First night in Kentemere

My travelling buddy Joe and fellow Dental Assistant Amanda 

on the way to Kentmere.

"We arrived in Kentmere at 10:30 PM local time.  The ride from the airport was as expected: 51 bags, 17 passengers, 3 buses was craziness!  Counting the bags before customs was the biggest hiccup.  We have too many chiefs!  How hard is it to count 34 bags!








The Kentmere Club was an old officers club changed into a resort type area.  My first impression is that it is sort of like El Farrah would have been .  I can't wait until morning until we can see all of the flowers.

I'm excited about being able to work along side this crew---we are all just clicking---a good mix between the "have been" and "haven't been" to Kenya.

 Lastly, I love and miss my family.  I know KT would love this.  Kids...not so much at this point.  I'm excited about tomorrow.  I"m excited about the notes they wrote to me.  I"m excited about what God is doing.  I pray that I let Him work through me."

My head was in such a fog at this point, I didn't know what to expect.  We had minor internet access, but we all were just searching for a bed (and at this point, me, a bathroom!)  I know that this oasis within the "wilderness" wasn't what Kenya was really about, but it was nice to have a night to just relax prior to hitting the ground running.

Of course, Bernard met us at the airport with Richard and Charles (drivers who stayed with us the entire week and really became a part of the team), and it was great having them there to get us firmly planted in Kenya.  That established anchor left me with a good, confident, no fear feeling of things to come.

I was told to look distinguished in this picture---sort of hard
to do if I am in my sweatsuit!

This is our crew relaxing, having some N.A. drinks, and some
chicken and butter sandwiches.  After the long day of travelling,
it was a welcome change to the airline food!

Starting on water early---much and plenty of it!  Here we are
about to have a meeting on how we were going to attack the next
day (Sunday)---church, clinic set up, and settling into the new
hotel.

If you read the sign in the back ground, it says, "Please refrain
from using your mobile phone inside the bar."  Everyone, including
the photographer, were utilizing their mobile devices in this photo.

See our sweet room?  Those aren't adorable, fancy things
around the beds---it is mosquito netting---no one wants
Malaria on this trip!

Day 1---Travelling

This is our team checking in at GSP prior to leaving.

 I am posting what I wrote in my journal.  What I write will be quoted, and my post-trip comments will not be (as these first sentences are not).

"4/20/13

Am on flight just taking off from Amsterdam.  From the window, it looks like the Netherlands is a beautiful country.  I need to read up on the waterways, windmills, history.  This portion of the trip is 7.5 hours, which with little sleep will be interesting.  I am seated next to a nice lady who is in the Kenyan Department of Tourism....is getting me excited about the whole trip."

It turns out, that her territory was all of North America and Brazil, and she was in Boston the day of the Marathon bombing.  She had left just a few minutes prior to blasts.  She was interested in our trip, and was very nice.

As we flew over the Sahara, we were able to look out one of the side/back exit windows and view down thousands of feet to the desert sands.  I could see the ripples which were the ever-moving sand dunes.  What came to mind was the fact that thousands of years ago, the nation of Israel were a part of this nation, and Moses himself roamed in these deserts after being outcast from the Pharaoh.  I recall that this was just one of those moments and thoughts that God put in my mind to get me excited about the unknown that awaited me the upcoming week.

The Greatness and Weakness in Technology...

I know, I know...I said I'd post on the blog while there...well, didn't work out that way due to technology constraints, and...well...time.  I did write in my journal, and take videos of me talking through the scene.  What I am learning is that this whole trip will take some time to decompress...and I am trying to find the best avenue to share with you all.  I will post some, and perhaps make some other fun project, we'll see.

Pictures I have are nothing compared to some of the camera shots that others had, so our group will be sharing pictures and hopefully will be able to add to my collection.

So...as I had to be in Kenya, I ask you, oh humble reader...be patient...the stories will come.

Jambo!

So pretty here...full post later!

On your marks...

