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I can not believe that today is the day that I am heading out of the states to begin working internationally. In Africa.

A place I have always dreamed of going to. It doesn’t feel real. All of my bags are packed and I have so many thoughts running through my head. I am currently sitting in the Nashville airport at my gate. I have a 3 hour delay because of “air-traffic.” This is going to be the beginning of a very long journey! haha. But hey, everything happens for a reason. A few extra hours to the trip doesn’t even compare to the time I have been waiting to do this! Everything all feels so surreal. It has been such a journey transitioning from college and being an adult in the “real world.” However, this trip is something that makes me not feel uneasy or question what I am doing. There is nothing else I could picture myself doing than doing this right now in my life. It is something I have always had a desire to do and now it is officially happening. People that I am sitting beside probably think I am crazy because I am just smiling from ear to ear because this moment is finally here and they just see it as an annoying 3 hour delay. I was supposed to land tomorrow at 9:00PM, Tanzanian time; however, now it is looking a bit later. I have a few stops before I get there: Newark, Zurich, Nairobi, and then finally Dar es Salaam!!! I guess the most exciting and at the same time scary thing I am looking forward to is simply the unknown. I have no idea what the culture is going to be like once I step off of the plane in Africa. I have been doing my best on my Swahili! Hopefully I’ll be able to understand some things when I go to pick up my Visa and Business Permit once I get off of the plane. I can hardly eat anything because I am so excited and anxious. Hopefully all will go smoothly with the next flights and no delays will happen!

I guess the main thing on my mind right now is just all of the support and love I have seen in these last few days. I wish I had more time before I left to see all of my friends and family. I got back from being a camp nurse in WI (which was quite an interesting experience at an all boys camp!! I LOVED it!) this Monday at midnight and I have been preparing and packing my bags for Africa ever since! I have received so much support, love, and words of affirmation. I knew I had an incredible support group but it really hit me over this week how many amazing and caring people I have in my life. I hope to carry that with me to Africa and really engulf myself in their culture and get to know the people who live there. I know I will see so much hardship. Hardship I have never laid my eyes on. In those moments of hardship, and pain and suffering that I see I hope to be able to help in anyway that I can and freely commit myself to service. I have been blessed with so much I hope to pass that on to everyone I come into contact with.

I guess I will be writing you from Africa in my next post!!! Kwaheri (goodbye)!