45 days that is. No lie, September 1st is 45 days away — I counted. Kind of sneaking up on us isn’t it? At least, it is sneaking up on me!
The planner in me feels a timeline summary coming on. Some of you want, no NEED, this detail/summary. Some of you will stop reading here and that is “okay”.
Timeline –
1) Final Interview – Per the last two or three posts, Training Camp has come and gone. Along with it my final “interview” of the organization and the World Race final “interview” with me. Without ever really discussing it we’ve decided we are a match and we will continue our partnership. Actually, I continue to be affirmed by what the organization is about and how they approach things. So with final interviews, per say, out of the way it is full steam ahead!
2) Funding – As of July 15th we were dabbling with the 80% funded mark. I say dabbling because the monthly pledges I can account for are the ones where AIM has been notified; either via the support slip you mail in or via registering on the website. I am aware of a handful of you that intend to provide monthly donations (THANK YOU!) but until it shows up with AIM those intentions cannot really be counted. With the few additional monthlies I know of verbally but not via AIM we absolutely within the 80% range.**
Pause timeline….Insert cartwheel
WHOO HOO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Serious, 80% and we haven’t even left yet!!! Thank you for your crazy generosity; I am delightfully floored.
Resume timeline…turn another cartwheel for kicks
3) Departure Date – Because y’all are so amazingly generous we didn’t have to concern ourselves with the “$3,000 in the account by July 18th to buy a plane ticket” deadline. Thus, a plane ticket for departure to the Philippines is in the works and I expect I’ll learn sometime in early August the exact departure date. I am currently gearing for September 1st.
4) Professional Me – my employer has been lovely about the stated change in direction and I am busily working to transition out by the week of August 15th. I am not quite in the rhythm of balancing work, exiting work and assisting in the recruiting/interviewing of my replacement but I’ll get there. Your prayers over this limbo season are requested; because, though short, I never was very good at the limbo once I quit gymnastics.
5) Other Stuff – Then there is the long list of “other stuff” to be tidied up. I have an entire spiral notebook dedicated to random “to do’s” that pop into my head: documents/contracts to sign, contracts to cease, packing to do, last minute purchases, etc. I’ll have you know by Gods grace I’m not overwhelmed; yet.
While all the above is important what is super important to me are all of YOU! Of course I want to see and connect with all of you before I go. I am also totally realistic and recognize that is not going to happen if it is done on a one on one basis. That said, small group time would be ideal. To that end, I would ask for your help. I am not going to be able to do the above and schedule to have everyone over for dinner BUT if you want to get a small gaggle of folks together to grab some grub, play games or go for a walk, I’d love to connect with as many of you as possible before I am limited to email for at least a year.
That request may come across as a little bold, or at least it feels bold writing it, but it is honest. One of the best ways you can help me do relationship well pre departure is to pack a few people into your home and tell me what time to be there 🙂
That’s what I got, if I’ve missed some critical detail…tell me…I’ll write it down in my spiral and attend to it ASAP!
~ m
** If you are wanting to give monthly but are unsure of "how to" please email me (see "Contact" on the left). I have a little one page summary that makes the process super easy.
