This is it. The final breath before the plunge. T minus 48 hours and counting.

Soon I will be on my way. For now, all I know is that I am on my way home to Iowa. After that, the adventure begins. Again. I still have no idea what is next. I just have to keep reminding myself that God does know and will let me in on it at the right time. His timing and mine rarely line up. But His always ends up working better.

I thought I might be sad today. 48 hours and I am leaving a lot of friends behind. However, I find myself rather looking forward to another adventure. It is easy to get stuck in a rut and I find that the best way out is to uproot myself and go. Somewhere. So for today at least, I am excited about moving on.

I have said my goodbyes, though not the final ones. Regardless, I feel ready for this. It seems like God always brings it together at just the right time...He covers my heart in peace and promises an adventure...what more can I do than simply trust Him?

Greetings faithful friends! I have four days left here in the land of palmetto bugs and bad drivers before I head home to heaven...er, Iowa. :)

I fear that there is not much rattling around in the noggin' lately as I have been on survival mode with trying to clean, spend time with friends while I can, and pack like crazy. I have too much stuff.

My roommate and her fiance got a dog. I'm insanely jealous.

But that's about it for excitement. So, with that, I would greatly appreciate your prayers...for safety in travel...that Jack would make it home...and that God will open the doors (SOON!) for the right job. I still have heard nothing back from the ones I have applied to and where as I know God is saying, "I've got it!" there are times when I get a little antsy. :)

Oh, and my best friend from home, Brina, is flying tomorrow to join me here. So please pray for safety for her as well. :) I'm so excited she's coming!!

Thanks!

Monday are notoriously bad days
This one had its share of frustrations
To be sure

But it ended on a pretty sweet note

When I got home from a long day at work
I got to do one of my favorite things

COOK!

Mon Amie and Tomato were redeeming their voucher
From Tomato's birthday two months ago today
I made something I've never made before
Chicken parmesean
And it turned out pretty well
And topped it off with my homemade apple pie

As if that weren't sweet enough
I then got to go with a buddy of mine downtown
We went to the planetarium on the USC campus

We saw Jupiter and its 4 moons
Then we saw our moon
And we had some good laughs

You know, for a Monday
Especially my last Monday here
It was really good
Despite all the other frustrations

It's nice to have a good day sometimes

I thought it was about time to get up my pics from my time in Floria last weekend with my mom, niece, and her friend. We had a blast as you can see from the pics...not included is all the many rollercoasters we did! Fun times. :)


Goofy and Goofier at Imagination in Epcot...this ride has my favorite Disney character: Figment. Not many people know about him...he is the Figment of Imagination. :)

B liked the fish made all of legos. :)

In Legoland in the Disney Village...Can you believe that sea monster is made out of all legos!?

On our way through Epcot, we stopped at a few countries...this is in Norway.

We decided to stop off in France at thee Boulangerie, where the ladies actually spoke French and I think were surprised at my asking for pan au chocolat (though I certainly cannot spell it!) It brought back a flavor of my home in Dakar...baguettes and all. :)

The infamous doorway into Marrakech, Morocco.

Us just outside of Marrakech, Morocco (Epcot).

Before we left Morocco, we decided we needed to get henna tattoos...mine is on the left, C's in the middle, and B's on the right. :)

At Cinderella's Castle they put on a show while we ate.

Aw, aren't they cute.

Chip and Dale went a little nuts with the autographs. :)

The girs with Friar Tuck.

A skywriter...:) We were amazed at how good he was at this!

A different sort of tool for evangelism: "Turn to Jesus"

Please be praying...
Tomorrow is the big debate
The one I have been studying for all week
I am not an actor
I am not a debater
I am not a public speaker
I hate conflict

I am totally out of my comfort zone on this one

But I am going to take my Senegalese name
And I am going to go into it with all I can

But we can use your prayers
That God will protect our hearts
And remind of us Truth
Even as we speak such deceit

I was just struck with a thought.

First the image: I'm one of two people in the library. Its after 9pm. I'm sitting here with my laptop, my Chick-fil-A cup that is now watered down Coke (yes, the "one Coke a week" is on hold through this week...I have to stay awake somehow!), five books open to various pages, and so many print-outs that I don't know what to do. My stuff is sprawled across the table shamelessly.

The thought: This is the last time I will do this. At least for a grade. After this, I'm done!!

Somehow, it just got easier to finish.

And I have to say that the more I try to prove that Jesus is NOT the Son of God, the more convinced I am that He is. Friday's debate is going to be an interesting one.

