Answer and Anticipation

It is confirmed. I will be purchasing a small sound system to take with us, leaving it with the Pixlays for use in their ministry there. Thank you all who prayed and participated with me, confirming this provision for them!

It still seems surreal, as if I'm climbing into a Dali painting, with the trip being only one week away! It approaches like a bullet train and I continue listening to, and trying to speak with my Croatian language lessons, finding some comfort in knowing that most of the people speak and understand English fairly well. With a Cheshire cat grin I found it interesting to hear from Zdenko and Sandra that there are many Japanese tourists who visit Croatia, so my presence there will seem 'normal'. I chuckle whenever I think that I will be taking my Nikon digital SLR camera with me. Will I look like a Japanese tourist as I walk around with it hanging around my neck? Indeed I will be, except from America.

All the planning, all the preparation, all the expectations, hopes and dreams will unfold before us, some as planned, and probably most not as planned. No adventure is without its challenges and surprises. The term most commonly stated is flexiblity, and I believe we will need to have flexibility pasted to our foreheads, flexibility filling all our pockets and packed into our suitcases as we walk this adventure! The unknown, the surprises, are indeed the thing I enjoy about adventures; watching them arise and problem solving for the answers. Some of my sweetest memories of excursions are those that spontaneuosly appeared in the moment as I never envisioned such a thing was available or would happen. While we have our thoughts of what is to be, it will be interesting to see the truth of what is planned for us on our adventure.

Having traveled internationally before, and traveling on a regular basis for work and 'fun' in the past with groups (including week long trips with middle schoolers), I know that while some may question my sanity, I have and we will have a lot of fun getting to know one another. We will also enjoy getting to know the people we visit. Living and adventuring together will take us on an escapade that can not be accomplished in any other way. There is a sense that we will be a part of something incredibly larger than any of us could dream or imagine, because Christ has called us to go. So we wait. Wait for direction, wait for the days to pass, and wait for our shuttle to pick us up next Friday, and most importantly, we wait upon our Lord (Psalm 33).

Please continue to pray for our health and the wisdom we will need to step into and through this trip. It is a faith journey to new heights of service and growth.