Getting Pumped but...

So let me start with the but... part of my post since it's a major downer and the rest is more positive. I was driving to my parents' house tonight on my way home from meeting with Blair (more on that later) and it was such a nice time of night. It had just gotten dark, I was listening to good music, and it was comforting to know I would be seeing my parents in a few minutes when all of a sudden I thought, "What if this is the last time I ever go to my parents house? What if something happens to me and I don't come back?" It's like when you break up with someone and you wish you could recapture the last time you kissed them and savor it since you didn't know it would be the last time you ever kissed them at the time. Ok, so I know this is really morbid and I'm going to come home safe, but it brought my nervousness to a head and I just told myself, "If you're going to go, at least you're going to go in style, totally living your dream." But I made extra sure to savor the laughs and hugs and "I love you's" from my parents anyways.

Alright, so besides that little blip, tonight was really good for me and I started to move from nervousness to excitement. Last night I met with Mason and Shannon and we talked about my trip and they prayed for me. I love those girls and that small group--we've been through life's highs and lows this year and having them pray for my safety and protection ("angels around me from the time I leave my house to the time I walk back through my door") and for life changing experiences to take place was encouraging and comforting. Additionally, I met with Blair tonight and she provided so much insight into traveling and living in Uganda. Blair traveled there last summer and her fiance just got back from another trip two weeks ago. She had good tips about what to pack and what to eat, but my favorite part of our chat was about the people of Uganda and her promise that they will humble me beyond imagination. Even though they don't have much they will share what they have with me. They will offer me their babies to hold, invite me over for dinner, teach me to dance. And I'll get to see the way a whole new culture experiences God, which I know will be powerful for helping me continually think about my faith.

I'm not going to lie, I still don't feel like I'm leaving on Saturday. I have my bag mostly packed, I'm getting my emergency numbers together, I've become a mini version of the travel-sized aisle at Target with all the sample size toiletry items I've collected (which I love by the way...why are travel-sized items so fun? Maybe because they're only a dollar and I feel like I'm getting a bargain and it's a new product I get to try out which is fun because it's different and it usually smells good). I think on Friday night I'm just going to sit down and really be still, let my mind slow down, journal, read my Bible, and pray in expectation and preparation for my trip. I'm craving that sweet time--I need it like I need sleep, food, and water.