Timezone Changes, KFC and Mosquito Invasion

So I have been in the US of A for just over a week and what an incredible week it has been. After setting sail from OR Tambo International airport (I still cant get over that its called that) I headed on an 11 hour flight to London Heathrow, a flight filled with many mixed emotions of leaving, coupled with the excitement of the adventure and the journey that I have now embarked on. Embarking upon your dreams is never easy, it always comes at a cost, whether you realise it or not. Leaving such amazing friends and family is never easy to do, but knowing that it for a time is only a somewhat subtle comfort. As I flew over Africa a realized that my life was going to change in many ways... O but what and adventure it is gonna be. One that I have dreamed about for many years.

Touch down in Chicago land, I had to catch a taxi to my host families house, as my international roaming did not work and therefore I could not get hold of Gary to get a lift a really rookie error when it comes to travelling in the modern world. Never the less things things alway work out.. sometimes at price, this time $50 for my taxi ride out into the surrounding suburbs. Back in the US for a 3rd time, I was quickly reminded of how everything here is big, so big, big roads, big trucks, big cars, big malls, big people... I certainly wasnt at home in my little part of Africa anymore.

I arrived at the house to be greeted by my host family, Sue (the mom) and 10 year old adopted daughter from Guatemala named Harley. After getting organized I went over to Gary's (Gary is the Senior Pastor at Gracepoint Church in Lonehill and a mentor of mine)hosts house Dan and Pam, to touch base and to plan what we would be doing over the next few days. After heading on a run to explore the surrounding suburbs (something I like to do when i arrive in a new place- I have taken after my parents in this respect) I sat down to a grand dinner of my favorite fast food - KFC with my host. Now any of you who know me, know that I absolutely hate KFC, so my first night in fast food land was undesirable to say the least. I painful sat through dinner, trying to pretend that I was grateful for food. Nevertheless a combination of KFC and my weak stomach, the story did not have a happy ending, I woke up in the middle of the night and promptly through is all up.