In approximately 13 days, 1 hour, and 30 minutes I will be on a plane leaving Indianapolis. This flight will be one of three through Detroit and Amsterdam (with amazingly short layovers), which will take us to our final destination: Nairobi, Kenya! That's right folks, I'm going to AFRICA!
The trip dreaming began last year when I learned that my dear friend Rose would be working at a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya for six months. My love for her mixed with my love for travel (and my desire to cross Africa off of my "must visit" list) got everything going. I started talking with some other friends (Lori and Charity) who shared my loves, figured out a good time to go, scoured the airline sites (that would be my obsession), and locked in our dates: March 9-22, 2011. We bought our tickets late at night, huddled around my dad's MacBook in my parents' living room, giddily comparing each person's itinerary (making sure we were all on the same flights!). With a few clicks on the track pad, we each added a quick $1300 to our credit card statements. The excitement and adventure had already begun. As soon as the two week trip was booked, I wondered out loud "Why aren't we going for 3 weeks?" Oh, how I love to travel!
As you can see, the countdown has gone below the 2-week mark, which is so hard to believe. And a lot has happened since we committed to Kenya back in November of 2010. A summary...
1. Amie joined our travel team. After a few weeks of "being interested", she cleared her time off with work and bought her tickets to join us.
2. Rose left for Kenya. She left in January with farewells and some very excited people (that would be me and my travel buddies) saying "See you soon!"
3. Our in-country itinerary was planned. With the help of Rose and a wonderful Kenyan travel agent, we have the most amazing trip! Everything--hotels, lodges, in-country flights, transportation--everything has been planned for us! There will even be someone holding a sign with our names on it at the airport in Nairobi. Best thing ever.
4. We went from 4 to 3. Indianapolis got hit with some serious ice in January and our travel team has lost a valuable member due to the slick stuff. Lori is out with a broken ankle. So sad! While she's hoping to reschedule her visit with Rose in Kenya for later this summer, we are definitely going to to miss her!
As the departure date gets closer, I have shifted into "let's go!" mode. I went to my travel doctor (yes, I have a "travel doctor" and he is awesome!) to get my Yellow Fever vaccine. (Check!) He also gave me scripts for anti-malarial meds and antibiotic, which still need to be filled. (Add to the To Do list.) On Saturday, we got together for coffee to talk about what to wear and what to pack. So, this week I got serious about creating a packing list. And I mean serious. I did research (hunting websites for advice on what to pack/bring/leave at home), considered my previous travel experience, and put together the most detailed list I've ever seen. (I'll post it later for interested travelers.) I am already feeling less stressed and even more excited.
Now that I've finished this post, I'm even closer to take-off! The countdown is now...13 days and 51 minutes.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Today I met a homeless man
He was sitting on a wrought iron fence along Washington Street, shaking his plastic cup holding of a small pile of coins he had collected today. He asked for change, which I gave him. Then, I stopped to talk to him. His name is Willie. He is from Little Rock, Arkansas. He came to Indianapolis to find a job as a machinist, but couldn't find work. He stayed at Wheeler Mission for awhile. Willie met a man who receives mail for him, mostly from his mother in Arkansas. He showed me the envelope of one that he just got today. (He wanted to prove that he wasn't telling stories.)
Then we started talking about food. I asked him if would like some lunch. He said that he would--a hambuger and fries would be nice. Since Panera was the closest place for lunch, I suggested some soup. He said he would like potato soup--and a ham sandwhich. A minute later I found myself in line at Panera (where I often go for lunch) buying lunch for a homeless man (which I had never done before). I held back tears as I scanned the menu for potato soup and a ham sandwhich. I placed my order as anyone else--substituing wheat bread for rye (would Willie like rye? I don't.) and selecting broccoli cheddar (my personal favorite) as potato soup was not on the menu today. I took the meal out to Willie and he was very thankful. He was persistant in telling me that he wasn't a scammer, he was a hard worker, and he really needed some more money so he could could get cleaned up somewhere and stay some more nights at Wheeler. I asked him if knew Jesus, if he had given his life to Christ. He said that he'd heard about Him. I told him that the truth about Jesus was more valuable than money and shared the gospel with him. I felt compelled to give him some more money--trusting that Willie would keep his word and, more importantly, knowing that my money is really on loan from God. I told Willie that I would pray for him and when he asked me to really do it, to really pray for him, I asked if I could pray right then. So, I stood next Willie outside IRT on Washington St and I prayed for him and I prayed for me--that God would keep teaching me what it means to trust him and care for those around me as Jesus would. Willie shook my hand and I said goodbye, praying more for him as I walked down the street.
Why has is taken me so many months to buy lunch for a hungry person I've seen on the street? Working downtown has allowed me to encounter so many homeless people and others asking for money from the workers and shoppers who busily pass by. I talked to Willie about why poeple so often just walk along without giving money or saying anything to him. My answer reflected my own experience--that being one of uncertainty, of fear, and of worrying that the money given may not be put to good use. For years I have been distanced from the povery of my own city. Growing up on the northside of Indy it was not difficult to avoid eye contact with the few people holding cardboard signs near the interstate ramps. Homelessness was not as visible and it wasn't something that I really wanted to think about.
I do struggle with knowing the best way respond to poverty and homelessness. There are books that are on my list to read (like When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert) that would probably help me understand the issues better and figure out what role I may play. As I reflect on my lunch break adventure and my friend Willie I am reminded that just a year or two ago I would have said that I didn't really feel passionate about domestic poverty. Not surprisingly, working a year downtown and reengaging with my home city has changed that. I am praying about how I might adjust my ministry involvement over the next year in order to actively engage in alleviately poverty and sharing Christ's love to those less fortunately than me in my own city.
