African Adventure

[Weldon60]

I have had MS for over 28 years. I have done well, but do get fatigue. I have taught a four day seminar in the past, in a location that was only one time change away. On July 18th I am leaving for Arusha, Tanzania to teach two 1-week long classes. That is seven time changes. Please pray that I may make the transition well and that the fatigue be kept to the minimum. My first trip to Africa, I am excited.

[rjoneslaw]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

I hope and pray this exceeded your wildest dreams and expectations !!!!

STAY SAFE 🤗👍🤞🙏🏼🙏🏼

[Weldon60 in reply to rjoneslaw]

Thank you! Blessings.

[greaterexp]

That sounds very exciting! You'll be in my prayers for a great trip in all ways. Be sure to let us know how it went.

[Weldon60 in reply to greaterexp]

Thanks. Blessings.

[jimeka]

Wow. My sister has just come back from 3 weeks vacation in Africa. Johannesburg, Cape Town, safari, lots of pictures of elephants, lions, wild dogs and the scenery was amazing. She visited their prayer houses which are all circular so no one can hide from the Almighty. Very interesting. Enjoy, and I will pray for you and your fatigue, blessings Jimeka 🙏

[Weldon60 in reply to jimeka]

Thank you.

[Hidden]

have a nice trip hope you have no fatigue issues, it will be a dream trip

[Weldon60 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!

[falalalala]

Good luck!

[Weldon60 in reply to falalalala]

Thanks!

[IFwczs]

Congratulations! Make sure you are all set for your vaccines.

[Weldon60 in reply to IFwczs]

Had my last vaccine earlier this week. Because of my MS, I cannot take the yellow fever vaccine.

[Peruzzot in reply to Weldon60]

Make sure you use lots of bug spray. Yellow fever and malaria are both spread by those nasty mosquitoes. Those nasty little parasites steal our blood and give us horrible diseases in exchange.

Are you able to take the anti-malaria pills?

[Weldon60 in reply to Peruzzot]

Thank you. It will be during their winter, highs are generally in the 50s-low 70s. I will wear long-sleeved shirts and I have my mosquito repellant. Also, my anti-malaria meds.

[Timeflies5]

Sounds exciting! Prayers from Florida...many blessings 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Weldon60 in reply to Timeflies5]

Thank you. Blessings

[kris1973]

Weldon60 Prayers sent! Our sister in law does mission work in Kenya each summer.

[Weldon60 in reply to kris1973]

Thank you. Blessings. I almost chose a Kenya airline, so I would have flown into Kenya first. I choose Ethiopia Airline, so I fly into Ethiopia.

[Weldon60]

Thank you. Blessings!

[Hidden]

How wonderful! I hope you have an amazing trip with no fatigue!

[Weldon60]

Thank you. I am really looking forward to being there. A little nervous about teaching my classes since it is a different culture and I am not sure about how to present information so they can understand it. Of course, they may be sharper than I am.

[Beckylp54]

Have a safe trip with lots of exciting adventures but with no or little fatigue.

Prayers for you ❤becky

[Weldon60 in reply to Beckylp54]

Thank you. Blessings.

[Atlproctor]

Hello. I hope this finds you well.

I was diagnosed in June of 2000.

May our Lord bless and keep you always!!

[Weldon60 in reply to Atlproctor]

Thank you. Blessings.

[Peruzzot]

Congrats on getting to teach there. Make sure to take lots of photos. Enjoy your time there.

If you can, go a week early. Time zone jumps like that are hard on everyone. Especially when you're going forward in time. Yes you are a time traveller. I've done the 8 time zone jump before MS and a 6 time zone jump after MS. I also suffer from fatigue. Before MS it took me about 3 days to adjust but didn't have too much non-MS fatigue just simple jet lag. After MS it took me almost a week to adjust and struggled to stay awake for about 2-3 days. Give yourself as much time as possible to adjust to the time jump forward.

