This is what my sister, Becca, told me Tuesday night as I was packing furiously and more than a bit stressed about the number of things I had to do to get ready and the dwindling number of minutes I had to do them in.
And she was right. This trip is about me GOING TO AFRICA. And the only truly necessity for the trip is...ME. (And God, of course, but He's everywhere.)
Wednesday was a crazy day. I woke up not feeling very well - but hit the ground running. So many errands to complete before our flight left at 6pm.
Over the course of the morning, I ran the following errands:
1) Breakfast with Pastor Preece where I picked up a generous check from Zion's members to further the work of the Kingdom here in Kisumu AND received a wonderful prayer and blessing (and song about spreading the Gospel around the world) from my Pastor.
2) Last minute arts and craft run for the last minute items needed.
3) Stop by my friend Jenny's dermatology office to pick up some medicine to help a little boy over here with a pretty severe skin condition.
4) Pick up printed prayer cards for family & friends to put on their fridges and remember to pray for us in the days we are gone. While there, I spoke with Lori (the owner) who asked what she could pray for during my trip. I told her that I was feeling a bit under the weather and worried that I was coming down with the stomach bug that had been going around Dallas. She prayed for me right then and there over the counter of the UPS store.
Turn after turn, I felt busy but peaceful. I felt surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that hold me up and spur me on. My stomach calmed, I stopped worrying about the little details.
2:30 came and so did our ride. My friend, Rashmi, was generous enough to come pick us up and take us to the airport...in her Civic. Fitting 300# of luggage and 3 people in a Civic proved to be quite the feat, but we did it.
As we drove to the airport, Rashmi asked about plans. As I mentioned the medical clinic I'd be doing, I suddenly realized that it never dawned on me to pack my stethoscope! We were closer to the airport than home with little time. As we debated what to do, Karen used her quick thinking to help us find a DME store not far from us. A few wrong turns later, we had the stethoscope in hand and were back in route to DFW.
We got in, got checked in, and got through security quickly. That's when I realized, I had forgotten my camera as well. Despite the fact that Becca made a special trip to bring me the battery charger, I managed to leave the camera, new camera bag, and everything on my bedroom dresser. A quick wander around DFW, and I was back in the photography game. I'd found a reasonably priced camera and we were good to go!
Proud of my prompt camera purchase, I headed back to the gate and sat down. I reorganized my backpack to find room for the camera. And that’s when I realized that I forgot my journal and my Luo dictionary as well. So much for learning Luo in the air! At least you can find journals everywhere…and I’d have to learn Luo in person. I tried to relax.
I pulled out my ticket and passport as I waited in line to board. Smiling to myself, I thought of Becca’s wise words the day before. Apparently, stethoscopes and cameras and journals and Luo dictionaries are all negotiable.
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