4/27/10 - Preparation for the trip continues...

I've developed a new appreciation for what it means to be the team leader of one of these mission trips. There are many details that pop up that you would never expect. We had one team member that had to cancel due to health issues earlier this year and God gave us another to take her place in the person of Sharon Brudner. Sharon was also wtih us last November and it will be a joy to work with her again. She has lots of frequent flier miles and was able to get flights that allow her to meet up with us a Heathrow Friday. There was some doubt right up until the last minute that she could make this happen. We checked everything this morning and it all worked out great, with her having at least a 4 hour layover to get from one flight to another in both directions. One less detail to worry about. Another travel concern that we didn't have last November is that British Airways has implemented a policy of only allowing one carryon per person with no personal item that can be stowed beneath the seat in front of you. We will each be placing our personal item in half of a footlocker and will be able to retrieve it when we unpack in Nairobi. Each team member only gets a total of the carryon and personal item to hold everything that they need for the 11 day trip. You might ask, what about your two pieces of checked luggage that you are allowed? We have 60 team members going on this trip and at least 80 footlockers full of equipment, reading glasses, lenses, frames, supplies, etc. for the clinics and most of us will need to check two footlockers to help be good stewards for the overall mission budget. Each extra piece of checked luggage is exhorbitant and great care has been taken by Gus Jacob and his crew in Tomball to make sure none of the footlockers is overweight. Experienced international travelers know that it is pretty amazing how little you really do need to take with you. Not having my personal iterm, means I need to rearrange things so that I have my laptop, camera gear, MP3 player and noise canceling headphones all with me in the carryon and things that would usually be in the carryon will be shifted over to the backpack. I personally wear a fanny pack (I never thought I'd see the day when that would happen or that I would admit it!), because it is easier than emptying out all of your pockets for every security check. More travel tips and musings to follow as I think of them....