things learned in the past 12 hours

Update, I have arrived in Switzerland. YAYY. so far it is beautiful here and everyone is nice and and the floor is clean and yeah. i had 2 seats next to me open on the plane so i got to stretch out to sleep. Nothing much else to report. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, it's a boost of motivation for me.

well i have decided that i would like to share my knowledge and travel tips with you all. i have picked most of these up in the last 12 hours of flying and fighting the airport.

-Always plan for whole nations to be going through security the same time you are, so you don't have to run to your gate.

-if you are forced to run, make sure there are at least 2 American women racing you to the gate. you look less crazy and less of a threat to national security.

-eat all the food they give you for free on the plane. i mean everything, even the mini blocks of cheese, butter squares, cream cheese, jelly etc. it will save your life.

-make up games in your head while on long flights to fight off the crazy thoughts that come to mind. like how many times the guy behind you will kick your seat, or how much free swag can you get from the flight attendants.

-coffee, coke, tea and sugar are your friend at certain times of the flight. and always keep in mind the time that it is where you are landing, not where you left.

-while in the bathroom, ask your self questions like "if it says no smoking in the bathroom, why is there an ashtray?". also, check shelves in there for awesome goodies.

- if they offer movies, watch them, even if they suck, watch it.

-make up nicknames for everyone you see, like "swiss miss" or "dinnerlady doris' or even, "the language barrier would cause huge problems for our relationship".

-pillows and blankets can be used multiple ways, like extra backrest padding, extra armrest padding, and a silencer for snoring fellow passengers.

- always ease drop on the people next to you talking, then spread rumors about them to the rest of the plane, soon, everyone is on your side.

-always check the pocket in front of you, sometimes there is hidden treasure inside.

-bring a book with lots of pages.

-when you get on your plane, throw on your trusty bass pro shops hat just to tell everyone on the plane where your from.

-german always comes in handy.


well that's all i have for now. soon i'll have Africa tips and facts to share, but till then, ah-bye-bye.

27 hours.

Well, in 27 hours I will be on a plane, bound for Switzerland. After I arrive, I will spend 20 hours there, sleep, eat and then get back on a plane bound for my final destination and home for a few months, Kenya. This trip has been 6 months in the making, and I am only a little over a day away from executing the plan. But lets rewind and talk about where this all started.

In August 2009, I made my first trip to Kenya. I was the 3rd of 3 members going on this trip, the other 2, which i call my African parents, are Phil and Sarah Shipman, who are everything but African. Our goal was to talk to youth leaders and pastors and build a friendship to make way for a ministry called the "Promise Pac" that is a part of an organization called Foursquare Missions Press.. the basic function is to connect youth groups from other countries to youth groups in the United States through Skype and prayer. we spent about 2 weeks there, and then came home. Those 2 weeks gave me the missions bug. In those 2 weeks I got to meet missionaries, work with a medical team, work with a VBS, and fall in love with Africa. I still think about it everyday.

Fast forward a year, August 2010.   I am spending my summer days volunteering at Missions Press and working with Phil on none other but the "Promise Pac". Now Phil and Sarah are parents to the most adorable 6 month old I have ever seen. One day while at the press, I have a chance meeting that only God himself could of set up, they are 2 pastors from Kenya who run an orphanage, and need someone to help out. With the missions bug still eating away at me, I jumped at the opportunity. And that was where this whole thing started. After months and months of praying, everything fell into place. Funding came in quicker then i could of imagined. Prayer came even quicker.

So what seemed to be distant 6 months ago, is now almost close enough to touch. I said a lot of goodbyes Sunday at church, came close to letting the flood gates open while being prayed for in Kidstown, and had a perfect Sunday afternoon spent with my best friend. So in a few hours, I will pack my bags for the last time, eat my last fish tacos, and prepare to not see home till June. I'm a little nervous, but also excited. I am visiting the land where Roosevelt and Hemingway visited in order to escape the normal life.

I have a large list of tasks that need to be done while there. I am honored to be working with Foursquare missions press, who has trusted me with expanding the "Promise Pac" to Kenya, and distributing Gospel oriented tracts, teaching good and bibles. I also will be getting to live and work with an orphanage in any capacity they need me too. this trip the ultimate blessing to me, God has trusted me with all of this, and has trusted me to go by myself. and all i can do is say, praise God.