Getting Started

Three months and fourteen days. That's all the time that stands between myself and going to Africa. Intense.

I don't quite know how to start off this blog. Or even who might decide to read it or keep up with it. I just figured I would keep people updated on the whole process of my trip, and all the details involved. I guess partly because I wanted to keep a record of everything that happens, and the process that I go through.

I honestly can't explain the excitement that I've been experiencing since I decided to go on this trip. It's crazy, I mean really. I've always enjoyed traveling, though I've never traveled internationally. I've enjoyed flying. I always get like this insane strange enjoyment when I get on a plane and travel somewhere, even if it's only a two hour flight. And all of a sudden I'm aiming to travel to Africa.

I don't know what to expect when I get over there. Actually I take that back, I do know what to expect. Well, at least somewhat. I expect to minister God's word to people that may not have ever heard His word before, and see awesome results. Which is huge step for me in a way, because I never pictured being able to have the resources or time to travel over seas to do something like that.

Wait back up, back to traveling. Ever since I've made the choice to go for this trip I've been wanting to travel like a million times then ever before. And not just Africa. I want to go other places. I just want to step out and do it, and for the first time, I really see that as a total possibility. I really don't think anything can hold me back, and am confident that God can make everything work out. I'm having to trust Him completely for this trip, in every area.

Oh yea, back to expectations. I expect my life, along with the lives of the people I travel with, and the people that I minister to, to be completely changed. In a good way that is. I expect to come back different that when I left, and expect God to move and work through me and around me. It's going to be awesome.

Since I'm updating people I figure I should cover every aspect, and that includes the financial side. Let me just say first and foremost that I'm expecting God to move here. I'm believing people will donate towards my trip, and help make this possible. I don't want people to feel pressure from me, or to feel like I'm begging, I just want them to listen to God and if he directs them to give, then give. Regardless of what happens God is going to make this happen, and He's going to provide. I'm trusting Him.

I currently have to raise around $5,500 total, give or take a bit. The airfare will be about $2,200, and the trip itself costs $1,450. I've also included money for the time missed from work, the shots that I'm going to be receiving (which come to about $600) as well as the costs of getting a passport, visas, ect. That being said I have already raised around $600, between money I've saved and donations. That brings be to about $4,900 left.

I do have deadlines though, the first being my airfare which is due on May 1st. That's in exactly two weeks. Honestly I'm not worried at all about that, I know for a fact that I'm suppose to be in Africa in August, and I know God will make a way. But for anyone out there that wants to know my current schedule, there it is. My other two deadlines are June 1st and July 1st, though I'm believing for all the money to be in and the trip totally be paid for by the end of June.

In advance I want to say thanks for anyone that keeps up with this blog. Thanks to anyone that donates, thanks to anyone that keeps me up in prayer. This trip is going to be awesome, and I can't wait.