Leaving on a Jet Plane...

...don't know when I'll be back again! 

I bought my ONE-WAY ticket to Africa yesterday, and I'm feeling all sorts of crazy emotions! 

On one hand, I'm SO excited!  God made it clear to me almost two full years ago that this is where He wants me and now I have an official date that I will be moving here- May 22nd!

This is the beautiful island that will be my home!

I've always been a sucker for sunsets and this one over the Indian Ocean is a hard one to beat!

I'm excited to spend a lot of my time in these schools...

with these kids and people...

and be silly, laugh, love, cry, and share life with them!

Not to mention, the diving is pretty incredible there :)  - AND word on the street is Shannon is getting her scuba certification which means I have a buddy to go with!!!  Can't wait to explore the water with you, Shannon!

On the other hand, I'm SO sad!  I love my family and friends so much and I know that saying goodbye to them is going to be really tough for me (and already has been).  I've already had to say goodbye to a few friends that I won't see again before I leave, and it wasn't fun.  I'm really not looking forward to leaving these guys....

 God has blessed me with incredible parents....

 Nephew and nieces...

 and brothers and sisters!

While I will miss them terribly, I am comforted by the fact that I have a God who is SO incredibly good and loves me so much AND is going with me! 

"Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.  Whom have I in heaven but You?  And earth has nothing I desire besides You.  My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." 

Psalm 73:23-26 

Thank you, Jesus, for the blessings you have given me here and the blessings that are to come!