Leg One...

So...my flight to meet up with the Africa Mercy in Tenerife...is BOOKED.
Wow. Leg One. Down.

Thankfully, my travel agent, Rikki, with Menno Travel made it super easy for me. As it stands, I should be leaving in the middle of January...leaving Calgary, going to Amsterdam, then Madrid, then Tenerife. It's going to be a long day of travel...and when I say day, I mean day. I think all-in-all...with going to the airport early because it's an international flight...the 3 different flights and layovers... It'll be about 22 hours and 30 minutes of travel, 14 of which is actual air time. This will definitely be a different experience for me. The longest flight I've been on was 9 hours. But, then to travel for more after that? We'll see how it goes!

I'm also kind of excited, because I am going to tour Tenerife before meeting up with the ship. My friend, Tamara, is going to be in England, and we plan on meeting up before I get on board. Another friend is going to give me tips on what to see and do when in the Canary Islands... So, if any of you have any ideas - let me know! I love exploring!

Calagry to Tenerife. Check. Tenerife to Togo. Check.

Now...to piece together what to do after my 6 months with Mercy...

(In spite of everything going down as it is and coming together...it still hasn't really hit me that I am going. And, I keep sitting here and wondering when will it hit me? When will it sink it? I'm going away. And for a significant amount of time. I'm doing this...I'm actually doing this...)

The Human Pin Cushion...

Yesterday, I had my travel clinic appointment at Medisys. My nurse was Chelsea, and she was really awesome. She told me that she wanted to do the Mercy Ships, too...but, then she got married. She also said that she looked a bit more into it, and she's sure that her husband could volunteer, too. I told her that they should still see if they can volunteer together. How awesome would it be to share an experience like that with a spouse?

When all was said and done - I ended up with three injections. The Yellow Fever vaccine, which is mandatory and requires proof of vaccination if entering areas with yellow fever, Typhoid, and my adult booster for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Polio. Needless to say, I felt a bit like a human pin cushion. But - better safe than sorry!

(Just a note...the reason why I chose to go to Medisys is because they are a Yellow Fever Certified Travel Clinic. So, if any of you are looking to travel in Yellow Fever areas, this could be something to consider. Also, an unknown blessing when setting up my appointment - they usually waive consultations fees when your trip is for volunteering! If not, they do have a 10% off consultation fee coupon available on their website. Either way, volunteering or pleasure, I am sure that they could meet you travel vaccination needs. Also - don't forget to see if you can get your vaccinations covered by third party insurance. I just found out that my plan covers 80% of vaccinations, up to $250 per year. When you're volunteering, every little bit helps!


Me with my international certificate of immunization and prophylaxis...a necessary travel document to go to West Africa!

Shaken...

Yesterday, I went to Tehillah Monday. The speaker's name is Trevor Meier. It was awesome. It struck me. Even left me shaken.

Ever just wanted some thing that you wanted sooo bad to go sooo smoothly - without a single bump in the road? Ever think about how that never happens? That's how things seem to be going for me right now. Ever opportunity for doubt to creep in...it does. Some thing in life happens...and I second guess this trip. God, is this you? Or is this just me?

After going to Tehillah on Monday...I ended up phoning one of my best friends...a few tears may have been shed. And, she gave me a quote...a little mantra, so to speak:
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
- E. Roosevelt

So...I'm choosing to believe Him, not just in Him. Fears, doubts, bumps in the road aside. Believe with me, too...

(To view the message that I refer to in this blog...follow the link to Tehillah TV. Click on the little "HOME" arrow in the top right hand corner of the video player. Select the Tehillah option. Then, choose "Tehillah Monday, October 5th, 2009 feat Trevor Meier".)