I'm sitting here in the library looking out the windows.
We are in for a fantastic storm.
I heard a possibility of hail.
But for now it is just wind and amazing cloud formations.

I sat in a classroom all day.
Fighting off sleep.
Learning a lot about Muslims.
Learning to see the world through their eyes.
It is difficult to take on the worldview of someone else.

But as always, I love the challenge.

Three days of classtime left.
Then I am done.
Granted I have 3 books left to read.
And a 10 page paper to write.
But no more class.
It feels good to be so near the finish line.

I've been in school for 18 years of my life.
I think its about time to move on.

Now if God will just tell me where to...
Things would be ideal. :)
But I suppose He's got at least two weeks left.
Then maybe I'll know.

While I was in Disney this past weekend, I experienced so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. A long-time "dream" of my mom's has been to dine in Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. So on Friday night, her, the two little girls, and myself all went to the castle. We were treated like royalty from the get-go.

The girls were given wands and called "Princesses" and mom and I were termed "Ladies". We went in to await our turn to go upstairs to the royal table to partake of some wonderfully delicious food (and Coke!) but first, we got to meet Cinderella herself. We had our picture taken with her and I decided that she must be a southern belle in order to stand in those heels with that smile pasted on her face all day long speaking so soft and lady like. Regardless, the magic of Disney was there and it was fun. So we sat down to await our turn, just watching as others were ushered in to the waiting room and got to meet her.

Then came a family with a little girl. All I saw was the look on this little girl's face as she took in Cinderella. It was a look of absolute adoration. It was as if all her little girl dreams were coming true in that moment. She couldn't get enough. She couldn't even speak as Cinderella spoke to her. She just looked. And she smiled. But a smile of utter awe. It was as if time stopped as this little girl just adored Cinderella. Even as they went to take the pictures, the little girl could not take her eyes off Cinderella. And I thought she was going to melt into the embrace that Cinderella gave her. Never have I seen such a look.

Shortly after that, mom informed me that the little girl was a "Make a Wish" child. Even thinking about it now, the tears are so close to the surface.

But then as the weekend progressed, it hit me that the way she looked at Cinderella will probably be the way I look at Jesus one day. As if all my dreams are coming true and I just can't take my eyes off Him.

However, even more than that, that ought to be the way I look at Him now. All my hopes and dreams should be built up in Him so that when I ponder Him, I should have the same feeling as that little girl; that He is it. He's all I ever wanted. Just a little humbling. :)

Side note: the meal was sinfully fantastic and so was the Coke I had craved for the whole week!

...a day late. I just got back a few minutes ago from the "happiest place on earth", yep, Disney. I decided exactly why it is called that. My reason: there are NO cockroaches in the hotels or anywhere else. It's like they just don't exist there. Hence, it really IS the happiest place on earth! More on that later...but for now:

This post was supposed to go up yesterday, but I haven't had access until today. So, Cori, happy birthday....



















So many memories
I can sit here and recall them
And simply start laughing
At any number of them
At any time

• Marshmallow wars
• Taxi hailing and bargaining ruthlessly for every last CFA
• Unsuccessful French lessons
• The 24/Alias Crew
• The "Bob" look
• Nando runs
• Watching random cows cross the road
• Henna tattoo partners
• Dakar Rally...and the hike through the desert
• Hair henna buddies
• Serious desserts
• Random beach days
• Spirit Week
• Poor attempts to "get in shape"
• Thanksgiving meal preparations with no water
• Popcorn!
• The flood in our house
• "Cado?"
• Kick the can on the walk home

Just to name a few

But there were also the late night talks
The listening ear
The insightful words
The prayers she covered me in
The absolute selflessness she loved me with
Her being there through the darkest time of my life

Cori, I wouldn't have made it without you
I love you, friend

Happy Birthday!!

Today was a fun day...my friend Jay, whom I met in Dakar came for a visit. So we got to hang out all day...and topped off with none other than an African meal I made for Jay and some other friends. :) Fun times.

Jay and I.

My friend Jennifer and I. Her and her family have become my "adopted family" here in Cola. They were somewhat like family in Dakar as I house sat for them on a few occassions. I'm so glad they are here in Cola. I'd be lost without them!

The whole fam plus Jay. :)

I love little kids with missing teeth. :)

This is NOT from my Africa day...but meet my friend Canas who took me out the other day and completely spoiled me all day long. He's a gem...and not just because he buys me Mexican Coke (which tastes similar to African Coke)...he has many gifts...one is preaching/teaching. We went to hear him on Sunday. Wow. I walked away challenged.

