i, however, was able to enjoy a few and i would recommend watching The Proposal. I really loved it :)

Upon landing, I had to find my bag and decided they must have sent it down to the baggage claim. Down a dimly lit corridor that smelled a smell strangely familiar, i was wordlessly directed (as were all the other passengers). I began wondering if anyone would really be there to pick me up at all. I mean...they didn't really have to, right?... it was only slightly exciting. I decided to trust that they just would be. I walked and there was a lady at a counter standing and selling something. she stared long enough that I decided i was supposed to talk to her. she was giving SIMS cards out. whatever those are...for your phone i think... i did'nt need one so i began to walk away and she asked me if i had a card filled out important for entry. i did. she was obviously trying to be helpful as she directed me where to go. i went thru customs thankfully without any conflicts and as i went to get my bags the woman from before came up next to me and asked me if there would be anyone to pick me up. "who knows." i laughed and then said "hopefully"...she didn't really laugh, but instead helped me find a baggage pusher and taught me how to use it...(they are surprisingly tricky).

so...it turned out to be just like the movies. a little round woman with brown round eyes held out a sign in front of me that declared,
"THERESA
FAGUNDES"
It was very nice to be found.
Especially in this dimly lighted, strange, and bustling place.

It turned into a 3 hour drive home. The freeway was nice...nice enough to go backwards on at times. I think the drivers here must be very close to the skill of my father (who is the best driver in the world). It was dark. The sky was brilliantly lit with stars. People were everywhere; the side of the streets, in the buildings, on the street, in front of our car... We did at one point stop for some money exchange. There were men dressed in white robes who pulled money from the folds like magic. We didn't even get out of our car. I felt like we were exchanging unmentionables, but we weren't.

When we finally made it to the place i will be calling home for the next 4 months I met my gracious host.
We stayed up talking for a couple hours about medicine and what she does and Cameroon.
Unfortunate that I won't be aiding in many (if any) surgeries...but fortunate that I have such a laidback teacher who will lead me through rural visits, education programs, and basic clinic care

Tomorrow is another day\! (i found the excitement mark!)

written by  theresa on October 16, 2009 from Douala, Cameroon
from the travel blog: to africa
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here i am with my new tan&black rolley bag and my guitar leaning close to me. ole girl (not me) takes up four seats close to the plug in station so the floor is the only option for me. i'm checkin the lights of louisville out, smelling the bounce rising out of my suitcase and my hoodie (which i'm very glad that i have), listening to john mayer's 'why georgia'

"everything happens for a reason
it's no reason not to ask yourself
if you're living it right
are you living it right?"

leaving some..or all... of the people that mean the most to me nearly makes me question leaving them. it just hurts. hurts to see them hurt. aches to walk away from them. i love them so much. the last thing i want is to hurt anyone.
it would be so easy to turn back. to stay. to build my place beside them. to get the most loving hugs and kisses everyday. to never leave their ever holding arms and ever kind words.

i can't stay though. there are so many people in the world who don't know the kind of love that i have known. there are so many broken hearts, broken lives, broken people. i just want to share some of what i have experienced...

if i could forgive people the way my mother forgives, if i could hold people the way manny and mary hold me, if i could laugh like my nick or listen like matt... if i could be strong and determined like angella....if i could be consistent like the lord... the world would know love....

"god is love. whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him..." 1 Jn. 4:16

teach me love.

p.s.
lucky me.
my flight got cut a bit shorter. i'll have a direct flight to Washington, d.c. (instead of going to chicago to change planes). AND they gave me a free round trip ticket to any place in the states in the next year because of the "inconvenience." i've always wanted this to happen to me!!!!!!

written by  theresa on October 15, 2009 from Louisville, United States
from the travel blog: to africa
tagged Flight, Airport and Excitement
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sorry...i just thought a travel agent would know :)

last night i got about an half an hour of sleep. the night before i only got about 4-5 hours. the excitement has been waking me up in the middle of the night for at least a week. at last night i had a best friend hang out til one while i bug sprayed my clothing and did last minute packing...
part of why i still wasn't finished was not procrastination but mostly forgetfulness...(i'm not sure which is better).but you see i forgot premetherin soak for my clothes and when heidi brought it i had to spray all of them and wait for them to dry...it took a while. that was at about 1 am.
so..you see...i was pretty exhausted when my mother dropped me off at SDF airport. i slept through the entire flight. i can't remember the take-off, flight, or landing. i think i woke myself up once talking. and another time drooling. (lucky for my co-passenger). i was only slightly delerious so i'm sure i was an enjoyable travel companion.

thank you mom for my spicy italian panini and my last caramel latte.

