11 days

Visa from the Congolese embassy--check (An aside: it's surprising to me how "naked" I felt without my passport. I don't carry it around, I rarely look at it unless I'm going on a trip, but, by golly, I like to have it available. But it's back.)

Yellow fever and typhoid injections, cipro and malarone pills--check

Time spent with God so I'm calmer and more at peace about this whole trip--check (I realized last night that part of my anxiety about this whole trip was this need to be at peace in case I died. Yep, that put an extra weight on this trip. I can't say that that would be ok with me--honestly, who wants to die and leave a family?--but I will say that as of this morning, it feels re-framed. If I can cast my anxiety on God, b/c He cares for me, then I can trust that He will be in charge, and I don't need to expend any energy on wondering what will or won't happen. I can just live in the here and now and cross each bridge as I come to it. Phew.)

Logistics that still need to happen:
*Money from the bank (did you know you can use US dollars in Congo? Just make sure they are 2004 and newer without rips, tears, or any quizzical expressions.
*Picking up promised bumbos and formula. If you want to donate formula, I still have space in my bag. Talk to me!
*Coming up with a prayer list and contacting folks interested in covering this trip with prayer. (Yes, that could be you.)
*Random mosquito net and bug repellent acquisition. I'm just glad I'm not planning on being pregnant again ever, so DEET, here I come. (Yuck.)
*Practice French. I can now say I understand a little French, which is an overstatement.
*Figure out which handouts to try and take for the orphanage and the disabled group, as well as streamline a questions re: sponsorship.
*Pack bags. Readjust. Weigh. Repack. Readjust. Weigh. Repeat.
*Do I actually get to choose a book to read on the plane? Suggestions welcome. (Nothing too heavy, both literally and figuratively.)

There's more, I'm sure, but thanks for making it through my brain purge.