Sunday, January 4, 2009
I Went To Africa! (And no one went with me)
Well, for the past couple of days the thought came into my mind at different times that, "I Went To Africa, and No One Went With Me." If you know me, you would understand the fact that it is sometimes hard for me to believe. Sometimes I wake up and think, did I go or was that just a dream. Then I see Josie and see the pictures that I have and then all of my memories come back to remind me that yes I did go to Africa without anyone going with me. Now, like I have always said from the beginning, God was with me there and back, and that is the only way I did this. I talked to one of my friends today and I told her that I have been thinking this the past couple of days, and she smiled and said, she thought the same thing just the other night. She said she was thinking, "Yea, Andrea said that she was going to go and she did." I told another one of my friends about a year ago that I just felt like I was to go to Liberia for some reason. I told her that I wasn't for sure when, but I knew that I was to go to Liberia. At the time we weren't looking at adopting, but something deep down gave me the desire to go. Now, all along I always thought that someone would be going with me or even another couple would be going at the same time and we could meet up, but at no time did I really think that I would go by myself. Yes, there were a few times I thought, well Mike will probably end up going, but as time got closer, I knew that I was the one to go. On the way there, in the airplane it would hit me a time or two that I was actually on my way to Liberia, Africa. I did learn that I can be very independent when I need to be (I won't always show that to Mike, but he has told me he already knew that I was:), I also learned that I am resourceful and can take care of myself (with God's help of course). I will also tell you that Mike made sure that I was taken care of as far as having all of my stuff planned out and he even made me a map of the airports so that I could see where I needed to go (I am a visual person). I have learned to carry on a conversation with complete stranger and ask them for help when needed (not that I couldn't carry on a conversation before with a complete stranger according to Mike) and have also learned that I know how to keep myself safe. I grew from my trip to Liberia. When I told Francis (the man in charge at WACSN while I was there) that this was the first time that I had ever traveled by myself anywhere out of Ohio, and the first time ever that I had traveled out of the country, he could not believe it. He asked me then what made you come alone to Liberia. Then I said, "That was the only way Josie was going to get home, what was I supposed to do." (And the fact that I know that God had called me quite awhile ago). Then he proceeded to say that he would have never guessed it was my first time traveling alone and understood why I was a little homesick. I also seen that I can travel back home with a 4 year old and go through all of paperwork, etc. needed to re-enter the country. I also learned that I can sure stand up for myself when I need to also. I guess I learned that with God I can do anything. Even things I never guessed I could do. I want people to take from my whole story that when God calls you to something, He will give you strength that you never knew you had. I guess I learned how David felt when He faced Goliath. Once I walked away from Mike at the airport to leave, I took a deep breath (and shed a few tears) and faced my Goliath. I know some people didn't think I could do it, but I knew that with God I could. So when God calls you to something, He will provide everything you need and then some. You will stand in amazement at what He can do, hey He "Sent me to Africa (and no one went with me--but Him)".
I will add that I didn't lose anything (except my MP3 player at the Brussels airport--metal detector thing--was in a hurry--but is wasn't expensive at all). And Mike I always made sure that I had my 4 things at all times----passport, money, and 2 bags:)
The pictures are of Josie and I at the beach in Liberia.
The other picture is of me taking a picture of Josie in front of a house. We went out to the "bush" to visit some people.
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