Rebecca's Joy

October has been a frenzy of delight, adventure, second-guessing myself, and ultimately a life-changing month I will cherish for years to come. In September, our friend Hector came to visit us in Colorado. We have been friends with Hector and Paola for well over eight years, and to our delight, have continued to stay in touch. 

Paola and I have shared the journey of infertility, which initially bonded us. Throughout the years, she has invited me to come to Zambia. During Hector’s recent visit to Colorado, Frank asked, “How can we encourage Paola?” Hector replied, “If Rebecca could visit her, that would be the greatest blessing. Most people visit the ministry or myself, but no one comes to visit just her.” Frank replied, “How long can Rebecca stay?” So, here I am writing from across the world, in a different environment, and equally delighted and grateful to be here. 

The timing coincided with a Ladies’ Bible Conference led by one of my all-time favorite teachers and mentors, Mrs. Faith White. One of my desires was to be able to attend the conference, so I made plans that would coordinate with the event. 

From the time we bought my ticket on September 22, to getting on a flight on October 6, we spent much time preparing. My trip was going to be seven weeks in total, so I needed to be efficient and thorough in organizing the trip. The first barrier to leaving was asking permission of Robyn, our adoption coordinator, followed by the gracious reply, “I am a firm believer in you are given opportunities for a reason and I know that God knows your story already. If you feel called to make the trip, go. You can prepare for your adoption by completing a POA (Power of Attorney) for Frank to be able to go and meet your child while you make plans to come home should something happen during your time away. The POA would even give him the permission to sign for the adoption and make decision should it take additional time for you to make it back to the US.” Needless to say, I was in tears and deeply touched by how gracious she was. Other arrangements were also made for the trip, but easily switched or rearranged. 

From that point on, we were racing against the clock to secure a power of attorney (POA). We received contacts from a few people, online searches, and ultimately, the Lord reminded me of an attorney in our church, who helped me navigate a search engine from the Christian Legal Association. From my initial contact with the attorney, I learned he had been to Zambia several times and had been adopted from Ethiopia. It was a true answer to prayer. He was able to turn our POA into a multi-faceted document covering medical, durable, and adoption needs. Not only that, but he completed the document the same day, and the price was affordable!

Another point of preparation was my husband’s brilliant suggestion to write a list of all the items needed to prepare for this big adventure. I began to scour websites, YouTube, local guides from people who live there, as well as foreign travelers. The best advice was from friends who have experience traveling worldwide. My greatest asset was through my friend, Michelle, who has been to Rwanda. She gave me several items to borrow, as well as ideas of what to purchase. Finally, I spent a good amount of time talking with my friends I would be staying with. They helped me streamline what to bring and what to leave at home. 

Here are some tips I want to reference for future trips: 

Note: Any links are just suggestions. I do not receive commission or revenue from sharing. 

