Tomorrow the Adventure Begins

                Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow my flight leaves at 7:55am for Nome and the Northern Adventure officially begins. I believe I have all my bags are packed, I don’t think I’m leaving anything out. I have several other items that are off to the side at home that will be shipped out to me. Other then that I should have enough clothes so I won’t have to buy any in the next two years (hopefully), but looking at the number of clothes I have, it doesn’t look like all that much. Packing as light as possible is just what missionaries have to do. I believe I have packed as light as possible and as least needy as possible. I have stuff for my apartment and my laptop. The only thing I’m really going to need to make sure I have is internet access from my apartment.

                Mentally I’m at the state where I just don’t know what to say right now. I’m practically speechless about all this. The opportunity, the blessing, the welcoming, the sweet goodbyes, it’s been making me absolutely speechless. Since I won’t be in Northern Virginia for two years, I’m already itching to know what it’s going to be like here in 2013 when my term is up. I suppose that is just from interacting with everyone the last couple days. I’m really going to miss them.

 My friends and family have been super awesome toward me and I am truly grateful for everything they have done for me and all the wonderful support I have had from them over the years. It’s hard leaving people I really care about, really hard, especially today when it has fully sunk in that I’m not going to be able to see them as much as I would like to. Each day I will pray for them, and give thanks for my time with them before this huge transition. I realize I am truly blessed to know so many people from so many different walks of life, and I can say that they still walk with me. It’s interesting how a person’s personality is formulated by those around them. Cherish all your connections, good and bad, they make you who you are.

                I am planning to remain posting blogs every Wednesday and Thursday and every two weeks I will be posting a video blog via YouTube. As a missionary it’s important to stay connected with people back home and people who can help you when you are having rough times. I’ll be posting more soon and I’ll talk to you all next from my new home in Nome!