Settling In

After an exhausting day and night and day of travel from Atlanta to DC to Zurich to Nairobi, we arrived safe and sound last night along with our 9 pieces of luggage, two car seats, stroller and pack & play.  I could hardly believe everything made it.  Although, on each of our flights we sat for a long time at the gate.  Eventually they came over the intercom to say, "We're sorry for the delay but we have a lot of baggage to load."  Well between the three families and two single girls moving to Africa, I think we donated our fair share of luggage to the loading crew.  Everyone's luggage arrived with us on our last flight, an answer to prayer for sure!

We were greeted by quite a few pilots from AIM Air who assisted us in gathering and loading our luggage onto two vans.  We fought traffic to Mayfield Guest House where we are all spending a few days trying to get over jet-lag before we head about an hour south for orientation.  Once we arrived here last night and got checked in, I was so out of it I had a hard time just getting things together to get in the bed.  We had missed quite a few meals because of the time change and naps on the plane so I had to feed Kyle some crackers in order to give him his malaria medicine.  We got that taken care of and then filed through the bath to rid ourselves of plane stench.

Mr. World Traveler

Speaking of plane, Kyle did better on the flights than I had hoped.  The first flight to DC, he napped the entire way.  The second flight (over night) to Zurich, he was awake for the entire 8 hours excluding about a half hour cat nap.  He fussed some on that flight, but fought sleep the entire time.  Our lay-over in Zurich was almost non-existent and we lined right back up to board the last flight.  Once we got airborne, I suggested he go to sleep to which he replied, "Poe" (pillow), "Que" (Curious George), and "Bla" (Blanket).  I handed him all the players and he knocked out in about 20 seconds.  We all slept pretty continuously for about half of that 7 hour flight.  He fussed some when he awoke, and let us know he was ready to get down.  But, in all, he didn't make any huge scene and he didn't keep the entire plane awake.  That was my fear.

So, once we got settled in, we slept most of the night until about 4AM.  Kyle woke up chattering constantly and wanting to read books.  Somehow (through patience on his part and prayers on mine) Jonathan managed to get Kyle to settle down again about an hour later and we slept hard until 9AM.  In fact, I slept through the breakfast alarm.  Jonathan assures me it was very loud.  I had one ear plug in to keep the sound out the ear not attached to my pillow.  A rooster started crowing about the time Kyle woke up at 4 and Jono suggested maybe he had jet-lag, too.  After that there was a family of birds chirping loudly outside the open window, and cars going by, people talking, etc.  The ear plug solved all those problems.  But, it caused me to skip breakfast.

We got some juice from the kitchen and ate a granola bar.  I felt pretty dizzy and weak up until our nap time right after lunch.  Kyle and Jonathan seemed fine, although Kyle was obviously very sleepy.  So, we napped and then woke up and went to the store to get a few essentials.

"Cheese!"

Some Nutella, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, and juice were those essentials, along with shampoo, conditioner, and soap.  I purchased the cheap-o shampoo and opted against the egg scented one.  GROSS.  Who wants their hair to smell like eggs?  If I had the camera with me, I would've documented that bottle so you would believe me.  Apple was a familiar option so I chose that.

Dinner was delicious: a bacon quiche, cole slaw and fresh fruit.  I ate like a horse.  Although I was awake for lunch, I felt so poorly I didn't eat a whole lot.  I wished I could've eaten more dinner but I ran out of time.  The kitchen crew finally booted us because they were ready to clean up... and I was still eating.  Fortunately, I was running out of space anyways.  All of our meals are provided here at Mayfield along with the room for about $40/night.

The weather is wonderful, just cool enough to be very comfortable and a nice, dry breeze.  I can't really believe how good it feels.  Maybe tomorrow I will be less jet-lagged and we can spend more time outside at the park with Kyle.  For now, he is playing in the closet while I sit here at the desk or on the bed.

If I knew how to work my camera and if I didn't have a bouncy one year old, the photo wouldn't be blurry and you would be able to read that his shirt says, "jungle explorer."  :)

We are here at Mayfield until Tuesday, then we head south to Machakos for orientation.  I'll update when I can!