• The first and most essential element in travel is keeping expectations low and flexibility high. It means being willing to embrace cultural customs, food, and way of life, and to do so with an attitude of learning from and celebrating others. Being friendly, asking questions, and having a sense of humor will make your interactions and experiences rich. One key piece of advice was never to complain or compare your lifestyle to the locals in a way that belittles them. 
• Plan on packing a change of clothing, pajamas, and overnight essentials in your carry-on luggage. 
• Whatever you pack in your suitcases, make sure you are covered under travel insurance, and that those items can easily be replaced or done without. For example, I packed items that I could bear to part with in the undercarriage, while I kept important medications, products, and electronic devices in my carry-on luggage. 
• Buy shampoo/conditioner soap bars (as well as a regular soap bar). This saves space, lasts a while, and is easy to incorporate. I pair my soap bars with a scalp scrubber for the best results. 
• Bring a sleep mask and earplugs. Sleeping in a new place means new noises and environmental stimulation. A sleep mask and ear plugs can be the difference in a good night’s sleep (which is essential when your body is adjusting to a brand new environment). I also take melatonin the first few nights until my body adjusts from jet lag. 
• A filtered water the local water system may not be reliable. You can rely on purchasing filtered water, but adding an extra layer of filtration, can ease any concerns about water quality or illness. 
• Check with your local county health department for travel recommendations, including any vaccines, medications, or preventative measures that will help you prepare ahead of time. Having only a few weeks, I realize I should have contacted them first, rather than right before I left. Call your doctor’s office to ask them if they carry those items or can recommend a place that offers them. 
• Take vitamins and medications in original bottles, but also bring a travel case for everyday needs. I highly recommend taking a multi-vitamin, probiotic (taken with food works best), medications, pain reliever, melatonin(for adjusting to a new sleep schedule), and Benadryl (do not bring it in liquid form!), and some form of anti-diarrheal/upset stomach relief. Try to establish a routine while traveling, to ensure you are consistently taking the medication, and be sure to look into how medications and vitamins interact, so you can make sure that they are effective. For example, I am taking my thyroid pill in the morning, vitamins in the afternoon, and low-dose doxycycline (anti-malaria) in the evening. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about recommended dosing practices. 
• Adaptors for electric outlets: Check each region’s adaptable plugs. Make sure to consider any long stays or layovers in foreign countries as well when purchasing. For example, if you have a long layover in Europe, and want to charge your device, you will need a different adaptor than in Africa. 
• Hand sanitizer wipes: These wipes come in handy in many ways: before eating, after physical contact, for sticky messes, or for a small cut. 
• A journal: Even if you simply document the places you’ve been in a day or the experiences you have enjoyed, it makes it easier to reference when people ask about your trip or you want to create a photo album. 
• Solar phone charger: If you will be traveling where electricity is sparse or unreliable, or you will be traveling for a long period of time, a solar phone charger is a reliable way to power your devices. 
• Seasonal clothing with minimal upkeep: If it takes much ironing or maintenance to keep the fabric looking smart, then avoid such items. Dressing for warm, cool, rainy, or dry seasons should be checked against local forecasts and seasons. I recommend looking up common clothing styles of the locals to get a sense of what the most functional options might be. Remember that some locals may dress up, while others may be more casual, depending on where you are at. You may make some errors in choosing how you pack, but just go with the flow, and remember that being comfortable is more important than being fashionable. 
• Luggage locks, tags, and bag straps: Before leaving, I measured my bags to see what would fit. Then, I utilized locks and bag straps for my personal luggage. Some people will wrap their luggage in plastic wrap, as some places are more susceptible to theft in airports. Again, bear in mind that what you pack has the liability of being lost or stolen in transit. 
• Personal calendar: My husband had the brilliant idea to write down all my flight information, hotel information, and important dates in a personal planner. I wrote down all my important dates and things I was doing, in order to pace myself and keep track of my expenses & experiences. 
• Photocopies of your driver’s license and passport photos: I made a few photocopies (one to keep at home and one to take with me). Keep separate from your passport, in case of loss or theft. The nearest US Embassy in the country will have a much easier time assisting you in the event you lose your passport. 
• Submit your travel plans to the US Embassy for travel protection. By informing the embassy, you are giving them a way to assist you in a national emergency or safety situation. 
• For ladies: Menstrual cup, wipes, & menstrual underwear have made traveling more convenient and ideal. Remember to use filtered water when cleaning personal care products!
• Laundry sheets: Again, by avoiding liquid, these are easy to rip in pieces for a sink wash, or to use when able to do laundry. 
• Travel medical insurance- Be sure to call around for plans available as well as rates. It is vital to clarify with the coordinator, which activities and places you plan on visiting to ensure you are not overpaying for your coverage, but also to protect yourself in an unlikely catastrophe. Your health insurance company may have a recommendation or partnership. 
• Sunscreen/Bug spray (can be bought in the country, but if you have a preference, bring this). Layer on sunscreen then bug spray. On my face, I like either Trader Joe’s version of Soopergoop or Neutrogena PureScreen+Tinted Sunscreen
• RDIF blocking passport holder & credit card holder
• Theft proof purse or everyday bag (be especially mindful of busy public places such as markets, and large gatherings of people in small areas. 
• Some kind of VPN protection on your cell phone and personal devices. I have an iCloud+ subscription on my Apple devices which includes this service.
• A book to read or an activity to keep you occupied. For the times or waiting (especially when traveling), I don’t like to always be on my phone. Here are a few options I considered: a book, Suduko, coloring book & pencils, paperback books, verses to memorize, and a notebook. 
• A foldable mesh shower caddy
• A foldable hat with a strap: For those days when you are out in the sun and wind
• A fake wedding ring or simple band: If you are married, and you lose this or someone robs you, it is easy to let go. I recommend staying simple to avoid the appearance of being wealthy. 
• For the plane: a foot hammock, a travel pillow, and a blanket scarf
• Download WhatsApp and invite key people to join or message them before leaving the States. WhatsApp is a very common global app for communication, and many people utilize it for business and personal applications. 
• Snacks
• Wish I would have brought: a shower cap, personal mirror, bathrobe, kleenex

As a side note, if you can manage without an item, or you desperately need something, you can always look in the country. If they don’t have it, perhaps it is something you can temporarily do without. 

What would you add to the list? Anything you would do differently? 

With love, 

Rebecca