Home sweet home...

So sorry for not updating.  I'll start now and do it one day at a time.  Most pictures that I'm going to share are on FB - but I'll upload them here or upload them to Shutterfly or Snapfish and share a link later.

It was amazing.  It was life changing.  I'm struggling with describing it.  The families are amazing, the valley is horrible, the smiles are genuine and there are good works being done there.  The kids appreciate the school not only for the meals they get (which they probably wouldn't get at home) but they seem to know that they need an education to change their lives - something kids here take for granted.

I missed cold drinks - but I'm used to drinking everything warm now.  I missed hot showers, but I was clean in luke-warm ones.  I'm sick of rice - but not once was I hungry.

I've seen kids with all kinds of things - scabies, TB, ring worm, tape worm, malaria, common cold and flu as well as wounds from tripping and running and just being a kid.  Not to mention the kids who were hurting with their home life.  I've seen smiles that would make anyone's day as well as kids who couldn't make eye contact and I could barely hear them.

We had Kenyan Nurses help us on their days off from working at their jobs - we worked with Social Workers who know each one of those kids, their home life and who loved those kids as their own.  Some of those Social Workers live in the valley themselves and are still working to change the lives of those around them.

I've seen and smelled things that I want to forget but I know I never will.  My dreams are confused and jumbled - but only since I've been back.  I think I put things on hold while I was there just so I could do what God called me to do.  He gave me the strength to do it - and now He is opening my eyes to what I saw and is changing my heart to see how I can help and change things.

I'd go back in a heartbeat but I'm so thankful to be home.

I had trouble being in Target yesterday - so much excess here but this is my normal just as the valley is their normal.  There has to be a happy medium somewhere.

I'm experiencing people who are pushing back at me for going so far away to help when we need help here.  We do have poverty here - but not to this extreme.  If you find a spot here in the states like what I experienced in the Mathare Valley, I will be there to help.  We have resources here to help families - they have none.  This is not the post to discuss this - it will come later.  But it hurts when people are so harsh with me when I am already hurting.  I know being tired and physically, emotionally and mentally drained isn't helping but I can actually feel pain when people continue to say should have helped here - I do help here and will continue to do so.

I need to remember that nothing can take my joy away from my trip.  I served with my whole heart and soul - and I KNOW I was called to go for God's purpose.   God is still working on me and opening my eyes and heart.  Each time I look at the pictures I remember something different...something that God is still showing me.  My prayer is that God helps me.  People ask how I'm doing and I say tired.  But truth be known I'm hurting.  I've posted a lot of great pictures - the good, the bad and the ugly.  But I need to find away to describe them.

Bear with me over the next few weeks - I'll try to update daily - and do it day by day as if I was there.  Thank you for being patient...forgive me for not being able to update there.  But I'll do my best to share this amazing trip with you!

Praise God!  (Amen)

Praise God Again!  (Amen)

           - you'll understand that later!  =)

Kenya Updates

For those of you that are following my trip through this blog - I'm just going to be updating my mission trip blog from today until I get back.  I'll probably copy everything over to this blog once I get back and settled - but I know I'll have limited internet access over there and I doubt if I can keep both of these upated.

You can go to that blog directly via www.calledtokenya.blogspot.com or on my sidebar of this blog there is a link to that blog.

Thank you for sharing this journey...

May God's peace be with you always!

In His service!

Tricia

Prayers....

Not sure how to start this post - again words escape me.  

A dear friend at work (Hi Corrie!) organized a prayer circle today - what an amazing blessing it was to be a part of that.  She posted a few requests on the board so they could pray specifically for certain things.  Among those listed were safe travels, my boys, good health, my RLS, the kids we will be working with, the FAME team, for us to be His hands and feet and a few more that escape me at this moment.   A wonderful group of fellow coworkers joined hands and prayed over this trip - one by one around the circle.  Lifting things up specifically to the throne of God.  What a moment it was to hear others pray for me.  For my family. This entire mission trip.  My heart melted and stirred with a peace that I'd been seeking for a few weeks now.  My heart was overwhelmed to the point of tears and even as I type this I can still feel comfort and strength - the peace.  I truly can't describe how much it meant to me.

