I awoke on Tuesday the 27th of March early than I had planed, was up and ready earlier than I had planed, and thus also on the road before I had planed. As i traveled down to school my mind was full of wonder and anticipation. I arrived on campus where I would spend some time reflecting and thinking before going out and picking something up for lunch. When the appointed time came, we were all there except for our instructor who do to changes taking place in the schedule was delayed. Once we were together we traveled to the airport, checked in, and after a bit would find that they were going to be canceling our flight and placing us on an earlier flight to Chicago, and thus less of a wait there in Columbus and more of one in Chicago.
The flight went fine and then we waited in Chicago for a bit before we boarded another plain and found ourselves on our way over the Atlantic and after several hours landing in London where we would spend several hours before boarding another plane. During this time a few of us started playing cards, a ritual that was embrace most nights of our travels from then on. On the flight to Nairobi I sat between two people, neither who I knew, but both seemed nice people, behind me was two of my group and at times I wish they would not talk as much as it did lead to me not being able to rest as much as I had wanted to. Upon landing in Kenya we quickly made our way to another gate and boarded our final flight. Upon arrival and de-boarding in Lubumbashi one member of the group would have his camera confiscated, for taking a photo of the terminal, we kept being ushered without knowing what was being said as the one person who knew the languages being spoken was one of the last to exit the plane. I encountered the UM PR person, about the same time as my fellow traveler was getting his camera confiscated and we were trying to stop another from taking photos so he would not loose his as well.
Passports taken to be stamped, waiting for luggage, slowly it came, met a UM pastor who would be with us most days and serve as one of our translators. eventually all was ready, out to the bus we would go, and wait and wait and eventually the camera would be returned and we were on our way. Dropped off our bags at the Guesthouse where some would be staying and then to have a meal, checked into a motel for the few who would not be at the guesthouse, perhaps some other things went on that first day as well… will have to check my journal and see.
For the first two nights I was one of the ones staying in the Motel, then another would take my place and I would join those at the Guest House. Interesting place, once had running water, but no longer did, they were starting to fix it up, but like many things it had seen much better days and had been neglected for a long time. The people there were nice, and I had a small little roommate that scurried under the wardrobe or under the door whenever it saw me move.
In the morning bathed with bucket, brushed teeth with bottled water, and was ready for a day of adventure, encountering, experiencing, and engaging.
More to come, but this post is long enough 
Peace,
— Lyle II
June 16th, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
I’m so glad you keep a journal of your experience so you can tell us all about it. And your pictures are AMAZING!I particularly was intrigued by the stained glass ‘African Jesus’ pictures. It was wonderful, because I have never really see Jesus from another culture’s perspective before, and I love this!
Also.. I take it that at least one of those pictures (though the writing was in French), was a picture of a hospital. There were so many pictures that I wished I could comment on, except I haven’t signed up or anything. But they were all amazing pictures!
Looking forward to hearing another update,
Shell.