Before I Go...

I have heard that just before a pregnant woman goes into labour she goes through a 'nesting' stage.  She gets this urge to clean and make sure everything is 'right'.  I am not pregnant!!! But I am nesting.  The 'due date' is tomorrow and everything is on schedule.  I am officially really, really excited now.  I think (hope) that I have everything in order and I am now working on packing! My methods are a little odd but I am praying that everything will fit!  I have stacked everything on the couch and now I have to get the couch into the bags... I am so thankful for my friends!!

I wanted to quickly update my blog to touch base with you before I take off.  I truly believe that this is an adventure that we are on together!  

I would love and appreciate your prayers!  I start my day tomorrow with a little flight to Vancouver.  I then board a 14 hour flight! I get to stretch for 2 hours in Hong Kong then I board a 13 hour flight followed by a 4 hour flight!!  That is 31 hours of sitting still, and we all know me!!!

Hopefully once I finally get to Pemba (on Saturday) I will get to go swimming before I even unpack! (my bathing suit is in my carry on).  

Quick prayer points: Quick and easy adjustment back to life in Pemba, No illness (not even once!!), that I can learn more of the language, that my practicum would go smooth, and just the basic protection stuff!!  I want to encounter God on this adventure!

I love you guys, thank you for journeying with me!!

Below are pictures of the task at hand.  First a pic of my couch covered in most (not all) of my stuff to pack, then a pic of the three bags I am taking, Then a couple of Laura trying to come with, and then a picture of the couch and bags in perspective... quite a task but it will be completed!!!

Love always, Candace of the Bush Bush

Back to the Land of Squatty Potty's and Bucket Bath's

FRIENDS.... FAMILY.... RANDOM BLOG READERS,

I am SO very excited to finally update my blog, although it has taken a while ;)
I am bursting with JOY because I am headed back to Pemba in about a MONTH!!!

If you haven't seen me recently you might be wondering what I am doing this time and I why I am leaving a month and half earlier than usual (I love that going to Africa is becoming 'usual' for me!!!)

I am just about about finished my third year of Nursing school (WOOOHOOOOOO), and for my year end practice experience I am going to be working with a Canadian RN who is serving as a Public Health Nurse with Iris Ministries in Pemba, Mozambique. We will be working on some health education projects in two local villages which you will hear more about in weeks to come.

This is the same organization that I went with before. After six weeks of being a Nursing a student I will transition into a role similar to my last trip. I will work with the missions school and hug as many children as possible :)

I am Obviously, just slightly, really, really, burstingly, excited about this next adventure and chapter in my life. I will try to blog regularly and I will post pictures when I can.

If you like numbers like, you can count down the minutes with me until I leave using the counter at the right of this page --> --> -->
(or find it on my blog at candaceinafrica.blogspot.com by clicking here if this comes to your email)

Also, if you want my blog updates sent to your email inbox, you can sign up using the subscription box.

Thank you for joining me in this next adventure!!!

Candace

PS: Here are those long overdue pictures from the Congo

Dreading my return to REALITY

Here I sit in Heathrow Airport on this grand adventure back to the forefront of reality! (Inside I silently scream 'I don't want to go... I don't like reality... take me back to the bush where a smile goes a long way and homework doesn't exsist').
But the facts are true and I am already through security. I am planning on uploading pictures and more stories over the next couple of weeks but just to tie you over, I thought that I will share but one story from my Congo adventure:
Our team of 9 people are waiting outside our hotel (it was too unsafe to camp!!), Finally our ride and guide show up. We are told that our upcoming adventure will take place just 60 Km away... In my western brain that was exiting because in Canada 60Km takes less than an hour to drive. Quickly my hopes were brought back to reality, they told us that it was going to take 3 hours... immediatly I pictured the worst road imaginable. Then we began our journey in two vehicles, one SUV and one small Toyota truck. After 28km we had been travelling for 2 hours and 45 minute... I realized that we would not be there in 15 minutes. I realized this as I grabbed my belonging and walked away from the SUV!!! We were over heated and stuck in the biggest mud puddle I had seen up the taht point (looking back it was relitivly small!) So 14 of us and all of our stuff piled onto that tiny and amzing toyota truck and travelled on and off between getting stuck, pushing the truck, and walking long distances. Night fell, and the Jungle came to life... It was amazing, I was quite pleased to be stuck in the most beautiful, albeit dangerous, place on earth. We did finally arrive at our destination, NINE hours after we left. We arrived to hundreds of villagers dancing and singing... they had been waiting 2 days for our arrival, we joined in, danced and sung and had a blast!!
I missed out A LOT of details but I need to go catch a plane so I can update you even more.
I LOVE AFRICA AND I MISS IT ALREADY

Love and Blessings