14 Days…

In exactly 14 days, Trent and I will be on a plane to Sierra Leone.  I can honestly say it doesn’t seem real yet.  I don’t think it will really hit me until I stop off the plane in Africa.  I am strangely at peace.  I am thankful for this and excited for everything that is to come.  We have been busy preparing little things over the last couple of weeks. 

First up, we mailed our passport and visa application.  I came back in the mail stamped by the Republic of Sierra Leone.

We have also been working on raising money for our service project when we are there.  We are going to be building bunk beds for the children in the orphanage.  Currently, many of the children are sleeping on the floor.  As crazy as it seems, the cost to make each bed is $250.  Since there are three of us going from my school, we organized a little breakfast and lunch treat day.  Our principal said it would be okay to accept free will donations and AGES staff is amazing!  We were able to raise over $400 toward the purchasing of materials for the bunk beds.  Joint efforts between everyone going raised over $7,500.  With the money we will also be able to purchase mosquito nets and some other supplies that they are in need of.

We also had our final conference call to go over last minute details.  I have my packing list and am excited to start getting things together and  buy some of the things we will need.  I am also looking forward to perfecting the art of packing everything I will need into a carry-on suitcase and backpack.

Tonight I watched a documentary on channel 7 about the doctors and nurses from Omaha that went to Sudan earlier this year.  It made my heart ache, but at the same time it also reassured me that we are making the right decision to travel to Africa. These people need us and while I’,m hoping to help them, I think they are going to have a bigger impact on me. 

{The Launes}