Last Week: Part 3

We are enjoying our relaxing time with my family in NoVA. What a change from the craziness that we have had going on these last 2 months. Here are a few pics of the morning that we left Charlotte. What a difficult time it was to say goodbye to Daniel's family--we love them so much!

Can you believe we only have 2 more days before our big trip? Wahooo! We are excited!

Here is Emma sitting on top all of Uncle Daniel and Auntie Jamie's luggage! 4 HUGE pieces that weigh exactly 48 lbs. each...hmmm, hope they weigh the same when we leave on Monday, I have a feeling we are going to make another Target run this weekend.

We were able to take a few more pics of the Charlotte skyline from the plane as we waited for our turn to take-off on Wednesday afternoon. Charlotte, we love you and will miss you!

Last Week: Part 2

Today was our last day in Charlotte! At least for only a year, right? Hmmm...you never know what a year will bring.

Most of the day was running around town, like we have been doing the past 4 days...so many things to do, you can't even imagine. Power of Attorney, bank, safety deposit box, DMV, Target and somehow another Wal-Mart run ended up on the list of things to do...gah, Wal-Mart two days in a row for small stuff is a nightmare to me. I never know where anything is in that store, and I end up roaming around just about every aisle...it will just be worse when I get back from Malawi, I am sure of it. At least I have enough toothpaste, Dramamine, Advil, Melatonin, crystal light packets, taco seasoning and deodorant to last me a year. :) Thank goodness for that, right?

Last night we had a big family dinner with Daniel's family. It was like Christmas except for no presents...well, there is always presents when Grandma McCollum visits town. She is the sweetest. And by "sweetest", I mean that she always brings sweets as gifts to us when she comes...she never visits empty handed, that is for sure. It was so thoughtful of Daniel's grandparents to make the 5 hour drive from the mountains to Charlotte. It was a very memorable time together!

Daniel, Emma (our niece) and Tim!
Tonight, our great friends threw us (McCollum's plus Kayla and Jonathan) a going away party! It was such a wonderful evening. I can think of no better way to leave Charlotte then to leave going out with the prayer and love that we received tonight from our friends! Ahhhh....we love them so much and will miss them like crazy!

Some of my girls: Rachael, me, Ashley and Kendra...plus baby girl Miller due in September!
So we are onto Virginia tomorrow afternoon to spend time with my family...yes, I will be sure to take some pics of our luggage as per some of my blogger's request.

Last Week: Part 1

Are you tired of my countdowns yet? A week from tomorrow we leave! Isn't that crazy? You should see my in-laws house...or at least the guest room and dining room where we have taken over! I was in a slight panic this morning when Daniel and I got serious about the packing order and layout. And then there was the seemingly 2 hour Wal-Mart run that I did this afternoon where I picked up even more stuff to pack. Oh my word, I am contemplating taking everything back and simplifying it all into one suitcase only! I can't believe the amount of stuff we are taking...okay, I am being a little extreme because we are only taking 4 suitcases to live out of for a year...a YEAR as in 12 months. It really isn't that much stuff, but it seems like a lot since we are trying to pack everything into neat little piles and baggies.

On to a more important subject, Daniel and I enjoyed what was known to be our "Last Sushi Supper" tonight...and it was so delicious! We enjoyed our time with Daniel's brother, Tim, and his girlfriend. Only a few more days here in Charlotte...so sad! It was very hard to leave Watershed this morning too for the last time for a year...we will miss it so much!

10 Days and Counting

We just finished up our 2 week mission training at the SIM USA headquarters! It is hard to believe that 2 weeks has just flown by...wow! But what great time we have had here meeting new friends and soaking in so much cross cultural knowledge...I feel like my head is going to explode! Even though I have lived overseas before on a couple of occasions, there is still so much more to learn. We have made friends with so many here--about 40 people total and everyone is going to different places around the world to share Jesus' message of love and justice and to do different occupations. I think the best way to describe these 2 weeks is "mission camp"...its been kinda like summer camp with your youth group, except that we are all adults and going out to crazy places like the middle of Africa, or the mountains of Peru or the cities of China. Its been a great time together!

We are off to stay with Daniel's parents until we leave Charlotte on Wednesday to spend some time with my family. August 3rd is when we leave the country! 10 days...can you believe it? So many little things and loose ends to tie together...it will all get done, so I am told!

Here is a pic of Daniel and I with the Malawi flag...more pics of our 2 weeks to come later!

Mission Training

I realize that I am posting this pic at my own expense. But it cracks me up, mostly because it looks like I am being super dramatic about my shot yesterday...but I totally wasn't. Kayla was taking pics of me getting shot up and this was one that turned out pretty funny. I had 3 more shots yesterday, I think I might be done with them for now. But, man, does my arm hurt.

So, we have been at our mission training for a week now...and have another week to go before a few days with Daniel's family and our friends here in Charlotte...and after that, a few more days with my fam in VA and then its off to Africa we go.

That's all I have for now...maybe I will get around to blogging all the other thoughts and feelings that I have been thinking and feeling this week. It has been a bit difficult...but exciting at the same time. We know that this next year will fly by, there will be so many great things that we will experience and so much of God's provision and blessings. I can't wait to share with you all! Please be praying for us and the coming days and weeks as we continue with our preparations.

3 weeks from today

Three weeks from today we will be heading over the Atlantic Ocean on our way to Malawi, Africa!

