I am in AFRICA!!!

May 31, 2009 (Sunday)
Cherokee House, Addis Ababa

I have arrived! So, funny story (or GOD STORY) - after getting to Dulles airport in DC I was walking to my gate after getting something to eat and I hear someone say "Are you Sarah Herbert?" It was a girl named Rachel that I had been facebook messaging back and forth for a few weeks , who is also staying at Cherokee House with me. It turns out that she and Blair (another girl also staying at Cherokee House) were supposed to fly out 3 days earlier, but something had happened and they were stuck in D.C. and were supposed to fly out this coming Monday, but had come to the airport hoping to get on an earlier flight. And they got seats on the same flight that I was on! It truly was a "God thing" because I cannot imagine having to go through visa application, immigration, and customs all by myself. It was total craziness. The line for visas was insane and took like 2 hours to go through. Rachel described it best by saying we were like gumballs in a gumball machine, all trying to go through the same little opening (the doorway), though I don't think gumballs would have been as pushy as the people we were crammed up against. Everything went fine though and one of the Cherokee people, Brianna ( I think that's her name...I'll get back to you on that) was there to meet us (though she actually still wasn't expecting me until the next night... another way Rachel and Blair being on my flight was a God thing!!!).

The most exciting thing so far? Being hit on by a big, older, black man while in line for our visas. Apparently I have very nice left handed hand writing and a bunch of other things I couldn't understand, and he wanted the number of where I was going to be staying in Ethiopia. I'm telling you, 21 years in America and I can't get a man, but 1 hour in the Addis Ababa airport and I have one asking for my number. So everything is good and we're just settling in, taking showers and heading to bed. Right now, we're the only guests in the house, but 2 more are coming tomorrow morning and then I believe we are spending the day visiting places together.

On My Way

Blog Post:
May 30, 2009 (Saturday)
Dullas Int'l Airport- Washington D.C

So I'm on my way! My plane for Ethiopia leaves in about 3 hours, but my adventure actually started yesterday when Sabrina Freeland, my travel agent who is also a friend of my mom's, called. You see, my mom and I were under the impression that I wasn't leaving until Sunday, May 31st , until Mrs. Freeland called around noom on the 29th asking if I was ready for my flight the next day. Mom and I looked at each other and said "Tomorrow?" at which point I flew over to my bag and lo and behold it said May 30th and not May 31st!! How we mixed that up.....I'm not sure. Mind you, Mom had also looked at my ticket multiple times and did not catch the right date either. So after panicking for about 20 minutes, the rest of Friday was spent running around getting the last few things I needed and figuring out how to pack everything into 2 suitcases and a carry-on! The scene from Gilmore Girls where Lorelai and Rory get back from backpacking around Europe and think they have a week before Rory heads off to Yale, but find out she leaves in 2 days kept running through my mind. But it all worked out and I was ready to get on the plane by Saturday afternoon. I believe the whole situation was just another sign from God that he wants me in Ethiopia. If Mrs. Freeland had not called to check on me I would have shown up at the airport on Sunday May 31st and would have missed my flight. My God is truly an amazing God!

1 Week and Counting!

Can you believe it? I leave in exactly one week for Ethiopia!!! I have raised all the money I need, I have bought my plane ticket and gotten all my shots, all my paperwork is in order, and now all I have to do is pack (which is actually a lot harder and stressful then it sounds). As of right now, I'll have a carry on and then I'm checking one bag with my stuff in it and then also checking another bag that will be predominately supplies for the school I will be working at. I know some of you have read the list of supplies I had posted and have been collecting items for me and I very much appreciate it. If I could get those items ASAP that would be great and take some of the stress off me as I try to pack. You can either drop the stuff off at my house or let me know if I need to come pick them up somewhere. Just drop me or my mom and email to let us know.

The plan is to be updating this blog as I am in Ethiopia (there is dial up internet at the house I am staying at), but I have no idea what my schedule will be like when I get there so I will do the best I can. If much doesn't get posted while I'm there, I'll be sure to post everything once I get home.

Well, that's it I guess! My next post will hopefully be from Ethiopia! Please keep my in your prayers as I am about to step WAY outside my comfort zone into the unknown where only God will be able to get me through.

I thank God everytime I remember you...

I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of support I have been given by all my friends and family. Because of your generosity I have met and exceeded my fundrasing goals for my trip. My plane tickets, traveler's insurance, room and board, and immunizations have all been completely payed for with more money left over. Any money I receive on top of these costs will be spent either paying for my transportation costs back and forth from the school I will be working at or to buy supplies for the school itself. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who helped finance my trip. There is no way that I would have been able to afford to go on my own, but through your generosity and willingness to be a part of where God is leading me, I can go and do God's will where He wants me. I am soooo excited to see what He has in store for me in Ethiopia and what path He will direct me on from there. Please, please, please, continue to pray for me as I leave in 23 days that my eyes would be open to what God would have me do and that I would be ever focused on our loving Savior. I am awed once again in how He has provided for me.