Written 7:00pm local time, 9/2/09

Today IS September 2^nd, right? The past several days are completely jumbled in my mind! Our team spent last weekend at the HUT (Harding University Tahkodah) retreat center preparing for the trip and getting a head start on our classes. Everyone is full of excitement for and anticipation of the coming semester! “Guess what guys? We’re going to AFRICA!” has been heard dozens of times these last five days!

Early Tuesday morning we left HUT and travelled to Memphis, TN. With only a few minor difficulties, we checked in and made it through security. Each of us was allowed to check two 50lb bags and to bring one carry-on weighing 26lb or less.

Our schedule changed slightly from the original plan. Instead of flying through Detroit, our first layover was in Boston, MA. The flight from Memphis to Boston was about 2.5 hours and was perfectly smooth. I got my first glimpse of NYC and the northern Atlantic!

Once we landed in Boston, we immediately headed to our next gate and got in line to board the flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands. This flight lasted about 6.5 hours, during which we lost the most time. We boarded the plane, ate dinner, saw the sun set, spent less than 4 hours in darkness, saw the sun rise, and ate breakfast before landing!

Our layover in Amsterdam was about two hours. It was early Wednesday morning there, but to us it was just after midnight! We walked around the airport, which is very large, and then were required to go through security again before boarding our longest flight.

We are currently in the air above Kenya, Africa. I am definitely ready to get to Lusaka; 8 hours is a long time to spend on a plane, especially when you haven’t slept for 24 hours! I have been asleep for about 4 hours this flight but I’m trying to keep myself tired so I will sleep all night when we arrive this evening.

I found out I will be able to receive mail (letters only, no packages) while I’m there. It can take up to two weeks for mail to arrive, and we’re only at Namwianga through November 16^th, so it would probably be best not to send anything after October 31. Here’s the address:

Emily Wilkin

Namwianga Mission

PO Box 620022

Kalomo, Zambia

I would love to hear from you!

If you are praying for our trip, I would ask that you especially lift up our team over the next 2-3 weeks as we deal with the time change, diet change, starting classes, and facing our first bout of culture shock!