Okay, so I'm not quite leaving for the Southern Hemisphere yet... but it's getting close! I leave tomorrow morning for a week of orientation in Chicago, and then it's on to South Africa!
I am looking forward to meeting my fellow participants and forming with them the new community of YAGM 2010 and M.U.D.3. (M.U.D. is the name of the YAGM program in South Africa... if you haven't checked out the group blog, there's a link in the sidebar to the right). My country coordinator has also informed me that my supervisor in Carolina "lives with passion and energy in ways that I have not seen during my time in South Africa". Apparently he has a penchant for trying new adventures... sounds like we may get along splendidly!
Also, in case you're wondering, at this point I'm not too worried about logistics, but am hoping to sit back and enjoy the ride (unfortunately I think all of you know that I don't do that very well, but I'm trying!) Besides, if I forgot something it's too late- I don't have any more room in my bags, anyway! (Though I am rather pleased that I managed to fit a years worth of stuff into a backpack, a duffel bag, and a small satchel!)
I'll be checking in when I can, but for now am enjoying what is probably my last view in awhile of the Northern Sky and the Big and Little Dippers...
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
THANK YOU, CONTRIBUTORS!
I asked for many of you to help me raise funds for my upcoming mission trip by choosing to "Sponsor A Missionary For A Day". My goal was to raise a minimum of $4,000, but thanks to your generosity, we were able to raise a whopping $7,982!!
Thank you all so much for your support of this program. I will be recognizing donors on my blog on a monthly basis, but for right now I'd like to say a big thanks to all of the folks below!
Keith & Joyce Amundson, Margie Antico, William & Sandra Arbaugh, Jules & Carol Auger, Cody & Emily Black, Carl & Dorothy Cottingham, Laura Cumming, Joel Davis & Kathleen McDonald, Charles Doidge, John & Marlaine Doidge, Rosie & Tracy Ebmeyer, ELCA Oregon Synod Global Mission Committee, Russ Finley, Jim Flachsbart, Cindy & David Folin, JoAnn Goldhammer, Bob & Gerry Grover, Jack & Sue Hammond, Julie Hatch, LaVon Holden, Carl & Julie Huetteman, Dar & Mary Ellen Isensee, Alex & Anne Karel, Kutschera Family, Rebecca & Keith Long, LRS Architects, Gene Maier, Lia Makousky, Colin & Darcie McConnaha, Debbie & Duane Meagher, Doug & Jayne Montgomery, Don & Lori Neptun, Don & Judy Nielsen, Linda Rickert, Shirley Roggen, David & Donna Rundquist, Tom Schmidt, Joe & Judith Smith, St. James Choir Members, St. James Endowment Board, Vicki Terry, Ann & Charlie Tohlen, Sue & Brad Tucker, Ken & Dena Turner, Dick Wegner, Jen Wright, Alex Zimmer
Many of you have contributed your support in other ways; prayer, travel tips, hugs, journals and maps, book suggestions, etc. These are just as appreciated as the financial contributions (and I've received far too many to keep track of!) Thanks everyone!
Thank you all so much for your support of this program. I will be recognizing donors on my blog on a monthly basis, but for right now I'd like to say a big thanks to all of the folks below!
Keith & Joyce Amundson, Margie Antico, William & Sandra Arbaugh, Jules & Carol Auger, Cody & Emily Black, Carl & Dorothy Cottingham, Laura Cumming, Joel Davis & Kathleen McDonald, Charles Doidge, John & Marlaine Doidge, Rosie & Tracy Ebmeyer, ELCA Oregon Synod Global Mission Committee, Russ Finley, Jim Flachsbart, Cindy & David Folin, JoAnn Goldhammer, Bob & Gerry Grover, Jack & Sue Hammond, Julie Hatch, LaVon Holden, Carl & Julie Huetteman, Dar & Mary Ellen Isensee, Alex & Anne Karel, Kutschera Family, Rebecca & Keith Long, LRS Architects, Gene Maier, Lia Makousky, Colin & Darcie McConnaha, Debbie & Duane Meagher, Doug & Jayne Montgomery, Don & Lori Neptun, Don & Judy Nielsen, Linda Rickert, Shirley Roggen, David & Donna Rundquist, Tom Schmidt, Joe & Judith Smith, St. James Choir Members, St. James Endowment Board, Vicki Terry, Ann & Charlie Tohlen, Sue & Brad Tucker, Ken & Dena Turner, Dick Wegner, Jen Wright, Alex Zimmer
Many of you have contributed your support in other ways; prayer, travel tips, hugs, journals and maps, book suggestions, etc. These are just as appreciated as the financial contributions (and I've received far too many to keep track of!) Thanks everyone!
Friday, August 6, 2010
GOODBYE, PDX
Ah, City of Roses, I will miss you! After a rather flurried week of farewells, my sister and I drove out of Portland on Saturday July 31 (is that already two weeks ago?!) I'd like to say we drove off into the sunset with the top down, but as we were headed east towards Minnesota (in a car with a roof), the romantic version of cutting town isn't quite the right picture. It is a bit ironic though, that Mpumalanga, the province to which I am ultimately headed to in South Africa, means "the place where the sun rises". So perhaps leaving Portland is not a matter of anything really ending, but rather of many new things beginning.
PDX is an amazing city and certainly will hold a special place in my heart this year that I am away. Rebecca and I managed to squeeze in one more trip to the Rose Garden before we left, and I sadly watched Mt. Hood recede through the rearview mirror as we headed east through the Columbia River Gorge. I will miss my bicycle and the organic food and the "It's Portland" attitude that pervades everything. I will miss the weather and the friends and the community I have called home for five years. I will miss you.
After many days on the road I have arrived in Minnesota and am spending some quality time with family and friends before departing for Chicago on August 18. I will spend a week there in orientation with fellow participants, then board a plane on August 25th for a life-changing adventure!
It has not been easy to say good-bye to the things and people that I love in Portland. Over the next few weeks I will say good-bye once again to friends and family in the Midwest.
Goodbye, PDX; Hello, Rainbow Nation!
PDX is an amazing city and certainly will hold a special place in my heart this year that I am away. Rebecca and I managed to squeeze in one more trip to the Rose Garden before we left, and I sadly watched Mt. Hood recede through the rearview mirror as we headed east through the Columbia River Gorge. I will miss my bicycle and the organic food and the "It's Portland" attitude that pervades everything. I will miss the weather and the friends and the community I have called home for five years. I will miss you.
After many days on the road I have arrived in Minnesota and am spending some quality time with family and friends before departing for Chicago on August 18. I will spend a week there in orientation with fellow participants, then board a plane on August 25th for a life-changing adventure!
It has not been easy to say good-bye to the things and people that I love in Portland. Over the next few weeks I will say good-bye once again to friends and family in the Midwest.
Goodbye, PDX; Hello, Rainbow Nation!
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