I know that lunch and $20 is not going to get Willie out of homelessness, but I do pray that he would know that God cares for him and is the ultimate source of lastly hope and life. If you have any stories or thoughts on how to help the homeless and those begging on the streets, please share. I have so much to learn...
Then we started talking about food. I asked him if would like some lunch. He said that he would--a hambuger and fries would be nice. Since Panera was the closest place for lunch, I suggested some soup. He said he would like potato soup--and a ham sandwhich. A minute later I found myself in line at Panera (where I often go for lunch) buying lunch for a homeless man (which I had never done before). I held back tears as I scanned the menu for potato soup and a ham sandwhich. I placed my order as anyone else--substituing wheat bread for rye (would Willie like rye? I don't.) and selecting broccoli cheddar (my personal favorite) as potato soup was not on the menu today. I took the meal out to Willie and he was very thankful. He was persistant in telling me that he wasn't a scammer, he was a hard worker, and he really needed some more money so he could could get cleaned up somewhere and stay some more nights at Wheeler. I asked him if knew Jesus, if he had given his life to Christ. He said that he'd heard about Him. I told him that the truth about Jesus was more valuable than money and shared the gospel with him. I felt compelled to give him some more money--trusting that Willie would keep his word and, more importantly, knowing that my money is really on loan from God. I told Willie that I would pray for him and when he asked me to really do it, to really pray for him, I asked if I could pray right then. So, I stood next Willie outside IRT on Washington St and I prayed for him and I prayed for me--that God would keep teaching me what it means to trust him and care for those around me as Jesus would. Willie shook my hand and I said goodbye, praying more for him as I walked down the street.
Why has is taken me so many months to buy lunch for a hungry person I've seen on the street? Working downtown has allowed me to encounter so many homeless people and others asking for money from the workers and shoppers who busily pass by. I talked to Willie about why poeple so often just walk along without giving money or saying anything to him. My answer reflected my own experience--that being one of uncertainty, of fear, and of worrying that the money given may not be put to good use. For years I have been distanced from the povery of my own city. Growing up on the northside of Indy it was not difficult to avoid eye contact with the few people holding cardboard signs near the interstate ramps. Homelessness was not as visible and it wasn't something that I really wanted to think about.
I do struggle with knowing the best way respond to poverty and homelessness. There are books that are on my list to read (like When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert) that would probably help me understand the issues better and figure out what role I may play. As I reflect on my lunch break adventure and my friend Willie I am reminded that just a year or two ago I would have said that I didn't really feel passionate about domestic poverty. Not surprisingly, working a year downtown and reengaging with my home city has changed that. I am praying about how I might adjust my ministry involvement over the next year in order to actively engage in alleviately poverty and sharing Christ's love to those less fortunately than me in my own city.
I know that lunch and $20 is not going to get Willie out of homelessness, but I do pray that he would know that God cares for him and is the ultimate source of lastly hope and life. If you have any stories or thoughts on how to help the homeless and those begging on the streets, please share. I have so much to learn...
Friday, February 4, 2011
International Encounter on the Streets of Indy
I love working downtown. While walking to my car after work today I merged with a large group coming out of one of the hotels. I heard bits of foreign languages so then I couldn't help but pay attention. The two men walking next to me were speaking Italian! I almost interrupted them to find out where they were from, but then I was at my parking garage and we parted ways. For about one minute I was transported to Europe--there was a mix of languages, some people speaking accented English, some Americans inquiring about culture and travel--and I was so very intrigued. Why was this group in Indianapolis? Where were they all from? Oh, how I wanted to know how I could have been one of their hosts and joined them for dinner!
Will I get live overseas again? Will I get to speak French or Italian (or something new) on a daily basis? Just this afternoon I told some women at work about my upcoming trip to Kenya and we talked about travel. This led me to think again that I would love to have job that allowed me travel internationally. Yes, that would be amazing...
I had mixed emotions as I drove home today. I felt a longing for something more--I'm not sure if that "something" is adventure or passion or what--but it's like my heart was reminded of the energy and contentment that I experienced while living overseas. I don't get that so much living in Indianapolis. At the same time, I am happy here. I do feel quite content, which I am so thankful for. God has blessed me so much--with friends, family, a faith community, a good job, nice coworkers, and...the list could go on. Perhaps my brief international encounter this afternoon is a reminder that Indianapolis is connected with people from all over the world! I might just need to go back to that French language club I visited a few times last year...Oui, c'est une bonne idée!
Will I get live overseas again? Will I get to speak French or Italian (or something new) on a daily basis? Just this afternoon I told some women at work about my upcoming trip to Kenya and we talked about travel. This led me to think again that I would love to have job that allowed me travel internationally. Yes, that would be amazing...
I had mixed emotions as I drove home today. I felt a longing for something more--I'm not sure if that "something" is adventure or passion or what--but it's like my heart was reminded of the energy and contentment that I experienced while living overseas. I don't get that so much living in Indianapolis. At the same time, I am happy here. I do feel quite content, which I am so thankful for. God has blessed me so much--with friends, family, a faith community, a good job, nice coworkers, and...the list could go on. Perhaps my brief international encounter this afternoon is a reminder that Indianapolis is connected with people from all over the world! I might just need to go back to that French language club I visited a few times last year...Oui, c'est une bonne idée!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)