This morning I had to wake up at an ungodly hour.
5:15am.
The sun wasn't awake.
I struggled to think why I had to be.
But I had to go take care of a woman in a retirement home for a few hours.
So I got there by 6:30am.

We chatted.
Then she went to have her coffee and read her paper.
So I sat and quietly waited.
Observing all the people gathered to wait for breakfast to be served.
All the ladies were sitting in the room closest to the dining hall.
And the four gentlemen sat in the hall furthest away.
They looked around and sometimes I'd catch their eye and smile.
Real big.
And with that southern sparkle in their eye, they'd smile back.

Then breakfast was announced.
The mad dash began.
Lots of elderly ladies with their walkers hurried to be seated.
And as all this unfolded, I looked at the gentlemen.

And there they sat.
Grinning at the ladies in their rush.
And finally, when all the ladies were in the dining hall.
The gentlemen got up and made their move.
I love a good southern gentleman.
They know how to be the true meaning of "gentlemen".
And they have an uncanny sparkle about them in all their politeness.

When I went in to help my lady be seated, I looked around.
And there the four men sat, joking with the servers.
Laughing with one another.
And it was music to my ears in such a place.

I still don't think people should be up at that time in the morning.

My cousin and her family came down for the day on Wednesday...we hung out and made ice cream!! YUM!

B wanted to help make the ice cream. :)

Is he not adorable? :)

We all enjoyed the ice cream, but none more than this little guy, me thinks! :)

When Scott and Alisa left, I headed out to Mon Amie and Tomato's house for a BBQ with friends. The boys, as usual, were in charge of the grilling.
However, I went home early and went to bed.
No fireworks for me this year.

However, a few nights before the 4th, my friend Karin and I sat out in her driveway and watched an incredible electrical storm that was going on.
God's fireworks.
Better than anything man can come up with by far.
I can't tell you how many shots I took to get this one!!

Yeah, that's from the storm, not some big huge light. :)
It was beautiful!


Karin and I hanging out near midnight on her driveway to watch the storm.
I miss her a lot.

Many thoughts in the ol' noggin.

• Coming to terms with a difficult situation.
• Trying to withstand the invasion of cockroaches in my house.
• Recouping from food poisoning by my own hand.
• Realizing (again) that all doesn't happen the way I thought it would.
• Illinois and Sudan are different.
• Wondering if finding something I love to do will overshadow my desire to find someone I love.
• Transition is upon me and fearing I am going to lock myself out of my house because I have entered the forgetful stage.
• God is good, even when life isn't.
• Cockroaches are of the devil.
• The world is pretty wide open to me right now.
• Longing to sink into the arms of a good friend.
• I have 3.5 weeks left in this place.
• I have been blessed with amazing friends who refuse to hold me back from doing what I know God has asked me to do.
• Fireworks can be scary.
• I'm in a transitional funk.
  

As a child, I liked the game "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego". I played it pretty often at school. But I never thought the game would someday be called "Where in the World is Sara Lyn". Yesterday, that became the name of the game.

At first, I thought for sure God was leading me back home to Iowa. Being certain of this, I minimally searched for a job, trusting that He would bring something to pass when I really had time to dig into my search. But then when I really started hunting, I realized that I might be running head on into a closed door there. So I broadened my search.

Yesterday, I decided to be bold and pursue other places in the Midwest, namely Illinois and Indiana. My thinking: anything less than 17 hours from home is good. So I searched, filled out an application and searched more. Coming up pretty much empty handed.

Fast forward to today and the name of the game. I have broadened my search...just by a little. In my normal fashion, rather than just expanding the parameters of my search to the borders of the US, I broke out and back to the country where I left my heart. Africa.

So, where in the world will Sara Lyn end up? Your guess is as good as mine, but I would greatly appreciate your prayers. God, being the procrastinator that He is :) has left me with a month to put something in place...I trust He will in the right time.

But I fear it will not include the dog or Iowa.

I hate goodbyes.
I really do.
Today was another in a long list of them.
My friend Karin is leaving Cola.
And moving to Israel for a year.
I won't be here when she returns.

All I can really say is that she is wonderful.
I have been blessed by her in so many ways.
I love real people.
Karin is very real.
I love trustworthy people.
Who aren't afraid to commit and follow through.
Karin is good at that.

Basically, Karin is amazing.
And my life all the richer for meeting her.
I'll miss her dearly.
But am sure I'll see her again on this earth. :)

Love you, Karin!