The tickets are purchased and we have our flight itinerary! I have to say, it was a little disappointing to see how much time will be spent traveling. We'd hoped to fly from DC to Dakar, Africa. This pattern would've cut our travel time in half! Sometimes you have to weigh the cost of time and money, and this time the cheaper flight won.
"Hey everybody! Below are flight patterns.... Let me know if anything doesn't make sense... Once step closer :) By the way ORD stands for Chicago... BRU stands for Brussels... FNA stands for Freetown..." -Erica
FROM NASHVILLE
AA4197 20JAN BNAORD 1220P 155P
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4055 29JAN ORDBNA 445P 615P
FROM OMAHA
AA4371 20JAN OMAORD 120P 255P
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4204 29JAN ORDOMA 310P 445P
FROM SPRINGFIELD
AA3932 20JAN SGFORD 805A 940A
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4061 29JAN ORDSGF 600P 740P
FROM KANSAS CITY
AA3941 20JAN MCIORD 110P 245P 20JAN
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A 21JAN
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P 21JAN
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A 29JAN
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P 29JAN
AA2423 29JAN ORDMCI 230P 400P 29JAN
How exciting, though! I haven't traveled much, and the thought of traveling over the ocean, to Belgium, and then to Africa is pretty cool. I'm sure I'll think differently on the trip home! :)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
It's Real!-Deposits and Shots are Paid
As quick as the money came in, it goes back out! Yesterday was both exciting and nerve-racking! I wrote my first check towards my trip, and our plane tickets are being booked next week. I can't wait to see an actual flight itinerary!
We continue to fundraise, but I'm comfortable that God will provide for the expenses of our travel. Our Kroger Cards are being used (thanks to everyone using them!), and we should receive our first check from them sometime this month. What touches me the most, though, is the number of personal donations that I've received. I'm amazed at the generosity of my friends, family, and complete strangers who support my mission! My life experiences continue to reveal my "real" friends, and I'm blessed to be surrounded by such genuine people. I am loved!
Another big event yesterday was receiving my travel vaccines. I'm still sore! It's scary to think that a person needs so much protection just to enter another country. It's also scary to think that the people living don't get this protection. A simple shot could save so many lives! We take so many things for granted! Our medical access is such a miracle, and it's not being shared around the world!
I continue to pray that what hurts God will hurt me and the ones around me! I pray that my travel, and the travel and efforts of others, will create awareness and open eyes and hearts. We have so much to share with those less fortunate (less fortunate seems like an understatement!). I prayer that we will all start looking at our own lives and what we can each do to change the life of another. I have a LONG way to go on this journey. I'm the first to admit that I struggle with material things and committing my life to service. It's so easy to sit back and be comfortable. But I pray that God will continue to show me how to make a difference, and that I will continue to push myself out of comfort. I want to make a difference!
We continue to fundraise, but I'm comfortable that God will provide for the expenses of our travel. Our Kroger Cards are being used (thanks to everyone using them!), and we should receive our first check from them sometime this month. What touches me the most, though, is the number of personal donations that I've received. I'm amazed at the generosity of my friends, family, and complete strangers who support my mission! My life experiences continue to reveal my "real" friends, and I'm blessed to be surrounded by such genuine people. I am loved!
Another big event yesterday was receiving my travel vaccines. I'm still sore! It's scary to think that a person needs so much protection just to enter another country. It's also scary to think that the people living don't get this protection. A simple shot could save so many lives! We take so many things for granted! Our medical access is such a miracle, and it's not being shared around the world!
I continue to pray that what hurts God will hurt me and the ones around me! I pray that my travel, and the travel and efforts of others, will create awareness and open eyes and hearts. We have so much to share with those less fortunate (less fortunate seems like an understatement!). I prayer that we will all start looking at our own lives and what we can each do to change the life of another. I have a LONG way to go on this journey. I'm the first to admit that I struggle with material things and committing my life to service. It's so easy to sit back and be comfortable. But I pray that God will continue to show me how to make a difference, and that I will continue to push myself out of comfort. I want to make a difference!
Africa Becomes Personal
I'm amazed at the efforts of The Raining Season to make sponsorship personal! We sponsor a child, Fatmata, at The Covering in Sierra Leone. Every few months or so, I receive an update on her with pictures, but the relationship is much more personal than that now. In September, my family put together a photo album to send to Fatmata with the traveling team, and over the last few weeks, we've been given the opportunity to Skype!
What an amazing experience! My kids loved it, and I hope that Fatmata did, too. Between the time delay and limited English, it's hard to have a conversation, but we've managed to make a few connections. Fatmata and Ella were happy to discover that they both wear uniforms to school, they have recess, and they both like Math. Fatmata has a little brother, too, just like Ella. Fatmata asked to see our dog, and next week, Ella wants to play the piano for her. It was amazing to look into the eyes of this little girl in Africa and tell her that I'm coming to see her!
We can't change THE WORLD alone, but we can each change A WORLD for one (I have to credit Andrew Kirk for this wording!). Love this idea, and Matthew West does a great job of expressing it this song!
One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.
If you've ever wondered how to change the world for one, please consider sponsoring a child at The Covering. Expenses are growing, and the organization depends on sponsors to support the needs of these orphans. It's such a rewarding experience. Just follow this link to sign up!
The Raining Season Sponsorship
What an amazing experience! My kids loved it, and I hope that Fatmata did, too. Between the time delay and limited English, it's hard to have a conversation, but we've managed to make a few connections. Fatmata and Ella were happy to discover that they both wear uniforms to school, they have recess, and they both like Math. Fatmata has a little brother, too, just like Ella. Fatmata asked to see our dog, and next week, Ella wants to play the piano for her. It was amazing to look into the eyes of this little girl in Africa and tell her that I'm coming to see her!
We can't change THE WORLD alone, but we can each change A WORLD for one (I have to credit Andrew Kirk for this wording!). Love this idea, and Matthew West does a great job of expressing it this song!
One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.
If you've ever wondered how to change the world for one, please consider sponsoring a child at The Covering. Expenses are growing, and the organization depends on sponsors to support the needs of these orphans. It's such a rewarding experience. Just follow this link to sign up!
The Raining Season Sponsorship
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