Kenyan Recovery Process.

I did survive. I was NOT eaten by a hippo.

I have had a bunch of people asking about the Kenya trip and how it was and to see pictures and all that jazz, and it will come. I promise. Soon hopefully.

I have been back for slightly over a week now, but only back to myself for a day or two. Coming back home was not a culture shock (as our leader claimed it would be, thus the pizza dinner on our last night?). No, it was a complete release of emotional and psychological trauma and stress.

Trauma might be a heavy handed word, but by my mental and physical reaction to getting out of that situation, it feels like its the most relevant. It took a massive amount out of me. I was quick to blame all the irregular medications I was on (antibiotics for my stitches, malarone, and all the lovely pills I normally take). But I really don't think that was it alone, combine very little sleep (I was getting about 4 hours a night), absolutely no personal or reflection time from 7am-10pm, relationships that would drive Ghandi up a wall. Then throw in a completely unbalanced diet (veggie and fruit free, my nightmare) and zero possibilities of working out, and you have a completely hazed and lucid situation.

The above paragraph totally underestimates the importance of how much I was driven completely batty on this trip by key members of the group. It was 95% of the problem, and it took literally every ounce of my sanity to hold back and not launch into the jugulars of people. (If you were on this trip, and reading this, I probably don't mean you)

It's amazing how weird and scary not feeling like yourself can actually get.

But yes. Sleep has somewhat been restored, yoga has been restarted, clarity is still slowly coming back, and I am beginning to feel like a normal person again. I haven't even gotten through telling Tim about the whole trip yet. I kinda feel like its war just to go through it all again, same with the pictures. Sorting them is just like reliving it and I can only do so many at a time. It doesn't help that I have an endless 2100 to get through. I havent even actually finished journalling. That will be a long while. That takes energy that I just still don't have.

So keep your eye out. Pictures will be around in a Kenyan minute. But hopefully sooner!

Namaste.

Tray tables in upright and locked position!

24 hours later…

Thanks for the full day layover Chicago! And by that I really just mean Rick Bayless’ Mexican. God that was good.

Here’s hoping we get to London now.

Getting to Nairobi without further incident would take a Cubs Series win….

Cue Lion King Theme.

I just wrote a huge post about my surgeries and back ordeal. So scroll on down if you are interested in those shenanigans that have lasted far too long!

We leave for Kwambekenya in a few hours, but we won’t get there until tomorrow. Via Chicago, London, and Nairobi.

As a self-admitted terrified flier (odd with all the traveling I do, I know), feel free to send up some prayers to the plane and higher if you think of it today. Xanax can do a lot, but I’ll take all the help I can get :-)

Sara Fitzgerald has been deemed the blogger for the group on this trip and should be posting daily updates to http://www.plcblogs.org/influence So if you want to check out our progress in Kenya. Here is your opportunity!!!

I’ll be back July 3rd, so after resting and a crazy amount of laundry, keep a look out for crazy picture and blog posts of my own!

Kwambekenya: A Call for Help.

Spring is here! Which means it’s almost summer, and almost time for me to make yet another crazy adventure happen. This one is quite different than all of the others so far though.

Some of you may know that my mother has been lucky enough to take several mission trips over to Kwambekenya, Kenya in the past number of years, with the last one ending quite abruptly. This year she is going back to finish what she began and I have the great excitement of being able to go with her and other team members on June 23-July 2.

The team will consist of approximately 20 people, mostly from Prairie Lakes Church (PLC) in Cedar Falls. We are working through the 410 Bridge Foundation. We will not know exactly the nature of the work that we will be doing while in Kenya, but there are many different opportunities to share the ministry in all that we do to help the Kenyan community during our time there.

We could be working digging trenches for easier access to cleaner water, helping build/repair communal buildings, such as the school. Conditions are less than ideal in their part of the world, and every person that we take over to help in the labor and the planning of such things, helps expand and better what they endure every day.

As with all missions, it's unfortunately a costly endeavor to make the physical adventure happen. For each individual, between travel and living expenses, the cost is $3500, and needs to be raised in full by the end of April.

I know this isn't the best economic time to be asking for donations, but having witnessed others (mainly my own mother) who have been on this exact mission trip in the past, I have been able to see that this is a mission worth giving towards. This community has been matched with my own for a reason, and to not reach out and do my best to help further the Kenyan mission isn't an excuse of, "It's a money thing."

So I ask you to at least consider giving to the cause. Any piece helps. Whether it be $5 or $100, it gets one step closer to doing good will for these people, and the hearts of our own, the team members going with. As the trip not only changes the people of Kwambekenya, but gives a better look to those that live in the "wealth" of the United States, including myself.

Any donation you give is tax deductible. You can donate online at http://prairielakeschurch.org/give. First time online givers must create an account and then follow the directions as prompted. Once signed in, click the “Project Kenya” fund and then choose my name from the drop down menu.

Please do what you feel most comfortable with and know that I am truly thankful for everything that you have given to this journey, either through your donations and/or your prayers and thoughts.

Thank you so much for your aid and goodwill for this project!!!
Clare