Let the blogging begin

So I kind of decided not to worry about blogging while we are in the States, because I want to spend as much time as possible with the people here before we make the big move to Kenya in December. But, I'm heading back to Kenya in 1.5 weeks and will be staying there for 6 weeks, so expect some posts while I am there!

This trip will be much different than the last for several reasons:

1. I am going sans Chris (he loves to make fun of me for using the word 'sans' but I love to use it-that is the only plus to going without him:)

2. No dilly dallying around this time. My project has got to get rolling pronto. I will arrive on Sunday and start in the lab the next day. I have six weeks to collect some kind of meaningful scientific data, and if you know anything about the world of science, you know this won't be easy.

3. Chris will be coming out three weeks after I arrive...YAY! And he will be bringing with him my mom...YAY! and Cody Kemp...YAY! Cody and Chris will be staying two weeks and my mom will stay until I leave (thank you so much mom:)

4. This time around we will have already secured a house for when we come in December, so we will be commissioning different furniture makers around town to make us a few things we will need for our house, so by the time we arrive in Kenya in December we can just go and pick it up (in Kenya, well-made plans such as these are like a guarantee that it won't actually happen, but we are hopefully optimistic)

5. This time I know a little more of what to expect, I know how to get around town, how much things cost, what the culture is like, etc, so there is a smaller 'black box' for this trip than the previous one.

I'm starting to get really excited about going. By far my biggest concern is being away from Chris for three weeks, followed by overall nervousness about completing my job in a satisfactory manner. I'm trying to practice trusting the Lord in both of these things. I'm reminding myself of ALL the ways He has come through for me in the past, never leaving me hanging. It will be an adventure, that's for sure, but there is some definite fear involved.

One thing God has really been teaching me through this is that it is good to do something that scares you every once in a while. So that would be my encouragement to you-the next time a good opportunity presents itself in your life that scares you, go for it. The Lord will surely be with you, and it feels so good once you're done (at least I hope so-I'm counting on that:)