The preparations in the last couple of weeks have been exciting! I had the opportunity to Skype with Steve last Sunday and ask him the question that everyone has been asking me: “Is it safe there?”  I was very glad to hear his response (mostly because it assured me that I hadn’t been lying to everyone when I brushed off their questions with a shoulder shrug and “its not too bad”).  He told me that because there are only 30 miles of paved roads in the whole country and most of the conflict was happening pretty far north, very little trouble reaches them.  He also said that they are far enough from the border that any trouble that takes place there doesn’t reach them, either.  Also, the place that I will be staying is a stone’s throw from one of the UN buildings in the city.  That news really allowed me a sigh of relief.  He reminded me that Yei is a fairly large city, population 170,000 people, so it is necessary to be wary of pickpockets and the like in the market.  That doesn’t sound like anything I can’t handle.  He did, however, say that it won’t be a matter of IF I get sick, but for how long.  His hopes are that it will only last a day or so.  Thank goodness, I guess.

It still isn’t very clear exactly what I will be doing while I am there, but I am convinced that this trip will be as much about learning as doing.  I am anxious to see what the schools and “churches” are like.  I was very excited over the weekend to learn that some of the youth leaders seem to be having trouble reaching the adolescents; working with teenagers is not only something I can do, but something I love immensely!  Steve also mentioned that he would like me to sit in on a church planning session led by he and his wife and to help at the Eden Teaching Farm as they harvest in July.  As if that is not enough, he may need my help in building a solar food dehydrator/dryer!  His wife, Diantha, may also find a way for me to help with some of the village health training she is doing.  As I sit here typing this, I am having a hard time staying in my seat because I am so excited!  I feel so blessed that God is allowing ME the opportunity to take part in this!  I keep questioning how I could be so lucky.

Please continue to pray for me and for my trip this summer.  I cannot put into words how important it is to me to feel that I am supported in this “crazy” adventure!

so I guess I really will spend 6 weeks in Sudan this summer!

Several weeks ago I made a checklist of all the things I would need to do if I was in fact going to go to Africa.  The list looked something like this:

• Talk to missionaries to see if I have been approved to come
• Figure out when school starts so I can set the dates
• Buy a plane ticket
• Research and schedule training I may need
• Renew passport
• Research and schedule vaccinations
• Schedule a physical
• Write and send support letters
• Figure out what I will do when I get there

The list didn’t have all that many bullets, but man was it overwhelming. It was so overwhelming that I had a hard time starting on any of it.  About three weeks ago I took the first step and emailed Steve and Diantha Hodges (the full-time missionaries that I will be staying with) to ask if things were set for me to come.  I didn’t hear back from them for more than a week.  Instead of emailing again (or even checking to make sure that my email had sent correctly), I busied myself with other very important things: watching episode after episode of 24, attempting to repaint my kitchen, and keeping myself up-to-date on facebook. Total avoidance.

But then last week, I “pulled up my bootstraps” (like my mom would say) and emailed them again.  This time the reply came quickly.  He apologized for not getting back to me sooner and explained that they had had a family emergency here in the US.  He assured me that things were moving right along with getting the approval for me to come this summer and then emailed me again the following day to let me know that the paperwork had been signed and sent.  It was set-I am going to Africa.

Since then I have marked several more things off my list: I have set the dates for the trip, purchased my plane ticket, registered for two of the trainings I will need, renewed my passport, and put together a list of the vaccinations I will need.

I am nervous, excited, scared, and stressed all at the same about this trip.  I decided starting this would be a good way to help me share and get support for all these emotions.

I hope that you’ll continue to read my weekly blog as I prepare for this sure-to-be-life-changing experience!

Love,

elizabeth