How I Spent My Summer Vacation

There are two things I learned from my summer in Chicago. One, I truly do enjoy Summer if only as a distinct separation between Spring and Autumn. This "summer," I did not get much from Chicago. The weather hardly topped 90 and rarely did I think that the day was hot. Only when I was in Dallas for a week to perform in a friend's wedding did I experience real heat, with temperatures surpassing 105. And Dallas was a great trip all around. I learned more about friendship there than anywhere, but that is for another time, after Africa.

The second thing I learned involves this blog. I realized over the summer I was going to Liberia, I just didn't know how.
Shortly after I heard about the Liberia trip I picked up some additional information from the church. It detailed a little more about what the trip would entail and how much work would be involved. The more I read, the more I became interested. Naturally, I signed up for an informational meeting regarding the trip.

Now, this was a big step. Not because I was deciding to take a trip to another continent (I hadn't made that decision yet). Instead, it was because I really didn't know anyone in my church, aside from the pastor. My church experience entailed showing up for service and leaving shortly after service. Nothing more or less. It isn't easy being the new guy in town, and for some reason or another I don't just jump into a strange situation as myself. I'm a very quiet person until I am comfortable around everyone. Then you can't shut me up. And I know you all can attest to this.

This meeting wasn't a large gathering either, so my apprehension continued to increase. But the more I sat there, the easier I felt being around everyone. I am fairly certain I was the youngest one there. I am typically used to being the youngest one around. Growing up, I was always the youngest. This has gradually changed, however, but not enough to where I am uncomfortably the youngest around. Not until now, that is.
The more I listened about the trip, the more I was able to learn about everyone else. Soon, I was hooked. I knew that I would enjoy this trip no matter who came along and I knew I had to figure out a way to get there. And it wasn't going to be easy. $2,500 was no small figure to raise, especially when you are a bum working on political campaigns.

But, we worked together as a group to get this done. Each meeting became small social gatherings where we supported the overall goal of sending everyone who wanted to go. After that first meeting, you couldn't tell who was going to Africa and who was just there to support those going. It is still amazing to think how much support this place has for its members. This support continued into the "Taste of Africa" fundraiser held, just a few weeks ago, when more money was raised than initially expected.

But that led to the Monday evening e-mail I received, telling me that our group of four, which started at five, had dwindled to two because of external circumstances. And then, of course, came the Tuesday phone call when I found out that I was the only person going to Liberia this time.
Now, the only apprehension I had in going alone was whether I still received the support of the church since I am a new member. That didn't last long, however, as that evening at a class I was enrolled in overwhelmingly supported my decision to go at it alone.

Being new can be an uncomfortable experience if you let it. But to have a small community openly welcome you despite knowing nothing about who you are is a truly grateful encounter. It helps me know that I am doing the right thing and can continue to expand who I am. Just as my August trip to Dallas showed me how great friends can be, Illinois has shown me how great strangers can be, too.

It's Set!

This is probably the most exciting week I've had for my upcoming trip. As always, chronological order is best.

Hold please... Note to self, never write anything when the Cubs are clinching the Division. It doesn't bode well for keeping your mind in check.

Anyway, Sunday's fundraiser was a great success. Not only did we raise awareness of the work we want to accomplish while we are in Liberia, but we were able to raise quite a bit towards our trip costs. The money was a great dent for the four people planning to travel to Africa starting Nov. 4th, but became an even higher dent the next night.


As I just mentioned, there were four people planning on taking this trip, two women and two men. Then, on Monday night, I received an e-mail from the coordinator from our church to tell me that I need to send some information to the mission director and that the two women had to back out for personal reasons.

I go about my day on Tuesday when I received an e-mail saying I need to call the church as soon as possible. Calling in, I find out that the other person also had to back out. The coordinator wanted to know if I was still willing to go alone. I did take a thought to see if I should still go, but the more I thought about it, the more I excited I got out of this prospect.

So, I just said "I think there is still a benefit for me going." I truly believe there is a benefit, as I can still gain a lot of experience from working on this trip and I can contribute to the lives of these children, who don't live the lives we do, who don't plan because there is little reason to, but, more importantly, who have renewed hope in the world. I get to represent my church as we work to provide an education and a future to the many children who attend these schools.

There was a building excitement as I knew the check had been written, the funds for the trip there and back have been raised and it was only a matter of time until things were finalized. And then last night it happened.

I get home after a trying evening (well, a trying hour but the rest of the evening was enjoyable) to find an e-mail from the mission director with the confirmation information for my trip.

Now it's official. I'm leaving on Nov. 4 to Monrovia and the start of a whole new adventure, one that I didn't even think about six months ago and now about to actually undertake. I'm excited and I hope you all will get to read more about my excitement as time draws near. Right now, I need to go celebrate a Cubs victory, but I will lay out more details about the trip in the coming week and more information about my thoughts and emotions as we draw closer to my new adventure.