Moving day...

So I took Financial Peace University this past spring, and am making some money saving decisions.  One of which is downsizing to a smaller (and cheaper) apartment so I can pay off debt faster and move onto saving more.

So this Saturday is moving day.  And a while back, several people mentioned they could help, but summer has set in, and so have summer schedules.

Basically.  I need help. So if you live in the RDU area, or even if you don't and you feel like traveling, I will welcome you.  We will start at 9am saturday morning loading the Uhaul.  The Uhaul has to be returned by 3.

Comment or email me, and I will owe you huge!

Grace

I am sitting in Java House, one of the most "American" places in East Africa.  While enjoying my french fries and guacamole I am humbled to be here.  

I know many of you have been praying, and we are all SO INCREDIBLY thankful for your prayers.  They are felt.  There have been difficult parts to our journey, but we know that potential roadblocks have been lifted because of your prayers.  One thing I am incredibly thankful for is the prayers for health.  In the two weeks before leaving for Kenya I had 4 migraines, more than I had had in the last two years combined.  Thanks to Dr. Bloom I have an arsenal of medicine, and have only had to use it twice, and both times the relief was quick.  Our travels in and around Nairobi have been smooth, aside from one minor run-in with the police...but again God got us through.  Our travels to the bush have been uneventful, most often one of us falling asleep in the 4 hour journey.  

That being said, the week has still been a challenging one, and it is not over.  We came into Nairobi yesterday afternoon for some meetings, and are heading back out to the bush for the day tomorrow.  Please continue to pray for us as we continue to discern how God would use us to bring the light of Christ and His freedom to the community of Kamonong (Cheppema.)  

Home.

First a warning:  This might very well be the last blog post until I return.  Not sure what kind of internet access I will have after tonight.

My senior year of high school I moved to Northern Michigan to live with my Aunt.  It was such a great year I stayed with her my first semester of my freshman year.  But then I went home.

I remember going home, and how odd it felt.  I remember that strange feeling some describe, it is home, but it isn't, things look similar and smell similar but yet it is different now.  Something changed.

And so has Arusha.  I called this place home for two years.  I poured my heart into the people, many hours of sweat, many tears, and so much of my soul.  Returning brought some strange emotions, emotions similar to my returning home after being away in high school.  It felt familiar, looked familiar, smelled familiar but yet, it felt so different.  This place is no longer home, and I am honestly not sure why that surprised me, but it did.

Even though Arusha isn't "home" today was filled with all those things you do when you first come home.  Finding old friends, reconnecting, laughing, listening to what has gone on in their lives, seeing the changes in town (they added another stoplight, and some streetlights for driving at night!) and laughing, laughing a lot.  Today I was able to see many old Tanzanian friends and boy were those hugs great to receive.  I was also able to see many old expat friends, and the tea we shared on their patio didn't even compare to the sweetness of being in their presence.

I am thankful for the last 24 hours.  I am thankful for the conversations I was able to have, the people I was able to see, and the healing that has taken place in my heart.  I am grateful for open communication, sharing visions, dreaming, and remembering where we have come from. It has been a joy to return and visit old friends, hear their stories, share mine, and relish what God is doing in and around us.  It has truly been an incredible day.

Hospital Visits and Old Friends...

I was in Arusha less than half an hour and already taking advantage of my white skin to make a hospital visit.  I know, it seems wrong to me too, but mostly I was along for the ride, literally.

A precious Barabaiq woman who was attending the CHurch planters training here at the CMF training center fell ill weeks ago, Annelle asked if I didn't mind stopping by the hospital since she was already in town.  Of course I didn't.

So off we went, and I marvelled as we didn't turn down the road I expected.  I have to admit that my memories of the Arusha hospital weren't the greatest, so when we went in another direction I was confused and a little relieved.  Instead we went to the new hospital.  It was finished in the year I was gone and when we arrived I was in awe of its modern look.  It was clean.  It smelled clean.  It was amazing!

Our visit was a good one, yet sad.  The woman we were visiting is in need of a miracle.  Her husband was there with her and she was in terrible pain, and really, there isn't anything anyone can do for her, even if she was in the USA there wouldn't be an option.

After the visit we headed out to the CMF center where I was warmly greeted.  I surprised a few Tanzanians who did not know I was coming, and a few others who were dear friends who knew of my arrival.  It was precious, incredibly sweet, and heartwarming to talk to them...in swahili...and hear of all of lifes happenings, their kids growing, their churches growing, life as parents etc.  

