Goodbye for Now...

Yesterday morning, Carley dropped me off at the bus station.  I was utterly exhausted and slept for most of the four hour bus ride from Washington DC to New York City.  I got off of the bus at 34th Street and 7th Avenue, about a block from Macy's department store.  I waited there, reimancing about my old nanny days in the city, for the taxi that drove me to Africa Inland Mission's headquarters in Pearl River, NY.   An hour later, I got out of the taxi, lugged my two 70 pound packs inside and walked up to my room.  I was relieved to be alone.  The tears that had escaped me for weeks began to roll down my cheeks as the reality of my situation finally started to set in.   I took a deep breath, stepped out of my room and took a long walk outside.

I have to admit that I felt a little like the newest contestant on Survivor last night as I nervously met my new TIMO teammates, those I will be living and working closely with for the next two years.  I have been warned that interpersonal mission relationships are the main reason that most missionaries leave the field.  However, last night, as we eased into the get-to-know-you process I couldn't help but enjoy the realization that in a few short months I will know the good and the bad that each of these people bring to the field.  And, likewise, I pray that they too will know me...

Tomorrow at 7:30 pm I will board a plane and move to Africa!  I am so very excited, but also a bit dazed.  The last few months have flown by, one day quickly right after the other.  Moments that I long anticipated have now already been lived.  I have to keep reminding myself that I am only now at the beginning of this journey...  I can't wait to see what God will do with this time!  

Important Information:

My internet use will be very limited for the first six months of service in Sudan. I may be able to use the internet three to four times in this initial stage of service. In late February, I will be able to communicate more regularly via email and this here Blog. However, I would really love to hear from you.

My mailing address is:
Didinga TIMO via Loki
AIM International Services
PO Box 21171
Nairobi 00505
Kenya

Note:  

While I would LOVE to receive packages while in Sudan it should be known, if it is not already, that the mail in Africa can be a bit dodgy.  Packages shipped in boxes are strongly discouraged, as they will most likely be opened and picked through.  Large envelopes are better.  Also, I will be responsible for paying custom fees for all packages delivered to me in Sudan.  This can be VERY expensive, especially on a missionary salary :).  

Please do write though.  I suspect that letters will not only make my day, but maybe my week.  They will be my own little window into your world and life.   

Future one time financial donations can be sent to:
Kara Mangham
Africa Inland Mission International
PO Box 178
Pearl River, NY 10965

Goodbyes are hard...

So, bye for now.

With love and appreciation,

KIM  

The Wait is Over, the Day Has Come...

The other day I stopped into Huckleberry’s Grocery Store, Spokane’s version of Whole Foods. I was in search of Cuisipro Yogurt Starters, a sort of powder that when mixed with other ingredients magically transforms into yogurt. Yogurt kits in hand, I walked out of Huckleberry’s enjoying a lavender scone and 16oz. soy latte and the fact that yet another task could be checked off the endless to-do list that had overtaken my day to day life. As the swinging door opened, I heard a group of Snowbirds talking. “Yesterday I spent the whole day switching all of our magazine subscriptions to Arizona! I just can’t believe how much work it is to leave home for a few months!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, agreeing with the Snowbirds and enjoying this little thing called, perspective.

In early August, shortly after I finished teaching summer school, I started the laborious job of preparing for two years of life in the African Bush. I’ve never been much for packing. In true procrastinator fashion I usually roll out of bed early the morning before a backpacking trip or extended weekend and throw together as little as possible, hoping to walk that fine line between using everything I put in the bag and forgetting only the things that others have not.

But not this time...

I spent much of August and September carefully considering which seven skirts and shirts to pack and estimating exactly how many tubes of toothpaste and bottles of shampoo I use in 6 months (the first time I will be able to restock my supply). Once in Sudan, the closest drug store will be two plane rides away and even then, it will most likely not carry most over the counter medications. With this in mind, I wandered Target’s medicine aisle trying to predict my future cold and flu symptoms. There were solar panels, sunscreen, bug spray and seeds, for my future garden, to buy. I even picked up a turquoise roll of duct tape and a brand new wash board (like the kind they used on Little House on the Prairie) at a store called the General Store, I kid not.

When I wasn’t packing or running errands I spent time with family and friends, storing up memories like a squirrel in autumn.

Matt and I backpacked, visited friends and rode horses in Glacier, Montana.

My family and I rafted and kayaked the Salmon River 5 times in one weekend, beating the 113 degree summer heat!

We hiked, we camped, we rode bikes on the Hiawatha Trail...

In late September I traveled to

Bellingham, Seattle and Vancouver

to say goodbye to family and friends.

Tea with Dottie

Old Friends and Karaoke...

Playing dress-up at Aunt Florence's house

My little girl, Lily

Vancouver Friends
Yes, Kristin's stomach does say, "Go SUDAN!"

Sunrise Hike on Dog Mountain

Mrs. Pavelgio, Miss Davey and Mrs. Maloney

The Former Hazel Dell 2nd Grade Dream Team

Yesterday morning, after years of prayerful consideration and months of practical planning I said goodbye to my parents and sisters and boarded a plane for our Nation’s capitol. I’m spending the remainder of this week with my best friend, Carley. We plan to tour the Smithsonian and Lincoln Memorial before meeting with President Bush to discuss Sudanese relief efforts. On Sunday, I will head to Pearl River, NY to meet my Africa Inland Mission teammates. On October 14^th, after two day of training at AIM’s headquarters in Pearl River, I will board a plane and move to Sudan!!!!

The wait is over, the day has come. I am moving to Sudan…for two years!!!

Our Lord is certainly faithful!