First day = Success

Four flights and 36 hours later, I've made it safe and sound to southeast Asia! I wasn't able to meet up with my language school partner for the flights thanks to Houston weather delaying her flight, but it ended up being good. My layovers weren't longer than two hours each, so by the time I got off the plane and found my way to the gate, I really only had an hour to chill. Note to self: figure out a plan B for getting separated from partner BEFORE you leave. An hour is not long enough to panic, call a billion people, try to change flights, and be okay with the realization that you're flying across the world alone. All in all, it was okay If nothing else, it gave me an empty seat next to me to spread out on. And all my bags made it, minus the luggage straps and one TSA lock (sorry, Dad).

Today was pretty packed as they tried successfully to keep me awake the whole day, as that's the way to battle jet lag. Rode through the city (I've decided Asians all drive in the same terrifying manner - is that presumptuous of me?), ate my first local food (delish), had my first shopping trip (apparently, in the department stores, after you select your items, they write you a bill and you pick up your things at the register), and met a lot of young, eager English students. They were awesome. Do I really get to do this for two years??

Language study starts in a week and a half. First, a local friend is taking us around town to get used to the culture and basically know how to survive later this week. Pictures to come. Right now - glorious sleep!

New chapter begins

Tomorrow's the big day. My flight leaves from Lexington around 2 bound for Houston, connecting to Moscow to Southeast Asia. Monday will more or less not exist as I will be traveling the entire day, arriving Tuesday morning their time (currently there's an 11 hour time difference). Everything I own fits in two trunks, a backpack, and a purse.

 

Be lifting up travel, loved ones, and goodbyes. Thank you, once again, for all of the support and encouragement. You guys are awesome.

VISA!

Great news! Got my visa in today!! Now I'm all set, at least for the next two months. Thank you for all the pr-ers and encouragement!

And more great news - I get to see my family tomorrow! My mom, brother, and grandparents are coming in for the service on Wednesday, and then I'll be headed home for probably around three weeks. Now that we have our visas in, we're working on getting flights booked. This is for real! I'm really about to head to the other side of the world!

Call for obedience

Training is winding to an end as we pack and ready for our goodbyes on Wednesday. It's been an eight weeks jammed full of all sorts of information and stories that are extremely beneficial. What it all comes down to, though, is that without Him, all efforts are useless. We're just supposed to be obedient and leave the results up to Him.

He hasn't asked us to move the rock, simply to push.

To Him be all the glory, cause it most certainly isn't anything this weak, inconsistent, simple girl is doing.

"And he said, 'The kingdom of G-d is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.'" - Mk 4:26-29