Kenya: What about Reese and Tika?

One of the first questions Natalie, age 7, asked me is what about Reese and Tika.  Reese is our 8 year old Peek-a-poo (pekingese/poodle mix dog) and Tika is our 2 year old Yorkie-poo mix dog. When Phill and I first talked about going our answer was yes they are coming with us.  When we started looking into it further and saw all the red tape around taking a pet to Kenya, it didn't look so easy.  One good thing is they are small. That means they could fit in a small carrier under our seat... for 8 hours or longer on one plane and 8 hours or longer on another plane.

Reese would probably  not like it, but she would be fine. Tika would probably be evicted from the plane.  She is still like a puppy in a lot of ways. She would cry the entire flight and since they are lap dogs, would be furious if they couldn't be held. I wish I was like Lady Gaga who flew everywhere with her dog in a private room on an airplane.

It isn't just the flight that concerns me.  There could be a potential problem for my dogs and their health in another country that they are not used to.  Then I also feel that they are our family and even if their environment changes, at least their family or "pack" won't change.  I could see the kids in Kenya running after our dogs and our dogs being so happy to have new friends.

I know if we asked, many people would offer to help watch our dogs while we are gone.  Reese would be happy to be separated from Tika, but Tika is her annoying side kick and loves Reese.

So pet lovers out there my question is to you. What would you do if it were up to you?  Thanks so much for reading.

Kenya: Is it safe?

I have had some concerns from my loved ones, family and friends.  Is it safe?

Well I guess to be honest my answer is no. Kenya is not any safer than anywhere here in the United States.

You see I have anxiety. I have had major anxiety my whole life up until I had Postpartum Depression in 2010.  That was a major turning point for me with my anxiety.  I asked God to help me and he did. From that moment on, I made a promise to God to trust him and not to worry so much. I am not perfect, but I don't worry like I used to.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious to go to Kenya. I am taking my three beautiful children, ages 16, 7, and 4.  They are the most important thing to me in my life. I have to protect them. I have to trust God on this one.

I would also be lying if I didn't say that I have had anxiety while dropping my kids off at school. I am worried that a school shooting could happen in my little and safe town. I worry that when I go to the mall or a movie, I might be shot.  I also worry that if I am on a plane or a bus or running a race, I might get blown up by a terrorist bomb.  When I am out for a long run and exhausted, I worry that it might be the perfect opportunity for someone to abduct me.  It doesn't stop me from taking my kids to school, going to a movie, running or living my life.

To be really honest, I was more afraid of being eaten by a lion on safari than I was of being harmed while in Kenya. We will be in a private, gated, village where there is 24 hour security.  That is more safe than my home now, where I have had items stolen from our cars while we sleep and money stolen from my purse in broad daylight.

We also have a trusted group of over 100 friends in Kenya that would do nothing but protect us.  We are not going in blindly and just going to take risks.  We know not to travel alone or go anywhere at night. We make smart decisions.  My husband has been to Kenya 7 times and the only thing that was really scary was when there was an alleged terrorist threat on a plane from London to the US in 2004.  Luckily officials caught the threat in time and that was when airport security got really tight. Another trip someone took his cell phone. I just have faith in God and in my husband that we will be as safe as we can be while traveling to Kenya.

Our BIG Exciting Move...to Kenya

So we are putting almost everything we own up for sale.  (House, cars, camper, furniture, etc. ) Phill, Marquite, Natalie, Phillip and I are about to embark on an amazing journey.  Our plan is to go to Kenya to live for about a year or so depending on how long we are able to stay.  We will come back home when our time is up. We are so excited to start our journey in Kenya! We have a trusted group of friends who will be making sure we are safe and taken care of.  

Our timeline isn't set yet because we need to do three BIG things first...and about a million little things!  We need to sell our house. It will go up on the market this week.  We will need to get affordable health insurance to protect us incase of any emergencies, and we will need to fundraise enough money to live for the time we are planning to be in Kenya.  

Five years ago I went to Kenya for two weeks. I fell in love with everything about Kenya. I have wanted to go back for years.  I have had opportunities, but never felt right about leaving my responsibilities and my children behind.  When I went in 2009, I had an almost 2 year old daughter at home with her grandparents. I made a promise that the next time I went, she would go too. My daughter just turned seven yesterday.  

My husband, Phill, has been to Kenya seven times. He just got back a couple weeks ago when our church took a group. They had an amazing experience and Phill came back with some great project ideas.  Phill even helped me fulfill my dream of working with women who suffered from the same birth injury that I had after I had my second child. (Obstetric fistula) The only difference between these women and me is location.  I was born in America and I was able to get my surgery paid for while women in other countries suffer greatly. I will have an amazing opportunity to share my story and help other women suffering from this condition. 

Phill and I will be posting a lot about our journey and I hope to someday put it all together as a book.  We just want to say thank you to everyone for all of your support and prayers.  Please keep our family in your prayers.  We feel so incredibly blessed that we are feeling called to do this amazing mission.  We have plenty of room for you to come and visit! We would love it!