~Abby

Thank You

Over the past months, Jonathan and I have been on a wild ride known as support raising.  God, in His goodness, brought in our support so quickly compared to many other missionaries we know who are raising support.  When I look back at the months that were covered up with phone calls, e-mails and meetings, I thank God for orchestrating it at just the right time.  In early October, it looked as if we were too far away to make our January departure date.  Then over just two weeks, we watched the flood gates open and the differences grow smaller.  We were cleared to leave despite a slight shortage on our monthly support and we haven't looked back since, except to recount the faithfulness of our God who provided at exactly the right time.

My extreme sickness with this pregnancy started in mid-October.  We didn't have one more support meeting after that.  If our support had not been raised before that point, I do not see how I could have physically handled trying to coordinate or attend meetings.  I praise God for raising our support before I got so sick.

Now, as I sit in a hotel room the night before I depart for Africa, I am once again amazed.  A simple post on Facebook notifying our many prayer warriors of the remaining monthly shortage has prompted more families to commit to support us monthly as well as donate one time gifts.  We are overwhelmed.  We are fully supported.  When I look at the list of people who represent so many thousands of dollars and countless prayers, I am moved to tears.  Words cannot express what I feel in my heart.

At times I begin to feel like it's just us going out to do this.  And I lay awake at night and wonder if I am crazy.  Who up and leaves their family to move to a remote town in the heart of Africa?  Who takes their child a world away from his grandparents, not knowing what kind of communication we will be able to maintain?  Who spends weeks making trips back and forth to the Goodwill only to look at the trunk of a car and realize, "this is all I own"?  Who takes a shower wondering if this is the last hot water I'll enjoy for years?  I really do feel crazy.  Maybe I am!  But, there are a lot of crazy people behind us who are cheering us on.  And I am once again reminded that I'm not the only one making sacrifices.  A long list of faithful believers are praying and giving on our behalf so that Africa might see the light of Christ and be changed for eternity.

My sweet sister in law wrote a song called "I Will Go."  If I were tech-savy, I could link it to this page.  I am not.  However, I can copy the words so you can understand why this song is so special to us.  She wrote it in high school after reading about the martyrs of the faith.  When Jonathan and I first began writing about our mutual interest in missions, he e-mailed me the file of this song.  My 17 year old heart could barely comprehend the wisdom behind the words in the second verse.  Now I understand.  And now I have to look deep down into my mother's heart as I sing these words, to test and see if what I am saying is true.

Lord, do I love you enough?

Enough to sacrifice every other love?

And Lord, am I willing to stand 

On my own, and place my dreams in your hands?

My desire is to the walk narrow road

And if suffering is where you've called me,

Father, I will go

I will go, I will do

What I know has come from you

I will say what you command me to say

I choose your way

Lord, I will go

Lord, it easier now

To pledge my hopes and dreams to you

To make a vow

But, Lord, it will not always be

For one day you may bless me with a family

And I'll desire to hope and dream for them

So I pray you will give me strength

To say once again,

I will Go

And if you call me unto death,

I will not hold on to life

But willingly I'll choose your way

And I will go

I will go

Father, here I am

Despite the ache I feel and the struggle I now know as a mother and protector of my children, I can still say, "I will go."  However, if it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't be able to go.  So, thank you.

Until Africa,

~Abby

My Best Girl

My heart is in my throat as I even attempt to begin this post.  How do I summarize the countless memories I have with my very best girl?  It seems impossible.  When Kaylee walked into my life in early high school, I gained one of the sweetest friendships I think I'll ever know.  After that, we were attached at the hip until I got married and moved away.  When our senior year of high school came around, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Hawaii with my parents for a special trip.  Nearly two weeks of Hawaiian bliss with the best company, an experience I certainly will never forget.

Feb '08

 Both of us were home schooled and we "missed out" on that delightful experience known as senior prom.  Fortunately, neither of us cared a bit.  At this point, we didn't have boyfriends so we opted to go out to dinner with our daddies.  We ditched the prom dresses and stuck with our trusty jeans....

April '08

After a whirlwind of changes, a year later, Kaylee and her mom were hosting my bridal luncheon.  Here we are two days before my wedding...

