Counting the days...

It's four days till "D-Day" so to speak and I am NOT ready... Oh, I have piles of clothes, shoes, dristan, tums, (what am I forgetting...?) odds and ends here and there, I've printed out all the important emails with lots of info... but my head is still spinning by the sheer magnitude of the fact that in just a few days my feet will touch ground in Ecuador! I wonder how the other team members are feeling right now. I have not met any of them yet - well, except the one I'm married to and I know how he is feeling - overwhelmed by how much has to get done yet before we grab our suitcases and go - wish I could just blow at it and all would fall into place and be done...

However, there's adventure that beckons ahead, and the wonderful person in charge has put in writing "I know the plans I have for you, ..." Dave and I were told we'll meet our new team members at our layover in Houston, all but one are connecting with the final leg of our flight there. Our good friend Sherri has arranged to drive us to the Detroit Airport and by 11:40 am Dave and I will spend our Valentine's Day "flying the friendly skies" (and they better be friendly - I don't want to run into any of the plentyful tornados that travelled through a number of States last week - nor ride any stray turbulence they are causing!)

So we're almost ready for the story to begin. A team of twelve is gathering for a common task, to help a group of Christ followers in the Andes build a building to meet in, and help another group put some fresh paint on theirs. From the outside it might look like a working vacation of sorts, but it's much better than that, it's a place to serve and be enriched in so many ways in the process. It's an opportunity to experience another people's customs and ways, enjoy their company and I bet our perspective in life will be stretched in many unexpected ways. We'll also get to feast our eyes on majestic landscapes and some historic sites, that's a bonus as well as ending our time playing and relaxing at the great pacific ocean. Can't wait to see what all is in store! Think you'd like to come along for the ride? By all means, join us through this blog and find out how "the plan" unfolds.