THIS WEEK!!

That's right, friends-- I am leaving for Uganda this very week! I have four and a half more days in the states and then my adventure in Africa really begins. Time has flown by, and I can't believe that it's here!

I just finished exams and left Vanderbilt yesterday. It was a CRAZY week with tests and papers and packing and moving and driving, but my junior year is finally over. Even though I've been in college for 4 years now, it's still weird that I'm finally going to graduate next year. With losing so much credit coming into Vandy, I kind of felt like I'd never really see the day when I'd be done. Turns out, 2 years later, I am 5 classes and 1 internship away. There is a light at the end of the tunnel after all! This is also a big milestone because I've now been at Vandy longer than I was at OU. Coming to Vanderbilt has still been the best decision of my life and I feel soooo blessed for all the great friends and memories I have there.

To be honest, I'm super scared about this trip. I'm trying really hard to trust God and His provision and yet this is the biggest risk I've taken since the transfer. I'm trying to put into perspective how well that risk worked out, and I know that I'm going to come back from the trip with a renewed and greater picture of what Faith is, and for that, I'm excited. Nevertheless, there is a part of me that thinks, "Seriously?! I may be the least qualified person ever to spend a month in Africa." I am such a picky eater, I have high maintenance sleep habits, I worry about everything, I am a totally homebody, I hate change and have a tendency to make awful transitions, and I will miss everyone (and miss Tyler already!). I guess there is a part of me that has just recently admitted to myself what a big deal this is for me. Maybe for someone else this would be 4 weeks away from home and whatever, get over it. But, making this decision to go pretty much goes against everything I normally want for myself: security, control, people I love surrounding me, comfort.

So...why am I going? I guess I just feel called to go. I can't explain it but I've felt for a long, long time now that I'm supposed to go. I feel it's time for me to go out and test myself, to put myself in a position where I have to trust God and His provision for my life, and do His work. I feel like I have so, so much love to give and I'm excited to have the opportunity to pour it out on people who desperately need it. I can't wait for the life-changing experiences that I know I will have, and I can't wait to share my stories with you guys and hold some little African babies and take lots of pictures and GROW.

So...I'll update again before I go with my cell phone number so that if you guys want to call me (between 10am and 3pm Eastern time!!!) you can do that.

Please pray for me, my trip, and the people over in Kampala who I will be meeting so, so soon!