Bags are packed. now what

Without giving away any details to strangers, I'm leaving very soon!

I find it incredibly funny that my carry on weighs more than each of my checked bags...  

I have more stuff for my friends than I do for myself (OK the cured meat may be a little selfish, but I can't possibly eat 4 pounds of salt pork, 4 pounds of summer sausage and 2 pounds of pepperoni while I'm there.  Besides it'll give me a great opportunity to go on that beans and rice diet I've been wanting to try....

I spent last Friday with a missionary friend of mine.  She spent the past year in Switzerland.  Some people think that it was vacation, but I tell you the truth, it was not.  She spent more than a few hours alone - really alone - no TV, radio or phone or anyone else.  It wasn't a journey where she was supposed to be alone, but after her daily work was done (ministering to a precious aging servant!) all she had was time.  She could get on the computer, but even that was limited...  Emailing your kids is just not the same as talking to them or being with them.  Emoticons don't even come close to sharing all the feeling in your voice or face...  It was so encouraging to know that God showed up when she hadn't planned it.  

I have no real plans for what I'll do or be in Uganda other than a servant to my dear friend and her family!  Perhaps that's the best place for me to begin - with nothing to offer but me.  I could ask to go on safari or some exotic journey, but Uganda is exotic enough TYVM!  I'm content just doing whatever my hands find to do...

Like now, I have shoes to shod on my 3 yo, dinner to make ready and tidying up along with folding laundry...  

May the Lord Bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace forever...

I'm so glad you asked...

I have been not blogging because I've spent hours and hours searching for flights to Uganda!

I couldn't decide where I should share this news first (I'm sure I just moved to the bottom of the list since I didn't stop some of my friends to share with them). I have way too many options. There's my local group of friends. Then there's facebook and sparkpeople (but I don't know that group of people IRL - except two!) and an entire e-mail group. Therefore, I started here.

For my readers who don't know(all three of you, how could you not), I have a dear friend and her family that are Servants in Uganda. They've been there for 6 months and will be there for at least another year or more. They can't just pack up every 6 months and journey home, so I'm going to them.

I've never been a planner. I knew for a whole year that I was going to go to visit next month. It took me until today to buy the tickets! Am I afraid of commitment? Probably. But as of today I'm going to Uganda. In essence, I'll be gone for two weeks right smack in the middle of February!

This marks the 14 year anniversary of the first time I traveled overseas, and it was in February then, too. So twice in my life I'm celebrating my birthday on foreign soil.

Please pray for us. MM and L, M and S will be together for two weeks. They'll be fine together, but it can be stressful. Pray for the river to stay within it's banks. Pray for my traveling safety as I'll be going alone (unless someone wants to go with me!). Pray for our deck to be built soon. I know it's a distraction from what is going on, but the deck would really help.