What an amazing experience.

                                  What an honor.

                                                   What a blessing.

                                                                           It is something I'll never forget.

Thank you everyone that was able to be there for the prayer circle.  Thank you Corrie for organizing it.  And thank you Father for Schmidt - for a company that radiates Your love in so many wonderful ways.  For co-workers - from the top down - that are genuine in who they are and who they are in You.

Someone said to me tonight...

"Wow...just think, in 5 days  you will be a missionary!"

Although there is a lot of truth to that - the real truth is I will now be an international missionary.

But it made me think.  Have a been a missionary prior to this trip?

Now I'm not going to get all religious here, but I do want to say something that should be food for thought for all of us - 

Take a look around you.  In your neighborhood, down your street - on the way to work and your coworkers.  The grocery story store clerk and the server at your dinner.  I think a true missionary is not just someone who goes elsewhere - a long distance - or states away to serve or help others.  I think a true missionary is someone who observes their surroundings and makes a difference for those they see - regardless of where they are at.

How often do we not see, or choose not to see, someone around us that needs a helping hand.  Someone who needs a hand up.  A listening ear.  Some encouragement.  A true missionary is willing to give of themself to help another.  It may be as simple as a heartfelt prayer, a smile and a kind word.  It could be a dinner cooked for someone, a walk shoveled or leaves raked.  It is an endless list - and we can all help and make that difference.

Aren't we all called to be missionaries?  Regardless of our faith?  Look deep inside.  We were designed to help our fellow humans.  Been hurt by someone?  We all have.  Not been helped by someone?  We've all felt that.  But we can't let our past define who we are.  We need to learn to forgive and not judge.  We need to see people around us as people - no better than us and certainly no less valued as us.  

Take a moment to watch this video.  I posted it at the very beginning of my blog.  This is who I want to be:

And when I get back - I want to be changed.  I want to have His eyes to see the people around me as He sees them.  Everyone is hurting, stressed, sad, missing someone, angry and well - they don't feel loved.  My job always has been - and forever now will be to be a full time missionary....

No matter where I am at.

Won't you join me?  Open your heart to others and give them help - and hope.

We should all be missionaries for the human race - no excuses.

50(ish) Pounds of Medicine...

and some suckers too!

Today I went with a friend (thanks Susan) to pick up my medicine from FAME to pack.  FAME collected the meds, rotated stock, and sorted what they need most in our clinics and spread everything out to 35 pounds boxes for each of us.  Apparently they take everything out of the packages...not sure if it is to save space in shiping or trash over there or what - but here is my 35 pound box to pack:

My OCD kicked in like you wouldn't believe.....I think I even started twitching!  But no worries!  Tonight after the auction with Daddy I pulled out my suitcase and began to pack:

Toothbrushes, Cough drops, Band Aids and Benedryl tablets

And I packed some more:

Everything else...and then some!

The medicine plus my suitcase came to about 40 something pounds....

So I added the suckers and Smarties - but I had to take the smarties out - looks like the are going in my other luggage...somehow!

I borrowed the OLD scale from Schmidt - Looks like I am a hair over:

50 ish....

I was thinking that on Monday when everything is packed (of course everything will be packed by Monday!  Right???) - I'd go ahead and take a run to the airport and just test it on their scales.  Just to make sure.  If this bag is too heavy I'll just put a small bag of suckers (probably with the smarties) in my carryon.  

So now I have to get everything else into my bigger suitcase.  All the toys that were collected will go into my bigger suitcase.  And my dad has been collecting crayons/markers/paintbrushes and chalk to send as well!  And some beanie babies.  I'm hoping Lori will be packing a 3rd suitcase - if so that'll help a lot!  If my bag is over it'll be $150.00 - a 3rd bag is $200.00.  I would like to help her pay for a 3rd bag if she is going to take one!  I think I'll probably end up putting my clothes in my carryon - yes, with my smarties!  =)

Just a regular post!

I noticed all of my posts lately have been about my trip so I figured I'd update you on the rest!

