Hello Family and Friends! It's getting a little crazy now, but I'm down to something like 16 or so days before I need to be down in Florida for Launch. That time is quickly approaching. Probably a little moreso than I want sometimes. Other times it might not be quite fast enough.
Answered Prayers
So over the past couple of weeks I've tried to keep a running tally on where some of my squadmates were in terms of fundraising and meeting the Dec. 18 deadline. I think one week prior to that deadline there were 6 or so people short who were in need of a combined $8,000ish in order to leave in January. Whelp, prayers were answered, funds were raised, and God pretty much left the most recent deadline in the dust! I will be seeing every single person on my squad come this January! I cannot thank you enough! The power of prayer is so incredible and to see first hand how those were answered and for thousands to be raised and donated in a matter of hours is just too incredible. Just another thing of many confirming the amazing things that God is going to do through this squad. Thank you for helping to make that happen.
Goodbyes
On a more somber note, I've now departed Iowa (departing being somber) for home back in Ohio (returning being not so somber). I do enjoy being back amongst pretty much all of my family, but it's bittersweet leaving some place that has more or less been home for the last 2.5 years. A place were I managed to get plugged into an incredible church and meet some amazing people through involvement in choir, the young adult Sunday School class, and the church services in general. I've left, however I'm so thankful for their continued support in my life and of this trip as they follow along with what we'll be doing this next year. I look forward to coming back at the end of this trip to share with you all what we did and how your involvement and support in this made a larger difference in the rest of the world.
It's hard leaving some place where I spent the first two years in grad school and the whole 2.5 working with Camp A in the main office. To leave a program that I've been involved with for a little over 6 years that has had a large positive influence in molding me and providing me with many of the skills I possess today is not easy. It's nice to know though that I can Chugi with the best of them. Seriously though, more doors opened through my involvement with Camp than I ever dreamed possible. So many incredible friendships, stories, and connections. Thank you all who has been a part of that, either from the get go or for just the past few months.
With my departure from Iowa though, that can only mean one thing! It is almost time to depart. And with that…
Our First Ministry Assignment
So in case there is someone who isn't aware of how ministry works, each month teams are paired with in country ministry partners and organizations that we will work with during the duration we are there. Sometimes teams may be placed together at one site, other months we may all be seperate from one another and won't see each other until the end of the month.
Whelp, for this first month, Team Monarch gets to start things off with a bang! There isn't much in the way of details, but in a nutshell, we'll be backpacking through the Dominican Republic visiting and working in remote villages. Roughly 5 days working with/in each village and a couple days rest in between. I have no idea what that work will look like, but that's part of the exciting part too! Suffice to say I'm pretty STOKED for this first month.
Please keep everyone in your prayers as we continue to prepare over the next couple of weeks and that the paths ahead are set and the hearts of the folks we will meet are open. Merry Christmas!!!
