What a journey it has been to fundraise and buy our tickets.
When I first felt called to this trip one of my first prayers was that God would make it clear who was and who was not meant to come. I didn’t care the reasons, I just knew that this was His trip, not mine. Through many rounds of inviting people, then saying yes, and for one reason or another having to then say no 3 of us have been the consistent yes. At first it made me sad, defeated, that our group was so much smaller than I envisioned and then I remembered my prayers, His trip, His vision, not mine.
Because of the changing numbers and names it took multiple quotes and deadlines to finally purchase our tickets. Even watching the price fluctuate each time was a blessing. The first time we were quoted just to check it out it was a decent price. The second time our price jumped a good $300 each. And when we were finally ready it went down $700 each from our second quote AND included an overnight in London on the way back. Needless to say it was clear that it was time to purchase the tickets.
During this time we also got an email from James, who will be hosting us while we are there, with more details about exactly what we are stepping into:
“The place that we are intending to go and do the water project is called Kakamega, it is on the western side of the country. Most of the homesteads there dont have clean water and they fetch their water from the river or wells that are dug in the homesteads. When they get the water from the river or the wells the water is not even purified before it is taken or used in any way. The few learned people will boil their water before they drink it. Chances of getting water borne deseases are high and risky.
In this areas fetching areas is mostly a women and girl child duties. The girls and women travel some distances to go fetch the water from the rivers, at the river is where the clothes are cleaned, people bath, cattle quench their thirst etc. This water will be certainly be contaminated, because what is happening upstream is also happening down stream and chances of fetching contaminated water are high.”
We will also be helping out at an orphanage in the same area. If this trip doesn’t change our life perspective…
With tickets purchased we have been in full throttle fundraising mode. Flocking around 3 times a week (message us on Facebook if you would like to flock someone for $25.) We also anticipate a mountain mikes fundraiser this month, lemonade sales this summer, and maybe even a clothing swap. Our personal letters have brought in generous donations and the rotary club in Pleasant Hill helped out Fiona.
It is coming together. We are blessed. It’s a hard trip to feel prepared for totally and with that comes a feeling of excitement and wonder. Hoping that as people join our team financially and through prayer that they will feel the same and be changed through the journey as we are.
-Courtnie
africaorbust2012 