Safe Arrival

Well, I'm here! I have the worst case of jet lag I've ever had. My head is in a total fog - it's all I can do to stay awake! But - I'm going to fight to stay awake until tonight so I can get on this new schedule. I'm 11 hours ahead of home time - so - it's a total swap of things. I feel a little like I'm drugged or something - it's very strange.

The adventure of travel for me seems to always be in the travel itself. :) I arrived at the Richmond airport at 2pm - plenty of time before leaving at 4:50pm for Chicago. Glenda (my roomate) drove me there - and Matt (my boyfriend) met us there. As I am checking my bags, the attendent asked me if I wanted to take an earlier flight. My answer was 'no.' I hadn't seen Matt in a week - and had barely been able to talk with him over the past several days. This is my first boyfriend in 8 years (!) and I was looking forward to processing my departure with him, sharing my excitement, etc. I didn't want to miss that. However, the attendent let me know that an ice storm was due to hit Richmond at 4pm, and if I didn't take the earlier flight, I might be stuck there for a couple of days. So, I agreed to take the earlier flight - at 2:30. Which meant I had to board - right then. :( Very quick, very overwhelming good-bye's to Glenda and Matt and I was off! I cried on the plane for the lack of processing. I like things to go MY way. I'm resolved to be flexible in Bangladesh, but while in the US I expected things to go according to plan. MY plan. :) I thank God for His provision for getting me on the earlier flight - and for His gentle nudgings that let me know that HE is the One with the plans.

I got to Chicago and had to leave security in order to travel to another building by train to get to the international terminal. Then I had to wait for about an hour to go through security again in order to get to my gate. Shoes off, watch off, pat-down, etc. I unfortunately packed a pair of scissors in my carry-on - but they ok'd it everytime - AFTER searching through my bag in it's entirety. In order to get some food in Chicago, I had to leave security again - then come back through again - search my bag - again. Then Holly got there and we chatted and then flew to London. The international terminal was very interesting - very full. One thing I noticed - even though we may look different - and speak different languages - we are still very much the same. Babies still cry. People cry when loved ones leave. People get nervous about flying. And God loves us all.

The flight to London was fairly empty - we each had our own set of 3 seats to lay in - so we slept well. London required another security check - but they took my scissors away. :( Hopefully I won't have to have my bag checked so much on the way home.

London to Dhaka was delayed (my prayers were answered in the respect that we didn't miss that flight!) and the flight was good. British Air serves really good plane food!!! We arrived in Dhaka 5am local time - waited on our bags FOREVER - and guess what? My baggage plight continues - I didn't get one of my bags. So, I had to stand in another line and fill out more paperwork and I'll hopefully get my bag on the next flight from London - on Thursday. Not to worry - I have everything I NEED in my carry-on. And I got my suitcase full of my gifts for the nationals. All is well. :)

There is a strike in Dhaka right now - the finance minister was killed by grenade attack at a public meeting on Thursday. No private vehicles are allowed on the roads - or else they'll be set on fire. (We have seen a bus that was toasted!) So they had to come and get us in, are you ready for this? An AMBULANCE!!!!! Lights and sirens and everything! It was actually kind of cool.

The city is huge - 10 million people or so. And is very different than any city I've been in before. We are staying in a very nice guest house - the YMCA for women, basically. I am currently in the World Concern office and Prodip is filling us in on all we need to know. The strike has been extended for 2 more days - so we won't be able to go out just yet. But that gives us time to adjust and rest - so we hope to be out and about by Wednesday.

Stay tuned - I'll try to report back in a couple of days.

Twas the night before departure....

.... and all through my house, was stuff strewn about EVERYWHERE!!! Can you say 'packing is fun'?!? :) OH my.

Today has been a blur. I took the truck back to the clinic, had my taxes done, (go me for not waiting until April 11th like last year!) got some Avon Skin-so-soft to keep the bugs off, got a fanny back and a waist belt to hide my money in, actually typed out my will - then went back to work to have my boss witness me signing it, gathered all my stuff, loaded up my car and said good-bye's. Having my boss, Bruce, and the other vet at our clinic, Spencer, pray with me before I left was so super special. I really do feel like I have this huge team behind me. That's such an awesome feeling.

Then I went shopping. This was fun - but also overwhelming. I was shopping for gifts for the missionaries and our host families while we are there. Imagine being in a Super Wal-Mart trying to buy gifts for people who live in a country that is beyond poor. What do you buy? What can you carry? How much can you get? What is going to be practical and appreciated? It was an eye-opener to think about all the possibilities - everything that I have access to on a daily basis. And trying to pick out a few things that I can share with them. I took others' advice and bought things like dish towels, kitchen utensils, candy, a coffee mug, pens, bouncy balls (for the kids), and some other odds-n-ends. I'll get a newspaper and a smut-free magazine tomorrow. (There really is a shortage of smut-free magazines in this country!)

Then I came home and started packing. I haven't accomplished much. :) My buddy Paul came over and we just talked and relaxed and had a nice time. Now - I need to finish packing so I can get some sleep. I'll go to the bank in the morning - and then we'll be off. My parents were unable to make it up - my mom is sick - so that makes me sad. Glenda is not feeling well, either - but hopefully will be able to take me to the airport. Matt will meet us there.

wow. it's tomorrow.