Despite the miles that marriage and college put between us, we have remained in close contact and seen each other regularly.  This summer, I had the privilege of attending her wedding.  Here we are, two days before her wedding at her bridal luncheon...

And then they were hitched!

After she was married, Kaylee and her new husband moved from Illinois back down south.  Over the past six months, we have soaked up the short time we knew we'd have back together, regularly eating together on her lunch break.  I can't really explain how good it has been to be able to go back to "old times" and just relax and visit together.  

Yesterday, we found ourselves saying the goodbye which has been looming for months.  When I fully surrendered to the call of missions in 2006, with Kaylee by my side, I didn't realize the impact it would have on my precious friendship.  Of course we are thankful for Skype and e-mail but nothing will ever compare to the countless hours we've spent, curled up in each other's beds or sitting on each other's kitchen counters, eating ice cream and talking until the wee hours of the morning about God and life and our futures.

I'm gonna miss this girl.  It hurts.  But, I cherish these many years of friendship which don't end here.  And I am thankful for a friend who encourages me and supports me in my journey around the world.  I know she'll always be there for me..... Anytime.

~Abby

A Mama's Mama

Yesterday I enjoyed a special treat which was given to me by a precious friend.  For Christmas, I received a gift certificate to a local spa for a pedicure.  The envelope read "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (Romans 10:15) Having only had one other pedicure in my life, I was pretty stoked.

With only four days here at home before we depart for Atlanta, Mom and I (okay.. I) decided to make the outing a last time out together for the two of us.  We enjoyed lunch at Red Bowl and then I relaxed while the nice pedicure lady rubbed my feet.  If I didn't have a million to-do's floating around in my head, I might have really been able to relax.  I did the best I could, all things considered.

Before I continue, I have to let you in on what happened while trying to find the spa.  I knew the place was located right in the same shopping center as Red Bowl.  I didn't realize there were two nail places.  So, we walked into the first one and were blasted by the smell of chemicals.  Mom said the gift giver had mentioned how serene the spa was so it didn't exactly seem like the right place.  However, I saw a little sign that said, "Gift Certificates Available" and thought it must be here.  So, the non-American guy (read: Vietnamese) comes from across the salon saying, "sit down, I take you now."  I proceeded to attempt explaining my certificate and appointment and the guy was just insisting, "I take you now."  After fumbling through the purse for the envelope, I opened it and looked at the name on the certificate.  Then I looked at the name of the place we were in.  Wrong place.  Now holding my gift certificate for the other nail spa, the guy looked completely deflated.  That might be an understatement.  He was still insisting he could "do for me." I was thinking, "No, you can't do for me and you won't take me now because my gift certificate isn't even for your place!"  It was so awkward because he wouldn't give me the certificate back.  He just kept staring at it, I guess trying to figure out how to make me stay regardless.  Finally I reached for it and said, "can I have that back now?" And we walked out.  A couple doors down, we found the right place.  Very serene.  Beautiful music.  No chemical smell punching you in the face.  And then we laughed, hard, about that poor man's disappointment.

The spa people were really interested in our giant move and we talked about that the entire time.  That's what we talk about everywhere we go.  No one can really believe that we are moving to Africa.  I want to say, "yeah, me neither."  And most people's follow up question is, "how old are you?"  When I reply with 22, they typically say I don't look older than 16.  Then I try to hide my irritation by saying, "yeah, people say that often.  I guess I'll appreciate it when I'm 40."

Now my toes are ready for the southern hemisphere.... flip flops!

Really, it was just nice to spend a couple hours alone with my sweet mama.  The world knows that my mom and I are tight as ticks and I am going to miss her terribly.  Sometimes I wonder why I am so crazy to sign up for this lifestyle since it is going to take me so far from home.  But, yesterday, as I was getting ready and fighting back tears I was thinking about Christ.  And I thought about how he left his home in heaven, and a Father who loves him more perfectly than I can even imagine, to come to this miserable place we call home.  I thought about how much he must have longed for home.  Being from America, I tend to like the way things are here.  I enjoy the luxuries we have here which much of the rest of the world doesn't offer.  And I can't help but wonder at times why I'm leaving what is familiar and comfortable for what is completely unknown and much less luxurious.  This is not to sound like I am likening myself to Christ, by any means.  But, it helped me get out of my miserable sadness and think that, if Christ would leave what is better than I can even imagine for a life here to save me, how can I complain (even inwardly) about leaving what I know for His sake?  I don't want to leave.  These goodbyes are gut wrenching.  Living these last days feels surreal and my heart aches.  But, the sacrifice is immeasurable compared to that of my Savior.

