Mornin, dear Zoe (peace to you!). We leave the morning of the 14th and arrive the afternoon of the 15th. Everyone is pretty excited. I think we'll have a wonderful time - this is my 3rd "assignment" (Bethel in 1996; Ethiopia in 2013). Both times before I was a little apprehensive but each time not only did things smoother than I expected, they were actually very anti-climatic: NOTHING "happened." Actually, both assignments were quite boring, if you look at them from an "Indiana Jones slash DaVinci Code" [kind of] adventure perspective - LOLOLOLOLOL!
But it still feels like that to me: I'm off to speak to/find [out] only JAH and Christ know what... but that's really the point (and the beauty and thrill) - it's not MY work or even about ME. It's their work and whatever "it" is (about) it will be for the benefit of the Body.
As for safety, I'm not worried about that, either. For one, I'm African American - nobody (over there) wants ME - LOLOL! I already know what to say: "Ummm, no, I don't think you want me (or any of my group) as hostages - I PROMISE you, the U.S. isn't gonna pay you a DIME or send in troops or NUTHIN', for us, 7 black people (5 of which could pass as Egyptian! LOL!), 2 Mexicans (on of which could pass as maybe Greek), and one white lady (who's so tanned she might be thought an Egyptian, too, or maybe a Morrocan/Libyan - LOLOL!).
We will be respectful, wear head coverings, if appropriate (I truly hate how Americans assert that they shouldn't have to wear head coverings in Islamic countries yet try to make Muslims remove their's when here - if one must do "as the Romans when in Rome" then what's good for the goose should apply to the gander!)... wish everyone "Peace" ("a salaam elaikem!")... and generally not make an "American" nuisance of ourselves. We are guests in a foreign country (which, apparently, some Americans forget when traveling abroad).
All of that aside, though, my dear Lord will be with us every step of the way. I have NO idea where I'm to go/what to do once there, so I HAVE to let him guide me... EACH step. So, I'll be doing "just so" to the best of my ability. Everyone knows "why" I'm going and so have agreed that this is most important, more than sight-seeing, etc.
So there you go! Easy-peasy! LOLOL!
And we will share what we have/can on our return, I promise.
Peace to you, luv!
Your servant, sister, and a slave of Christ,
Shel
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