We are doing well - Andrew is doing well in school and seems to be enjoying his senior year. He has a retreat next Monday in Brown County - here's hoping for nice weather!  It's much cooler here (Praise God) and I hope it stays this way!  We won't be getting our central air fixed until the spring.

His Senior pictures turned out AWESOME!  I didn't post any here - they are on FB.  Unfortunately I didn't realized he had to be in school uniform for the one in the yearbook.  But our awesome photographer Amber offered to take a few more for us so he has one for the yearbook.  What a blessing SHE is for us!  We'll do it as soon as I get back!  He is leading the prayer meetings at school Monday/Wednesday/Friday's.  I love his heart for God.  I pray that I could have a bit of that.  Not sure what he has planned after high school yet - but two of his teachers agree with me that God has something special planned for him.  Just waiting for HIM to figure it out!  =)

Michael is doing amazing with his new position at work.  He's enjoying the old team again - they are a good group.  His knee is still bothering him so we are trying to get that better. Again, we are thankful the weather broke.  He's a little blue about my trip - but we are all 3 feeling it.  Yesterday Andrew curled up next to me to watch a movie.  I sure enjoyed it!

Andrew's car is down...again.  He just got it fixed at the tune of $200.00.  Now he has a radiator hose that is cracked.  Last night we were taking his car to the northside to get his break light issue fixed and we get about 1/4 of the way there and  his car is overheating.  So we had to limp it home, stopping to get it cool. But thank God (again) that we weren't any further north!  But it doesn't look too hard to get to - hopefully we can get it fixed quickly.  Well, I guess it doesn't matter too much since he will have my car for two weeks!  

My work has been amazing...they have shown me so much support with my trip.  I still love my job I'm so thankful that I'm there!

I'm stitching again - I don't have the patience right now to work on cards.  I'm hoping to make enough bookmarks to give to the ladies on the trip. Not sure what I'll do for the only guy on the trip!

I haven't posted much about church lately!  It has been amazing.  The sermons are so meant for me.  I'm so thankful for Indian Creek and our Sunday School class!  Did I mention that Michael has been going?  Whoot!  That's answered prayer too!

That's about it for tonight.  Gonna spend time with my boys and not on the computer.  We don't have any plans - but we are just enjoying being together.  Everyone is feeling the trip!

A week from today I'll be on my way!

Operation drop off medicine was successful this morning!  I went to FAME

and met up with Lonnie.  I handed over my box of medicine.  They will sort it and rotate it with their stock and send the items that our clinic needs the most with us.  I just received an e-mail that my box was ready for pickup so I'll get it on my lunch tomorrow and bring it home and officially get my first suitcase packed!    They send 35 pounds of medicine for us to pack  - hopefully my suitcase is light enough so that I can get some of the toys and candy in that bag!  I'll keep you posted!!  =)

I also got my FINAL shot tonight!  

OUCH!  =)  

I was running late for my appt (yes, I called and let them know) and I think she made up for it in the shot!  Just kidding!  She did go higher in my arm than the others did though - I think that made the difference!  

Tonight I am home with the boys.  I didn't go to card ministry at church - but I think I need to be with my boys as much as they need me to be with them.  I'm getting a few things done here and there about with my trip - but trying to give the little things over to God (see Angi, I do listen!).  Not much going on tomorrow as well - and I'm really enjoying that.  I do need to get more Peramone soon.  See...there I go again.  I can put that off to the weekend!  I'm such a slow learner!  

Anyhow - nice quick update tonight.  Thanks again for sharing this with me.  Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.  I can't tell you how much it means to me!  

