Travel Clinic

Today I went to the travel clinic to learn about all of the health related issues I'll face when I go to Haiti. Instead, it turned into an hour of a lady telling me about all the ways I'll die when I'm there.

Ok, so it wasn't that bad, but close.

She told me all about malaria and dengue fever and other diseases transmitted by mosquitos. She told me to stay away from dogs because they all have rabies and if they bite or scratch me, basically, I'll die. She told me not to swim in anything but the ocean and not to drink any water (but beer is ok, so that's cool). She told me not to eat any salad or lettuce, even if it's a leaf on a sandwich. She told me I'll probably get bad diarrhea, but that she'll prescribe some pills for it. She told me about the three shots I'll need.

Then she said, with all sincerity, "So, are you excited for your trip?" "I was!" I replied. "Now it sounds like I better live it up while I'm there because apparently I'm not coming back alive!"

Seriously, I'm glad I went and that I'll be immunized against disease and prepared if I get the runs, but it's also pretty nerve-wracking. Especially for somebody that is naturally paranoid, like myself.

But then, I'm sure there are a TON of people who just go and never think twice about that stuff. I kind of envy them. Ignorance is bliss.

Until you get a mosquito bite and die of dengue fever.

(Gosh, I wanted to end it there, but it's too pessimistic. Really, truly, I'm glad I went today and I feel way more prepared now, health-wise. Thanks, doctor!)

November Thoughts

It's been over a month? Yikes. Time to get some thoughts out.

Less than two months and I'll be in Haiti. Amazing. It still doesn't seem real, though. I wonder when I'll start getting nervous? Probably when we start having meetings and stuff. Right now it all still seems theoretical. Except for raising funds, which has been going well (but I still have a ways to go, if you'd like to help!).

I told Steve the other day that one of my concerns is being treated like I know what I'm doing. I mean, I'm a pastor, but I've never been on a foreign mission trip. I'm a newbie! And, not to sound demanding, but I want to be treated like one. Treat me just like anybody else who has never been to the slums of a poor country. Tell me what to expect. Help me understand what I'm getting myself into and how awesome it's going to be. And how difficult and rewarding it's going to be. And I'm not saying Steve or Mandy are doing anything wrong at all (really, not much has happened yet), but I just want to experience this as a first-timer and not a vet. I hope that makes sense.

Thursday I'm going to the travel clinic to learn about any shots I need to get and about all the health related stuff I need to know. I'm looking forward to it, except for the shots. I think I'm just going to say I only want what I absolutely have to get. Which might be nothing and I'm good with that. That will make things more real, I think.

Another thing I've been thinking about a little is...how will they react to my arm? Different cultures have different ways of viewing/dealing with that, so I wonder how the Haitians will react. Specifically, I wonder how the kids will react. Will they recoil? Or will they still play with me? I'm very, very rarely self-conscious about my arm, but in this case it's a concern. I'm not sure why. Maybe I don't want to feel like an outcast. To feel rejected. Wow...rejected by orphans...that would be something. So, I don't want to make it a big deal or anything, but it's something I'm thinking about.

Honestly, I really feel like I need to be praying more about this trip, too. It could really be life-changing and I don't want to miss that. And, let's face it, there's risk involved. There's some danger. I need to be praying for safety, for my family to be well and safe without me, for opportunities to grow...a million things, really.

It's a very exciting time in my life and, like Aerosmith said, "I don't wanna miss a thi-ing."