It’s June 30th and I figured I should start writing today since a lot, and I mean A LOT will be happening in the next few days! I’m sure I’ll go through, edit, and cut, but for now, let us begin!

“You’ll get there and wonder, ‘Why on earth did I bring this?!?! There will also be things you wish you had brought, but didn’t.” With these words from my coach in mind, I’ve spent the past week whittling down my things. Last night, my roommates family came over for the big load up, and after the worlds most incredible game of Tetris, the minivan was ready to go! There was not a single iota of space wasted as bins and furniture were fit together in an intricate puzzle.

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This morning, I said goodbye to my incredible roommate of the past four years, ending our time together with a 1am chat, a few pictures with her house that has become my home, and a ceremonial handing off of the key. I naturally had to stop at my favorite local coffee shop on the way to get an energy boost for the first leg of the journey!

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First Stop: Mom and Dad’s attic!

I arrived home to unpack some totes and furniture into the attic, with other totes and luggage to be kept in the minivan for the next leg of the journey. I enjoyed some time at home, working through last minute details and saying some final farewells. My mom organized a small going away party- she didn’t consult with me while forming the guest list (100% approved decision on my end), so you can imagine my shock when Kathy pulled in the driveway. Kathy’s lived in Africa for 33 years and hosted me in Niger when the Lord began this journey two and a half years ago. She had been home exactly ten days, and took the time to come to see me. It felt poetically appropriate for Kathy, Mark, and Judy be there. Mark who had taken dozens of “teens and young people” on missions trips to visit his sister (Kathy), praying each time the Lord would call someone to serve there. Me, an unexpected addition to the last trip he planned to take. Kathy, praying the Lord would call someone “to replace her” as she neared retiring. Spending time with them, a bookend to the stateside portion of my journey….

July 7^th 4:30 pm

I’m sitting here in the urgent care lobby, waiting to be called back for a PCR COVID test. I’m praying God will bring this test result back negative, as sometimes, a PCR will read positive up to 90 days after having COVID, which I did have, in late May. Here’s the catch- I already had one test come back positive today. If this test isn’t negative, I’m not sure what’s going to happen….

My prayer: I’m trusting God to be in control. He has been sovereign everyday of my life thus far, and his sovereignty doesn’t stop on July 7^th. He has been the one leading and guiding each step of this journey, His faithfulness doesn’t pause for a COVID test. In fact even if the result comes back positive, He is still good, faithful, trustworthy and sovereign. I am so thankful for a good God to whom I can submit my every step…

Four days ago, I packed the minivan with only a fraction of my things and began the drive down from Michigan to Atlanta. Walking in on my dad pouring over the atlas, turning pages and holding different states in his fingers made me chuckle in my heart. “You know dad, we could use a GPS.” I commented as he jotted down directions on a sticky note.

“Well- the GPS won’t take us THIS way.” He said confidently, continuing his plotting. We always travel in style, and this trip was no exception. My totes that hold my belongings were laid across the bed of the minivan and topped with a piece of plywood and a memory foam mattress pad. Naptime ready!

The trip was to be made in two days, each leg consisting of 6 hours of driving. In true Galloway fashion, we drove 6 hours each day sure, but the trip each day took 9.

Some of you may be gasping in horror, but I’ve learned, sometimes, it’s about the journey itself! The second day, at one of our rest-stop breaks, the georgous trees and smooth cement top picnic tables prompted the procuring of Bananagrams… followed by our favorite Rummy game played with two decks of cards. Like I said… true Galloway fashion!

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We arrived in Georgia on Sunday the 4^th, where I enjoyed some sparklers with new friends, two families that they themselves are also traveling to RVA.

Tuesday brought meetings of all kinds, and even more introductions. Altogether, there are seven family units going through check out with my organization right now, five of which are going to RVA. I am so thankful for the blessing to glean from their own question asking and the opportunity to know some faces here before walking into RVA. I’ve enjoyed seeing the servants hearts of those here at the office, so willing to help us with whatever we may need. Paperwork questions, travel inquiries, and comforting shoulders for the tears of the emotionally, physically and all other-ally overwhelmed.

We will spend three hours in the morning loading up a semi-truck with our collective 100+ pieces of baggage before we step onto a plane together for eight hours to Paris! By the time you read this, we’ll know the results of my COVID test and I’ll (Lord willing) be well across the ocean- I would ask you to pray with me for results in my favor for travel, but in this specific instance, I’ll ask you to keep reading to see God’s faithfulness come through, no matter what that means as results come in…

July 9th… 3am, or maybe 9? I’m not too sure at this point… coming to you from Paris 🙂

Shortly before being called back to be swabbed, I sent out an SOS text to some friends for prayer. I asked for three things:

• Wisdom in proceeding morally, both with the first test coming through positive and a potential second test pending for the rest of the travel group I’ve been with
• That the test would come in before noon (when we were planning to leave for the airport) as the clinic could only promise results by 3
• A negative test!

