The Wait is Over, the Day Has Come...

The other day I stopped into Huckleberry’s Grocery Store, Spokane’s version of Whole Foods. I was in search of Cuisipro Yogurt Starters, a sort of powder that when mixed with other ingredients magically transforms into yogurt. Yogurt kits in hand, I walked out of Huckleberry’s enjoying a lavender scone and 16oz. soy latte and the fact that yet another task could be checked off the endless to-do list that had overtaken my day to day life. As the swinging door opened, I heard a group of Snowbirds talking. “Yesterday I spent the whole day switching all of our magazine subscriptions to Arizona! I just can’t believe how much work it is to leave home for a few months!”

I couldn’t help but laugh, agreeing with the Snowbirds and enjoying this little thing called, perspective.

In early August, shortly after I finished teaching summer school, I started the laborious job of preparing for two years of life in the African Bush. I’ve never been much for packing. In true procrastinator fashion I usually roll out of bed early the morning before a backpacking trip or extended weekend and throw together as little as possible, hoping to walk that fine line between using everything I put in the bag and forgetting only the things that others have not.

But not this time...

I spent much of August and September carefully considering which seven skirts and shirts to pack and estimating exactly how many tubes of toothpaste and bottles of shampoo I use in 6 months (the first time I will be able to restock my supply). Once in Sudan, the closest drug store will be two plane rides away and even then, it will most likely not carry most over the counter medications. With this in mind, I wandered Target’s medicine aisle trying to predict my future cold and flu symptoms. There were solar panels, sunscreen, bug spray and seeds, for my future garden, to buy. I even picked up a turquoise roll of duct tape and a brand new wash board (like the kind they used on Little House on the Prairie) at a store called the General Store, I kid not.

When I wasn’t packing or running errands I spent time with family and friends, storing up memories like a squirrel in autumn.

Matt and I backpacked, visited friends and rode horses in Glacier, Montana.

My family and I rafted and kayaked the Salmon River 5 times in one weekend, beating the 113 degree summer heat!

We hiked, we camped, we rode bikes on the Hiawatha Trail...

In late September I traveled to

Bellingham, Seattle and Vancouver

to say goodbye to family and friends.

Tea with Dottie

Old Friends and Karaoke...

Playing dress-up at Aunt Florence's house

My little girl, Lily

Vancouver Friends
Yes, Kristin's stomach does say, "Go SUDAN!"

Sunrise Hike on Dog Mountain

Mrs. Pavelgio, Miss Davey and Mrs. Maloney

The Former Hazel Dell 2nd Grade Dream Team

Yesterday morning, after years of prayerful consideration and months of practical planning I said goodbye to my parents and sisters and boarded a plane for our Nation’s capitol. I’m spending the remainder of this week with my best friend, Carley. We plan to tour the Smithsonian and Lincoln Memorial before meeting with President Bush to discuss Sudanese relief efforts. On Sunday, I will head to Pearl River, NY to meet my Africa Inland Mission teammates. On October 14^th, after two day of training at AIM’s headquarters in Pearl River, I will board a plane and move to Sudan!!!!

The wait is over, the day has come. I am moving to Sudan…for two years!!!

Our Lord is certainly faithful!