saying goodbye to justin and alex (and the crazy bus) was wayyyy harder than i had expected. i felt incredibly sad to leave them and kenya. i could have had the big ugly cry and opted to just let a few tears fall because i couldn't stop them. crying gives me a headache anyway, and i reminded myself i had put my big girl panties on that morning.
the kenyan protesters had planned demonstrations again at the city center, and we were advised to get to the airport sooner than later. we got to the airport around 2:00 pm for an 11:00 pm flight. if that wasn't bad enough, they delayed it until 1 am.
our entertainment was lilly. i am smiling just typing that. while we were in line checking our bags, there was a glitch in lilly's ticket, and michele was at the counter trying to get it straightened out for a very long time. kenyan airlines only had her going to paris where our layover was. as we waited, lilly said she recently dreamed she met a black man in paris and fell in love. well, that is all it took and we starting writing a novel all based on that plot. first line was 'it was a dark and smokey night" (people are protesting in france over recent elections and starting fires) instead of the more popular opening line of "it was a dark and stormy night." his name is pierre, and they meet when she is protesting, drops her sign, and he picks it up for her and their eyes lock. our best romcom comes pouring out of us and we couldn't stop laughing and coming up with ridiculous scenarios!
and then!!! we finally get settled at the gate and next thing we know, we see lilly sitting at the coffee cafe mucking it up with a good-looking guy (his family is from madagascar and he's lived in paris all his life)! they talk for over two hours just laughing and being totally engaged in the conversation. they were very attentive to each other lol! the rest of us are eavesdropping and thinking maybe she had had a prophetic dream. he had to leave for his flight and he literally skips away. that poor girl will never hear the end of our teasing. it definitely helped pass the time 🤣
the problem was there were still too many hours left after that excitement. i laughed at myself for throwing Jesus glitter on my last blog's comment about 'we will get home at the appointed time'. the appointed time was gonna have me in tears! because we were late leaving nairobi, we missed our flight in paris. we get rebooked and fly through TSA to make it to gate, and they had closed it even though the plane was clearly still there. so, rebooked again for 3:40. arrive in minneapolis nine hours later. we had little time to get bags, go through customs, recheck bags, go through TSA, and find gate. but we made it and arrived in indy about 10:30 pm! only five hours behind original time.
travel is not for the faint of heart.
on a long distance trip like this, one delayed flight is a domino effect for all the flights to follow.
"oh ye, of little faith." every single time i have traveled internationally, those are the exact words i think as i come down the long corridor of indianapolis international. it never fails that He never fails to finish what He started.
this trip was different, though. i haven't put my finger on it yet. i am guessing that because i am in a new season, experiences are landing on me differently. maybe it's just aging and gaining better perspectives? God does things in such a mysterious way. ultimately, He is the one changing my heart by putting me in new situations to keep pruning what is dead and not working.
this is the very first time i didn't feel anxious once i had left home. that is really not like me. you've heard the expression probably to hold things with an open hand so that if God is handing you something else, you can take it. that is my best analogy. my heart has always been so tightly tied to my home, that i really didn't have an open hand emotionally. this trip proved that i can step away and His peace is what regulates me, not this physical property.
that is so freeing for me.
pulling in the drive was so sweet. we walked in and it was exactly like we'd left it. but better! melissa had poured love into this place to express her heart that she was proud of us for going so far from home to love on people. it really moved her. we had a banner and streamers, balloons, printed pictures from the blog post made into a decoupaged collage, flowers from the garden, and meals and desserts for tomorrow in the fridge. and we each had a stuffed animal and encouraging words on our pillows. it left me so humbled. and so happy to have a friend who doesn't hold back in showing her affection.
now it is thursday afternoon, and it has been a quiet, good day. i am making myself be mellow and not trying to do a lot. honestly, i don't even want to. i wanna just be. our bodies keep track and i recognize i need to let my body rest. it was put through a lot and was good to me, so i am gonna be good to her now ❤️
i realize i am jumping all around in this last post... there's just so much i want to remember.
so, what now? i feel equally excited about the projects underway at the farm, and the things i have been called to as result of this trip. i feel like i have a dual purpose and they complement each other. i see what i can do to help orphans and widows -- it isn't some intangible concept. they are people with a soul, a story, and a name.
i really appreciate you joining me on this little journey. writing is therapy for me. i want to remember how i felt in real time, and that is what trip blogs do for me. a heartfelt thanks.
(sunrise coming up in paris)
(where my devotional was open for today...)
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xoxox
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