Although I don’t plan to necessarily go in chronological order, I decided that I would start near the beginning for this week’s post. My fellow journey-folk & I had 6 weeks of boot camp, er training, in Virginia in the summer of 1986, then were sent home to get ready to head to our respective countries. I was in awe of the folks headed to China & West Africa – those destinations seemed a lot scarier than mine. I was assigned to work in Harare, Zimbabwe – I wasn’t even going to be in the bush!
Zimbabwe denied my work permit – rightly saying that they didn’t see why a Zimbabwean couldn’t do the work of secretary-bookkeeper. I waited for four months before the Foreign Mission Board was able to find me a new assignment – Lusaka, Zambia. I found out in November – and after sending all of my paperwork to the Lusaka Baptist Mission twice (they obviously needed my services LOL), I set out on my grand adventure on a plane flying out of the Charlotte, North Carolina airport. Here is what I wrote in my journal that day:Tuesday, January 13, 1987
I feel very alone now. God, are you there? Give me strength. Strength to face my impracticalities and do something about them. My carry-on bag will not fit – so I must check it in Atlanta. Why does that bother me so much? Because it makes me feel foolish and I don’t like feeling foolish.
Saying goodbye is so hard. I can see Mom & Dad standing at the window and that’s when I start to cry. I’m not supposed to cry – this is my adventure. A year and a half isn’t so very long. It’s time for me to grow up.
Sometimes I wonder if I set things in motion just because I know I won’t stop it – and I know it’s good for me. Is this really God’s will for my life? Can I really know the answer?
It's not likely you'd find such a helpful stewardess today.
ReplyDeleteI love the penguins passport!
It's so strange - I just realized I can't remember my first flight to Liberia. I remember my second, and I remember so well my flight home. Strange what stays and what doesn't.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest grief about my time in Liberia is that I have no photos left. I was there in the mid-70s, when everything was film, and everything depended on processing. Even keeping the film in the refrigerator wasn't a guarantee, as you didn't know where it had been beforehand. And it had to go to Monrovia to be processed by folks who maybe cared, and maybe didn't. If I had another shot at it, I'd find out where the people from the Embassy got their photos developed - for all I know, they may have sent everything back to the States on the PanAm flight that brought their weekly strawberries and champagne on Friday. ;)
A year and a half seems long to me. I am curious what organization sponsored this for you. Maybe you said and I overlooked it...sorry.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you still have your letters and journals!
well - i missed these first time around i think, so am looking forward to reliving this. Liking the little stuffed toy that went with you
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