xoxoxox

(p.s....this computer won't let me put excitement marks...boo)

written by  theresa on October 15, 2009 from Washington, United States
from the travel blog: to africa
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this week was full of goodbyes. i suppose it began by visiting my home church in campbellsville. then moorehead, ky to spend some precious last moments with sara, a dear friend of mine. my last 3 nights at UK hospital were very eventful. i was showered with generosity, kind words, good food. i even got a cookie cake that said "jokes" on it and a necklace reminding me to "be the change i want to see in the world" and gifts of tylenol and toothbrushes that will hopefully help some cameroonian soon to have headache relief and a brighter smile. saturday morning i was taken out for breakfast by some of the girls at work. it seems so surreal that i have to say goodbye to these women who've been such a joy to work with and know. the ladies of 5th floor at UK have taught me so much about caring for patients, serving people, and providing great medical care. i don't know what i'll do without having them by my side as excellent resources and friends! saturday night it really hit me that i was leaving. i think my heart broke a little bit, watching old friends go and sensing the finality of my moments. i've been so blessed to have such amazing friends this last year. i'm lucky to not have to say goodbye to everyone all at once. maybe that would be easier, but i think i enjoy having the extra time to process it all. sunday night my church prayed for me. it was really special hearing their words. i've learned so much about love and faith from these people. i've never known such a simple and kind community. they've really challenged me to be good to people, good to the planet, and to live faithfully and patiently.

my drive away from lexington tonight was a little lonely. i felt like a person who was choosing an experience instead of relationships. i could see the ways people might feel abandoned. it's not like that though. the people that have been in my life thus far have shaped me and inspired me in so many ways. i suppose this is my thank you note to them. all of them. and this is my attempt to keep you all involved...

as for this next chapter of my life, i can hardly contain my excitement. i get to share all the things that have been shared with me. i get to give back a little. i feel like i'm about to fly a little bit. and while i'm sure my heart will break even more when i have to say goodbye to my family, i can only look forward with long awaited anticipation.

also! i found out we'll be traveling to rural villages to provide healthcare, not just remaining in the city. (this really excites me) i have all kinds of ideas of what this trip will be like, but there's really no telling, so i'm going with an open mind ready to learn. i just hope i'm a help and not a hindrance!

written by  theresa on October 11, 2009 from Lexington, United States
from the travel blog: to africa
tagged Goodbye and Anticipation
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cameroon

cameroon flag

Cameroon is also called 'miniature in africa' because of the diversity of terrains, climate and people groups. desert, Highlands, mountains, jungles and coastal terrains...(a.k.a. i'm really excited about exploring!) ...also, approximately 240 languages are spoken in the country. luckily English and french are included in the official languages!

there's history of a Portuguese presence in Cameroon as well. somewhere back in the 1500s those guys went over to visit and probably took things that weren't theirs, including people. good to know my ancestors left a mark for me.

i'm not going to pretend like i know a lot about the country...and i hesitate to cite everything suggested by www.cia.gov or wikipedia...so i guess i'll have to learn when i get there. just thought i'd host what little info i know...

written by  theresa on September 23, 2009 from Lexington, United States
from the travel blog: to africa
tagged Information and Cameroon
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One image I couldn't get out of my mind was a sick baby who just needed some fluids. In that dream I was helpless and could only observe it's suffering....
Another was sort of a vision of a thin emaciated child running towards me in some tropical jungle. I caught them with my outstretched arms and as we spun the child became whole and well again: obviously a scene out of some corny Shirley Temple film while we sang about the sun coming out tomorrow, but inspiring nonetheless.
The gnarled, yet loving faces of India have tackled me in my rest at times.
I can't live like they don't exist. I can't forget them.

Also, I've seen what uselessness I can become when I put away the responsibilities I feel about the poor and the sick. I'd rather die than live like that, all selfish and materialistic, promoting my own success or desires and ignoring the oppression of others. Jesus died giving and loving and I'd like to die like that.

Anyways, so during the last year I've been praying and checking out this website called www.ngoabroad.com and I called Ann to talk to her for a couple hours. She set me up with a special program specific to my personality, skills, and passion. I'll be headed to Cameroon, Africa on the 15th of October 2009 and won't return until the 17th of February 2010. In Cameroon I'll be aiding a local woman doctor as she provides care primarily to the poor and underprivileged. I'm gonna hopefully learn a lot about primary health care in a third world country, loads about love, and maybe even a little french, but this isn't really about me. It will definitely be a great experience, but more than that I'd like to open your eyes to Cameroon, Africa and the people who live there. I don't want you to forget them either.

So, if you have the time, I'm gonna try and keep this blog. I'll try and write about the things that I see more than anything. I want my readers to get a feel for what's out there and what's possible. Feel free to comment, keep in touch, and pray. My time of departure is closing in fast!

"The only nation is humanity." Paul Farmer

"Love the one in front of you." Heidi Baker

"My apologies to chance for calling it necessity.
My apologies to necessity if I'm mistaken, after all.
Please, don't be angry, happiness, that I take you as my due.
May my dead be patient with the way my memories fade.
My apologies to time for all the world I overlook each second."
-Wislawa Szymborska, "under one small star"

written by  theresa on September 21, 2009 from Lexington, United States
from the travel blog: to africa
tagged Love, Africa, Mission, Cameroon, Nursing and Purpose
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