I'm gonna miss my mama.  If I'm being honest, I'll miss her more than anyone.  I can't imagine life when I can't get ahold of her easily and ask her the questions I don't know how to handle.  For today, however, I am thankful that I've spent two wonderful years as her neighbor and 22 as her daughter.

~Abby

"All My Bags are Packed.....

.....I'm ready to go."  Okay, not really and not really.  But, close!  I keep thinking of the song Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver.  Jonathan and I spent the better part of Christmas Day trying to get a handle on our packing status. Since we moved out, I have felt completely scatterbrained by all the things that were still floating around.  We got rid of so much stuff and yet I still felt like there was way too much to fit into our nine suitcases.  For days I have been wanting to bring all the suitcases up into my parents' room (which they have graciously donated to us while we are here at their house) and set them out where I could see what's in them.  Up until now, the room has looked like a tornado came through.  The main problem was, nothing had a home!  You can't clean up when there isn't a right place to put things.  The few suitcases we already had packed fairly full were in the garage.  The rest of our stuff was floating around with no place to call home.

Christmas day we sorted, whittled and packed things into tons of suitcases.  We left a few outfits out to rotate over the next week and a half and the rest of our stuff will be zipped up soon.  I still have medicines and toiletries to find a home for, along with our vacuum sealed memory foam mattress pad and my most beloved pillow. I like my sleep, can you tell?

If you are easily bored, you might as well click the (x) now.  This is not going to be my most exciting post.  But, if you are interested in what one might pack in nine suitcases to move to Africa, you should continue.

First is my house bag.  This baby has my favorite things from home decorations to kitchen utensils.  I have packed my salt and pepper shaker collection, favorite kitchen knife and measuring spoons, Jonathan's hotpot from his bachelor days, the table runner I won in a drawing last year, a wooden sign from my in-laws in Spanish, two small frames filled with pressed flowers which I bought on our honeymoon, my cookbooks and aprons, and some hand made quilts and blankets.  I haven't weighed this suitcase yet, but I don't think it's at the limit.  I'm sure I will come across a few more things I'd like to throw in this bag.  Oh, and in the top are a couple books on health care and a disk called "Where There is No Doctor."  Jono is reading up on some medical things just to familiarize himself for instances which would otherwise catch us off guard.

For the next bag I made a list of contents to put in the outside pouch.  The house bag is too random to try to list everything.  But, this bag is pretty much filled with my clothes.  Scarves and gloves are in the top, my summer, winter and maternity clothes are tucked in here, too.  I hope to get my pregnant winter coat in here along with my winter robes.  I think that will put me at about 50 lbs.  It kinda stinks to be packing my entire maternity wardrobe this time around.  I had those massive lovely clothes packed away, ready to be brought by a visitor at a later time.  But, I suppose this is as good a time as any. :o)

Right now my ABO bag is combined with Kyle's ABO stuff.  This will have to change.  This is the one suitcase we will take with us to orientation in Kenya.  Africa Based Orientation is a three-week training seminar where we'll get a giant briefing on life in Africa.  I still have to finalize what all we need to take for this, but right now I have our clothes together and I have bug spray on my list of things to get.  Because the food at ABO is completely authentic African cuisine, I will also be packing tons of crackers, granola bars and oatmeal packets in case my ultra-sensitive belly can't handle the vast difference in food choices.  Thankfully, the intense nausea has subsided but I am still battling with occasional kick-backs from various things I eat.  The little green photo album on the top of this bag is for Kyle.  I printed off pictures of all of his aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and great grandparents so he can know his family even if he is on the other side of the world. 

