3 days before... 9.22.10
After i had said all my goodbyes and held it together for all but one (thanks jazz) i was feeling pretty confident about my decision to go to Africa. But as i was sitting in the car on the way to the airport the weight of my decision started to hit me a little bit and i began to ask myself "what was i thinking going to Africa?" I started to have a little freak out but of course kept it to myself because it was too late to turn back.
After getting past security I get a text message from one of my friends who in the last 24 hours had made a big decision so I give her a call so I can be updated on it. Without sharing anything with her about what I am feeling or how scared I am she proceeds to tell me about her decision and how God was speaking to her to take a leap of faith and trust him. She reminded me of the story of Abraham and Isaac and how all God wanted to know was that Abraham would follow the Lord even if it wasn’t what he wanted. Then the Lord knew that Abraham could be used. I felt very encouraged by her faith to do what God was calling her to even if it wasn’t what everyone expected, or what might be seen as acceptable by parents or friends. After getting off the phone with her I spent some time reading over that story and in prayer about what I was about to do. The verse “do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” came to me and I knew that it would be okay.
So after that minor freak out things have been going relatively smooth. Our flight out of LAX was delayed until 1030pm. Then when we arrive in London we booked it from one flight to another, thinking that we only had 30 minutes between each flight. Also in London they make you go through security again when you are switching flights so we had to deal with that. We arrive at our terminal on time only to find that it had been delays 3 ½ hours, giving us time to hang out. I went on the internet and got send some emails and facebook chat with friends back home which was good. We finally arrived in Amsterdam at 1130PM (Holland time, 9 hrs ahead of US time). All of our bags got there which was good news. We then drove an hour to Aliberts house, were we are currently staying. Luckily Mandy has great friends here who have been letting us stay with them and feeding us. Holland is a beautiful but expensive place so I’m glad to not have to be paying for food constantly.
9.24.10
After 5 hours of sleep and whole lot of jet lag we were off to eat breakfast (lunch meat, bread, these Dutch chocolate sprinkles that you eat on bread lol) and then Leah and I took an hour train ride into Amsterdam. In Amsterdam I was introduced to Anita who spent 6 months in Uganda doing what I am going to be doing. It was really awesome to talk with her and hear her stories and advice about my time there.
In Amsterdam we went on a tour of the Anne Frank Hois, walked around the town, saw the red light district, ate food from a wall (they have these literal holes in the wall where you put a pound or so in there and you open a door and food is in there. Anita had me try it because it was Dutch food and didnt know what it was/ still couldn’t really tell you), took a canal boat tour. Im sorry I don’t have pictures for you right now but I am currently using Aliberts computer. When I get to Uganda and have those pictures on my computer I will do my best to be patient and take the time to put some up.
For about an hour yesterday we sat at a little café sipping coffee and playing “guess what country they are from,” which turned out to be really funny. I am really bad at guessing, but the one thing I could spot was an American dad from far away. They are all wearing jeans or cargo pants with white tennis shoes, baseball caps, sunglasses, and cameras around their necks (typical tourist haha). What can I saw I know my people. One thing I did find really great was that there were so many people wearing New York Yankees caps. I wasn’t really paying attention the first part of the day but when I saw one person wearing one I started to look more and more and saw at least 6 people wearing them. It made me really happy and felt like a little piece of home came with me to Amsterdam.
On the train ride home I was telling Anita about the United States because she has never been there before. I showed her pictures off my camera of ADX banquet, graduation, and a baseball game. She thought all of it was funny but really great! I kinda miss the US already! Haha
Holland is soo gorgeous and green! There are canals everywhere you go and people ride bikes like crazy over here. I was telling Anita I don’t remember the last time I rode a bike and she thought it was crazy. It is also raining randomly so I am always cold. It is hard to pack for Uganda where I will be living on the equator and stop on a colder place on the way. Everyone keeps making fun of me for being cold all the time.
I apologize for the long post in the future I will try and keep them shorter…
I will leave you with 2 things… 1. I found out on the way here that I will have internet in the guest houses. The internet will still be slow as molasses (lol) but I will most likely be able to check email and post things on this blog more than once a week!
And 2. I love and miss you all! Keep our travels in your prayers tomorrow!
-H
