Time to fly, because time flies.

So the adventure begins, here 30 mins before my cellphone number goes dead, after calling many friends, and an afternoon of last minute shopping and rearranging/repacking all of my luggage...

Well to sum up this last two weeks: Fun, relaxing, decompression, more fun rafting w/ Tom (really going to miss you bro), swimming, and Bandit. I also got a visit from Bri, Elise, and Ashton during which time I realized that I am just amazing at making dreams come true. I got a chance to do lots of four-wheeling, helping dad out here and there (a little), and reading my book. Mom (I love you and you are amazing) slaved over her sewing machine time and again to prepare me for my African adventure! She made me a pillow protector for my new camping pillow, as well as some pillow cases for it. But even better, was the truly remarkable hammock stuff sack she made for me! I don't have a picture of it now, but I will put one up soon! It is even better than the one that the hammock came in, and looks very spiffy. Thanks mom! It was very nice to escape to Maine, it truly is God's country and surely the way life should be.

I just want to say that I am not very nervous... everyone keeps asking me if I am. But I do feel very anxious to get started. The anxiety is dulled due to the severe lack of sleep from last night. Even tonight I might get just a few hours. I do find it weird that after all the months of counting down, it is finally the last night. Its a weird feeling knowing that in two days I will be falling asleep on a completely different continent!

Tomorrow morning I head to the airport in Portland, Maine to catch a flight to Philadelphia. Tomorrow I will begin Peace Corps orientation at 2:30, and end at 7:30ish. No rest for the weary, we get to catch about 4-5 hours sleep (if I am not out catching a couple beers with my new friends) before we have to meet outside the hotel at 2:30am!!!!! We will then ride a bus to NYC and leave on a big jet around 11. I fly non-stop from NCY to Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a 15.5 hour flight and I intend to catch up on all this lost sleep then. I will first be stepping foot on African soil on Wednesday early in the morning, and pausing for a short layover. then TO ZAMBIA!!!!

I can't wait to tell yall about training, and what the people are like. I will most definitely be complaining about the heat, how hot it is, how much I'm sweating, and again about the heat... I apologize now in advance to all my family down south; complaining about the heat is nothing new, but I am sure that it falls upon sore ears. My only hope is that all my luggage makes it there in once piece theft and damage free.

I will surely miss not being just a text or phone call away from y'all, but I promise I will due my best to stay safe and have fun. I do not look forward to saying good-bye to mom and dad tomorrow, because I know deep down it hurts all of us a little or a lot. Tomorrow is a new day beginning a new chapter, I love you all! Please pray for me. Cheers!

p.s. I know I leave the country in times that are rocky and tough. There are many problems and issues that continue to arise and never find answers (or the answers we do find are lost in the battle for power and control). May God watch over, protect, and BLESS the United States of America!