the countdown!

The past few weeks have been a blur with lots of stuff happening as I prepare to leave the country for a year.

First, I took a crazy road trip with 2 great friends and saw the grand canyon, LA, the pacific ocean and Vegas. When I returned to PA, I hit the ground running trying to pack up, clean up and close up the apartment in New Cumberland. It was a lot of work but Tori and I managed to get everything out and have the carpets cleaned by Friday, July 30. Our reward was a trip to the beach with our favorite friends :)

From Jersey, to Pennsylvania, then Ohio--all in one day (Sunday, August 1st). Since then I have been organizing all my belongings in my parents basement (thanks mom and dad ;) and have been packing all that I can take into 1 suitcase + 1 carry-on for the year ahead. My dad already left the country for a few weeks, so the official goodbyes have begun. There are only a few more days left to soak up family time with my mom and sisters.

Through all of this I have tried to keep looking forward...the end of the to-do list is in sight, and in 12 days I will be flying south to start my year in Honduras :) Over the past few days I received several encouraging emails from future coworkers in Honduras that have made me very excited. One contained details about my host family--and I can't wait to meet them. They are only a block away from my office, very involved in the church, and they are excited to host me. My host mom has a son who is 22, a daughter who is 19, another son who is 13 and a grandson who is 3--and they all live with her. I am looking forward to meeting my family and joining their lively household!

Please keep praying for peace and safety as I head to training in Akron, PA this Thursday. Also pray that my dad is safe as he travels in Kenya for the next few weeks. Thanks <3