Checklist, Daily To- Do, Prayer Request and Other Stuff:

CHECKLIST UPDATED:

• One last shot - a week before I go (Tuesday)
• Soak all my clothes in Repel Permanone (this one is 1/2 way done - I ran out of spray and will pick more up today!)
• Prepare a devotion
• Get 3 heavy duty trash bags  
• Pick up a gift bag and tissue paper for the items - Dollar Tree.
• Items to give to our host family
• Get another LARGE suitcase for my trip - Anyone? May not need it!
• Get a bunch of thermal heat wraps (found out the larger ones for the neck REALLY work well!)
• Snack, sandwich and gallon size ziplock baggies (for us to sort meds when we get there)  

DAILY TO DO LIST:

• Monday - Clean House - get laundry caught up
• Tuesday - Get Final Shot
• Wednesday - Pick up medicine and pack that suitcase
• Thursday - Go to auction with Daddy
• Friday - Go shopping for freezer cooking on Saturday
• Saturday - Freezer cooking with Nikie (Hi Nikie!)
• Sunday - Start Malaria Medicine
• Monday - pack pack pack! and then pack some more!
• Tuesday - TIME TO GO!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Prayers for restful sleep
• Prayers to stay healthy (we are passing something around at Schmidt)
• My boys - they are doing amazing - but now that the trip is almost here we could really use the prayers!
• Prayers for the team 
• Prayers for safe travels
• Prayers for all the families that will be left behind
• Prayers for our host missionaries 
• Prayers for the kids and families we will be meeting and helping

I was in Sunday School yesterday and sharing with the group all that has happened and all that I have to do.  I told them that God has proved that His hand is all over this trip time and time again in obvious ways.  I also mentioned that I'm just overwhelmed with all the little things that have to get done and Angi (Hi Angi!) - said "so God can't handle the little things?" - wow...just what I needed to hear.  How often do I feel like I have to do even the little things when God has it all worked out already.  Not that I don't need to do the little things - but God even has those under control.  How often has God reminded me on this trip just have a little faith!!

OTHER STUFF:

I can take two bags for my carry on.  I've got 2 books & one puzzle book, my stitching and my MP3 player, toothpaste/brush, camera, all my meds and socks for my carry on.  Got some snackage and some hard candies and my bible and journal.  For the one that I'll put in the overhead probably gets most of my clothes.  Can you think of anything else I'll need?  I'll check one suitcase of the medicine and then the other suitcase will be full of stuff for the kids - Daddy has been getting me markers/crayons and stuff like that plus work collected a bunch of toys and candy!

Saturday I picked up antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.  I got a few trial size samples of things - I even found a small travel size of ALL detergent for my laundry!  I've got it all in the right size bags and everything for the airline.

I picked up some flour tortillas - Amy said this is a good idea along with some packages of chicken/tuna (yuck).  Just to help supplement the days I don't eat much - you know, my two week diet? =)  And you'll be proud of me!  I've tried 3 new things:  Shrimp (yuck), grilled eggplant (not too bad) and for the life of me I can't remember the 3rd thing.  It was either so bad I blocked it or it wasn't as horrible as I thought but wasn't impressed.

The boys are doing good...it's just getting so real now.  8 days.  A week from tomorrow.  I think it is hitting Michael and I more than it is Andrew.  But even Michael mentions that we were separated for 3 months when he was in Hawaii.  We can do this!  Want to hear a funny story?  When Michael was moving back from Hawaii it took him as long to fly from Hawaii to Indy as it will for me to get from Kenya to Indy!  =)

That's it for today - I've got lots of cleaning to do - I'm going to stay motivated.  I know I'll feel less stress when things are in order.  

Thanks again for sharing this journey with me...it's been amazing so far and I can't imagine what is left to come!

Heavenly Father I thank you for this amazing trip you've called me to.  Thank you for showing me that You are there - even in the little things.  May I grow in You and become who You want me to be!

This is Cocoa!

Meet Cocoa:

We love Cocoa - he is half lab and  half Beagle.  He will be 4 in October.  He is absolutely the perfect dog for us.  He listens well and has a wonderful personality!  We got him after we didn't move to Hawaii.  He is rather spoiled and is attached at my side most days.  It's 6 am and he got up out of Andrew's bed to come out with me.  He is curled up on the couch right now!  The dog has a serious attachment problem with me....but that's ok...I don't mind.

What does Cocoa have to do with my trip to Kenya?

Cocoa is going to die.  =(

See, over the past spring break both boys were home.  I'd come home from work and Cocoa wouldn't have any food or water and would be dancing at the door to go potty.

