Safe and Sound in Kenya...Barely!!

Well, we made it!! And boy are we glad we did! Although our flights were totally smooth and landed safely, I can't say the journey was drama free. In fact...it was horrifying!!! Midway across the Atlantic, I had a Home Alone moment. All of the sudden, just like the mom from Home Alone, I sat straight up in my seat and felt my stomach sink as low as it could go!! I gasp for breath and turned to Jarred...

I realized that we 100% did not have the immunization documentation we needed to enter Kenya. The doctor had given us a little yellow card that he said we MUST have to cross the border with proof of our Yellow Fever shots...and I had totally forgotten to pack them. In fact, they didn't even cross my mind once leading up to the trip. Daily I thought of things we needed to pack and for weeks I added to our suitcases...but not once did I think of those cards. Needless to say I almost had a heart attack, and I'm positive that it was the most humiliating moment of my life. All I kept thinking was how all these people helped support our trip, all these people donated money and items for the kids in Kenya and now I totally ruined it! We weren't even going to be allowed in the country!!

The next 4 hours of flight time to Amsterdam were pretty miserable. We were supposed to be sleeping to help our bodies adjust to the time change, but we spent all 4 hours desperately trying to make contact with my family. We tried to send out emails and texts from the little tvs on the back of each plane seat. We begged 3 different flight attendants for any comforting word that we wouldn't be rejected from the country, but none of them were sure about the policy. One sweet, sweet attendant actually went and talked to the pilots. She got them to send out some message to an operator to call my mom and have her try and convince our doctors to go to their offices in the middle of the night to find and fax our paper work...to who knows where!? It was an absolute mess!! And I was completely horrified and humbled. Jarred and I made plans to stay in Amsterdam for a few days if we had to while the little Yellow Cards were rushed mailed across the Atlantic to us. It was complete DISASTER mode. I truly cannot express how awful it feels to be on a plane with no access to the outside world, knowing that you forgot one of the 3 things you need upon arrival. All we could do was sit there and pray that somehow the policy had changed...somehow we wouldn't need them.

As soon as we landed in Amsterdam we rushed to the airport's medical clinic. There they told us they "thought" the shots were now optional for Kenya and that we probably didn't need the documentation. While it was somewhat comforting, we still had to board our second flight to Kenya without knowing for sure whether or not we'd be let in. Not the greatest feeling in the world!! But we continued to pray for a miracle.

When our flight arrived, we waited in line to buy our visas and show our passports, terrified. However, the mood suddenly lightened when both Jarred and I realized a funny coincidence. Just last week we watched the "I Love Lucy" episode where Lucy gets stuck at the Italy/France border because she forgot her "passa-port." We both laughed. When I was little I told my mom I wanted to be just like Lucy...and what do you know...I really am!! Haha

 After the "Home Alone" face...I made this Lucy face!!

A few minutes later it was our turn and Praise the Lord!!! Me and my Latin Beau were not turned away! Kenya welcomed us with open arms. The Yellow Fever shots are no longer required for entry to Kenya, only recommended. Hallelujah!! We are now safe and sound!

This morning we were able to go to church and worship our great God with the beautiful people here. It was a blessing and an honor to be a part of their congregation. Tomorrow we're off to our first school and we absolutely can not wait! All of the little children we met today were so precious! As soon as they saw us they stuck out their little hands to say hello. We just wanted to pick up every one of them and spin them around. So cute!!

Well that's all for now! Dinner time! We'll keep you guys updated! And THANK YOU for your prayers. We realize more than ever that we are completely incompetent on our own and rely solely on the provisions of the Lord Most High! Bye Bye for now!

Africa Trip Prayer List

Hi Friends! If anyone out there is willing, we'd love for you to join us in praying for our trip to Kenya. Below I've compiled a list of some specific things you could pray for if you need ideas. We are humbled, honored and thankful that God's called us to go on this trip! We can't wait to see what He has in store! We are also thankful that God's blessed us with wonderful friends and family who've supported us in this journey. Keep watch of the blog next week during our trip for updates. Again, THANK YOU!! Prayers are MUCH appreciated!

• Pray that God would be glorified in every area of our journey and through all of our interactions
• Pray that God would break down any language barriers whether they be Swahili or Sign Language with the Deaf (Hooray for a smile being the same in any language!)
• Pray that Satan would not be able to distract us from the purpose of our trip, which is to share God's love with everyone we meet
• Pray that we will have boldness when sharing the Gospel and that God will give us His words to speak Good News
• Pray that Jarred and I would be open to all that we can learn from the beautiful people in Kenya
• Pray that God will give me insight and wisdom as to the aspects of teaching I can share with the teachers there to improve their classrooms
• Pray for safe travels to and from Kenya, as well as driving throughout the country (Kenyan roads can be a little scary!)
• Pray that our luggage would not be lost and that all of the school supplies we've brought will be in good condition to give to our two schools
• Pray that God would give us strength, energy and good health while we're there (no traveler's diarrhea!! ewww gross!)
• Pray that we'll have no trouble adjusting to the 8 hour time change both going and coming back
• Pray that God will give Jarred and I a shared vision for how we can continue to support the ongoing ministries of the Youth Center, CAREforAIDs, and the deaf in Africa for years to come

There's a lot to be nervous about, so we're letting Phillipians 4:6-7 speak to us this week! "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Thank you for your prayers!