Please excuse the poor quality of the next photo.  I don't know how to work my camera.  This red suitcase is quickly filling up with Kyle's and Ellee's things.  I purchased winter clothes for Kyle for the coming winter (southern hemisphere).  He also has lots of his books and a few of his toys in here.  For Ellee, I have a few special things already picked out, as well as basics like a new paci, the breast pump and the Boppy.  I am taking this Boppy with me if I have to wear it around my waist on the plane.  I absolutely loved using it the entire time I nursed Kyle.  If I have to, I'll go buy a vacuum seal bag for it, or I'll slide it in with the mattress pad before we vacuum that out.  Okay, so this is the baby bag. 

More boring clothes.  Wouldn't life be easier if we didn't have to wear these?  But, I digress.  This bag isn't anywhere near full 'cause it's only holding my jammies/lounge clothes and church dresses.  We will likely put the mattress pad and whatever else we vacuum seal in this bag.

I hate that all my pictures are so terrible.  Sorry!  This is Jonathan's summer suitcase which still has tons of room.  The other is Kyle's suitcase he's living out of right now. We won't be taking much of that stuff because we're headed to summer weather.  So most of what he is using right now will be headed for the consignment pile come January 7th.

Before you fall asleep, we're almost done.  On the right are my winter clothes I'm wearing right now.  Some of these will be coming and some will be staying.  This suitcase will actually become my ABO bag.  Next is Jonathan's winter bag and the other is his church bag.  The couple of suit coats and ties he is taking along will go in there, too, real soon.  I'm not sure what these things weigh, but I think they are well under and we will be able to fit lots of little items in around Jonathan's things.  Thus the lists.... I don't want to get to Africa and feel like I can't find any thing because we have so many suitcases. 

I don't really know when we'll be able to unpack, but I do know that for now.... We are (almost) packed.  Before you comment and say "make sure you mix up your suitcases a little in case one gets lost", I am planning on doing that.  I just wanted to get all of our stuff sorted but as I actually zip things up, I'm sure I'll rearrange a lot.  My lists will need some adjusting.  Most importantly, I will tuck special house items in each bag because I can't bear the thought of my house bag getting lost and all of my precious things being gone.  We are also marking all of our bags with bright teal Duck tape.

The only other bag I'll be packing is for my sweet little Ellee.  My mom will bring that as her second checked bag when she comes after the birth.  A friend has offered me the chance to go through all of her daughter's clothes and pick out some special things to take for Ellee.  I cannot wait!

I'll leave this post without dwelling on the extreme sadness I feel right now. So....

~Abby

Last Days

Nothing has made the idea of moving to Africa a reality quite like getting out of our apartment.  Over the past months we have spent our lives preparing for this giant move.  With the Lord's help, we have raised thousands of dollars in monetary support.  We have filled out visa forms, gathered loads of official documents, made tons of copies, gotten vaccines, completed medicine exams.... the list goes on.  For months I have been following the weather of the town we are moving to, which by the way is still chilly and rainy during these summer months in the southern hemisphere.  But, even after doing all these things and telling nearly everyone we come in contact with that we are planning to move to Africa in January, it has seemed like a far off thing that would happen eventually.  Actually packing our suitcases, gutting our home of almost everything we can't take with us, and parting with many sentimental baby items has made this idea seem so real.

Working on my suitcase

Sorting Jonathan's keepers and goers from his throwers and givers

The start of three huge van loads to the Goodwill

My keep-no-matter-what-take-if-it'll-fit pile

I haven't loved everything about living here. Certainly, I could've done without our obnoxious neighbor and especially her constant cigarette smoke.  The apartment itself isn't anything special, and in fact we have come to realize in the past two years that it was pretty poorly constructed.  But, it has been home and it has been the first place in our married life (and my whole life really) which I got to decorate all on my own.  There were plenty of things I would've liked to have changed, namely the wallpapered bathrooms and kitchen.  However, here we hung decorations, set up a darling nursery for our son, I had a wreath on my door.... I had a real kitchen where the appliances all worked and the water ran out of the faucet in a steady stream.  Most of all, this is the home where Kyle has changed from a seven pound infant to a twenty five pound little boy.  It is hard to look around and see him all over this place and know that these memories will fade even more quickly once we're out of here.