We arrived to the SIM USA headquarters this past Saturday night. I think I have mentioned it recently that the SIM USA offices are in south Charlotte...so it wasn't a long road trip. Ha. Most everyone else that we have met here is from different states...even as far as Seattle. It has been nice to meet so many missions-minded people that are headed to other countries. There are a few young families here that are planning on moving to do missions as "long-term'ers"...meaning a minimum of 2 years. Most everyone that is here doing training with us are relatively young--in their 20's-40's. However, we have had opportunities to meet some SIM workers who serve here in the USA office but have served overseas previously--some of them for 50+ years in African countries. This career committment to missions totally blows our mind! Daniel and I just can't comprehend what 1 year looks like for our family, let alone the next 40+. We are so thankful to meet so many that have lived such full lives of committment to God's Kingdom in this fashion! Their stories are unreal and their love for justice and mercy is so pure!

So, I have been taking a lot of pictures this week so far...but my laptop is still at the "shop" being fixed before we leave, so I will have to do a picture post later. I just had to give a little blog update! And let me tell you there are some good pics of Daniel and I getting our first round of immunizations! Sheesh, it has been 10+ years since I did my immunizations for India, and I wish immunizations didn't have an expiration dates! I received 3 shots the other day and have 5 more to get later this week...YIKES!!!

Amazed

I can't write much, since my computer is undergoing a quick pre-Malawi operation, I did want to give a quick Malawi update. WE HAVE REACHED OUR GOAL!!!!!!! We have raised all the funds to meet our budget to live in Malawi this next year! My heart is completely amazed at all that has happened these last few weeks, well really these last 10 months since we started fundraising! It is amazing to watch God provide for this dream that He put on our heart a few years back. There is one thing that we found out recently and that is the fact that we will also need to purchase a car to use among the 4 of us. We didn't know about this originally, so it wasn't included in our budget that we have been plowing towards this year. Once again, we are confident that God will lead us in the right direction and will work out these details out. We head out tomorrow morning for the two week long training at SIM. I will hopefully get some time on Daniels computer to do some blogging. I feel so helpless wihout mine. thank you for being happy for us and for the
many who continue to be so generous towards our mission to Malawi.

Moving Day

Moving Day 2009 has come...and gone...without a hitch! We had pizzas ready around 1pm yesterday when about 12 of our family and friends showed up for a few hours of fun together! Luckily, Daniel and I had worked hard leading up to the day with everything packed and ready to go...it was all very organized! We couldn't have done it without the great company and help of our family and friends here in Charlotte!

It was a bit surreal for me when I came back to the empty condo. Daniel had run a few errands and took the U-haul back, so I decided to get started on the vacuuming and cleaning. That's when the tears started. There I was in our empty home...trying to wipe away the tears and keep my vacuum lines as straight as possible (I tend to be OCD about vacuum lines.) My thoughts were all over the place...mostly remembering all the great memories that we have had in our first home together these last couple of years! I feel like the older I get the more sentimental I become...it's true.

Then my thoughts started changing to our many friends that helped us move. How many of my happy thoughts and memories of our first home actually included so many of our friends too! We are incredibly grateful and blessed to have many friends who we love so deeply. We enjoy doing life together...even when life gets messy and uncomfortable!

I know we are only moving away for a year--but what a year it is going to be! We can't wait! Just to give a little Malawi update: We had our international airline tickets bought last week and are still planning on departing the US on August 3rd...27 more days. Daniel's last week of work is this week. We start our 2-week mission training at the SIM USA headquarters (located here in Charlotte) on Saturday. AND We only have $3,000 more to go to meet our support needs.

We will miss you, Charlotte

Daniel and I took a break from packing last night and headed out to a yummy pizza dinner. It was an awesome night, so we decided to stop by the park outside of our neighborhood and take some pictures of the view of Uptown. Below are a few pics from our time at the park. After the park, we decided to walk around the next neighborhood over, called NoDa. There's nothing like a night in NoDa. I used to live in NoDa before I moved back to VA for the year. (NoDa stands for "North Davidson" the main street that runs through the neighborhoods on this side of town.) It is a small area, but very eclectic. On certain nights during the summer the small area of NoDa turns into a huge outdoor concert/open house for the art galleries that call it home...love it! What a relaxing place. We will miss NoDa...as well as all our other spots around Charlotte.

Tomorrow is moving day...so i need to get my PACKING on this morning, so we can enjoy fireworks later!

Wading through boxes and bins

STILL PACKING here in Charlotte...whew, seriously, you really would think I am exaggerating about all this packing since we do live in a 1 bedroom condo. I feel like I have to have everything organized and labeled perfectly...and, at the same time, I am trying to figure out what we need to pack for the next 30 days of living out of a suitcase (we are living with my inlaws for a few weeks and then at SIM for 2 weeks of training) and then pack what we need to take to Malawi. I know those should be one in the same, but Daniel is still working for another week, and basically I will be wearing dresses and skirts for 12 months, so I don't want to pack away my shorts, capris and jeans yet.

I think I am getting there...basically, just the bathroom and kitchen and Daniel's tools are left! I'm so sad to leave our little place here. I have LOVED this condo in the city...it has been so perfect for us these past years. Daniel moved in when we first started dating, so I have always thought of it as mine too. We even got engaged here in the living room...ah! :) There will be many more memories in other houses to come. Well, thanks for the break...back to packing I go!