Departures

Exactly four more sleeps until I leave for Africa. I’m ready. I’ve borrowed all the camping gear I need. I shopped for the essentials like gravol, a sun hat and SPF 60 sunscreen. All of my fundraising is done. Thank you (x 1 million) if you are one of the people who gave, attended a fundraiser or prayed for me. It’s hard to put into words what preparing for this trip has been like. Overwhelming and stressful at times, sure. But it has also been incredible to see the ways God has provided and prepared the way for me to go.

A few days after I leave for Africa, my friend Emily is leaving to teach English overseas. I’m coming back to Vancouver in three weeks, but she is not sure if she will be back. I’ve known Em for nearly five years but it’s really only been in the past year that we’ve gotten close. Em is smart, funny, wise, and the absolute best at including people and organizing fun things. Also, she will send you pictures of dogs in funny outfits to make you laugh even if you don’t like dogs. She was an amazing support for me as a new community group leader this year­—there were some weeks I couldn’t have done it without her. When I get on the plane on Friday morning, it will mean saying goodbye to her for the foreseeable future. And that makes me so sad. I will miss her.

On Saturday a few of her nearest and dearest headed up to Whistler and spent the night at a cabin as a last hurrah. The weather was beautiful and so was the friend time. I haven’t laughed that hard or that often in forever. And I got a super sexy purse strap tan on Sunday. It was a great way to spend my last weekend in town.

I know I say it a lot, but I am so blessed to have such generous and kind people in my life. My heart is just overflowing after this weekend and all the help I’ve received preparing for this trip. I have the best friends a girl could ask for.