I am thankful.

It's the night before we leave and I am truly thankful for a number of things.

1. I am thankful that God has prepared me for a trip like this. Looking back over the last few years, I can see direct evidence of God bringing me into situations that have shaped my skillset and mindset. I recognize that this trip is the result of God's will at work in my life and that really excites me.

2. I am thankful for a wonderful family. I haven't felt too bad about leaving Buffy, Laura and Kate because so many things are good in our family right now. Laura and Kate are playing well together and are becoming good friends and Buffy has been VERY encouraging to me while preparations were underway. Of course, they are all being well taken care of at Honey & Gramp's while I am away.

3. I am thankful for great friends. Jerram and Emily are a perfect fit for this trip. They share a similar vision for the mission and a complimentary set of skills that will make us stronger as a team than each of would be individually. I am also thankful for my friends at school that have been very helpful and encouraging this spring. They played a big role in my planning and resource gathering.

4. I am thankful for a church family that supports missions in real and practical ways. The missions team at South MacArthur has generously paid the airfare for all three of us and provided money for supplies. Several other families have also donated generously to help provide supplies to the staff and students at MITS. We have had more support, encouragement and funding than we had ever imagined.

5. I am thankful for "margin" in my life. I am greatly blessed to have extra time, extra money, extra energy and extra support...more than that needed to get through the daily grind of life. Buffy and I have jobs that allow us to live comfortably and share the surplus with others. Of course I want to live my daily life as a witness to God's love for us, but its what I want do with the "margin" that gets me the most excited.

(I also plan to be very thankful when the 28+ hours plane ride is over.)