I asked the boys about it and they both figured it they don't feed or water him they won't have to take him potty!  They are just kidding you know, but Cocoa is not the top of the priority list for the boys.  =)

Don't tell Andrew, but I have it set up by a few fiends to blow up his cell phone (you know, send a billion text messages - we get free incoming text messages!) the day I go to remind him to feed/water the dog!!   I think he'll laugh getting a bunch of text messages all at the same time!

So if you happen to talk to or see my boys while I'm gone...be sure to remind them we have a dog!!!  =)

Medicine Loot!

So Saturday I got together with my Schmidt cookout elves to go shopping at Sam's Club to spend the last of the money raised at at the cookout at Schmidt.  We had a special helper:

Master Jacob - What a cutie!

We had already spent $100 at Walgreens on the buy one get one free special last Thursday.

At Sams Saturday we spent $140.00:

And a bag of suckers:

We still had $30.00 left to spend so we went BACK to Walgreens and got some more infant drops:

That took care of all the money raised!  I know it only comes to $270.00 - $33.00 of the money raised was a check made payable to FAME - so I sent them the check to help offset the cost of my trip! 

Here is grand amount of medicine that was collected at the cookout along with the medicine that was bought from the money raised:

This is the best I can do for panoramic!  

Isn't that amazing???  =)

So - First thing Tuesday morning I have to take it all to FAME.  They will sort it and organize it.  If they  have something that we will need in Kenya more than something we collected they will swap it out.  They will rotate stock so that all of the medicine is stocked fresh.   Then we will all pick up our boxes of medicine to pack in our suitcases.  Each of us will get 35 #  of medicine to pack (that give us leeway for the weight of our suitcases). 

Can you guess how much this box of medicine weighs???

I used Daddy's Ebay scale (Thanks Daddy!) to weigh it.  We are just at 32#!!!

WOW WOW WOW!

How awesome is that!!!  =)

Thank you to everyone who was able to help!  I'll get a picture of my suitcase as soon as I get it back!!!

A little of my heart...

I've got lots to update - pictures and everything!

But this morning I'm gonna share my heart.

Sleep is elusive for me right now.  My mind isn't shutting down.  It's not that I'm overly worried or anything is wrong - it's just stuff.  My to do list.  For the last week or so I've been waking up usually between 2 & 4 am.  I've taken two Tylenol PM's at 10pm and I'm up at 2 - awake.  Last night I took a melatonin pill (5mg) about 10 and I'm I've been awake since 3.  Oh I slept hard for awhile - I can tell since my throat hurts so much from snoring!!!!  But it's not a restful sleep...does that make sense?  My family Dr gave me something to help me sleep on my trip (nothing real strong like Ambian)   - but it has something it in to keep me calm (I used it for a short time after we lost mom) - anyhow - I might try it tonight.  It's catching up to me.  I sincerely ask for prayers for restful sleep.  Meanwhile as I sit here typing - Cocoa is behind me snoring on the couch!  =)

I'm really distracted.  I guess that is to be expected.  The boys have been so patient with my suitcases and the piles on them.  As I think of things that I need, I toss it on the right suitcase.  But in the meantime of all that I'm forgetting things that I just did or that I need to do.  Do keep my boys in your prayers as well.  I know this is will difficult on them as well and that is on my heart/mind.

The most common question people ask is if I'm ready.  I can rattle off everything that is done and everything left to do in a heartbeat.

But it's what I can't prepare for that is on my heart and mind.  I find myself drawn to the pictures and links I've shared with you guys about the Mathare Valley over the last 9 months.  Looking at the pictures over and over.  I don't know that I can ever be prepared.  I remember the words that Amy shared with me - this is normal for the residents of the Mathare Valley.  I need to grasp that and take it to heart.  Not that their living conditions are by any means acceptable.  They don't know what it is like to sleep on a bed or just go to the fridge and get a snack if they are hungry.  They can't just run to the store and get meds when their kids wake up with a fever in the middle of the night.  They can't go get a drink of water in the middle of the night.  I can't imagine.  

This is hard to explain and I don't want it to come out wrong.

I've been trying to type this out for the last 30 minutes and I can't get it right.  Not sure I can.  But again, I sincerely ask for your prayers.  I need to find a way to prepare my heart and mind for this experience.

