Running the Race with Jesus up to the finish line!: December 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Day 7 Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Happy New Year 2013!)

Happy New Year to all!

In hawaiian it is "Hauoli Makahiki Hou!" In filipino/tagalog it is "Manigong or Masaganang Bagong Taon!" In Luganda, we have two versions depending on the tribe/region, "Afoyo (Happy) mwaka (here) ma ceni (year)" or "Kelika omwaka". Courtesy of the hotel staff.

We visited the falls prior to Team A (Medical Team) and Team B (VBS and Life Skills Team) parted ways, A going to Kampala Medical Clinic and B to Jinja Siita Nest Orphanage. A beautiful bright rainbow was crowning over the majestic falls and every once in a while it turns into a double rainbow while we're watching in awe of God's beautiful creation.

Day 6 Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Paraa Safari Lodge)

Here we are the morning crew! (Kathy, Doug, Alba and me). We're waiting for coffee but we ended up here by the computer terminals checking and updating our email messages. I'm actually in my Victoria Secret polka dots pajama! And Kathy is trying to take my picture and I'm glad that it didn't work.

Today we are looking forward to another Safari Adventure 7-11 am. I think at 2:30 pm we have the river safari.

I have amazing safari pictures to share.

Another land safari from 7am to 10 am. In my opinion we saw more animals within this short period compared to yesterday's all day adventure. Our team went to the Boat Safari on the Nile River with half of us opted to hike up the forest.

Abdul, Sam (Ronnies' bro), Ronnie and Ismail

Uganda, African Sunrise!

Met a friend. This is Mak and he is 9 yrs old. His auntie works at the Boat Safari
.

Mak shared with me that he stays with her aunt who also works here at Paraa Safari Lodge. His parents are back home. He didn't elaborate where. He told me that he attends a private school. I'm hoping to ask him which school.

Our word for the day from the beginning of our mission trip - "Encouragement". Encourage others and be encouraged. Our word for day 1 "encouragement"! Today we added "others". This is in reference to Philippians 2: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Day 5 Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Chobe Safari Lodge)

The Nile River as my back drop @ Chobe Safari lodge

African Sunset during our land Safari

Enjoying the sunset during our land safari

Sunset in Uganda

FB video chatting with my family in Hawaii from Uganda

I had another breakfast by the Nile River this morning and a bonus having breakfast via FB video chat with my hubby and kids. They were able to view the Nile River at the Chobe Safari Lodge here in Uganda. Even our Uganda waiter, Steven got to say hello to my family.

God is so gracious to allow us to enjoy His creation before our hands on mission here in Africa. The facilities and people we had planned to visit and provide medical services and fellowship will celebrate the New Year festivities first before our entrance to the community. So since we're here in Africa, the whole team went to a safari adventure. We're here at Murchinson Falls Paraa Safari Lodge and just came back at around 8 pm from an all day sightseeing and enjoying each other's company. Our van had the chance to practice some VBS songs in the beginning of our Safari trip.

Ronnie aka Ronald is our van driver. He shared important facts about Uganda history and cultural practices. It's great to spend quality time with other Christians and to appreciate the commonality of our personal histories on how God had shaped each one of us to the wonderful creation that we are today.

We are going to another safari trip tomorrow and in the afternoon a water safari. I've got amazing safari pictures to share with all of you.

As humans we had this need to be needed. I’ve got good news for you. God will use you if you allow him to do great things for His glory. By the way, Oh I got an email message from my call-in job that they need me to work for four hours tonight! It’s great to be needed don’t you think? (smile). She was going to call me but she kept getting this message in French!

Day 3 Afrıca Mıssıon Trıp 2012 İstanbul, Turkey

We stayed at the BestWestern Hotel in Citadel. I'm gathering all the names of places we visited this day. İ ate all the fruıts from the fruıt basket! yummy! (I'll have a picture here soon) This ıs Day 3 but who's countıng! We walked by the water overlookıng Turkısh sunrıse. A specıal dog was our tour guıde. İ'll post more pıx later. We had a very interesting taste of Turkey culture, it's people, food and majestic history. My outlet adapter was not working out as I've expected. Turkish "I" and American "i" were confusing me while logging on at a Turkish computer. Doug, one of our team member pointed out that we were using the wrong "i" key.

Our venture to the city of Istanbul was quite interesting. The superiority of a man over a woman is so evident that I do not have the desire to reside in that area of the world. Is it a cultural practice for man to avoid eye contact with a stranger woman? The clerk at the Visa check counter in Istanbul airport made me wait for a few minutes before taking my visa for visual check. He had time to turn on his music (probably from his phone ringing) and made me wait. Then he took his sweet time to place the stamp on my passport and handed it to me looking away.

I wish I had taken a picture of the vendors. I might have some from my canon camera. We were at the Grand Bazaar looking for bargain and honing on our bartering skills. I didn't realize I had my canon camera around my neck when I bent over to admire a pewter platter with a dainty set of goblets with precious stones in them.

Day 4: Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Entebbe, Uganda Africa)

I've never been so exhausted in my life. I thought four 12-hr shifts in the hospital is the worst I've experienced. After the seemingly endless 13-hr flight from Istanbul to Kilagi Airport (Rwanda, Africa) then to Entebbe, we drove another 6 hours from Entebbe Airport to our final destination. I'm not kidding, my eyes are closed while typing this posting. Nothing compared to the beauty of the people we see along the road and our final destination for today, Murchison Falls National Park overlooking the Nile River.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Day 2 Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Istanbul, Turkey)

We're here in Istanbul, Turkey! Another stamp on my U.S. Passport! The very first one was in Manila, Philippines back in December 2010.

