One more week...

Well, the last time we blogged was almost a year ago. At the time we were letting people know the true reason for our blog: providing a way to update friends and family as we spend our summer in Nepal.

I am having a hard time believing that it is really happening. We are really going to spend 5 weeks in Nepal. Some of you may think, “big deal.” Oh, but it is a big deal. Let me explain why.

I am very OCD, germ-free, and clean. I do not want to get dirty and sweaty unless I am planning on getting dirty and sweating. I don’t like smelling funky smells, and I have the sharpest nose around, yet I am going to a place where the trash and filth in areas is piled high emitting an aroma that would cause many to gag.

I don’t like thinking that there are diseases I could catch in a country where diseases are not easily treated.

I don’t like to imagine bugs crawling in my bed after just coming inside because I found a mysterious spider on my foot and immediately Googled it’s appearance on my iPhone to see if it was poisonous.

I do NOT like to be late. I am very structured, with a plan, and a goal to accomplish; yet I am going to a country that refers to their respect for time as “Nepali Time.”

So how and why am I going to a third world country for 5 weeks, and why am I excited about it?

The answer is simply, I don’t know.

All I know is that God has given me an unbelievable passion for international missions and a desire to serve those from countries not as fortunate as us. Ever since my first trip to India, I have constantly planned and searched for ways to get back. On our first date, I told Parker that I loved southeast Asia, and I might just end up there one day. It’s funny that I told him that sitting in the Varsity parking deck waiting on the power to come back on so we could eat; because I don’t think I had ever told anyone else that.

After being married for less than 6 months Parker said, “Let’s go to Nepal next summer.”

Then comes the “money” and the “fear of the unknown.” So we began to check our budget, schedules, and “jobs”. And we thought, “Okay, we can do this.”

We sold some scarves and bags to help us raise a little money, and we sold every scarf  and bag we had. 

We hooked up with a travel agent knowing we would probably have to pay $4000 for two plane tickets. We got both tickets for less than $3000.

We looked around for a group to go with us and help us in local ministry knowing that people always back out because “the timing isn’t right” or “they are afraid to raise the money.” Then God sent Chelsey and Ansley, whose parents have supported them helping them raise money and working extra hours to give them this opportunity.

We sent support letters partly as a “State of the Union”/“Family Christmas Letter,” and partly as an opportunity to allow people to donate and be a part of our trip. We secretly believed people would set the letters aside agreeing to pray for us, as we asked; however, we also turned it into a competition to see who could raise the most. Then the money came in, and came in. And we were overwhelmed, several times to tears.

In fact, we have almost received the exact amount of money that we set as our goal. Now, we have turned it into a new competition...to see how LITTLE money we can spend in order to leave the rest with the local ministry. Those of you who know me well, know I am a tight wad that still has the first dollar I ever earned.

So here we are...I am going to Nepal...and my best friend is going with me. Boy are we in for an adventure.