But God has been faithful from the beginning.  This is His trip and I know the old saying.  If God brings you TO it, He will bring you THROUGH it.  I trust and believe that God will equip me as He sees fit.  Maybe my heart DOES need to be broken for me to what God has planned for me next.  Maybe this is His way of getting me to see people as He sees them.  Justin, Michael's friend from work who just came back from Cambodia told  me that although these people have little or nothing - they have so much more than we do in a difference sense. Maybe that is His purpose behind this trip for me.  NOT THAT THIS TRIP IS ABOUT ME....but I KNOW God can do His purpose in all things.

Ok...I've been working on this short post for the last hour and an a half.  It's now 4:30 in the morning and I think I'll go try to curl up on the couch for a bit.  Michael just got up - said I jinxed him by inviting him to share the early morning with me...and now he's up.  =)  And he wants the computer!

Thanks for staying with me tonight on this post.  I know it's deeper than normal - but I wanted to record what I'm feeling - good and bad.  I'm not sure I explained it properly -and I still have more to share - but I think you can feel my heart.

We will return to regular programming later today.  We went medicine shopping yesterday!!

Update:

Dozed on the couch from 5-6 and then curled up back in bed with Michael where I slept till 7:30 - time to get up for church!  I'll take the rest where I can get it!

Let me introduce you to Amy and Lori!

Looking at the picture - Amy on the left - Lori on the right!

This is 3/5 of the Indy folks going. We met last night for the FINAL time prior to seeing each other at the airport! T-minus 11 days!

I'm so excited to be going with such Godly, FUN women. Amy is the expert of the 3 of us - this is her 5th mission trip - 4th international but first to Africa. Lori and I are both rookies. We had a great time yet again last night at dinner - sharing stories with each other, talking packing strategy and sharing ideas! We reminded each other of the things we need to pack - both Lori and I have out suitcases out and partially loaded, Amy doesn't yet - that must be how the PROS do it! We coordinated who is packing what so we don't end up with a bunch of the same thing. No sense in 3 of everything! Both ladies have an electricity converter - so I don't need to get one. I'm taking Phase 10 and Lori is bringing Yahtzee. I'm the last one to need a shot - my 3rd Hep AB next Tuesday. It's amazing the comfort level we feel already - and we can't wait to get to know the others!

So here's to an amazing trip, with some amazing women to make an amazing difference

Lunchtime Shopping!

Here is what $200 worth of medicne from Walgreens by-one-get-one-free sale looks like!

Got it all for under $100.00!!

Checklist Updated!

-One last shot - a week before I go

-Get a mosquito net

-Soak all my clothes in Repel Permanone

-Uh, buy Permanone =)

-Get the insect repellent (got to figure out which one doesn't melt plastic!)

-$50.00 bill for my Visa when I get there

-Slip on shoes for the flights - Tennis shoes to waterproof and leave behind

-Prepare a devotion

-Get peanut butter =) I picked up some fruit bars, granola bars and peanut butter/cheese crackers

-Go medicine shopping! - Planned for NEXT TUESDAY! (gonna get some tomorrow on the Walgreens special By One Get One Free)

-Get 3 heavy duty trash bags

-Pick up my malaria pills

-flashlights

-We decided to get light weight staples here to give to our missionary hosts. Got any ideas to share? They have to be lightweight and not require many additional ingredients. So far I've picked up 4 boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese, 2 cakes mixes and one brownie mix. If we all pick up a few items we'll have a nice assortment of things to give to them.

-Pick up a gift bag and tissue paper for the items.

-I need to get to a farmer's market and get apple butter - we heard they like apple butter!

-They have 4 teenagers so I want to go to Sam's Club and get an assortment of the Doritos snack bags.

-Get another LARGE suitcase for my trip - Anyone?

-Get more batteries for my camera

-Get a travel pillow

-Get a bunch of thermal heat wraps

-Get something to help me sleep

We've got another team meeting tomorrow night - so we'll see how it goes! I'll keep you posted!

Isn't the list supposed to be getting SMALLER at this point???? =)