What To Say

So I’m trying to be consistent and dedicated to putting something on the blog.  But I have to admit, today I’m not sure what to put.  Yes, I’m excited.  Yes, I’m wondering if I’ll be ready.  And yes, at the same time I’m thinking I AM emotionally ready (even as I know that will get blown out of the water the moment I land in Zurich, Switzerland, but that’s a different story).  I can’t decide what to write about today.  But I feel I need to let the world (ok, maybe not the world) know what is going through my mind when I think of this trip.  Which is honestly quite a bit.

So bear with me if this rambles or even doesn’t ramble but has no significance at all.  I keep looking at the list I’ve written (and I don’t do lists) of what I will need to take for me, for the mission work, and for the team.  I look at it at least once a day and think every time, “Ok, what am I going to forget?”  It’s not easy to figure out what you know you will forget.  I’m trying to go through our itinerary and see what we might possible need on each day that I should bring something to help ease our time there.  We are following in the footsteps of another group that went last summer, so they have given us some good information about what to remember to bring.  Apparently a personal flashlight is a good idea.  Now, I need to check my list to see if that’s on there.

I keep thinking of all that time in airports or airplanes as we head to Kenya.  26 hours on the way there.  The longest flight is from JFK in New York to Zurich, Switzerland.  Nine hours.  And though it is an overnight flight, I honestly don’t see me sleeping much.  I think the excitement will keep me up.  Which of course means when I finally do get to Nairobi after all that time, I’m going to be dragging. 

So 41 days away and I feel both ready to go tomorrow and so positive that I am not ready for this trip at all.  What fun this will be!

Tony

What To Read

So we are below fifty days. I’m loading up on books to read. We ARE going to be in airplanes or airports for 26 hours on the way there and 29 hours on the way back. So why not read? I found a book online that I’m thinking of bringing with me once it arrives at my home. It is called Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer's Experience of Kenya. That looks promising to help me get my mind set for the work we are to be doing. I think the rest of the books I bring will be just fun books to get my mind off the time that it will take for us to get from Omaha to Nairobi. And yet, I am excited as can be to have that time to get to know my travelling companions better. Amazing what I might learn about someone when I’m stuck in a big flying metal tube for 9 hours with them. And who knows what they will learn about me.

Every step we take separately at this point leads us to those steps we will take together. And as separate as we are at this point, I’m sure that we are all looking forward to that day 6 weeks from now when we meet at the airport. Of course it will be a mix of excitement and the occasional, “How long will we be flying??????”

I truly hope that those that know us and care about us, and even some that happen upon this blog by chance, enjoy what we share and support our efforts in Kenya. It will be great to know that not only are we able to share with those in Kenya during our time there, but also with people back in Nebraska or wherever they may be when they read this.

Tony