Visa and a plane ticket!

My visa arrived in the mail yesterday! One more thing I can check off my to-do list!
Also, I finally found the perfect plane ticket. It's just under $2000 (a good deal!). I'm flying with my friends Neil and Justin for most of the trip. They will be working in Kigoma, Tanzania. Neil's blog is www.neilandafrica.blogspot.com, for those of you who might know him. My flight layovers seem fairly convenient and I leave PDX in the early evening and return also in the early evening. This means more people will be willing to say goodbye to me and greet me when I return! I'm thankful I don't arrive at midnight or some other crazy hour. Five p.m. sounds very nice to me!
Again, thank you for your prayers and financial support! I still need to raise two to three thousand dollars!

Counting Down the Days!

As of this morning, I have raised $1455. That's almost enough to pay for my plane ticket! I'm going to dip into my savings to pay for the airfare. I have also used my summer wages to pay for supplies, my visa, my passport, and immunizations. I didn't realize how expensive a year of travel would be! I'm praying that more money comes in. I have to support myself financially while I'm abroad, as well as pay for insurance through the General Conference. Those two things will come to close to $2000 (in addition to the $2000 airfare). Please pray for my travel plans!

Speaking of the General Conference, my call was passed on Wednesday!!! After months of waiting and frantically sending e-mails to dozens of people I've never met, I am finally approved to go as a student missionary sponsored by the Adventist church! YES! This is truly an answer to prayer...and a much-anticipated and much-worked-for accomplishment!

Thank you to everyone for your support! I truly appreciate every dollar you've given, every prayer you've sent up, and the thoughtful cards and letters I've received. I'm very, VERY excited to be in Africa at Cradle of Love Baby Home! (www.cradleoflove.com)

Funds Are Trickling In

As of last Wednesday, I've received about $750. Only a few thousand to go! I'm very excited about leaving in just 7 weeks! If I can buy my ticket within the next week or so, I can probably get it for $2200, which is a thousand or two less than I thought I would have to pay! That is very good news. Beyond that I have to pay for my medical insurance and my living expenses (which together should total between $2000 and $3000, depending on whether or not my call is passed through the GC). Speaking of my call, Davona, orphanage director, filled out more paperwork regarding my call last week. As far as I know, only the division and the GC need to approve that paperwork and I'm set!
I'm also in the process of getting my visa.
Thank you for your prayers and your financial support!