Lake Neuron

My carefully-packed ministry suitcase weighed 47 pounds when I took it to my parents’ on Saturday, and that’s without some safety goggles and disposable gloves that a friend is buying as her contribution to the trip. Last year, Northwest allowed you to have one bag weighing 70 pounds for international travel in coach, but this year none of your bags can weigh more than 50 pounds, the same as for domestic travel. (First-class passengers can take more.)

The ministry suitcase contains the supplies for my soapmaking workshop as well as some items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and a set of bedsheets to be donated to the church where we’ll be working. (Actually, most or all of my workshop supplies will be donated to the church as well.)

I was playing with the ministry suitcase tonight — taking out an ingredient I probably wouldn’t get a chance to use during the workshop anyway, switching a larger measuring cup with a smaller one, and what have you. I think it will work; I’m not sure if I will be able to put the notebook of instructions in the ministry suitcase or whether I will have to put it in my backpack, which will already be somewhat full. I will put the notebook into an outside pocket so that if it turns out to be too heavy, I can just remove it.

Each member of the team is supposed to be carrying three three-pound Bibles which LEAMIS has purchased. Jan Schilling has taken pity on me and is trying to place mine with other team members.

All of my personal supplies have to be put in my other suitcase. When I went to Nicaragua in 2003, we were told to bring two small suitcases, especially since we were staying in homes. When I started going to Kenya and teaching cottage industry workshops, I had to upgrade to a larger suitcase to make room for my workshop supplies. But I resisted going to a larger suitcase for my personal items. Last year, the half of our LEAMIS team which went cross-country to the Kisii region had many transportation difficulties, and some of them were compounded by the team’s huge stash of luggage. Huge by Kenyan standards, anyway.

But this year, because there’s no room in the ministry suitcase for anything personal, I’m not sure if my largest small suitcase will hold my personal supplies. I’ve borrowed a slightly larger cloth bag from my parents; yes, it will take a little more room, but it will also be more easily stuffed into a corner.

We will have to wash our own clothing — that should be a little simpler this year since we will be staying at an Episcopal guest house in Kisii Town rather than in homes or at the church. I found some sink-sized travel packets of Tide detergent in the sample-size toiletries aisle at Wal-Mart, and that will be perfect. I will bring khakis and shirts that will air-dry easily.

I have a few clothing items to buy, including another pair of pants, and I will do that this weekend when Tennessee has its first-ever back to school sales tax holiday.

It won’t be long now.