And the countdown begins...

in 22 days, i will be on my way to uganda. i couldn't be more ready or excited about it! getting to experience this is something i have dreamed about doing for years and the Lord worked behind the scenes, like He does a lot, and laid this out for me long ago. i am so grateful and humbled and ready to serve. what amazes me the most, is the Lord's perfect (and i mean perfect) timing. the fact that He chose this summer for me to go couldn't have come at a better time in my life. nothing is holding me back and i have everything to look forward to. i know i will come back changed forever and have an even bigger heart for orphans than i already do (which seems impossible!). i have been doing some things differently to try to prepare for the lifestyle change i am about to dive into. for instance, i have cut out caffeine. for those of you who know me, you know that i only drink dr pepper and sweet tea....of course, two caffeine-filled liquids! well, i quit. yes, you read that correctly. it was actually quite horrible and i can only compare it to coming off of some drug that you have been addicted to for years. overall, i am glad i did it and even though i am off of it now, i will be re-connecting myself to it once i get back :) there are a few other things i have done, but this was by far the biggest! i cannot tell you all how blessed i feel. to have this opportunity. for the many gifts my God has given me that i don't deserve. for the mercy He grants upon me. for financial blessings. for all the prayer support that people have offered. thank you Jesus! please check out my brother's blog at http://www.jaymclark.blogspot.com/ to get an idea of the life those people live. we really are blessed.