It's the final countdown!

Hi friends!

Yesterday we had our final pre-departure meeting for South Africa; basically I'm completely stoked. We talked a little more specifically about what we're going to be doing and when and where, but it's all subject to change, so I'm just planning on getting on a plane July 24 and just going along with whatever comes my way.

Things have been--and will be, for the next week and a half--pretty crazy. I have to wrap up my summer class before I leave. (Just for the record, I didn't choose to have class. We're forced into it. I'm loving my pediatric rotation, but missing my usual "summer vacay.") Basically I have to teach myself about 25% of the course material, finish up my contributions to the group project that will be presented while I'm gone, take two quizzes, a test, and the final. In the next eleven days. Wow.

As The Intern, I also have to pack supplies to take and assign folks to escort the suitcases three thousand miles down to the Dark Continent. I've already packed six suitcases (and their customs manifests--there's the kicker) and have at least two or three more to do tomorrow at work. And! Good news! I'm one of the people who has been assigned to update our global missions blog while we're on the ground there. I'm also still planning on updating my Twitter, so check that out too! (Also: you don't need a Twitter to read it! Think of it as, like, a mini-blog to which I can send text messages.)

Here's what's awesome: when I write all this stuff out, it sounds horribly taxing; and while, yes, I'm tired, there's no doubt in my mind that South Africa is where I'm supposed to be, at least for those two weeks. I am so excited, and so incredibly blessed that I've been given this opportunity. Thanks, God. Props. Prayers right now are for getting the pre-everything done, outrageously restful sleep, and a heart to do all that we're asked with graciousness and excellence.

Also: another pretty cool thing is that we're going to have about an eight-hour layover in London, so one of our leaders is setting up a little tour there. So that should be pretty neat, too. Hopefully I'll get an obnoxious picture with the guards at Buckingham Palace. That's definitely on the list.