Day 1 - Day[s] of Travel

   After Holly helped me get everything checked in, we enjoyed a holiday cup of coffee in the airport's Starbucks before I went through security to board my plane. After waiting 30 extra minutes, due to weather conditions, to board my plane to Dulles, my adventure FINALLY began! I made it to Dulles in plenty of time to catch my 17 hour flight to Johannesburg.

 
   When time to board the South African plane approached my heart was thumping with such excitement. Things seemed so surreal. I never thought this day would come where I would be heading home. My plane took off and we first flew 7  1/2 hours to Dakar, Senegal to refuel. We landed at 6:10am and the sun had just begun to rise and the beautiful city of Dakar came into sight. After sitting on the landing strip for an hour we took off once more to our destination: Joburg! The eight hour flight seemed to take a long time and with hardly any sleep it seemed to take even longer. I was able to enjoy the sights of the fluffy clouds and extending sky through the plane's little oval window. Eventually seeing a glimpse of Africa for the first time in two years made me smile with such thankfulness.

 



   The little time I had to disembark my plane in Joburg, go through customs and immigration, pick up my luggage, recheck my luggage, go through security and rush to my gate to catch my connecting flight to Cape Town was a little stressful, but I got to my gate to find out that the flight had been delayed and I was not late to catching it.
   Standing in line waiting to board my plane to Cape Town, I thought about all the things God allowed me to see and the people that He had cross my path. The three people I had good conversation with on my trip all were going on holiday for two weeks to see family and it made me so thankful for the three weeks I was able to get. I hope and pray that with the small amount of time I was able to converse with these people, that they saw the light of Jesus in me. 
  I had forgotten how long and hard the trip to make to Africa was, but it will be totally worth it! I look forward to the days ahead! 

 My parents, Luke and I together once again!

The Day Before Departure

   As I wait in Kansas City until Friday, my departure day, I hope and pray for the best: the best weather, the best traffic to the airport, understanding people, etc. I woke up Thursday morning to find that a blizzard came through Wednesday night. Three inches of snow fall and huge gusts of wind envelop Kansas City. I am SO thankful that this occurred Wednesday night and not Thursday night, because there would have been numerous flight delays. I believe that tomorrow should clear up enough that there should be no problems flying out. 

  In other news, I have completed my shopping for items my family cannot get over in Cape Town and have managed to pack my things along with theirs in one piece of luggage and two carry ons! They are packed to their absolute limits, but I've managed to get it to that. Having the minimum amount of bags to travel with is the way to go! It will be much easier to manage and handle. 

   Twenty-Fours and I will be sitting on my flight to Dulles airport, where I will catch my connecting flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, which is where I will connect to a domestic flight to Cape Town! 

   I am very much eager to depart!      

One Week Notice

Six days to be exact! 
     My journey home for the first time in two years will definitely be memorable. I have been waiting for this moment since the day I flew out of Africa and into the USA. I look forward to the sights, the sounds, the smells and being surrounded by the African people once again. I also look forward to seeing my parents and my younger brother for the first time in one and a half years. I cannot wait to give them hugs and be embraced by them.

     27th November 2010 I left the place that I had called home for two years. It was harder leaving from Africa than it was leaving my home in the USA where I lived for 16 years. There is something about Africa that gets into your blood and never leaves. It is hard to explain and can only be experienced to understand. Well, I caught it. It not only got into my blood, but it also captured my heart. The day I departed from Southern Africa was the day I left my heart behind. I knew Africa would take care of it until I returned in the future. I had no idea how soon I would return, but I knew God would allow it to happen. And now, here I am, two years later and six days away from my journey home! My trip will only be three weeks and I am determine to get my 'fix' of Africa until I return once again in the near future. 

     God has allowed me to have the experience that I have had for a reason - He.wants.me.in.Africa. His call for me to live there has never been so clear! As eager as I am to venture there forever, I first need to finish my schooling. I plan to do medical work in rural areas where medical attention is neglected. It is tough waiting for this time to come, but God has everything planned out perfectly and I have faith that He will bring me back! 

This is the beginning of my life's journey home.