Africa Here I Come, Again

On my tenth call to the Ghana Consulate in New York, someone finally picked up the extension that connected to the ONLY person in the entire building who handled VISAS. Unlike my pass experiences with the Ghanaians at the Consulate, this woman was very informative and polite. My visa will be processed today and will be sent back to Atlanta this evening. Hopefully it will be here at some point tomorrow, since I used Express mail. Depending on when it arrives tomorrow, I can possibly get on the last flight at 12:25 PM. I it does not get here in time I will try to catch the first flight out on Saturday. Keep me in your prayers.

The Incredible, Edible, Ghana Visa

So here it is 6:20 PM on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 and where in the world is Shelley???? Well Shelley is sitting on the couch at Courtney's town home in Atlanta, GA... OMG... What happened??? Long story short I was...correction...Courtney and I were at the largest airport in the world yesterday from 10AM to 4:30 PM trying to organize my next move, since Delta Airlines would not let me on the plane without a Ghana Visa. I am sure there are folks out there saying "Shelley, duh. I knew you needed a visa." To you I say, "Why did you not tell me????" This just goes to show that not matter how prepared one THINKS they are for life there will undoubtedly be a curve balls thrown...the only solution is to roll with the pitches.

If you now me you know that yesterday was full of tears, walking, talking, and just mere FRUSTRATION!!! But God sent me a support system yesterday (sometimes I forget how blessed I am) . Courtney dropped me off at the airport and was due to work at 1PM, when she got a whiff of the drama that was about to go down, she immediately called the Braves and told them she would need the day off. I would have crumbled for sure if she was not there.

I am currently waiting on the visa. I sent my passport and paperwork to the Ghana Consulate in New York and now I wait!!! I am booked for a flight out on Friday, but it all depends on the incredible, edible, Ghana Visa:-)

SURPRISE!!! i am NOT my hair

AFTER

BEFORE

So here is the surprise. I did it!!!!

Afterwards, I looked in the mirror and did not recognize the person staring back at me. I have spent most of my life using my hair as a protective shield. This shield covered up my insecurities, self doubt, and at times my lack of self confidence (some will call it faking it until you make it). No longer can I hide!!! I am a child of God and this is how he made me. I am 100% exposed to the world with no where to run. THIS IS ME and I LOVE IT.

I now introduce to you... Shelley and all of her beauty, insecurities, self doubt, intelligence, kinky hair, and confidence (just to name a few). I love her and I hope you do to:-)

8 Days and Counting!

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick!!!! The time is quickly ticking by until I depart on the adventure of my life. I am still in the process of getting things packed to go into storage. I have had to purge so much clothing from my wardrobe. It is amazing how many clothes I had that I did not wear and had not worn for years. This is awful...someone could have been getting good use out of those clothes. I am now about to purge my suitcases (which are almost packed) because I think I packed too much. I am limited to 2- 50 pounds suitcases on the plane. I mailed three boxes of items today to Togo. Hopefully they will get arrive the same week I arrive (cross your fingers and pray to God). This is a short posting, but stay soon because I will have a HUGE surprise in a few days;-0 What ever could it be??????

16 Days and Counting!!!

Well guys there are only 16 days left until I depart for Lome. I am very excited and anxious to step my feet on African soil. I got my last vaccine (Yellow Fever) yesterday. Turns out I only needed 6 shots--Whoa! Hoo! God is good all of the time. My dear friend, Courtney, took me to the World Travel Clinic and took fantastic care of me. She is the best:-)

My Roots!!
I just had my African ancestry traced through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence testing. This DNA test traced my maternal lineage (in other words, my mother's mother's mother's mother). Enough of that info let's reveal my African Ancestry...1...2...3... the Masa people, who settled in present day Cameroon. Of course, I plan on visiting this country whilel in Africa. I have started doing research on the tribe, but have come up empty handed. The Masa people make up a very small percentage of the population in Cameroon. I will keep you all updated on this new revelation.


Following God's Path
As I prepare to embark on this life journey, I am reminded every minute of every day that this is God's plan for my life. There were days when I did not know if this life journey would be possible, financially and mentally. But every time I carried doubt and worry in my heart, God revealed himself to me in the people he put in my life. I have had some amazing, generous, and dedicated people who have made it a priority to get me safe and sound to Africa and I know with every breath in my body that these people were (and continue to be) a gift from God. I say all of this to say THANK YOU to these people (they all know who they are). I thank God for you all every day. I love you all!!!

28 Days and Counting

Take Off

I will be departing for Lome' on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. The flight leaves Atlanta, layovers in New York, and then heads straight for Accra, Ghana. I should arrive in Ghana on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 8:20AM. After my arrival in Ghana, I will board a plane and fly from Acrra, Ghana and Lome', Togo. My total flight time will be approximately 19-20 hours (Thank God for ipods, books, and granola bars!). Lome' is four hours ahead of US Eastern time. I step my feet on Togo soil at 11:40 AM, Wednesday, August 27, 2008 (that would be 7:40 AM Atlanta).

Vaccines, Medicine, and More

Who knew that traveling to Africa would require such extensive vaccines and medication. Up to date, I have had a total of five vaccines: Polio, Meningitis, Rabies, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A. All of these injections were received in a 5 minute time frame. Needless to say, my body had a difficult time acclimating. I had a 102 degree fever the following day:-(

Some would say, "Good job, Shelley. You made it through five shots and now it is time to go to Africa." My response would have to be, " WRONG!" I still have two more vaccines (Yellow Fever and MMR). I am putting these off as long as I possibly can. There is no time to be confined to the bed with a fever from those vaccines. I have people and see and things to do before I leave.

Not only do I have vaccines, I have to take Malaria medication every day starting two days before my departure and one month after my arrival back to the United States. The Malaria medication (the prescription in my price range, which is 60 cents per pill) is an antibiotic. Ladies you know what that means:-( Now I have to take medication to fight the itching and irritability that can be caused by antibiotics. When will this end!

My Lome' Connection

Thanks to my dear Friend Amber F. (you know who you are), who is always looking out for me despite the distance between us. Amber put me in contact with a US family, who was moving to Lome for 18 months. I have been e-mailing back and forth with this family and it is so heart warming to know I have a familiar faces (even though I have never seen them). This family has offered me the use of their washer and dryer and just good ol' fellowship if I need it. This is truly a blessing from God.

My Journey to Lome, Togo

Preparation! Preparation! Preparation!

The time has come for me to start seriously preparing for my ten month journey to Lome, Togo in Africa. While I am in Africa I will be teaching PreK-Kindergarten at ArcenCiel International School of Lome. Visit the school's website at http://www.arc-en-ciel.org/Eng/home.htm. I am tentatively scheduled to leave the United States on August 27, 2008. The exact date and time will be determined very soon.

Passport
I am going to the post office tomorrow to apply for my passport. Who knew passport photos could look so awful:-) I am comforted by the fact that passport photos are an inaccurate depiction of true beauty.

Vaccines
I made an appointment for June 9, 2008 at 8:30 AM to get international travel consultation and many vaccines. So far I am aware of three needed vaccines: Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Hepatitis A. My arms are going to deflate from the inside out ( I am petrified of NEEDLES!). I am going to need a lot of ice cream after this arm numbing experience.