Traveling Skirts and Typhoid

I am so excited this week because I have inherited a traveling skirt! It's been to Africa several times already and a dear friend of mine has lent it to me to take it back to Africa this summer! It was so funny, we had a great time last night looking at pictures of all the places this lovely skirt has been and all the people who have worn it. I'm honored and blessed to have the chance to give this skirt an opportunity to continue its travels.

In other news, I've been invited to help with some logistics and facilitating team time over the summer, so I get to go up to Chicago a few days early for some additional training. I'm excited! I've heard that the college our orientation is at is incredible and that they have an amazing library and a really awesome museum. I can't wait!!!! Oh my gosh, I can't wait. It's starting to hit home that I'm actually going - I'm actually going to be in Chicago and then heading to Togo and staying there. For 2 months. Wow. I'm nervous - I hear the middle part of the trip is the hardest because that's when the novelty fades and the homesickness sets in. I've also heard that just as you begin to accept that you're staying the trip comes to an end all too soon. Right now I think the beginning of the trip can't come soon enough.

I'm avoiding the Typhoid vaccine that's in my refrigerator (it's an oral vaccine that I have to take every other day for a week). I think I'm going to start taking it tomorrow. I'm also waiting to hear back from the health center so I can get my yellow fever shot. Eew! I have to call my doctor too and see if I can get a meningitis shot from him. And my polio shot too.

Lovely, isn't it? I'm starting to realize just how much preparation is left to be done before I can actually leave. Merciful heavens. I don't even know how to do half the stuff I need to. Like getting a hold of travelers checks. Or finding out what kind of outlets they use in Togo. I think I'm just going to be asking a lot of questions and sending up a lot of requests to our Father. I think that's not a bad way to prepare though.

Support is coming in steadily right now. Gotta start follow up calls soon. Send up some love to the big guy upstairs if you will. Many thanks. Grace and peace.

143
~kl