Less than a Week!

Less than a week…it is looming. Hanging above me like a big cloud, but not a scary storm cloud. More like the big happy sun hanging in the sky. It is pretty and beautiful, but almost too bright, you know? Exciting, but the whole gist of it is a little intimidating. Like perky people in the morning, you know? ;-) I’m not nervous or afraid, but really trying to get prepared and not sure how.

I think that is the most daunting part of it all. How do you pack for an entire year? I mean for anyone that has ever checked out my wardrobe, you totally know that it is not going to fit in two 15x18x48in suitcases…even if they are vacuum packed. So then the downsizing begins, right? Where do you start with that? What is a necessity? What is just sheer luxury? And really how do you cut out all of the shoes?! MY SHOES! (Mind you, this is just the clothes problem) So then you move on to the other items they tell you to take. Bible (missionary—obivious), games (don’t have to tell me twice, I am the child of a card shark!), medicine (the ridiculously expensive prescription meds I got? Oh, yeah, those), pictures of home, essential documents, 3-ring binder full of training materials, training book…oh my BOOKS!

If you have ever met me, you know that at any given time I have at least one fiction with me, one non-fiction book being read somewhere at home, and probably another spare “just in case.” Books are heavy! What to do? Well, thank heavens for wonderful family! Mine decided to bless me with the gift a Kindle. It is fantastic! I have downloaded so many free books (because most of the classics are free) that is insane! I am going to get to take an entire library with me in only a small little electronic device.

So the next week will be a whirlwind of suitcases, clothes, lists, and vacuum bags. :-) Hopefully, I can cram everything needed into the limited space within the weight limit. If not, I guess I’ll have to buy what I can’t fit when I get there. It’s not as though they won’t have stores.

The past few weeks have been wonderful and bittersweet. Kate and Jenna, my two forever friends, planned a fun and relaxing day at the river for us. Then, they had a great surprise party with our friends from high school. We had a blast! Silent Marco Polo, anyone? I also had to say goodbye to some of my grandparents and aunts and uncles. We had dinner which was very nice and relaxing. Also, some fantastic food was had! I also got to see my best friend from college, Sara, and her husband, Justin. My Sunday School class also did some very sweet things for me. I am very glad to know that I have their love and support while I am gone.

I have realized though that while these past few have been great, the reason I am actually getting to see everyone at once like this is because I am leaving in a week for an entire year! It is just now starting to sink in some. I know that I’m leaving, but in some ways I don’t think it will be truly sunk in until I have been gone for a while and I can’t just jump on the plane and be home in a few minutes. That’s the weird part.

But for now, I’m excited, ready to go, and just praying that God would lead me every step of the way. I know that it is going to be a long road and it is not going to be easy at times. It might not even be easy any of the time, but He will guide me if I am willing to follow.

So I ask that those of you that are reading this would partner with me in making that my prayer for the next year. Pray the Lord will guide my steps and that I will have a heart that is open to listen. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1