Sunday, October 21, 2012

I can't find the words to sum up this post so you'll just have to read it. :-)


It was the longest trip ever, but I made it. I’m back safe and sound, if not exhausted, at my home in Liberia. I left Seattle at 11pm Tuesday night and reached the airport here in Monrovia at 4pm Friday afternoon. That is 56 hours, 26+ hours more than usual. Let me break it down for you…

The first snafu was my fault. Apparently my jumbled brain did not notice the super-sized layover scheduled in the itinerary. I bought it, then saw it-- 13 hours at JFK, oops. So, after the 5 hour flight from Seattle, where I spent the entire flight awkwardly trying to ignore the couple making out next to me, I arrived at JFK at 7am. Exhausted.  I dabbled with the idea of seeing NYC; never been there, always wanted to. Ultimately I decided a trip into the city was a bit out of my budget this time around, so I sat and walked, sat and walked, sat and walked and observed New York’s finest airport.

Some of my observations from spending the day at JFK-

-An elderly Indian woman, not even 5’ tall, washing her feet in the bathroom sink. Both impressive and disgusting.

-Birds everywhere. Like we are talking Alfred Hitchcock birds. Maybe if people would stop letting their kids feed them the French fries from Burger King they’d find somewhere else to go?

-Pretty sure I heard every other language in the world spoken. And watched an interesting animation from the TSA guy to the non-English speaking guy in front of me on how to go through the security check point.

-Speaking of TSA guys—also watched an almost fist fight between one and a passenger. Hmmm… who’s gonna win that fight?

-Learned a lot about the latest fashion: Leopard print leggings under short-shorts with a hoodie and furry boots?

-People will spend $12 for one glass of wine! (not me) and $6 on a latte (me).

After one of the longest days ever and still no sleep, the time for boarding the plane finally came. I was, of course, seated in the middle between two (as it turns out very nice) West African men. About three hours into the flight; after dinner had been served, the elderly man on my left was asleep on my shoulder, and I’d just taken a Benadryl to help me sleep through the rest of the 10 hour flight-- the Captain comes on the overhead speaker to make an announcement. The airplane has turned around, we are returning to JKF. Satellite communication problems, can’t land in Africa. WHAT!?!

Three hours back and we land at 0230 in the morning. Still haven’t really slept and in a Benadryl induced fog I stumble through the airport, ticket counter, taxi, hotel… finally a bed at 0500. And here is the best part of the entire journey—I slept! Six lovely, fantastic hours in a hotel cloud-bed.

The next afternoon I was able to meet up with my friend Keith (who was supposed to be on my flight and missed his connection, lucky guy). The day passed more quickly with a friend and before I knew it we were ready to try this ‘fly to Africa’ thing again. And made it. Ten hours across the Atlantic to Accra, Ghana where we had to wait for a few hours to finish the flight to Monrovia. But, this is not where the adventure ends.

I actually flew through immigration, and mistakenly thought, “Wow that was easy.” But, I had forgotten the contact sport known as ‘getting your luggage at the airport in Liberia.’ Picture 200+ people jammed in a room with hundreds more pieces of luggage. A mountain of refugee bags piled in the corner. The conveyer belt so overloaded suitcases are falling off, knocking people over. Imagine the sweat, the smell, the noise and you are still not even close to picturing the true impact of it all. Keith and I tag-teamed it. Yes, like wrestlers, high-five and you’re in to take your turn in the fight. I got knocked over by a burly guy and his bag and a woman’s high heel about pierced my foot, but we finally found all our bags and escaped the ruckus. Phew!

Back home several friends were waiting for me. I greeted everyone, unpacked a little, found some dinner and then fell into bed, where I slept a glorious 14 hours! Feeling a little more alive, yet still somewhat in a jet-lag coma I am getting ready to get to work. Good thing, tomorrow is Monday.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Lets do this thing.

In 11 days I'll be getting back on  a plane again and making that 30+ journey back to Liberia...

Back to smokey, thick air, outdoor showers, lots and lots of rice, hugs and tugs, small, dark children, huge smiles, huge bellies, fevers, dancing, drumming, singing, loving, learning, growing... home.

I've felt more at home this time around in America. I've loved every destination, each moment with friends and family, each home-cooked meal. I've discovered the life-changing self-serve frozen yogurt shoppe trend and, as of this morning, the bacon maple bar (what!?).

But still, Liberia calls me back for more.

Truth be told, this may be my last long-term stint in Africa for awhile. Transition is in the air. There are a lot of unknowns for me in the upcoming months, which should be overwhelming. However, there is peace when one find themselves right in the middle of where God wants them, and that is where I must be right now, because even though I don't know how I'm going to pay my mortgage (among other things) for the next several months I do know that God is in control. He is inviting me to live with Him more boldly, uninhibitedly. To dance with Him, gaze at Him, to just be [with Him]. (And it is fantastic.)

As always, I appreciate your prayers, your words of encouragement, your support of every kind. I could not survive without you. As I prepare to go back, I'd like to invite you to continue to journey with me. God is doing beautiful things, not only in the lives of the vulnerable, needy, oppressed children in Liberia, but in my life, and, if you allow it, in yours as well.

Lets do this thing.