Preparations.

I leave for Haiti in 16 days.  Crazy.

Since I have posted last, I have..

a) Purchased plane tickets.  I fly out of MSP on June 30th at 5:46 a.m. and will arrive in Port-au-Prince at 2:08 p.m. 

b) Confirmed my place to stay.  Until a few days ago, we didn't know where I was going to live.  The guesthouse at Haiti Health Ministries was lost in the earthquakes a few years ago and they have been trying to rebuild them.  It wasn't certain if they would be finished by the time that I get there, but I received an email informing me that they have all the supplies (and time!) to get the shower, bathroom, sinks, beds, walls, and doors finished!  To be honest, this wasn't one of my major concerns about this whole thing.  All that I knew was that I had tickets and was going, so figuring out a place to live for six weeks wasn't going to be a huge deal.  But hearing this news was definitely exciting! 

c) Found out that I will have internet.  I didn't know if this would be happening or not, but it should be fine - so that's fantastic!  I definitely do not need to be connected for survival, but I am looking forward to keeping in touch with my friends and family.  And of course, I am excited to continue sharing my stories with all of you! 

d) Discovered my summer schedule.  I have been on this quest to become a morning person for some time now.  And I have been failing miserably, embarrassingly.  But, I will have to be up and functional and smiley (maybe that isn't necessary, but I think it is necessary) by 6 a.m. everyday.  This is good, because maybe this summer will go down in my life's history as the one in which I finally become a morning person.  I'll keep you posted! 

e) Seen some friends, been extremely lazy, and had some fun.  After my exam, I went to Wisconsin to hang out with my roommate for a little bit.  Then I headed back to Minneapolis to see some friends (such as one who has been out of the country for five months) and to attend a super cute wedding (I danced?).  Then I ran back home the following morning so I could be at my brother's graduation and help my mother make some cupcakes.  And since then I have been in a pseudo-hibernation state before I get back on track and focus.

And what do I have to do before I leave the country?

I need to get my applications squared away, which includes my personal statement and finalizing my list of schools to apply to.  As girly as it sounds, I need to do some shopping..which also means purchasing three gallons of sunscreen.  I need to get myself to the doctor and finish my vaccinations.  And I need to finish raising support for this trip.  Woo! 

So, with a little over two weeks to go, there is much to be accomplished, but we press on.  It will get finished, I'm sure it will.  It's just a matter of when :) 

And this is where I have been finding rest..

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20