Off I go into the wild blue yonder...Solo!

As many of you already know, I plan to return to Romania this June and spend 3 1/2 weeks volunteering at the failure-to-thrive clinic. A college friend was also going to join me. Well, I was informed this morning that my friend would be unable to go. I was disappointed, but understood that sometimes plans fall through and that's just the way it is. Then it hit me like a line of stampeding giraffes...I would be flying to Romania by myself. Now that might not sound like a serious issue to most folks, but for me, the mere thought of a total of 15-16 hours in the air (and I repeat, by myself) plus hours of layover in airports is enough to cause anxiety like this world has never seen. I am already planning to buy stock in the Dramamine company since I will be eating the tablets like candy before, during, and after the flights.

The news of my now-solo adventure forced me to take a look at my level of trust. I uncomfortably went back and forth, saying to myself, "Sure, I have total trust in God to get me through anything." and then the next thought would be, "What have I gotten myself into? I must be crazy!".

I called Mom and jokingly expressed the feeling that perhaps the whole trip wasn't meant to be because now I would have to go halfway around the world alone. Mom told me, however, that perhaps that was Satan's way of trying to discourage me; he knows my weaknesses and preys on them. Maybe all along God has wanted me to go by myself to force me to confront my greatest fear and fully realize that I am not alone.Besides, the kids are way worth it!