The adventure begins today. My bags have been packed for a couple of days and all tasks completed yesterday. There is one task left undone and that is to have my last will and testament notarized. Per my mother’s urgings I finally put together that which I’ve procrastinated on for a long time. I can see why I did; it ain’t fun making out a will. I know it won’t be necessary for this trip but responsibility calls and I gotta show up for it once and a while.
How do I feel…? Well, to be honest, it feels like I have a pulled muscle in left hamstring/glutt area. I’ve been limping all day. Good times, eh? I did about 30 minutes of Yoga, took some Advil and applied some medicated ointment and the rest the say, is in God’s hands. Not to sound like too much of a downer, but in general I’m physically feeling pretty blah. Not sure what this is about - maybe a combination of sleeping pill, Malaria medicine and emotional drain. I pray that God will strengthen me for the journey.
With that said, I am ready to “get it on”!! I want to get past the 24 hours of heinous travel and get in country, ya know?
Here’s something that bears talking about: There has been MUCH talk of this being a “life changing experience”. What I’m trying to do is not let all this talk about that affect the actual experience. I mentioned to a few that I’m even a little angry and frustrated that such expectations are out there. It feels it ruins the possibility of just being present. What if this isn’t a “life changing experience”? Then what…was it a failure? Am I a failure for not having had that experience? You know what I mean? My mantra for this trip is, “Just show up. Try and get out of my own way. Be of service. Let God handle the rest.”
So that’s it for now. I’ll be transcribing the rest of my blog when I return. Keep us in your prayers and I look forward to sharing the adventure with you all when I return. I hope you have a blessed two weeks yourself!
Tomorrow marks the one week out mark. I’m getting a little agitated, nervous, excited…a variety of feelings. Went to REI, the outdoors store and picked up some essentials. From what I’ve been told, our digs will be a bit modest so we were advised to pick up some camping related gear. I am now the proud owner of two, not one…two light-weight, backpacking chamois bath towels as well as a chamois wash cloth. After I wipe off the limited supply of water I will be provided for bathing, I will break out the Turtle Wax and be able to bring my bald dome to a lustrous showroom shine.
Topping off the list of REI buys are an LED headlamp(good for journaling at night or spotting the indigenous arachnids that will likely occupy my room), one camping sporknife(the only danger with this are the serrations connected to the tines. There is a very good chance I will cut my lip every time I have a nosh.), a bush hat (to protect the newly buffed and waxed dome), a money belt(for the very limited amount of dollars I’ll have on me), bug spray (arachnid and other wiggly critter destroyer), poncho (gotta have a sidekick) and a/c adapter.
That’s it for now. Gotta go search for dry land…at the Water World Stunt Show. More later…