Buying Tickets

Well it looks like everyone has their initial funds in so I'm putting in the calls to our booking agent tomorrow about booking our tickets!!! WOOHOO!!

So far I have Aprils paperwork and Passport.

I also have Kim's paperwork too. Kim, we will need your actual passport in order to get your visa. 

We ask for everyone's passport so that we can submit them to the consulates office so we can get the visa stamps before we go. The consulate will then send the stamped passports back to us and we can send them back to you.

I'd like to get all signed and notarized paperwork AND passports from everyone as soon as possible so we can get visa approvals as soon as possible.

Thanks again everyone. I'll be in touch with everyone later this week over the phone about exact ticket dates, times and itineraries.

Chad

9 1/2 weeks and counting!

Hello everyone-
I wanted to let you know I was able to get my paperwork signed by the notary at work. The ladies in HR are able to do it, our cashiers, and medical records personal as well were all able to help. It was free for me at the hospital as an employee.
I was able to sit with Chad last night and discuss some details about the trip. The meeting was coordinated at a wedding in Iowa...which is always fun! We are super excited about this trip we are all going on and hope and pray the rest of you are as well.
I personally don't think the trip could come soon enough....do any of you guys wish we could leave now? I wish we could all pack the planes this week and go go go...There are a lot more planning and discussions and decisions to be made to finalize the trip, this will come in due time. We have to be patient. God is still working on us and the people and situations we will encounter while we are going to and in Kenya. We have to stay strong for this journey whether that be: physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We can not let the things of this world distract us from the plans God has laid before us.
Keep the Faith-
April

How are the shots and notaries going?

Are you getting your arms bruised and battered?
How are the stamps from the notary coming along?
Are you guys getting your money collected?

I am having my first fundraiser this Friday.
I am having an evening of BINGO...I love BINGO..I actually just ordered a shirt last week that says, "Happiness is April Yelling BINGO" that shirt makes me laugh, it is so silly!
What we are doing is having the cards donated/renting for the evening from a senior center (thanks to my hubby) and charging everyone $5, the first 4 cards are included in this cost. The prizes are Alume Import (from the women of Mitumba Slum) merchandise like purses, bracelets, and necklaces, as well as movie tickets, and restaurant gift cards. I put up 65 posters at work to encourage all of my hospital crew to come and play. The room we are hosting it in holds 50 people and I am secretly hoping for 150 people, so I can fill up the next 2 rooms and get a ton of money for the drug supplies for this trip!

I would love to hear the ideas you guys have..

Kristi are you selling "Mary Kay for Kenya"?

Amy and Jim what are you thinking about doing?

Chad any ideas or suggestions??

Talk to you later-
Keep the Faith-
April

Illnesses we may encounter/address on this trip

Everyone has been asking me about the kinds of illnesses that we may encounter in Mitumba Slum. I've emailed Shadrack about this and today I received his response! Below is a list of everything that he has described as typical illness in Mitumba.

Plus, there's even better news!! Shadrack has worked with a several physicians in Nairobi that may be willing to donate their time, knowledge, experience, and expertise while we're in Mitumba!

PLUS, Shadrack does not expect the orphanage to be 100% complete by the time we arrive so if we're not completely overwhelmed with the medical work, we may be able to assist in completing the brand new orphanage!

But for now, here is a list of all typical symptoms of those seeking medical assistance in Mitumba (Pastor typed this...not me, so I hope our more medically minded understand this better than I do...):

Malaria treated by Fansidar

Typhoid fever treated by Cloramfhenicol, quinolones

Amoeba (metronidazole)

Diarrhoea (shigella, other types) - Cotrimoxazole, Amoxicillin, cefalosporine

measles - """

pneumonia - """

Fungal infections of the skin (clotrimazole-cream)

Worms (albendazole, mebendazole, others)

PS Here is what he had to say about the 230+ pair of brand new shoes we're bringing too:

Please we are glad that you have decided on the right things which are mostly need eg The shoes and the glasses. You are welcome to let the team bring as many shoes as possible!

I can't wait, team...this is gonna be an awesome trip!!

Be blessed!

CP

Brief Recap of Dates from our Field Manual

October 15th-Passports are due in IL
October 25th-$$$$ for our airline tickets are due BYE this day- $1,700
October 25th- Also due are our signed Visa applications, Medical Form, Liability form, Code of Conduct and Release forms are due in IL on this day.
November 29th-Remaining funds are due in Bloomington, totaling $2,600.
December 26th-Are you ready!! We are flying away! This is our departure date scheduled as of now. Please be flexible, this could change based on our ticket prices.
Get excited, and Keep the Faith-
April

Field Guides and Forms are now available!!

Hey team!

We have finally proofed and updated the field guide for the Dec 08-Jan 09 team. Below are links to the entire 35 page field guide as well as individual links to the forms that you need to fill out (2 of which need to be notarized) and mailed back to the 'GOYA headquarters' (3003 Wembley Way, Bloomington, IL 61704).

Here they are:

Field Guide: http://drop.io/goyafieldguide

Liability Form: http://drop.io/goyaliability - This one requires a notarized signature

Medical Release: http://drop.io/goyamedical - This one requires a notarized signature

Code of Conduct: http://drop.io/goyacodeofconduct - Sign and mail this one back too.

Click on one of those links and once you're on the download page just click the download button. Make sure you have the latest version of the Adobe Reader as you will need it to open all of these files

Please let me know if you have any questions. These links will remain along the side of this blog until we leave.

PS If you don't have a passport yet...you need to stop what you're doing and go to post office to apply for one today!! :)

To answer some questions:

Fear Not My Friend-
How much is due soon? $1,700- of this $50 was already given as your deposit, I believe, in order for our names to appear on this blog!
Where do I mail the $? GOYA Ministries
3003 Wembley Way Bloomington, IL. 61704
Where do I have people send the support money? To the address above. Just tell your supporters to put your name on the memo line designating the $ for your trip.
Will I get a new field manual designated for this trip? Yes
When will I get this field manual? THEY ARE OUT NOW :) In our emails.
Will I have to get shots for this trip? Yes, there are a number of them. The Hepatitis A&B's, Tdap, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Polio was recommended & given b/c I had not gotten one in my adult life! The Hep series are the ones you need to get right away if you are not already current with them. I got mine at the International Travel Clinic affiliated with my work at the hospital here in MN. I was also given pills for Malaria & Cipro for when we travel to Kenya and I am possibly sick (travelers diarhea)! You guys will all get the same shots/meds I assume.
Let me know if there are any more questions.
Keep the faith-April