Hi Ho! Hi Ho! To Africa we go!

Ok, so I wanted to write "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, we're going to Uganda, b****!" but thought that would be inappropriate considering the nature and purpose of the trip.

But we are going to Africa! Tomorrow I (and all other Student.Go folk) head to Birmingham, AL for some organized forced bonding - think trust falls and human knots - and then my team and I fly out on Saturday! We go through Atlanta and Amsterdam before ending in Entebbe, Uganda. Sweet.

I was thinking about what I wrote in my journal last night (I've been journaling about this trip since I found out I was going...I don't want to miss or not remember something! Also, since I want to work in the mission field, I figure the more documentation of the life process, the better!), and thought I'd share. I wrote about what I was afraid of (sorry, bad grammer). I started with things like, forgetting something really really important and being miserable the whole trip because of it. Or packing all the wrong things (clothes and accessories).

And then I got honest. The thought of peeing (or worse!) over a hole freaks me out. Not because it's a hole, but because (I said I was going to be honest) my leg muscles are really tight and sore all the time from running and so squatting is NOT a comfortable position for me!! Plus, what if (rather, when) I get sick to my stomach...yuck.

I'm anxious about the return transition - coming back to the US after a trip abroad usually sucks! Plus, I love being in close proximity with other people for most of the day. Even on shorter trips with friends, the first night I have to sleep by myself is miserable! And I know that I'm going to have to process a lot of stuff, and especially on a trip like this where I'll be seeing real poverty and disease...I won't want to live in comfy U.S. anymore. I already don't most times. And I know it's going to make me frustrated with people who don't see, or don't want to see, the rest of the world they live in.

I'm afraid I'll get there and insult or offend someone horribly. I'm afraid I'll be asked to speak and I won't have a thing to say. I'm afraid I'll be asked to give my testimony (or , oh law, PREACH) and I'm going to forget everything that's ever happened to me or everything that God has ever done in my life. I don't even know what my testimony is anymore - maybe I should write it out...

Anyhow, there are a lot of unknowns and uncertainties, but I am overwhelmingly ready to get this thing started!! I'm excited to meet more of God's people and see more of God's creation. I'm looking forward to having paradigms shifted and shattered, and I'm anticipating long days and short nights. I'm praying for strength and energy and health. I want to love and be used and be loved and be filled. I want to see big blue skies and green green grass.

I kind of just want to run and hug the world.

Doxycyclones, oh my!

sounds like tornadoes to me! it's actually (well, minus the misspelling) the name of the anti-malarial medication i have to take since i'm going to uganda. here's to psychotic dreams!!

The best things in life...

really just might be free :)

A Shot in the Arm

Well, like 4. I have just gotten my shots for Uganda, and (yay!) they're good for multiple years so I won't have to redo any for study abroad next year. I got HepA and Yellow Fever in my left arm and Typhoid and Tetanus in my right...three of those were straight into the muscle and my right arm is a tad bit sore. Like, sore. But I'll rub some dirt in it and it will all be good :)

Next task? Packing!!

Dr. Younger's Words:

God has extravagant possibilities for you and me. Every once in a while we feel the Spirit pulling us to do something new, something rare, something good. There’s a relentless spontaneity about it. Every once in a while we should act on impulse with just the faintest impression that we heard God say, “Go.”No day is without the possibility of a unique opportunity. If we keep asking, “What peculiar thing might God want from me?” we’ll find ways to adore God.

Try telling God that you want to live an out of the ordinary day. Pray more than an ordinary prayer. Pray that God will empty you of everything that isn’t love. Speak an extravagant word of grace to someone. Look for words so lavish that their face and yours will turn red. Embarrass one of your professors. Love Greek and Hebrew excessively. Read Augustine hopefully. Read your preaching textbook passionately. Read a book that’s only recommended. Read the Bible.

Do something for your church that you’ve never done. Pick something that frightens you. Stir things up. Be the one who mentions Jesus during deacons’ meetings. Speak to someone to whom you’ve gotten used to not speaking. Sell something and give the money to feed hungry children. Give more than a reasonable amount. Be open to all kinds of extravagant possibilities. God may invite you to go beyond what’s reasonable. God will lead us to become better thinkers, better ministers, better Christians, to love this school, love the church, love Christ.

How long has it been since you did something impractical because you believe in God? When was the last time you did anything foolish for love? Mary thought about her gift for the rest of her life. She could have used that money in a thousand different ways, but God gave Mary a love that was worth everything. God offers us the same love.

I AM that person!

I have this thing. See, it really annoys me when people drive with their windshield wipers on full throttle...and it's only sprinkling. Or, they're sitting at a traffic light and their wipers are swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh...and there's no need. I mean really, folks? Turn them down at traffic lights. Put them on the lowest setting necessary.

I don't know why it bothers me. Silly pet peeve, I guess. Probably a little South Florida snobbery in there, too. I mean, it is just rain. We So-Flas deal with it all the time. Get used to it. I understand some people might not be comfortable driving in the rain (I'd be the same in snow, most likely). I understand that sometimes you just haven't gotten around to RainX-ing your windshield and you have to put the wipers on high so the rain gets cleared. I know it's a stupid tick, so I try not to be annoyed...

And then yesterday. Preface: it has been pouring here for three STRAIGHT days. I love rain, but Florida style where it rains a bit in the afternoon, totally predictable. Not this day upon day upon day stuff! Driving in it sucks, and I've been driving a lot these last couple days, so I've been getting my money out of my wiper blades. I was reflecting on this pet peeve I have when I realized something.

I AM that person!

I was sitting a light - jamming out to my iPod, contemplating the day and the stuff I have to do and all that's going on in my life - and realized I hadn't turned down my windshield wipers. They were going dang-crazy fast. I was totally THAT person! I quickly turned them down and hoped no one noticed - noticed they were psychotically swishing or noticed my blatant hypocrisy.

Which reminded me of another driving-related silliness. I used to get inexplicably pissed at people who weren't tall enough to be seen over the back of their headrests. Like it was their fault or something. See, I live in South Florida and that usually means some old person who is in the left lane and needs to move the stink over to the right lane...and then I realized. You can't see my head over the headrest either.

How is it possible to be this unmotivated?

I mean, for real. I am going to get my work done. On time. It will be good. I will probably do well. But I don't care. And I have no idea why. Is this the second semester blahs? The newness and excitement of the first semester has worn off and now it's just work? Even though I'm enjoying what I'm learning, I'm not as gung-ho about getting it done. I'm still working hard and diligently and all that, but that crazy motivating energy I had last semester is no more. True, there are a lot more external things going on this semester. I have less free time, less play time. I'm volunteering, working, running (training with partners for a 1/2), etc, etc. which cuts into my frisbee/football time. And I've had other extracurricular stuff that's seriously distracted me from caring about class and classwork. Part of me says, oh well! I'll muddle through this semester. But the other part of me wants to enjoy every moment fully, feel everything fully - like I did last semester. I don't want to miss out on anything because I was distracted or unmotivated. I don't like to live in a fog! (oh my word, I keep hitting the Windows Help key...mraa!) So anyhow, we'll see how things progress. For now, I'm going to print off a paper that I've edited only once, and then plan my schedules for summer, fall, and spring (even though I don't know what exactly I need to be taking...). And then probably work on some projects and papers I have due in the coming-too-soon future...but my heart won't be in it. I won't be motivated. Oh well :)