Stranded in England . .

. . . And having a great time at it. I am sure many of you are quite confused about what exactly transpired to get me here. I'm still working it out myself. By the Lord's provision, I had planned an overnight stay with a friend of mine from Mercy Ships (Sue Lord) who lives in the English countryside. I was supposed to spend one night with her and her husband; then get on to Heathrow; then fly to Yemen. I had an evening flight out, so we had planned to spend the day driving around looking at churches, having a pub lunch, and other sundry items. Before we went out, I checked my email just to be sure I hadn't missed anything. Good thing I checked. There waiting for me in my inbox was a lovely email from the US Embassy in Yemen informing me and the rest of the team that we were no longer wanted--rejected by my own government! Actually, the apartment we were to be lodged in had been attacked overnight. After much prayer and consideration, the team decided that this was not the best time for us to visit Yemen. I'm not sure if our profile got too high, or if it those responsible had just hit a lucky target. I think it's probably impossible to know.

So, after a few international phone calls (sorry, Lord family) and a sense of deflation, I was back to the drawing board of this trip. Because I was supposed to go to Egypt with the team, that's out as well. Had I done any of the planning or research for this trip, I might have gone on alone. However, since all of my knowledge of Egypt comes from The Ten Commandments, The Mummy, and The Prince of Egypt, I decided going by myself would not be on the list of the "Smartest Things Molly's Ever Done." Plus, it is difficult to identify historic landmarks when your reference point is a cartoon. Case in point, Simba (The Lion King) is not as cuddly as one would think!

So, the new revised plan: to become a true English lady! (It may take longer than the 2 weeks I've got. Don't tell Sue my hostess cake!) I have been quite busy learning to say things like "quite" and "trousers" and "just pop 'round to the. . ." Yesterday we went for a walk 'round the countryside. A "walk" in England is not what we would consider a "walk." It is more like a trek. But the best part is that you get to walk through pastures were sheep are grazing and lambing. Fortunately, no one actually lambed while we walked past, but if one had Sue's husband Chris is a veterinarian and Sue and I are both nurses! I also had my pub lunch yesterday.

It's very nice being out here, because few foreigners get down to this part of the country. So, my dream of being in a place where people are fascinated by my accent has come true! (It's a silly dream, I know!) When we were walking out of the pub, I greeted a boy of about 5. He cocked his head to the side and exclaimed, "Where are you from?" I told him America; it seemed easier than Festus. Then Sue asked where he was from, and he said, "I'm from England!"

I have also infiltrated England's seedy underbelly--the world of the WI (Women's Institute). Sue already had a Mercy Ships talk set up for last night, so I got to go with her. Those women got just a taste of the international scope of Mercy Ships. No matter they had trouble understanding anything I said! By the way, the movie Calendar Girls is about the women of the WI. Yes, this chapter is getting ready to do a calendar as well; they claim is won't be as "tarty." If I were you, I'd place my order now. Did I mention the mean age is 73.8-years-young?

On the hillside in back of Sue & Chris's house, the region's point-to-point race was held. Point-to-Point as I have learned is a horse and pony race with jumps. Horse and pony race not to be confused with dog and pony show. The race course goes all over the hillside, estimated about 2 laps at 1 1/4 each. There's anywhere from 10 to 18 horses running at a time, and it's not uncommon to see a horse racing sans rider! Presumably, the jockey is fine, as he usually turns up eventually.

The new plan also includes 6 days in Edinburgh with other Mercy Ship friends. I've never been to Scotland so I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully, I won't get peer pressured into eating haggis. Already had it; no thanks, I'm full from that last bite 3 years ago!

Eventually, I will get back on track and go to Australia. Instead of flying as originally planned, I'll fly from London. Thank the Good Lord for comprehensive travel insurance and his direction in buying it! Only He knows our coming and our going! As far as I know, I am still coming home on the 21st of May, but clearly I can not be held to that.

Here we go again!

Allow me to begin by saying how much I love that video/song. It's called "Ok, Go" on YouTube. If you haven't seen it yet, you are missing out. My blog history tells me that I haven't updated since September 28, 2007. Yikes! So much is happening.

Currently, I am waiting for my flight to London. I am on my way to Yemen for another medical mission. It will be similar to the Mongolia trip. A team of 15 of us will be teaching the Yemenis pediatric heart surgery on children under 12kg (25lbs). We will be doing more teaching in Yemen than we do in Mongolia. I am really excited about that part. The actual surgeries are rewarding, and it is an honor returning a healthy child back to his/her parents. But it is just as important to empower the national people to provide excellent care to their own.

Please pray for safe keeping for the team while we are in Yemen. The U.S. State Department & Condi Rice will be caring for our security needs while there. The State Department is not normally active in securing the safety of missionaries, so it is a gift from God that they are willing to help us. Also, pray for the infants, toddlers, and their families that they will be healed and will will understand the love of Jesus through our actions. Also, pray for teachable spirits in the national doctors and nurses as well as for us as we work with them. Finally, pray for me and the team that God would be glorified whatever may come.

We will be working for 2 weeks on this mission. Then it's off to Cairo for some anthropological fun! I just don't understand why they don't fix the Sphinx's nose. He is starting to look like Michael Jackson! Shame, shame!

And just for kicks because I am already going to be so far around the world, I am going to fulfill my longtime dream of going to Australia. I'll be there for a month traveling around and visiting friends from Mercy Ships.

I figured that since I am starting grad school in the fall I should probably try to satiate my travel bug for a while. Short of a quick trip or two here and there, I will be grounded for the next 3 years! I imagine this will come as quite a shock to my system. I have been accepted and will be attending Emory University in Atlanta this fall to pursue a dual masters degree in Global Public Health and Acute Care Peds Nurse Practitioner (MPH/MSN).

I am really excited to start this next adventure. I can hardly imagine what the Lord has in store for me next. I have been so blessed to be a part of His work in such unique ways over the past year. My life has certainly been different than I imagined it as a teenager. I am just amazed that God allows me to be even a small player in the story he is telling. I pray that he would be glorified throughout my days!

More to come later. Must board for the next adventure!