WeGiveBooks.org

Attention Teachers, Parents, or anybody who cares about supporting Public Education in America: A while back my sister told me about a great website where kids can read books online, and then donate a book for charity...just as a result of reading their book. Well, that website has upped the ante a little bit more! On the We Give Books website, you can now donate books to YOUR public school of choice! First you'll want to register for free and select which school you'd like to donate to in your personal settings. Then read a great book, and at the end simply choose to "Give a Book." It's so easy and perfect for giving back to your local school! Watch the video below or visit their website for more info! Hooray!!

Art Raffle Winner!

Happy Valentine's Day and Congratulations to...drum roll please...Karen Baumgarner!! Your name was drawn this morning for the gorgeous stained glass mosaic window. Thank YOU and everyone else for supporting our trip. We are SOOO ready!!! Please be praying for us in the coming week and check this blog for updates while we're in Africa!

 

*Note: A video was taken this morning of the actual drawing, but immediately following the filming, the camera battery died. Of course. So if you need video proof, I can upload it once a fresh battery is charged!

New Product Alert!

Jarred and I came across a new product in the grocery store last week. Krusteaz has created a One Step muffin mix. All you do is add 2/3 cup of water to the container...shake...and pour into your muffin cups. It takes all of 60 seconds and there's NO cleanup. No washing a spoon and mixing bowl/slash/let's be real/ no leaving them in the sink to be cleaned by your loving husband! Being that these new One Step mixes were on sale and so ridiculously easy, we decided to give them a try. We've used Krusteaz's regular muffin mixes in the past and always enjoy them, but something this easy couldn't actually be good, right?!?! WRONG! They were DELICIOUS! The easiest and greatest muffin mix ever!! We are soo buying them again!

If you're an "all natural, organic" elitist, then no, you probably won't like them. But if you regularly do muffin mixes from the store, I highly recommend! Enjoy!

Tag, I'm it.

My sweet friend Andrea is playing a little game of "blog tag," and I am to answer the following questions that she thought up:

1. If you could have someone play you in a movie, who would you choose and why?
Hmmm, I'll tell you who I wouldn't choose, Katherine Heigl. And no, we do not look alike.

2. If you won the lottery, what would be the FIRST thing you'd do with your money?
Now this is a tricky one. I would simultaneously buy land for a deaf school in Uganda, give money for a high school to be built at a certain school in Nairobi, Kenya, and book a trip for my dad and I to go to Alaska. Boom. All at once.

3. What songs will ALWAYS bring you out on the dance floor?
It's pretty much a guarantee that if any Journey song or Pour Some Sugar On Me is playing, I'm dancing. End of discussion.

4. What is one quirky thing you do that others find strange?
One thing. Really Andrea? You thought I could name just one thing. Perhaps it'd be easier to try and narrow down to one thing I do that others don't find strange. On the other hand, I've come to believe that many of my strange behaviors aren't all that odd, they're what other people really wish they were doing...if they didn't take themselves so seriously. Let go people, be loose, have fun!! Go Rollerblade while twirling a baton. You know you want to!! Oh wait, you don't? Really? My bad, I guess it is just me.

5. If you could change your profession to anything, without having to go back to school, what would it be?
I'd like to be a Volunteer Coordinator for something. I LOVE recruiting people to give back. I could never have a normal sales job, but selling people on helping others: ding, ding, ding, best job ever!

6. What one superpower would you choose to have?
I'd have to go with the ability to teleport. I use to say flying. But teleporting is like the lazy way to fly, right?

7. Who is one famous person you'd like to meet?
While there's not really any one famous person in particular I'm dying to meet, I'd love to go to Ellen's show. Such a fun audience to be in!

8. If you could live during any time in history, when would you choose?
Although the whole Civil War thing and slavery aren't all that appealing, hoop skirts and elaborate dresses totally are...Take me to Gone With The Wind baby!!!

9. What is your favorite photograph?
Hmmm, now THAT is tough. You've inspired a stand-alone blog post to address this issue. For now I'll give you my favorite picture of you, Andrea:

10. Would you rather be 4' or 7' tall?

4 feet. If I was a boy, I'd go with 7 feet.

11. If you could only do one dance for the rest of your life, would it be the macarena or the electric slide?
Electric slide, duh!! You can do so much with it: twirls, slaps to the ground, shimmies. The possibilities are unlimited!

So there ya go! Love you Andrea!

Ben Crane...My Long Lost Best Friend??

One of the best things about loving any sport, is getting to know your favorite players a bit via interviews, facebook, twitter, etc. While there are many golfers I love, I think I just discovered who has to move to the top of my list...because quite frankly, we are obviously long lost best friends. Ben Crane is a decent golfer, 4 PGA Tour wins to date, no superstar on the course, but respectable. However it's off the course that he's caught my attention. His twitter account says he's "leading a campaign to let yourself go and have fun. Love Jesus, family, golf, and being ridiculous. Join me..." Um Hello? Is that my twitter account or his? In the last year and a half or so Ben has released several hillarious videos featuring himself and other golfers, they're definitely worth YouTube-ing. But it's his latest video that shows the greatest link between the two of us:

Look familiar?? It's obvious great minds think alike:

So as the Fantasy Golf season heats up, watch out Ben Crane, because you're getting some playing time!!

Also, if there are any other freaks out there that would like to play Fantasy Golf on Yahoo with Jarred and I, holla back!