Me and Josie before leaving for Rwanda.

Wednesday June 22nd, 2016 finally arrived.  I never would have guessed my interest was in Rwanda, Africa.  I had 6 months to plan for this trip through ZOE Ministries.  In December 2015, the Rev. Jerry Hill approached me in the parlor at BSUMC interested in my recent travels to India.  Through a short dialogue he asked me if I would have an interest in traveling to Rwanda for 10 days in June.  I inquired and probed until I learned this ZOE trip would be to interact with orphans in nine orphanages in nine villages throughout Rwanda, a country about the size of Maryland.  Rwanda has a population of around 11 million people.  It’s reported that more than half the population at 18 years or younger.  The more Jerry and I talked the more excited I became.  Without further ado I spoke the Jerry the following week and told Jerry “I am all in!” And so, I began the extensive paperwork administrative details for my first mission trip.

I spent two weeks making preparations.  There is always more to do than you think.  My first order was to set an appointment with Passport Health.  My assigned nurses updated my Yellow Card after she stuck me several times with an abundance of vaccines.  Yellow Fever vaccine was the big one.  Your Yellow Card must document this upon entry to Rwanda.  My tetanus, Hepatitis, Typhoid Fever and Influenza were given too.  No problem.

While planning for the 9 day mission trip it occurred to me that a popular main attraction in Rwanda are the gorillas.  The mountain Silve Back gorillas live in the dense mountainous regions of Northern Rwanda around the Volcano National Park.  This regions borders The Republic of Congo and Uganda.  I made a vast decision.  Through the ZOE network I was making arrangements with the travel guide to stay in Rwanda an extra five days to go Gorilla Treking.  My place of refuge is the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.  I will have an assigned driver for my 5 days and several days to go on safari excursions on the days not assigned to my Gorilla Trek.

The trip so far has been smooth.  I am currently over Western Europe with Brussells, Belgium as the first layover.  The second leg takes us to Uganda, then finally to Kigali, Rwanda.  The estimated total flight time is approximately 16 hours.  This is another trip of a lifetime!  I feel spiritually fit and I am ready to make wonderful memories.