So, as a few of you may know, I've been presented with an opportunity to go to Africa on mission trip to build a community Health Center in Kumpa, Kenya, which happens to be just outside of Nairobi. Everything is being arranged through Lutheran Hour Ministries, so all we're responsible for is raising money and getting ourselves to Kenya. Here's what we're doing:
First the back story: The village of Kumpa has no medical facilities and a pregnant woman started having complications and was unable to procure a vehicle to drive her to the nearest medical center some distance away. What ended up happening was that she died in the birthing process and the child could not be saved. This caused an outcry from the community to the government of Kenya who responded that the community was to raise the funds for a facility and the government would staff the building.
Currently, we have raised the money that we were responsible for building materials through a garage sale, private donations, and a silent auction and ball. We still have a need to cover some of the travel expenses, but it seems that the majority of the cost has been covered. There are about fourteen people from Zion Fairbanks going on the trip (including myself) and we leave from Fairbanks on January 15th to return on February 2nd.
It seems really strange to say, but it feels like I was supposed to move to Alaska when I did because I became involved with a group of people that got to know me for a month or so before an opening presented itself in this trip and they felt comfortable asking me to join the group. It feels like God has made things too easy for me in a lot of ways. First, my trip up to Alaska went extremely well. Then, I found a job within three or four days upon my arrival in Fairbanks. Next, Zion Fairbanks welcomed me quite quickly and introduced me to many people that have become my closest friends in Alaska. All these things combined together to make my decision to go on this Africa trip a non-decision. They only reason I could think of for not going was because... well... it's Africa, as I have never had a strong affinity for anything on that continent. In fact several of my friends in Lincoln called me out on this one. "Weren't you the one who said that you'd never go to Africa?" Yes, yes I was, but I guess that you can't rule out anything when your life doesn't belong to you.
All things considered, it will be a life changing trip with people I consider my friends to a new and exciting (and warm) place come January in Alaska. What more could you want? Let the wanderings continue...
Here's a late breaking news story on the recent modification of my beard... The beard was last seen before the Africa ball, and has since been missing. If you happen to find it, or have any information leading to it's capture there is a cash reward available. It has been approximately eight years since this portion of my mug has been reviled to the public. For obviously reasons. (*Smacks his lower lip onto his upper* "It feels so weird...")
In related news this man was seen dancing all night with this pretty lady. This is a crime in forty-eight states. Good thing he was in Alaska. Swing, Cha-Cha, Rock, and slow dancing was seen in varying quality and quantity; but oddly enough both parties appeared to be enjoying themselves. Only you can prevent this kind of mayhem from happening again. Should you choose to accept this mission, you will be required to drive/fly/swim/crawl to Alaska and witness the sights for yourself. They are truly breath taking, in more ways than one... ;-)
