails from Harvester board members. Since then in many various ways God has encouraged me in my decision.