Tomorrow promises more.  My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for this leg of the journey. It has felt good to come to a place that I once called home, and to be embraced so warmly.   

Tomorrow I will try to remember to bring my camera...I will blame my lack of photography today on jet-lag and five days of travel.  It is shocking to me to think that every day this week I spent hours either in a car, a plane or a bus....it was all worth it.

Kreyol...and Kiswahili...all in one day...

I don't even know where to begin....

3:30am Wednesday came way too soon, mostly because I was up later than I should have been.  I got to the airport and soon was on my way...

I arrived at JFK on time and clueless.  I asked a few of the workers where I needed to go and they were short and all said "Emirates...Terminal 4."  Problem was, I didn't know where Terminal 4 was or how to get there. While meandering and wondering I hear this tiny voice...

"H..e...l...p... P...e...a...s..." And I couldn't resist.  I turned around and saw the most precious elderly woman speaking broken english with as much courage as she could muster up, and having been the person who was lost and confused in a foreign land I couldn't help but stop to help.  She handed me her boarding pass and again asked for help.  She couldn't find the gate, and seeing as I was having trouble following the directional signs I really couldn't blame her, at least English is my first language!

So I take her bag, and her passport and boarding pass and notice that she is Haitian.  I smiled on the inside.  I asked where she was from, she didn't understand, I told her I had friends in Haiti, she smiled, again did not understand, and I was reminded that I really need to start studying Kreyol.  I took her bags, and walked with her to her gate.  It was endearing as she approached the escalator with fear and trepidation, and humbling as I stuck out my arm for her to hang on to.  It was sweet to guide her to the gate at JFK that I have been to on multiple occasions, and to sit her next to someone who was from her home country.  I then vowed to start working on Kreyol...right after I remembered some swahili for this week. 

Our flight in JFK boards on time, we pull away from the gate, and then we sit. And sit.  And sit some more.  I will remind you that our flight was already to be just under 13 hours...and we sat...and sat...and sat on the tarmac...for 2 hours!  13 hours on a plane seemed unbearable...I wondered what 15 was gonna feel like, in the middle of the row, next to a man who smelled like he hadn't showered in weeks, and a woman who couldn't sit still...the migraine meds I took to kick the migraine out of gear came in handy and knocked me out for a bit of it.

We land in Dubai...and I am pretty certain I have missed my connection.  I had a 3 hour slot between take off and landing, that now was half an hour since we not only were delayed 2 hours but somehow took even longer to get there in the first place.  I start wondering how I will communicate with folks in Nairobi, where I am gonna sleep, and who is gonna pay for it.  And then realize, that being stuck in Dubai on the airlines dime might not be so bad.  I suck it up and join the herd of people trying to deplane.

As I walk up the ramp I hear "Nairobi...passengers going to Nairobi."  I tell her I am and the Emirates attendant tells me to wait, there are others.  So after about 6 or 7 of us are identified we are swiftly taken down a secret hallway via one of those handy motorized carts, rushed through security and the next thing I know I am on a plane.  In my seat.  Again.  Thankful, yet I have to admit, I was a wee bit tired of sitting.

Landed in Nairobi on time, was the first in line and out of the airport in less than half an hour and my heart smiled as I took in the gust of African air.  I listened to the hustle and bustle, overheard and understood the conversations in "African English" and Swahili, and smiled.  

The Long Journey...

Well folks I made it to Nairobi all in one piece.

All in all today I have spent about 30 hours sitting on planes, and 3 hours in a car in traffic. I am gonna walk to dinner with my hosts and probably collapse afterwards. My phone is still not working, but I am hoping to get that figured out soon.

Will try to update more later this week but thought this might be the best way to let everyone know I am on the ground.

Travel Interruption...

I feel it necessary to mention that I just noticed that the flght from JFK to Dubai is 12 hours and 45 minutes.  Yep.  Read it again.  Holy Smokes!  Thankfully they offer gluten free meals to passengers who reserve them ahead of time, and thankfully the travel agent thought of that.  

12 hours and 45 minutes.  That is a LOT of time to catch up on sleep, organize the ol' inbox, and catch up with myself....and a few in flight movies too.

On the way home, we get an extra hour of traveling time!  I might be so excited about it then.  

Journeys...

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and it shows no signs of stopping.

I thought my travels were to begin tomorrow, but, in typical Pam fashion, they started...yesterday.