Coming back is a lot easier to adjust to. Going back in time you land at your destination late in the day and only need to drop your luggage at the door and go to bed. Jumping forward you land early in the morning and then have to struggle to stay awake, check into the hotel, get breakfast, then lunch, then dinner, plus any other running around you may be required to do, before you can finally crash in a bed that is unfamiliar to you.

[goatgal in reply to Peruzzot]

This is absolutely right on for Weldon60. When I was part of a team doing teacher training in Egypt (back and forth for 3 years), if everything went well, the trip there took 17 hours (more if it didn't). We'd arrive in Cairo in the wee small hours, and be scheduled to begin a planning/orientation session mid-morning. There were many on the team who would be participating around the conference table one minute, and zonked off/falling off the chair the next. All of us were well established in our field but not yet old, yet we found that jet lag could strike suddenly. That plus the changes in food and culture often made some on the team very susceptible to brief bouts of illness as well. Because that is where I broke my wrist, I had a close and personal interaction with a very poor health system. I should have been flown to Italy or home for treatment (but that's hindsight's 20/20 vision). Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! but certainly with a lot of planning and preparation.

[Weldon60 in reply to goatgal]

I am arriving on a Friday afternoon, will not start teaching until Monday morning, so I will have a few days to adjust. The (my wife thinks I am insane for this), I will return on a Saturday afternoon and be preaching on the next day.

[goatgal in reply to Weldon60]

Fly safely, travel well, savor the experience.

[Weldon60 in reply to goatgal]

Thanks!

[Weldon60]

Thanks, I have gone to Europe three times, in Europe I had little problems going over, but took longer to adjust coming back. Will be flying all night long both ways, so I hope that will help as well.

[pamgarner]

how very exciting!! most of us ,i think,can't even fathom that trip.have bunches of fun,what an adventure

[Elizt3]

Safe travels! Best wishes for a wonderful trip. May I ask what you’ll be teaching? Youth or adults?

[Weldon60 in reply to Elizt3]

I will be teaching students working on a Master of Biblical Studies degree. I will be teaching a Christian apologetics class and Spiritual Leadership.

[jimeka in reply to Weldon60]

May the Lord bless you and keep you, what an opportunity, blessings Jimeka 🌈

[Weldon60 in reply to jimeka]

Thanks!

[kdali]

Ohhh, so exciting!! I hope you can sleep on the plane 😵

[Weldon60 in reply to kdali]

Me too, thanks.

[Neworleanslady]

I am thrilled to hear how confident and comfortable you are to do such big things despite ms. I wish you the best! Your strength gives me confidence that ms will not bring me down either

[Weldon60 in reply to Neworleanslady]

Thanks!

[sushimylove]

I WENT TO SOUTH AFRICA 3 YEARS AGO. WE HAD A STOPOVER IN THE NETHERLANDS AND THEN FLEW ON TO CAPETOWN. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TRY TO FLY AT NIGHT AND TRY TO SLEEP FOR A FEW HOURS OVERNIGHT ON THE PLANE. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE TIME CHANGE AS WE ARRIVED IN AFRICA IN THE MORNING. I WILL TELL YOU IT WAS MY MOST FAVORITE AND EXCITING TRIPS. I HOPE YOU PLANNED SOME TIME FOR A FEW SAFARIS. THE ANIMALS ARE AMAZING TO ALLOW YOU TO VISIT THEM IN THEIR OWN HOMES!

[Weldon60 in reply to sushimylove]

Thank you. I will be busy most of the time that I am in Tanzania. No sight seeing is planned. I do hope to see something going from the airport to the school. On the weekend between the two classes, I don't know if I might to get out some.

[jsb0410]

Sounds amazing!!! Prayers with you I hope you have a fantastic time!

[7409]

Good for you on your trip. I have had MS for 36 years and my trip days are behind me. Travel is very hard for me these days with my multitude of assistive devises, have fun on your trip.

[Weldon60 in reply to 7409]

Thanks!

[Juliew19673]

How exciting!