My mom is not long for this world.

So what if everyone she was ever a blessing to during her 100 year pilgrimage on this earth joined in a walk, holding like a bright colored may-day ribbon that came from my mom as leader. How big would that crowd be? And what if we walked around the village, no the city, well why not around the globe in honor of this very dear, tender-hearted, jovial, really good person? I knew it was time to get out of bed.

And pack.

I leave today for a 6 stop trip spanning 4 weeks, on alert to bail at a moment's notice and come to my mom's funeral (strangely hard to pronounce those words).

This trip, or as much of it as I get to do includes:

• a Great Lakes Leadership Initiative conference in Kampala, Uganda with leaders from the area who share a passion for restoring communities in E. Africa. Organized by World Vision, Duke University,  and ALARM. Big networking op.
• meetings with colleagues in Nairobi and Bangalore to discuss a long list of things.
• the first initial trauma healing equipping session in Pokhara, Nepal. 
• the first advanced trauma healing equipping session in Windhoek, Namibia.
• a quick Max and Noemi visit (grandkids in Brussels) on my way back home.

Please pray for God's blessing, health, protection and that I could find someone as a backup for the Nepal event if I have to go to my mom's last celebration (so much nicer than funeral as a concept).

And so 2013 begins.