February 12th-Getting ready to leave for Africa

February 12, 2008

We are happy to report that we are FINALLY leaving for Africa on Monday, February 18th. The violence and instability in Kenya has posed a problem, since we had a week in Nairobi planned for business and counted on goods and materials purchased there being transported to Southern Sudan. As it has turned out some of the worst things have occurred along the route that the truck with our goods would drive. As a result, now we are flying to Uganda, purchasing things in Kampala and arranging transport of those things to Southern Sudan. Above all, a missionary must be flexible seems to be a major theme of this mission, and we are doing our best to be adaptable. Ernest Hemmingway is credited with saying, “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” Amen.

Since arriving home from the preliminary trip in November we have been speaking all over Northern California at churches, as well as my former middle school. The discovery of people’s interest, prayer support and generosity to financially support the school has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. We began this not thinking of ourselves as fundraisers, but we have found that it is easy to enthusiastically talk about the new school in Southern Sudan.

Suitcases are bulging with both practical and fun things, and of course teaching books. We will update this blog as regularly as we can, probably first from Uganda if there is a way. We have a new email address which is jim.higbee@yahoo.com.

Thank you for all the notes, calls, lunches, dinners, hugs and good wishes that you have all bestowed on us this last month. We take the love of family and friends with us to Africa.