I became ill... in Africa.

-July 4, Saturday
Eldoret, Kenya-

I am exhausted. I was literally up all night with a fever and some kind of illness. I have to take way too much medicine now. I still do not feel well at all. As last night passed, I simply could not sleep. A harsh fever rattled through my bones, and I shivered with cold. I slept less than an hour all night. Sandi helped me wrap up in a blanket at around 4:00 in the morning, but nothing could keep me warm. I was miserable.

I have not felt warm since I have been in Amarillo. It is very cold, both outside and in our hotel. The temperature hasn't gotten over sixty or seventy degrees even once so far in Eldoret.

When the alarm rang at 6:30, I got up and dressed, too tired for words. I took some Cipro from Barbie, and joined the rest of the group for breakfast. Breakfast consisted of mandazi, corn flakes, banana, plain slices of bread, and papaya.

We prepared to leave to take the four hour journey to visit the bush children. My fever returned once more, and I was shivering uncontrollably, crying as I watched everyone get ready to leave. I boarded the matatu to go with them, sitting amongst fourteen others in a nine person matatu.

About half a mile from the hotel, two KipKaren church elders stopped us, wanting to ride with us to the bush. It was an impossible fit, so we parked and waited for someone to bring Francis' car to carry a few of us. By this time, I was completely miserable, trembling and feeling nauseated and exhausted. They ended up putting me in Francis' car and driving me back to the hotel to stay and sleep for the day.

I felt devastated. Despite my misery, I wanted to go and love on the little bush children. I wanted to give them shoes and toys like everyone else was doing. I sat alone in my room and cried in disappointment before getting a hold of myself and reading Psalm 91 over and over again.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you make the Most High your dwelling--
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because they love me," says the LORD, "I will rescue them;
I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name.
They will call upon me, and I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will deliver them and honor them.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."