July 29 make 5 hour trip to DC.

July 30 obtain Kenyan Visa and make 6 hour trip from DC with visa and an unwelcome migraine.  How I made it home, I don't really know.  What I do know is that I have an awesome Family Practice Doc who talked me through my trip home and waited for me to arrive at his office at the end of the day so he could set me up in case another one hits while I travel.  This was migraine 4 in 12 days.  5th in a month.  Not sure why the sudden onset.  Up until then it had been 5 years....anyhow I digress...back to the journey...

July 1:  Depart Raleigh

July 2:  Arrive in Kenya

July 3:  Depart Kenya for Tanzania

July 3-7:  Visit friends in Tanzania

July 7: Depart Tanzania, return to Kenya

July 8:  Depart Nairobi for trip to the bush.

July 11:  Return to Nairobi.

July 12:  Depart Nairobi, Kenya.

July 13:  Arrive back in Raleigh.

This trip is a big deal.  I am realizing how pivotal it is for our Church, and for me personally.  It isn't just a physical journey but also a journey of the heart and spirit.  Not sure if blogging will be possible, but I will definitely share when I am able.

I should mention the little detail that before this trip was planned, I had planned to move to a smaller, cheaper apartment.  The move date is July 18.  All help is appreciated.  Email me to volunteer or leave a comment.

And then I should mention that my travels don't end there.  Before Kenya was planned I had planned a mini vacay to visit my nephew for his first birthday (it was actually my birthday present from my brother, but who's keeping track?)  So July 22-26 I will travel to FL, to visit the fam.

July will be a blur.  Wonder what August has in store?

Miss Fancy-pants...

Sunday morning before we headed back to Raleigh we decided to take a short hike to see the wild ponies.  While on the Appalachian trail we ran into a few people, one of which will forever be a part of my memory...she calls herself...Fancy-pants.

While we were watching the wild ponies Fancy-pants came upon us.  She was carrying her pack with all of her supplies, her bedroll, clothes food etc.  She was getting an early start to the day, and had completed 2 miles already.

I was amazed as I listened to her talk about her adventure.  She mentioned she "only had 8 more miles to go today," that "she started a short while back in Georgia," that she enjoyed hiking this trail on her own as it gave her a lot of time to think," that she "had to take a day off from hiking to recover, but other than that she has hiked every single day since she started," that she "meets a lot of interesting people," and "that she has plans to hike the Appalachian trail up to Pennsylvania."

Georgia to Pennsylvania people.  

As if that wasn't amazing enough.  Miss Fancy-pants finally shared with us her age.  Miss Hike-by-myself from Georgia to Pennsylvania just because it sounds fun, I can, and I will meet interesting people is...drumroll please....65 years old.

Thanks Miss Fancy-pants for giving me a good reason to work out every day even though I hate every last minute of it.

Fill her up.

This weekend I took some time out, as mentioned in my last post I am learning that I need to take time to feed and nourish my own soul.  And man did I feast this weekend.

One of the many things that refuels my soul is to be outdoors, and to be outdoors in a place where there isn't cellular reception is almost magical.  After a four hour drive, setting up camp at midnight, a short nights sleep and a quick breakfast, the real fun began.

A 13-15 mile hike (there is still debate about how far it really was) through wilderness is always incredible.  There is something breathtaking about being on top of the mountain and looking across valleys, something spectacular about climbing a rock and peeking over the side, and something inspiring about a small plant growing out of the side of said rock.  Beauty, in the harshest conditions is something that we should always take note of. 

Take all of those experiences that throw them right smack in the middle of a sea of wild rhododendrons and you will likely be made speechless.  I marveled as I walked through this indescribable sea of pink flowers that often times soared above my head.

Yep.  Incredible.  Absolutely incredible.

It was an awesome weekend.  I repeatedly found myself amazed by God and many times found myself reflecting on the beauty He has placed in my life, both in harsh conditions like the plant on the rock, and in more fertile places like the valley's between the mountains.  I truly am on an incredible journey in this life, one that I sometimes miss out on because I don't stop and refuel.

It was definitely a "fill me up" kind of weekend.  It took some work to make it happen, but the depths to which my soul was refreshed reminded me of how necessary it is to make things like this happen.  I arrived back in Cary yesterday ready to pour into others again, excited to show up to Crosspointe, and eager about what kinds of mountains I will get to climb with others this week.  I really need to do this more often.