We're in the air!

I’m sitting on a flight to Brazzaville right now from Nairobi as I pass Mt. Kilimanjaro on the left side of the plane. I cannot believe we are in Africa. All the anticipation and excitement over the past few months is finally here. But let me tell you, travelling to Kinshasa isn’t as easy as snapping your fingers. I feel like I’ve flown on ten different flights and puked way too many times. So here’s an insight to our first few days of travelling.
Our friends travelling to Peru, Lithuania and Japan all left two days earlier than us. We kicked around on the Southern Manitoba Tour waiting for Jeff to re join us. He flew home for his sister’s wedding and made us wait an extra two days for him. How incredibly selfish. Typical. (Totally kidding, congratulations Jeff’s sister!) But while awaiting sir Jeffery William’s return, we spent time in Crystal City with Kelly’s family. The highlight of the day was the Big Brother premiere that we ever so strategically downloaded the day before. K, maybe this was my highlight. Others may include a tour of the canola farm and line dancing with the Neufelds. Our second stop on the Southern Manitoba tour was Winnipeg, at the Bell residence. My team had the privilege to sit in on a Bell family dinner. It was a magical evening filled with Helen’s cooking, personal attacks on Big Jim and dry sarcasm from Acksanna.
Let the flights begin! Our route? Winnipeg to Toronto to Amsterdam to Nairobi to Brazaville to Kinshasa. Whoa?! Can we handle such a plan? Of course! We’re team all-stars! Like I said, we are on our flight to Brazaville right now. Here are some highlights from our 2 days of travelling so far. We watched the world cup in the airport in Toronto where Jared’s brother his wife joined us! Jeff lost his Yellow fever card in Amsterdam. This is very important if you have hopes on entering most places in Africa. They found the card, but ever so rudely could not get it to him in time to board the plane. He still doesn’t have his card, but he’s on the plane. This is all that matters right now. We’ll figure it out when we land? Silly Jeffrey. I’m quickly learning that not only did Alyssa pack everything she owns, but she makes poor strategic decisions in placing these items in bags. For example, we open our food bag to find that she has placed her shampoos, creams and gels (and who knows what else) into the same suitcase as all our food. The hand sanitizer exploded over all our food. The oatmeal took the greatest hit. (insert moment of silence) I told Alyssa she has to fast for a week to make up her rations. Who thinks I’m joking...
I apparently have this new tradition I’ve started where I have to puke everyday that I’m in Africa. Im sitting on the plane to Nairobi and conversation is just flowing with Kelly and Alyssa. Good laughs are being had, secrets are being shared and laughed at, etc. All of a sudden, puke. I needed a bathroom immediately. I spent a good 10 laying on the bathroom floor hovered over the toilet. You know when you barf and start crying and call on Jesus to make it stop? Well, not only did I get to experience this on the plane, but this morning as well as we drove back to the airport. Some guy will enjoy the surprise I left for him in the parking lot in front of his car.
Kenya is awesome. Our overnight was incredible. We are all just excited that we are finally in Africa. We are continually bonding as a group. It’s starting to feel like a family among the six of us. We enjoyed a team time dinner last night of crackers, granola bars and teddy grahams on our deck outside our rooms. It was kind of like the calm before the storm. We shared our expectations and excitements for the weeks to come, all while breathing in the African air. Awesome!
Pray that we get adjusted quickly to our home in Kinshasa. Pray that we would be filled with energy as these past few days have been long and tiring. Pray for health! We begin our ministry in 2 days at Mama Georgette’s orphanage in Kinshasa. We will post again in a few days!
To all our families and friends,
We love and miss you! And we are all doing great!