People move and that's the way life is.  We could just as easily be moving down the street or across the country.  All the same sentiments would apply as far as the home itself goes, because obviously you can't pack memories in a suitcase and you have to rely on your mind to hold on to them.  Of course, if we were moving across the country, we would've rented a moving truck and we wouldn't have had to part with so many of our things.  But, I think what makes this move especially hard is not knowing at all what to expect on the other end.  I know we will be renting a place to live, but I don't know if it will be a round hut or a concrete house.  I know we are supposed to have access to standard kitchen appliances but I have absolutely no idea what kinds of groceries we'll be able to find in rural Africa.  Somehow I doubt I'll be making a lot of barbeque meatloaf or baked mac and cheese.  I don't know if I'll have a wreath on my door or curtains on my windows.  I just don't know what setting up "home" in Mokhotlong, Lesotho is going to look like and it makes leaving this comfortable home difficult.

I remember when I really felt my heart completely surrendering to the call of missions, I said I didn't want to be comfortable.  And I meant it.  Saying it and doing it are very different things.  While I wouldn't want to be doing anything else and I can't imagine feeling satisfied with life if Jonathan worked a normal job and we lived in a normal house, it it still very uncomfortable for me to pack up and actually go.  I am being forced to find comfort in my God, my Protector and the One in whom I find strength.  I find comfort in my husband and I am thankful that I am not going alone.  When I look at Kyle, I am comforted that I get to keep him with me, although it hurts me to be taking him from so many others who love him so deeply.

Whenever I try to imagine stepping off of a plane and planting my feet in Africa, I can barely grasp what it will feel like to think, "this is home now."  I want Africa to be our home and I truly hope to be more African than American one day.  I am thoroughly excited about tackling life there, no matter what it might throw at us, and I've even thought about what it will be like if they don't have cheesecake.  I love cheesecake.  I day dream of Kyle playing in a group of black children and I try to imagine what kind of critters he might come walking through my door holding.  After two years of watching my husband work faithfully serving chicken to people every day, I can't wait to see him doing what he loves to do, study and teach the the Bible.  Going is exciting and thrilling and I can hardly believe it's me doing it.

Leaving is so much harder than going.  I feel like a part of my heart is being crushed when I think about leaving for three years.  I have to remind myself that we aren't dying.  I just can't bear to think about my little boy being five before he comes back to visit his aunts and uncles and cousins, some he won't have even met yet.  I know people have been doing this for years, and I know people who are doing it right now.  But it is so hard to think that I am doing it.  It seems as if now that is it getting close, time is in fast forward.  Where I have been looking at everything in terms of months, I am now seeing everything in terms of days.  And they are few.  A dear friend and fellow AIM missionary wrote us this week and said, "Close well, cry well, hold your loved ones for a long time!"

I know my God will sustain me.  I know He will sustain our family and dear friends here at home.  I pray that the peace we feel knowing we are serving Him will outweigh our grief as we leave and months from now when we are homesick.  I pray He will keep us safe and healthy and that we will be able to enjoy many furloughs here with our loved ones.  And I pray He will keep me from being a blubbering mess for the next month and that I will be able to enjoy these last days rather than dread the coming of another.

Last night in the rocking chair I nursed that sweet boy in many many nights.  He loves books.

Last night in his comfy crib.  Sorry it is blurry, I was trying to be quick and not wake him up.  He still woke up, but he went back to sleep.... eventually :) Sleep tight, little buddy. Lightning and Simba are coming with, don't worry.

~Abby

Trooper

 Yesterday my sweet little guy had to get his last "standard" baby shot as well as a blood draw done with the pediatrician.  Then, today he had to get his yellow fever vaccine in order to travel from Kenya to Lesotho.  I didn't have to get the YF because I am expecting and it is a live virus vaccine.  But, Jono got it and he said it was painful.  This coming from the guy who had his wisdom teeth yanked out and didn't need any pain killers afterwards.  I was worried about how badly Kyle might react to the shot as he isn't exactly a huge fan of them.  Typically he complains for a good day or so after he gets any.  But, not today.  My big trooper was easily consoled with a lollipop.

Just to be sure that Mr. Baby was a-okay, we stopped into Sonic for some ice cream, too.  He was good as new after that.  Ice cream will do that to you.

~Abby