Turkish Airlines service is great! We each have a nice gift while on board. We even have our very Chef during the flight. This handsome chef was standing along with the flight attendants bidding us goodbye as we departed the Turkish Airlines.

Chef (didn't get the chance to ask his name)

There goes our baggage

in-line for VISA check

Elisa and the rest of our team waiting inside Istanbul Airport Terminal waiting for our ride to our hotel.

A panoramic view of Istanbul airport terminal.

Inside BestWestern Citadel in Istanbul

Waiting for instructions from Pastor Perry

Remnants of Christmas? I'm guarding the hotel staff who was making copies of our passports.

Panoramic view of the hotel (no elevators!)

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Day 1: Africa Mission Trip 2012 (Los Angeles, CA)

Our team led by our fearless leader, Pastor Perry made it to point A! We're now resting at Hilton LAX to prepare for our 13-hour flight to Istanbul, Turkey! So here we are enjoying the gingerbread house at the lobby (well, some of us!).

@ Hilton LAX

Now I'm trying to figure out the time difference between Honolulu and Istabul. According to Siri, it is 12 hours, so if it's 9am in Honolulu, it's 9pm in Istabul. When we get to Uganda, it is a 13-hr difference, so if it's 9am in Honolulu, it's 10pm in Uganda. Got it Hon? (I'm referring to my hubby). My daughter Joy Marie is our secretary. I gave her the responsibility to connect us via FB video chat! We tested the connection while at home and just tested the connection today while I'm here in L.A.

FB video chatting with my family from LA to Honolulu

Thank goodness for free Wifi! The only thing is that I have to sit by the lobby to get free connection or I'll have to pay per day connection while in my hotel room. I'm still connected with my daughter while I'm updating my blog. She's checking out my postings on FB and helping me edit my postings here.

Okay, Andrea and Jesika just left to head back to our room. I'm hanging out with my daughter on FB video chat overlooking the delicious gingerbread house at the lobby. I noticed when I got closer to this creation that some cookies are gone! Maybe I could have some free snacks after all!

The highlight of this day for me!

The "proof is in the pudding"! Somebody has been eating the cookies! Not me!

check out my iPhone 5 panoramic shot!

Check-in is at 4:30 pm enroute to Istanbul, Turkey. I should be taking a nap instead of updating my blog. Oh well, I love you all! more later! Muah! Muah! Muah!

Pictures say a thousand words so I may have to post more pictures to tell our story. After our 13-hour in flight to Istanbul, Turkey, my brain may not be working normal and may be typing something else.

From Hilton to LAX

Preparing for a 13-hr flight to Istanbul

Still at LAX

Andrea, Jesika and Alba while boarding Turkish Airlines

me, Laura and Jeronimo

We all have this travel gift set

Jeronimo showing off his travel gift

eye patch, toothbrush and toothpaste, ear plugs and lip balm.

We also got hazelnut snack (like macadamia nut snacks they give away on Hawaiian Airlines)

Let the Journey Begin: Africa Mission Trip 2012

We all made it to point A! The KCC Africa Mission Trip 2012 Team made it to our first destination LAX.

Nancy checking out her FB?

Waiting for the rest of the team before heading to baggage claim

Me and Laura fresh from the HNL to LAX flight!

Before I move forward sharing our journey, let me show you some pictures at Honolulu International Airport.

Checking in at HNL Airport on Christmas Day!

My favorite sunflower yellow bag!

Anthony and Joy hanging out with the team at the ticket counter

Me and my family saying our goodbyes!

Our team ready to go!

By the way, I almost lost my iPad at the airport! I was focused on getting my main luggage checked in at the Agriculture area and left my purple case and iPad at the drop off cement seats. I exclaimed, "Uy, I lost my iPad!" I ran to look for it and saw the guard just staring at it! I grabbed it and turned to the airport attendant, thanked him and went back to the ticket area. Joy was laughing at me because of my filipino expression "Uy!" While waiting for Ray and Anthony to get back from the parking lot, there was a voice screaming someone's name. I looked to check out what's happening and found this young man on the ground sitting up held by his father who was screaming his name and saying, "I think he had a seizure!". I think he was only down for about 2-3 seconds. I didn't see the young man jerking, just limp and pale looking. He tried to stand up and I advised him to sit down and tried to lead him to a chair. While walking to the chair, a young woman walked towards us with her arms in a "hitting motion" and said, "You know why this is happening. You did it to yourself!" Then she walked away. The young man's father was still with us by the time we found a place for him to sit. I asked if he passed out or had a seizure before and if he is taking any medications. He denied having previous history. He showed me a bottle of Anacin (aspirin + caffeine) that he said he just took prior the incident. As I was talking to this young man, I noticed that his pupils were bigger than normal (dilated) at least 5-6 mm in normal light. By the time I realized that I should have done a level of consciousness assessment, the airport dispatcher came and asked us some details and she paged the airport nurse. The dispatcher thought I was with the young man and his family. I introduced myself and that I'm a nurse and just a concerned bystander. Other airport personnel came towards us so I left them to join my family by the ticket counter.

I say it is an exciting journey so far!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas Day 2012

Happy happy birthday Jesus! This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad! This is it! Christmas Day! And I thought for awhile that the world has ended several days ago! Thank God for a brand new day, everyday!

Well, here are some pictures from our Christmas Eve services last night. I think the green robes made us sing better than when we were practicing with our regular clothes!

Check out Youtube links featuring "Son of God" and "Sing Choirs of Angels".