An Earlier Departure Date!

This afternoon, I got a big surprise when I found out I'm going to be leaving almost a month earlier than I had originally planned.  My first departure date was going to be July 15, but now is bumped up to June 21.  I commented to our office staff today that it serves me right for complaining that the time between leaving CotC and when I leave for Africa is an difficult length - too short to look for a job, too long to just be hanging around.  So I guess God heard my prayer in the form of complaints and moved it up for me:)  The good news about this is that I'll be traveling with Ruth Majawa, who works with CRWRC and is married to a Malawian pastor.  We'll fly together to Uganda, spend a week or so there, go to Nairobi, Kenya and spend a couple more days there and then she'll leave for Malawi, and I'll travel to Zambia to where I'll be based at.  I'm glad to be traveling with someone on the way over there, plus it will be nice to have a friend the first week or so to make my transition a little smoother.  

More good news on the finance front - people put another $1212 in the offering plate this weekend at church which brings my new grand total up to $10,025.  Only $3975 more to go!  

I'm so encouraged so far.  God truly is my great provider!

-Kristen

My Brand New Blog!

One of my steps in preparing for my upcoming trip to Africa, I'm starting a blog - hooray!  So this is it, my first blog entry ever...I promise that future entries will be more exciting than this one!  For now, a few updates:

I'm leaving for Lusaka, Zambia sometime in mid July and will be returning to the US in early November.  I've found someone to sublet my cottage which is a huge blessing, and will be driving up to Seattle July 1 to spend a little time with my family, and also to leave my car at my parents house while I'm gone.  I'm also thinking it will be nice to come back to loving parents, home cooked meals and an organized house - basically a small escape from the reality of returning to life totally different than pre-Africa - instead of the challenges of moving back in my cottage, looking for a job, etc.  

My current total of fundraising equals $8813.  $5187 to go!  I've passed the half way mark in one Sunday love offering so I'm feeling very encouraged so far financially.  

All of my shots are up to date because of my travels in Kenya and Uganda this fall so the only pain in the foreseeable future is the challenge of packing for 3 1/2 months in one suitcase.  I'm sure my family is already taking bets on how many/how few pairs of shoes I'll be taking.  

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading!

-Kristen