Mixed Emotions

I leave for Haiti tomorrow.


Tomorrow.


Do you know how crazy that is? It's almost unbelievable to me. It shouldn't be. My house is empty, my bags are packed, and I've said goodbye to all my friends. It doesn't get much more real than that.


But it still hasn't quite clicked in my mind. Going to Haiti still seems like something hoped for, something that might happen someday.


I hope I don't have a breakdown once I get there and it finally sinks in that I'm living in Haiti for a year.

Another Update: So much to do, so little time

Things on my list...

• get typhoid and tetanus vaccines
• change car insurance
• return garage sale tables to church
• finish packing up garage sale leftovers 
• cancel cell phone service starting Sept. 9th
• write thank yous to supporters
• write or find a decent lease
• rent U-haul for Monday
• rent a storage unit
• finish packing clothes
• pack craft stuff
• pack two clothes closets and the linen closet
• send prayer card file to Miss Donna
• return tubs to friends who donated garage sale items
• call about student loans
• cancel Internet
• pack kitchen
• pack decorations
• pack remaining linens
• empty fridge

New items for the list

• pack toilettries
• finish laundry and pack those clothes
• transfer purses
• wrap appliances in trash bags
• clean microwave
• take out the trash

Update: So much to do, so little time

Things on my list...

• get typhoid and tetanus vaccines
• change car insurance
• return garage sale tables to church
• finish packing up garage sale leftovers 
• cancel cell phone service starting Sept. 9th
• write thank yous to supporters
• write or find a decent lease
• rent U-haul for Monday
• rent a storage unit
• finish packing clothes
• pack craft stuff
• pack two clothes closets and the linen closet
• send prayer card file to Miss Donna
• return tubs to friends who donated garage sale items
• call about student loans
• cancel Internet
• pack kitchen
• pack decorations
• pack remaining linens
• empty fridge

So much to do, so little time

Things on my list...

• get typhoid and tetanus vaccines
• change car insurance
• return garage sale tables to church
• finish packing up garage sale leftovers 
• cancel cell phone service starting Sept. 9th
• write thank yous to supporters
• write or find a decent lease
• rent U-haul for Monday
• rent a storage unit
• finish packing clothes
• pack craft stuff
• pack two clothes closets and the linen closet
• send prayer card file to Miss Donna
• return tubs to friends who donated garage sale items
• call about student loans
• cancel Internet
• pack kitchen
• pack decorations
• pack remaining linens
• empty fridge

Gramothe Here I Come!!!!

I just bought my plane ticket to leave for Haiti 

on Wednesday September 8th!!!!

I'm not the only one...

A couple of my friends are also taking a year off from teaching to experience something a little different, and they've been chronicling their experiences on their own blogs. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about their experiences away from home, and I wanted to share some links with you.

Courtney and I started teaching at John Young the same year. She is outgoing, always up for a challenge, and more adventurous than I am. She's taking a year off to travel around the United States staying with friends and family. She started her travels by heading to Connecticut but has already moved on to Georgia. Recently she shared about an experience that can only be classified as MORTIFYING. I double dog dare you to read it without laughing.

My other friend Becca has taught at Goshen High School for the past 7 years. She decided to take a year off and travel the world. She started her adventure in July with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. She's currently volunteering at a school in Tanzania for a few weeks. One of her recent posts explained some differences between teaching in the States and teaching in Tanzania. Go ahead and try not to laugh at the ridiculousness of her current conditions.

Fantastic-ness

This week Beth Charles (missionary I'm working with) e-mailed me to explain that where I'll be living in Haiti has changed. This has changed my budget because it's cheaper for me to live in the new place than the house we originally planned on. Woohoo! And another e-mail this week came from Fremont United Methodist Church saying they are going to partner with me financially. Soooo, I revamped the budget and also plugged in the recent financial donations.

With my new budget and the additional financial support, I am at 71.6% of my funding. God is UH MAY ZING!!! The Charles family has given me the green light to buy my plane ticket to Haiti, and they write that they are eagerly awaiting my arrival. The only thing holding me back is not having renters lined up for my house. Please join me in praying for the Lord to provide renters. I'm confident he will provide all that I need to leave for Haiti soon. I'll definitely keep you posted.