I laugh in the face of danger.

Yesterday, my mother and I were doing some last minute shopping, when we witnessed a car accident while on the highway. Well, we didn't really witness it, but it happened right in front of us. I don't know why we didn't see it, but just a few cars away, a man had managed to flip his car and he landed it right in the middle of the two lane highway. The amazing thing was that no one hit him. I got out of the car to see if I could help with anything, and the guy inside didn't seem too hurt. I made a call to 911, reported the accident, and on our way out we could see the emergency vehicles driving towards the scene.
As we continued driving, my mom made a comment about how it's really not safe anywhere. There we are on our way to the store, and it's a miracle that we avoided a pile up. It was quite an experience.
Today I leave for Kenya, and I'll be arriving there tomorrow morning. I know there are probably a lot of different things that could happened to me while I'm there, but if this is where God is leading me, then I almost feel safer going there than driving on the highway. I'm putting a lot in God's hands here, including things like safety. I'm pretty sure He's going to be O.K. with that responsibility.
I'll probably going to be able to update this once I get to Kenya tomorrow because Eric and I will be staying at a friend's house. But until then, "Goodbye America!"

What I'm doing and how I'm getting there.

Here is the flight information I got from Eric a few days ago.

Traveling to Nairobi
Tue 30-May-06
Chicago (ORD) Depart 4:40 pm Terminal 5	to	Amsterdam (AMS) Arrive 7:35 am +1 day	4,109 mi (6,613 km) Duration: 7hr 55mn	KL KLM Flight: 612
3Economy/Coach Class, Dinner, Boeing 747 (M)
Wed 31-May-06
Amsterdam (AMS) Depart 10:15 am	to	Nairobi (NBO) Arrive 7:20 pm	4,148 mi (6,676 km) Duration: 8hr 5mn	KL KLM Flight: 565
3Economy/Coach Class, Dinner, Boeing 777
Total distance: 8,257 mi (13,288 km) Total duration: 16hr 0mn (18hr 40mn with connections)
Traveling to Chicago
Fri 14-Jul-06
Nairobi (NBO) Depart 11:00 pm	to	Amsterdam (AMS) Arrive 7:00 am +1 day	4,148 mi (6,676 km) Duration: 9hr 0mn	KL KLM Flight: 4324 Operated by: KENYA AIRWAYS -- KQ118
3Economy/Coach Class, Boeing 767
Please check in with KENYA AIRWAYS -- KQ118. If checking in at a kiosk, use your name rather than confirmation number.
Sat 15-Jul-06
Amsterdam (AMS) Depart 10:30 am	to	Chicago (ORD) Arrive 12:00 pm Terminal 5	4,109 mi (6,613 km) Duration: 8hr 30mn	KL KLM Flight: 611
3Economy/Coach Class, Dinner, Boeing 747 (M)
Total distance: 8,257 mi (13,288 km) Total duration: 17hr 30mn (21hr 0mn with connections)

Here is a rough outline of what we have planned for the six weeks I'm there.

May 30 – Leave
May 31 – Traveling
June 1 – Arrive Nairobi 630am, travel to Nakuru for orientation
June 2 – Orientation: people, language, culture
June 3 – Orientation: culture & ministry
June 4 – Church, finish orientation
June 5 – Leave early for Samburu District, arrive in Wamba town, spend night
June 6 – go to Nkiseu, set up tents, visit with locals, prepare for ministry
June 7 – Nkiseu: VBS in morning, door-to-door in afternoon, cinema at night
June 8 – Nkiseu: VBS in morning, door-to-door in afternoon, home fellowship
June 9 – Nkiseu: VBS in morning, door-to-door in afternoon, cinema
June 10 – Nkiseu: VBS in morning, door-to-door in afternoon, home fellowship
June 11 – Nkiseu: Church in Nkiseu in AM, Worship service in PM
June 12 – Nkiseu: VBS in morning, door-to-door in afternoon, home fellowship
June 13 – Nkiseu:
June 14 – Wamba: LemeriwasÂ’ manyatta
June 15 – Wamba: Lolkulyiani market evangelism
June 16 – Wamba: Loruko church
June 17 – Wamba:
June 18 – Church in Wamba,
June 19 – Travel to Nakuru
June 20 – Nakuru: school ministry, cellgroup in PM
June 21 – Nakuru: school ministry in afternoon, travel to Nairobi in evening, stay in hotel
June 22 – Jon & Britnie arrive, travel back to Nakuru, school visitation in afternoon
June 23 – Nakuru: Jesus Film at school in PM
June 24 – Nakuru:
June 25 – Nakuru: Church at Nakuru Chapel,
June 26 – Nakuru: Kaptembwa house to house/childrenÂ’s evangelism
June 27 – Nakuru: Kaptembwa house to house/childrenÂ’s evangelism
June 28 – Nakuru: Kaptembwa house to house/childrenÂ’s evangelism
June 29 – Travel to Siyapei evangelism
June 30 – Narok: Siyapei evangelism
July 1 – Narok: Siyapei evangelism
July 2 – Narok: Siyapei evangelism
July 3 – Narok: Ololtoto Jesus Film
July 4 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 5 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 6 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 7 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 8 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 9 – Narok: Osegel evangelism
July 10 – Narok: Maasai Mara
July 11 – Narok: Maasai Mara
July 12 – Finish ministry, Debrief evening Nairobi
July 13 – Nairobi, Carnivore (the Carnivore is a restaurant that lets you eat all sorts of crazy and exotic meats), debrief evening
July 14 – visit craft market, shop, go to airport, leave for USA
July 15 – arrive in USA

How I got here.

It all started a few months ago in a note to a friend. I was writing about what it would be like to just pick up and leave. My youth pastor Arol had taught on reckless abandon once, and I wondered what would happen if someone really did that. That night I wondered what people would think if I were to just up and go to Africa and see what happens.
The next day, I had dinner at Julie's house and she told me about Eric Wildgen and his ministry in Kenya. Then she told me that every summer he takes a group of people to do ministry there with him. I couldn't believe it. From that day on, I've been doing everything from convincing my parents to let me go to raising the $2,700 dollars that would be required to go. Since then a lot has happened. The church was able to help me a lot, and support was coming in. But then came the passport, the entry visa, the vaccination shots, the backpack, sleeping bag, the medications, and all the stuff that I would need to pay for after the fact. But as each obstacle was met and passed, God provided the funds that I needed. And so here I am now, ready to go. It's been quite a ride, but I know that the greatest parts of this experience are yet to come. So while I've met all my financial goals, I will still need the prayer cover of my family here in the states. So please be sure to keep me in your prayers, as I will be facing things I've never faced before. I've made it this far, but now the real work begins.

T-Minus...

It's five days before I leave for my trip, and I decided that this is the median that I will use to keep people updated while I'm away, and share the pictures that I will take while I'm there. Right now I'm really excited...I'm going to get commissioned by my church this Sunday, and I leave for Amsterdam on Tuesday. After a couple hours there, I will board a flight that will take me to Nairobi in Kenya where I will meet Eric at the airport. It's going to be one wild ride...
First big news about my trip: I cut my hair! Pretty short too...Check out the pictures. There was no way I was going to trot around the equator with all that hair on my head, so I started up the ol' mower and went to town. Or maybe I just drove over to Fantastic Sam's. It was good, but I don't think I'd say fantastic. Just good.

Slideshow