Its dark out now... still flying... (sent from Congo Africac)

We're on the plane and I have no data connection but hopefully this will send when we land in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

We are all separated on the plane among 300 + passengers... I saw Tammy roaming a bit ago, she is actually seated next to a kid from MIZZOU of all places. He going to study abroad.  Don't worry, she is pouring the Woodcrest kool-aide down his gullet and I believe Jimi has already talked to him about Be The Change Volunteers.... how cool.

I'm seated next to a guy from Wisconsin who is going to do anthropology research in Malawi (small world). He has applied for a dual degree program at Michigan, he strikes me as an intelligent lad... he did at least tell me that he heard Malawians had an issue with underwear and that if you didn't want you're belongings messed with, to drape your drawers over your belongings and they wouldn't mess with it, Its "bad juju" or something. Hey, the kid is gonna be a Dr. someday so quit laughing... he might save your life. (MAYBE) We'll see if the "underwear cloak of protection" theory works.  Not sure if it works for girl underwear or not... that's not my problem. :)

The other guy, next to the window, is Canadian, you'd never know it... he doesn't look a bit like Sandra Bullock (DARN IT!!!!) but he works as an athletic coach and coaches Special Olympic kids... pretty amazing guy. He's kinda irritated that he is Canadian because apparently he can't snag a good full time gig in the US with the Special Olympics because of his citizenship and APPARENTLY they discriminate and cater to hiring Americans. Hmmmm... I don't think he is bitter though. So, he is on the way to Rwanda to visit his AMERICAN girlfriend who is teaching there. He apparently hasn't seen her since Christmas... I wonder how that long distance relationship is working for him??? Geez, I limit my "radius" to about 30 miles or less. Maybe that's why I don't bother to date much??? Naaaaa.... Nope, I stand firm on that policy. I'm doin' okay. Ha. (He did admit his only option to get a good job was to marry an American girl.  --Whats up wit all this? Isn't Shania Twain Canadian too??? Seems they have some pretty good stock up there.) Oh well, not my problem either.

I gotta say, Ethiopian Airlines pretty much rocks. They fed us some chicken and rice dish with a cherry tomato, a dab of potato salad, and a little piece of chocolate cake. I opted for Coca-cola as my beverage because I'm pretty sure weight gain isn't going to be a big problem for me on this trip. I pocketed the plastic utensils, salt and pepper just in case I need to season something, dig a hole, or create an edged weapon in Malawi. HEY! don't laugh, I'm a protector by nature and I might save the life of someone you know with that sharpened spoon... maybe. Never know, it could happen.

We have TVs on the back of each seat... I already watched the Kings Speech. I highly recommend it, even if you're not into that Brit stuff (although Piet kinda turned me onto it a couple weeks ago in church when he made us all watch that Sundance film clip or whatever it was with the British thieves and the chick making the bad decisions... I swear, what church can you go to and watch British clips, Ben Stein and even a replay of Mizzou storming the field after beating Oklahoma??? And the preacher man can still tie it to the bible? Woodcrest.... yeah, that's the one!) Anyway, the British stuff is growing on me, even if I can't understand what James Adams is saying, the man can sing though.

The TV has a USB port that charges the phone and ipod... that's all good... even though I'm jammim to the Ethiopian Instrumental channel right now.  Id recommend it too, but I don't suggest buying one of these plane tickets just to hear it, Kenny G and David Koz will probably do ya for now.

The flight attendants are very nice and let me tell you... very beautiful.  Never mind.  I'm not going there... its outside my 30 mile radius anyway. Dang it. (Note to self: revisit residential policy on PLM - potential life mates.) I think Ill go roam the cabin for a bit... ill get back with ya in a few...

Okay... now for the things you probably care about... I know... its not all about "me." :)

I found some of our peeps on the plane while I was on recon... It looks like Jimi is awake now and he and Cristi are watching movies as is Max (he's a cool kid), Kayla with her stuffed frog, Mikayla with her gum chewin' and stuffed monkey, Jacquie is watching some movie with Ashton in it... (figures, she seemed pretty enthralled there) Melody is playing solitaire on the headrest TV, Janet is watching a movie, Lynda looks like she is jammin with the headphones on AND sleeping (she is such a multi tasker!) I couldn't find the others in my jaunt but I promise they are on this ride and being well taken care of. 

A couple other notes of interest:

• Some aircraft bathrooms on international flights are as clean as your local state park bathroom. 
• They have shelves for babies on the bulkhead. Just drop your kid in and go.That one kid has a winter coat on... maybe its just for padding when she rolls off the baby shelf. 
• It looks like we are flying over Rome right now... just a little south of there... 109 miles from Napels. 
• We are at 35,000 feet and flying 627 mph. 
• We've gone 4459 miles, that equates to 7176 km. 
• We've been flying for 7hrs 10 min.
• Its 1:52am locally, 6:52pm in Missouri, 2:52 am in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and we have about 2730 miles to go arriving at 7:51am. 

Soooo.... I'm gonna call it a night and hope that I can post this when we hit the ground.

Thanks for all your love and support on this trip. I already miss my kid and my super-dog, okay... and my cat too. (Hopefully Brian remembers to feed that thing.) Its amazing already to witness the culture on this plane, everyone is so nice. I can only imagine the people we are about to meet and the changes we will all make in their, and our own lives.

Thanks to God for watching over us on this expedition and for affording us the opportunity and means to do such a thing.  Through Him, all things are possible.
G'nite folks.

UPDATE: 9pm Missouri time, 5am local.
I can't sleep. But wait there is more, we are just west of Cairo, and just Northwest of Luxor paralleling the Red Sea.

I'd give anything to land right here and see what is below us.
5804 miles since Washington DC, 2:46 til we land, in 1430.   Hey, that's only like driving from Kansas City to St Louis like 6 times! Cool, we're almost there.

They just turned on the lights... I hope they bring food before I steal that little kid's animal crackers. Man, Its gonna be a long day.