6 days

In 6 days, I will be boarding my plane and heading to Kenya.

I still cannot believe that it is so close.

I started to make a list today of things I may want to bring.

Bandaids.

Neosporin spray.

Bug repellent.

Journal.

Handi-wipes.

Benedryl.

Advil.

The list goes on.

I am hitting that pre-travel mark.  You know the one?

Where you are SO excited, but terrified as well.

I am not afraid of Africa.

It is the fear of all the unknowns.

I don't want to think about how much I will miss my kids and husband.

Will I get to speak to them?

Will I be able to update this blog?  

Will I be able to charge my camera battery?  THAT is a BIG one for me.

Will they have coffee?  Silly, maybe, but... I'm an addict.

Will I raise the rest of the money I need?  I want to leave without the weight of bills owed, stuck on my shoulders.  

How many books should I bring for the plane?  Will I read them?  

Do I bring my debit/credit card?  Could I even use it if I brought it?

Like I said, the list goes on and on.

If you think to pray for my peace of mind, I would appreciate it.  

I don't like this feeling of panic that keeps trying to creep up on me.

Olivia woke up this morning and wrapped her arms around me.

She said,

"Lord, bless my mama to FEEL ALIVE.  Bless my mama to travel safely to Africa, and bless her to come home safely."

It made me cry.  

Oh, and PS.  If you have eyeglasses, I am still collecting them, just let me know!

Faith

Growing up, I went to a camp named Peniel.  I loved this place.

It was on a lake.

We slept in cabins.

Played capture the flag and foosball.  Both of which, I was champion.

I was fast back then.

I used to go out in the lake and tread water.  I just wanted to see how long I could do it.

Hours would pass and all the kids would be diving off the dock or canoeing.  I was treading away.  I think I have always been my own, toughest competition.  

We would have talent shows.  I was not champion of these.

Bonfires, where we would tell our stories, sing our songs.  Make s'mores.

We had chapel every morning and night.

To this day, I have never been in a service where the music was so pure.

100 or so camp kids, singing their hearts out.  

I woke up this morning with one of my favorites stuck in my head.

Here's how it goes.

Faith, faith, faith,

Just a little bitta faith...

bom bombombombom,

Faith, faith, faith,

Just a little bit-ta, FAaAaA-ith....

Well, you don't need a whole lot,

yeah ya do,

Just use whatcha got...

oh yeah,

Faith, faith, faith

Just a little bitta faith.

The big faith word is being super, duper stretched this week.

As I try to think creatively how to raise the last couple hundred dollars in 3 days, I wish faith came more naturally to me.  I am not a blind faith kinda gal.  I wish I were.  

 

The next chorus of the song is Love.

Then Joy.

hmmmm...

If FAITH is followed by LOVE and JOY, I guess the question is, why am I not flying blind?  

I am almost done with my harassment phase of this adventure, just about $700.00 left to raise.

I know it isn't that much, but I literally don't have it.  I have tapped into every extra penny we have, there are no more emergency funds to take from.  No more emergency fund at all.

(yoikes)

Like I said, my faith is being stretched.  Pulled and contorted, but it's rubbery.  It ultimately bounces back into position, ready for the next pull.  

Help!  (or send to someone that can.)

Prayers are still wanted, needed and appreciated.

xoxo

Do I detect a theme?

My mom and I were going through some of her things yesterday and happened upon 2 pair of old glasses.  She suggested I take them to Kenya.  
Immediately, I loved the idea.  

Last week, a friend of mine sent me a check.  In the envelope she said, "please, will you find someone who is blind and pray for them?".  

There is a woman that I went to high school with, who found me on Facebook.  She is an amazing photographer, but has some crazy degenerative eye disease and has been losing her eyesight.  For the last month, I have been praying for her as she endures experimental, risky chemotherapy treatments.

I am starting to see a theme.  

I think the ground is being tilled.

Who will I meet in Kenya?

Do any of you have old eyeglasses you don't use anymore?  Maybe your prescription has changed. Maybe you don't like the 80's style, saucer rimmed, alien eye look.   The Sally Jesse Raphael, red rims you used to think were way cool...  

Perhaps you just want to clean out.  

How about offering up some focus... some vision for folks that otherwise might never see clearly?

If you have some that you are ready to ditch, let me know.  I will come and get them!  (unless you live in Timbuktu, then you are going to have to make a run to the PO!)

I am still $850.00 away from what I need for my room and board and my visa.  I have never been a great fundraiser, so if you have a great idea, pass it on.  I am supposed to have this last amount in a week!  I find myself in that desperate last stretch to line things up.  

Here is where the F word comes in handy.

F

A

I

T

H

Once a month I go to a women's meeting. It is an amazing time of worship, love, friendship and intimacy with God. The first meeting I attended I met a woman named Wanda and her cousin, Eilene. Sweet, lovely women. I KNEW they had been or were going to Africa. I looked at them and said, "take me with you." "you're going", said Wanda. Our March meeting rolls around. Great anticipation... there is going to be a surprise at this meeting. Wanda enters. A man follows. What? WOMEN ONLY! No, he entered and we all gathered our breath. We knew he was different. His name is Bishop Manasseh Mankuleiyo, a Maasai warrior, Bishop to 21 tribes on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Bishop Manasseh has led one of the greatest revivals ever in an area called Banana Hill, Kenya. We had the honor of hearing how the Bishop became who he is today. His struggles. Almost leaving the ministry and ultimately, how one decision had impact on an entire nation. Both Time and Newsweek magazine documented how God was demonstrating His power in Banana Hill, through Bishop Manasseh, over 40 years ago. There was SO much more, but I talk too much as it is, so the short version... The Bishop looked at us and said, "I WILL see you again. In Africa". I looked at Wanda. She nodded her head. Thumbs up! So, here goes. Bishop Manasseh has invited Wanda, her husband, Leon, and their team, (which includes me!) to Kenya, to minister to his people. Our team will be going to minister to over 21 churches among the Maasai people, in early July. I'm running out of time! I know we are all in similar boats... money is tight, ALL the time. I would love if you could help me, I understand if you can't. Even if you have great ideas on how to raise money, that helps. I need to raise approximately $2500 for my ticket and stay, and an additional $500-$1000, for any needed shots, or medications. All donations are tax deductible. I promise to take pictures and I will try to leave the babies there......

It's official.

I got my passport!

It is official.

I'm digging the new passport.  

Except my picture.  I look 50 and insanely tired.

Oh well.  Considering I will be close to 50 when it expires, maybe that's a good thing.

Shots

So, I got my shots!

The folks at the Health Department were remarkably friendly, helpful and 

genuinely interested in my trip to Africa.

The Doctor told me I was a blessing!  

How sweet is that?

I started to cry.

She said, "You are a blessing.  What you are doing is blessed.  You are a good girl."

It made me cry more.

"no tears sweetie."

"I just can't believe I am going!"

They told me to look away.

I told them I had 3 daughters naturally, shots didn't scare me.

"you really should look away."

"I saw my daughter's chest ripped open, BARE HANDED, by her surgeon.  I saw the INSIDE of her chest cavity.  Had to clean it and pack it.  I PROMISE, I'm cool."  (and tough, if I do say so myself!)

"oh.... I guess so!"

1.  Ticket

2.  Shots

Now, my passport needs to arrive, s'il vous plait!   Preferably before July 6!

Maasai.

Look at their vibrant, beautiful clothing.

~this is why my posts are so colorful~

I'm re-thinking black for my wardrobe....

I want to be vibrant too!