When I went in to get my test administered, I was blessed by an incredible nurse. She had grey hair, cut in a cute pixie cut with purple highlights! She asked me a series of questions… “No, I’m not a smoker… no, I don’t chew tobacco…” etc. Then came a question that gave me pause, “Have you tested positive for COVID in the last two weeks?”

I wanted so bad to just say no, but I knew that wouldn’t be honest. I took a deep breath, “Well, actually, this is try two for a negative test. My positive came back this morning…. I’m flying tomorrow… working towards this for about 2 years… I had COVID in May…” I started rambling, sharing where I had come from and the situation surrounding my testing, even asking about the moral dilemma I had mentioned in my prayer requests. It was through this gracious woman that the Lord blessed me with an answer to my first request. She was so confident in her assurance. “You don’t have COVID… this is normal to test positive weeks or sometimes even months later, especially with the PCR test. There is no need to be concerned- there is no moral dilemma.”

The doctor came into the examination room as the nurse was swabbing me. When she had finished and left, I told him some about my concerns and, totally unprompted he interjected, “You should have your results by noon.” Prayer number two answered.

I felt like the Lord was already with me, from the African animals hanging on the wall to the quick assurance and answers to prayer.

Thus began an agonizing wait. On edge all night long, truly, I tossed and turned for hours. I don’t think I slept hardly a wink as I dreamed my second test came back positive, as I dreamed it came back negative. I dreamt of the consequences of each outcome, and rested in the knowledge that so many were lifting me up in prayer.

8:23am

I got an email. I held my breath as I opened the email. Then rolled my eyes, “click here” it read. I held my breath again and clicked. “Enter your name and confirmation number here.” I rolled my eyes again. Finally I loaded the PDF and released that long held breath.

The stress came crashing down around me as I let out between tears, “I’m going to Kenya today.” NOT DETECTED.

My morning was spent celebrating between tears God’s faithfulness, and telling the others in my group what I had been walking through that evening. That evening… yesterday?

Once all of the families were at headquarters, we began the task of packing the U-Haul. I am one of the seven family units leaving from AIM headquarters this week, so there were over 100 pieces of luggage to load up to take to the airport. We then loaded up the shuttle and headed off!

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Once at the airport, the drama continued… the three families with kids arrive at the check in counter, only to be told they needed VISA’s for their children. The only problem? The Kenya consulate website clearly states VISA’s are not needed for children under 16. Activate prayer warriors once again. Eight VISA’s were needed… the parents began the work of getting all the paperwork together to apply through the online submission E-VISA process. I felt completely useless as I stood in line to check my own luggage, praying. Once I was set, I did what I could do and took the kids with me. We went on an adventure, stepping only on black, then pink tiles. I finally had all the kids playing a camp favorite of mine, “Where’s my waterbottle?!” Exactly ten minutes before boarding began the first of the three families had all three visas they needed! Once we checked their luggage, half of our group went through security. God’s hand at work again, the gate was JUST past security. No running needed. We arrived at the gate in time to hear, “Pre-Boarding now starting.” There were still two families working on processing paperwork and checking their own luggage.

One family made it on the plane, one did not. I walked on the plane as truly the last passenger, having waited just past security for the remaining family that made it.

We enjoyed an uneventful flight (unless you count the stewardess spilling my coke on my seatmate eventful) and landed in Paris! I went on a Macaroon adventure, and ended with a Starbucks coffee! I laughed when the barista started writing a name on my coffee cup, then looked at me and winked. She never asked my name, choosing for herself instead what she thought fit. What do you think? Am I a Sidney?

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We have just a couple hours to go in our brief layover. I’ve been in this airport in Paris 5 times before- always as a destination or layover, but this time, it hit just a little different. I had a moment in the last hour contemplating the “foreign” feel of being here. “This is my life now.” I thought to myself. There is no end date planned to being overseas. This morning, one of the gals’ I spent the last few days with remarked as I processed through my COVID Test coming through, “You didn’t expect your faith to be tested quite this soon…” Yet once again, my small footsteps of faith were met with the incredible faithfulness of my big God. I can’t wait to see God work in what lies ahead on this crazy path!

UPDATE: Remember how I mentioned like 5 minutes ago being excited to see God work? You’ll never guess who just walked up to us, while we are sitting here in Paris?!? That last family. The ones who three paragraphs ago didn’t make it on the plane…My jaw is literally hanging open in complete awe. Gobsmacked. This post is already long enough, so I’ll leave that story for another time… 🙂

Prayer Points:

Please spend some time in praise for the wonderful things God has done!