Approximately 1 month away!

Here I am only about 1 month away from the the trip of a lifetime!  I truly look forward to meeting and working with these orphans at the orphanage!  I think and hope it will be such a blessing both ways.  It is really hard to believe it is this close, seems like just yesterday we were just talking about the possibility of this mission trip.

Where I am at so far?

• Tickets (most) – check
• Immunizations – check
• Medications (most) – check
• Started packing… – check

I have had some unexpected occurrences though….

First of all,  I had my yellow fever immunization and started my typhoid medication, made my appointment to go and get my last immunizations out of the way and had quite the surprise.  I got to my appointment, filled out my paperwork, headed to the back, sitting next to the immunizations, already used alcohol wipes to clean the area and surprise, “I can’t give you these because you are taking your typhoid right now and about a week ago had your yellow fever, we have to wait 30 days.”   Me: “What?!”  Remember I have been told it is okay to go ahead and get these because you will not be affected with these specific medications/immunizations mixed together.  The bad part is this, I wrote on my paperwork I filled out that I recently had immunization and am on medication, but it wasn’t until I said something about taking it they refused to give it to me.  I had already checked into and found out it was okay to go ahead and get these that day and I also had been told I need these 6-8 weeks before I leave if possible; I was at my 6 week mark.  I decided to go to another facility that day and they did give me all immunizations as they were supposed to, 3 total, thank the Lord.  So I went on about my day with my mother-in-law and we got some necessary shopping done for the trip and also found some really cool stuff in the process as well.  I went home that night and went to bed as usual, well then I remember waking up in the middle of the night freezing and shivering and asked my husband to give me some Tylenol  because I could tell I had fever and I then fell back asleep.  Woke up again when my alarm went off and realized I had fever again and was freezing, so I took more medication and contacted my work and told them I would be in late because I was running fever from one of my immunizations I assumed.  Later I was feeling worse and vomited, disgusting I know right, I was not feeling well at all.  I decided to contact one of the doctor facilities to talk to them because I was now have other symptoms besides fever.  I talked to them and they informed me it probably wasn’t from typhoid because I was almost done taking it and had only had a few minor symptoms, so it was determined it was from my TDAP immunization.  Needless to say I did not make it to work that day and I had a reaction to the immunization.  According to statistics this happens in 1 out of 10 adults or 1 out of 100 adults depending if you looked at symptoms as mild or moderate,  lucky me I know.  I was also very fatigue and sore from the immunizations, but that was to be expected.  I am thankful that is all it was because it could have been worse.  I am also very thankful to be feeling much better at this time and immunizations are over until after I get back, thank the Lord.

Another unexpected something that came up is my friend’s Aunt from Kenya passed away this past weekend from unexpected all of a sudden something,  not exactly for sure what is was, but I believe they determined it was something that got in her bloodstream.  This makes me really sad.  I am so sorry for my friend and her family and friends.  I never got to meet her Aunt but from the few stories I heard she seemed like a very awesome lady and many people loved her.  In a sense, through the stories I felt like I had met her at some point.   We were supposed to meet her while we were there and spend a little time with her but unfortunately now we won’t get that opportunity.  My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends and I know she is in a better place now and not suffering.

All not so good news aside….I am looking forward to this trip and am also getting more nervous as each day gets closer to departure date.  I am randomly jotting down things in different places in hopes that I won’t forget anything.  One of the tougher parts for me will be, how am I going to fit all that stuff in my suitcase?  This will definitely be an experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait for the adventure to begin!  May the Lord be with us and guide us in the correct paths and directions every step we take along the way!