Another Day Closer

Every day is another day closer. I know I’ve said it before, but I am getting very excited to go. And it’s not just the people we will meet or the projects we will be doing, I’m excited for the trip in its entirety.

I have checked with a local dentist to see if he can help with our supplies for the kids, toothbrushes and toothpaste. I’m trying to think of who else would be willing to donate. I would love to have the problem that I have too much to take and do need to pay for a third piece of luggage in order to get everything to Kenya.

I will admit to actually wanting to have another meeting even before June 5^th. Not to necessarily go over things, but just to get to know everyone a little better before we are all sitting in the Omaha airport at 5:00 am. What I’ve learned of the people going on this trip, and Andrea, makes me proud to be associated with these people for this purpose. I think we were brought together as a group because we all have something different to offer. What that is, we may not know at this point. But I’m sure it will become evident as we work through our days in Kenya.

Tony

Ready To Start, Not Sure Where To

I really don’t know where to start today. I catch myself every now and then looking at the clock and going, “Well right now in 60 days I would be. . .” and then checking our itinerary to see what I’d be doing. Each day that this trip draws closer, my excitement level increases. I hope that everyone else is growing as excited as I am. I’m sure the rest of the team is both excited and curious as to what will happen during our time in Kenya.

I will admit to wondering how this may push me and the others to either more mission trips or working within the Methodist church to help others on their missions. We are all called in some way to do our part for the church and our fellow man. Maybe this will push us to be more accepting of the next little project that comes our way, no matter its purpose or location.

Tony

Fifty-Eight Days - So Close And Yet So Far

I’m going to try and be more consistent with my posts to this blog as we move ever closer to the day of our departure. Fifty-eight days. That seems unreal. So many expectations that I know will be nothing compared to what I experience. So many hopes and dreams that I know will be surpassed in moments upon reaching Kenya.

Thirteen people heading to Kenya, most for the first time. Each of us brings such unique passion and desire to this team. It will be a pleasure to get to know everyone as the trip closes in and also during the trip. What shall touch each heart as we go through each day? What affects me may very well be missed by another, but that is one of the joys of a trip such as this. Each moment there will be unique to each person.

I hope we all grow in our understanding of the people with which we share this globe. I pray that we return home changed, more open, more accepting, and ready to go back again!

Tony

The Thoughts That Run Through My Mind

As we grow closer and closer to our date of departure, I am finding myself wondering less about our mission work and more about the people we shall meet. In our last meeting we discussed what gifts we might give the people we will be staying with on our overnight stays. My mind is full of ideas and yet I hope to not do something that would appear to be condescending in any way. But I want to do enough to show the people I’ll be with that I truly do appreciate their hospitality.

So now I am left to wonder what impact I will have on those I meet in Kenya. Will I present myself in a way that shows the best who I am? Will I try to be too much and inadvertently offend the honor of the Kenyans I meet? It is a fine line between helping someone and trying to take care of someone. I hope to tread on the correct side of that line.

I’ve also caught myself walking through my home and thinking of what I will need to take with me. It is still almost 60 days away and I’m ready to start packing now. Is this normal for a trip of this magnitude? I’ve trying to determine what books to bring to read, what music should I have on my MP3 player, what am I forgetting, and what will I wish I had brought once I get there? All of it is running through my mind.

I know this trip will change me in ways I could never imagine, but I find that it is already changing me in ways I both find interesting and amusing. 59 days and counting and I know that the passage of those 59 days shall not ease my mind nor answer the questions running through my mind. But I wouldn’t change a thing I’ve felt so far.

Tony