Packing!!!

Leslie

2)God can do what He says he can do.

The countdown continues...

So, I found out last night that I don't have to bring along a sleeping bag or a mosquito net or be wearing a long skirt upon arrival in the airport. Whew! Me and skirts are not good traveling companions! We will be provided with all of our sleeping goods (including mosquito nets) and since we are arriving at 3:30 am Dhaka time, no one will stone us for not wearing our punjabis. :) We will buy them the next day. Good to know!

Everyone at church tonight (Women's Monday night Bible Study) wished me well and God speed and safety on my endeavor. It gives me such peace to know that my prayer base is so wide and so deep. It will continue to give me peace as I am there, I'm sure.

There might be another snow storm moving through the east coast next weekend. Let's pray that Chicago goes well... My layover in London is short - in order to get us on the plane to Dhaka, we can't be late to London from Chicago!!! Pray, pray, pray!!!

Time for bed.

ps - 1) God is who He says He is. (more to come)

6 days!

Wow - I'm actually leaving in 6 days! This time next week I'll be on a plane - somewhere. Actually this day next week won't exist for me. See, leaving the US on Saturday - we arrive in Dhaka 24 hours later on Monday - no Sunday. And coming back (A nice 26 hour trip) we leave Dhaka on a Thursday and arrive back in the states on the SAME DAY! The International Date line is a wondrous thing. :)

We had some snow here this weekend - and we were able to enjoy it just the same. Friday afternoon Matt (my boyfriend) arrived and we caught up after not seeing each other for 2 weeks. We had dinner with some friends from my church (including my pastor and his wife) Friday night and we had some friends over here on Saturday night. (side note: I need to buy wine glasses so that when I have an adult dinner party and my adult friends bring wine over, I don't have to make them drink their wine out of jelly glasses with mean rhinos on them) We did make it to church this am where Pastor Bill taught about Ephesians 3 - and the church in all of it's multi-ethnic glory.

It did get me excited.

How is that we, as fallen sinners, have been given the privilege of telling others of Christ? He doesn't need us - He could do it Himself. BUT - he allows us to share in the bringing in of the kingdom. And I feel even MORE blessed, for I get to travel to the ends of the earth to share with people from another tribe and tongue of His love. Of His incomparable riches. What did I do to deserve such honor? I'm willing to go - and I realize that even that willingness is a gift from Him.

He is a gracious God.

Ahhh, many things on my 'to do' list - so, I shoud get to them. :)

Details

Well now - all my thank you cards are done (finally!) - I'm really the world's worst procrastinator. I just hate the paperwork. But, in taking the time to do them all at once - I've had some time for reflection. I had stated that I needed to raise about $3000 for this trip. As of today - God has provided $3050. Incredible. I looked over my list - and one of those $50 donations came from someone I don't even know! This is such a reminder to me that God is able to provide what I need (over and above what I ask for!) AND He has ways of providing that I don't even account for. How cool is that?!?

I've made copies of all my important documents (passport, driver's license, visa, itineray, etc.) and distributed them to those people that I trust. Just in case I should do the unthinkable and lose my passport - they have the necessary documentation to get me a new one so I can come home. :)

I watched a special tonight that was raising money for the areas of Asia that were affected by the Tsunami. I could be walking into one of the worst malaria outbreaks ever. Not to mention Cholera. Yeesh. Bangladesh was not hit as hard as Indonesia - but the coastal areas still were affected some. Good thing I'll be on Doxycycline!!! I've also had boosters on all my shots - I'm as protected medically as I can be. The rest is in God's hands - and in the hands of those of you praying for me!!! Take this seriously! I will be DEPENDING on your prayers. Thanks.

God loves the people of Asia - even though this disaster happened - He loves them. I hope that while I'm there I can share with at least a few - hopefully a lot - that there is a God who knows their name and wants to spend eternity with them. That's the reason I'm going.

2 weeks!!!

Getting Ready

Well, it seems I finally figured this on-line journal thing out. Thanks Jenn! So, I've had the day 'off' from work - but have spent it being very productive. From the orthodontist, to getting the oil changed in my car 'little white', to the optometrist, to the dump - I did lots of morning errands. And after scrubbing the house yesterday (even cleaned out the garage) - I was ready this afternoon to do the dreaded paperwork. I hate paperwork - and will procrastinate whenever possible. But, I've gotten lots accomplished. I have paid bills - and have gotten all of my bills set up on-line, finally. I've gotten my travel insurance, my life insurance, my will, and all of my travel documents (passport, visa, etc.) in order. I've contacted Susanne (who is great!) at CVM and discussed final details. It seems that I really am leaving in 3 weeks!

Traveling to Bangladesh was not on my list of things to do. I wanted to go back to Africa - I loved it there - loved the people. But God has called me to Asia - to work with Muslim women and their cows. I've been trying to prepare myself as best I can for the poverty I am going to encounter - but I know I will still be overwhelmed.

But I feel so blessed to be sent. And I'm glad that I have a way to let everyone know what we are doing as we are there. Stay tuned!