New Beginnings

Just two more days until I begin the long travels back to The Gambia and I am ready. I even have a new travel mug all packed for the long journey. If you have been following my blogs for a while you have read about my previous travel mug and how the Lord brought it back to me the last time I returned to The Gambia after I was sure it was gone (you can click here to check out that post from 2 years ago) As I prepare to return this time I pray my journey is a little faster and less hectic than my last return but I am ready for whatever happens.

Part of that readiness is a new travel mug; my old one traveled the world with me for many, many years and served me well until my return to the US in January. I was not aware when I set foot on US soil in January 2023 at the Newark airport that I was being routed through a brand new terminal that had only opened a couple of hours prior to my arrival. I do NOT recommend going through a busy airport terminal on their first day of operation! There were many hiccups to work out including what to do with the very sleep deprived tubaab (yep, that was me) who forgot she had a few sips of water left in her travel mug and tried to go through security. After consulting with several people and some jokes about what to do with it, the only reasonable and efficient solution was for me to just give them my treasured travel mug. Honestly in the moment I was very happy to give away the mug and move on in my travels one step closer to a bed that was loudly calling my name. It was only much later and several weeks after the fact that I got a little sad and started the search for a new mug.

However, I am now embracing this fun new mug as a symbol for all the new beginnings. I will be returning to my same house and village, but the ministry and what my day looks like will be completely different and new. I am excited to see what the Lord has next and appreciate your prayers as we explore the doors the Lord is opening. Prayers for travel on August 5th and 6th also appreciated.