Sixteen

Sixteen days.  That's how long I have left here in the USA.  It's so crazy and surreal at this moment.  Jeremy keeps talking about how this weekend, we're doing such and such, then the next weekend will be our last together for 3 months.  It just really puts things into perspective for me.  I only have two weekends left at home. One will be spent at a wedding and ringing in the New Year.  I hope to spend the last weekend just relaxing with my family.  I feel like I can't at all comprehend leaving for such a long amount of time.  I can't comprehend not knowing the next time I'll be in communication with my family and those I love.  I can't comprehend living out of a "suitcase" for three months.  I can't comprehend living with families for more than 2 or 3 days.  I'm nervous and excited.  I'm scared that I'm going to be so under prepared.  I'm scared that Linford will be like, "oh -- you didn't turn in this form.  Sorry.  You can't go."  But you know what?  God has an awesome plan for me.  He knows what He's doing.  I'm going to grow SO much on this trip.  It will be good for me in every aspect of my life.  I just need to really trust and rely on God at this time. (Well, at all times.)

BAHH! I still can't believe I'm only sixteen days away from AFRICA.  (I still don't feel like I'm even going to Egypt!)

I love you all!!
Janelle

Preparation

Vest. Wool socks.  Fleece.  Waterproof shoes.  Journal(s).  Memory cards.  Long sleeve shirts.  Flannel.  Christmas.  Saying goodbye to friends and family.  Tears of joy, sadness, nervousness, and excitement.  These are all things that need to happen in preparation for this trip.
The longest I've ever been away from home (other than school, which doesn't really count considering I live 4 miles from EMU) is when my high school touring choir went to Eastern Europe.  I was nostalgic, so I looked through pictures of that trip and decided to share some with you.  They correspond to what I am most looking forward to about next semester.

Skies that seem to be bluer than in America.

Precious children.

Beauty in everything.

Food. mmmm... Doener

Simplicity and open fields.

History.

Host families!

Music...

of every kind.

Architecture. 

Of course, there are many intangible things I am excited for.  I'm excited to walk where Jesus and His disciples walked.  I'm excited to visit Biblical scties -- to have a deeper connection to them while reading the bible.  To grow in my relationship with God.  To evaluate my priorities in life.  To learn as a disciple of Christ. To be filled with the Holy Spirit.

So.  If you want any sort of updates of my life from January 13-April 24, read this blog :)  I can't promise consistency because I don't know when I will or won't have internet.  Here's a basic itinerary though, for those of you who want to keep me in your prayers as I am traveling.

1.13:  Travel

1.14-24:  Cairo, Egypt

1.25: Aqaba, Jordan

1.26-28:  Wadi Rum, Jordan

1.28-30:  Petra, Jordan

1.30-2.1:  Amman, Jordan

2.1-24:  Palestine
2.25:  Travel
2.26-3.9:  Jerusalem

3.10-17:  Free travel!

3.18-24:  Ecce Homo

3.25:  Travel

3.26-31:  Oranim, Israel

4.1:  Travel
4.2-10:  Nazareth
4.11-14:  Athens, Greece
4.15:  Travel
4.16-19:  Rome Italy
4:20-23:  Free Travel!

4.24:  Home.

Please be praying for the safety of my group.  Pray for friendships to grow.  Pray for peace in all the places we are visiting and staying.  Pray for open hearts to hear what God is saying.  Pray for anything else you feel led to pray for!!