Here it is...we are leaving in a few hours, and here is what I know:

• There is craziness going on in Boston with the hunt for the bombers of the Marathon.  People are glued to their TV's and computers trying to get that next bit of information.
• There is craziness going on at work for me---with me gone, and my boss on a trip to Europe, our place is in a little bit of uneasiness when it comes to getting things done in our little recycling company.
• There is craziness going on in our small group---a very pregnant family in the midst of selling their home and moving to Columbia, SC, along with a recent death, total family brokenness, not to mention our normal day to day and week to week issues called life.
• There is craziness going on at home---why wouldn't there be with 4 children all under 7.

And I'm leaving it all.  Temporarily, but am leaving it.  I am leaving things undone, unaccounted for, unfinished.  This causes me a bit of unease.

Here is what I know and preach to myself every day now---God is in control of it all.  Can you know that?  Can you live like that?  I mean, all of the stuff that have led up to this trip---the very things going on right at this moment, He is in control of---and I don't mean He is responsible and is allowing things to happen in a passive way.  He. Is. In. Control.  

He is flying the ship, He is navigating the way---in an absolutely crazy, intentional pattern of bringing more of His children into His story, to ultimately glorify Himself.

So yea, I'm leaving it all, because He can handle all of THIS, as well as all that will happen to us in Kenya, and we are along for the ride.  

Let's enjoy it!

Pizza before the trip

I am so blessed! 

Mobile test

This is a test of the mobile blogging system. This is only a test.

Ouch!

Here I sit, with painful shots less than 2 weeks away...I couldn't get all of the shots---financially, was a bit much.  So, a bit of risk, but so is waking up every day.

Here are a few fun facts about where we'll be going and what we'll be doing.

Our local church, Grace Church, has partnered with FOBOCK, the Fellowship of Baptists of Central Kenya.  You can learn more about the partnership here.  We are going on a medical mission trip, bringing both doctors and supplies and helping hands (like me!)  Below is an idea of where we'll likely be.  Note that this IS NOT our trip, but we'll be in the general vicinity.

I'm excited because it is WAY outside of what I do---but I know God will lead me, and this is a chance (forcefully) for me to follow Him.  If I don't, well, I don't think I'd like the consequences.

Crash!

4/4/13

Here a week or so later, and let me tell you, the crash of a spiritual high is hard.  This past weekend, we celebrated Good Friday by serving at a local church that Grace partnered with, and watched over children.  Afterward, we went out on a date, as it has been a while.  As we waited for our table, Katie turns to me saying, “I think we better go, I’m not feeling great.”  She’s been chalking it up to allergies, but this was different---upset stomach, so we went home. 

Saturday we had work in the yard on a glorious day, and I was able to finish up, and relax in the evening.  Didn’t feel like dinner, so didn’t really eat much.  At this point, we were planning on a wonderful Easter dinner at Camilla’s the next day with Amy, her kids, her neighbor and kids, high school friend, fiancé, father, as well as our clan and Camilla.  It was going to be a bit crazy, but doable.

Forward to Sunday early AM, I awoke several times nauseous but able to hold things down.  I got up to take a shower, turned on the water, walked to grab a clean towel, then it came---rushed to the bathroom and boom, what I had Saturday for lunch (PB&J)---all thrown up.  Needless to say, I felt weak and think the past several weeks of go go go caught up with my immune system, and I laid in bed all day.

So the normal Easter revival I feel going to church and watching baptisms didn’t happen, but I know my Lord is Risen, he is Risen indeed!  I am pushing myself this week to try and get back to being more Godly focused---God Help me!!!

And as I've been reflecting on this, I think a culmination of the "go, go go!" of the past few weeks, and my ultimate brokenness and body weakness came up with a perfect storm.  I think there is a time, every once in a while for "go go go," and yet other times for "slow yet steady."  In both cases, relying on Him to get you through is key.

I'm excited for Kenya, but know we'll be in a "go go go" mode---I've been told that we'll likely be reigned in every once in a while---the Kenyan's don't always run on our "go time."