"45 minutes in Rome" - that's what Dad told me to title my book. Whether or not I ever do that, the 45 minutes I spent on the ground of the Rome airport in the wee hours of a beautiful Roman morning, to me, marked the real beginning of my grand adventure. Sure, flying the first eight hours from Washington D.C. to Rome were cool, but now I am actually, physically, on my way to Africa. AFRICA!Everything has gone smoothly thus far. Mom cried when she and Daddy dropped me off at the New Orleans airport and that kind of freaked me out, but she assured me she was ok. My night at the hotel in D.C. was uneventful except for the fact that I only got about four hours of sleep. Between restlessness and nerves, the alarm clock in the room also went off at 3AM. Ick. So I've been kind of sleepwalking...uh...sleepsitting through most of today, but thankfully I didn't have any trouble at the airport in D.C. As long as I can make the connecting flight in Addis Ababa, I'll be golden!
While waiting to board the plane in D.C., I met a kind elderly man and his wife who are full time missionaries in Nairobi! They had been to Canada visiting their grandchildren and are heading home on this flight. He (I don't know his name, unfortunately) told me that the people of Malawi are "outstandingly friendly" and that I was sure to love it there. He advised me to be ready to be tested and not to lose hope or become discouraged by what I see there, but rather to ask God to show me how His heart breaks for people in pain, feel the pain, and use it to grow and mature in my faith. He told me not to feel paralyzed by the scale of pain and suffering, but rather show love and compassion to whomever I had the chance because, while I may never be able to help a million hurting people, who knows if one of those babies I love and hold and nurture will grow up to do just that? You know how we "entertain angels unaware?" I think I did, sitting at gate D23, waiting to board Ethiopian Airlines. :)
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