It seems like only yesterday that the trip was over half a year out.  It's hard to believe that we have been planning, preparing, and praying for six months now.

I can't wait for what lies ahead.  This week (and even today) will be filled with nervous excitement.  The full reality of the trip probably won't sink in until I'm getting on the plane, but it's definitely been consuming my thoughts and schedule lately.  Six months of planning, and it still feels like there's so much last-minute work to be done.

I'm so grateful for everyone who helped make this trip happen.  Your prayers and support mean the world to me.  The generosity of my friends, family, and co-workers has inspired me to be more selfless with my own resources.  It is my hope that I will be given the opportunity (and I'm sure I will) to invest in others as so many of you have invested in me.

The next steps for me include making it through this week, and then an 18 hour flight to Addis Ababa.  I ask that you guys would continue praying for our team and the trip.  Please pray that the missionaries would be ready spiritually, physically, and emotionally for the things to come.  Ask that we would be loving, bold, and courageous in our witness.  Pray that there would be great unity between the missionaries and our Ethiopian hosts and disciple makers. Finally, pray that those we will be interacting with would be like good soil for the the gospel (Mark 4:1-9).

I can't wait to share with you all the results of our trip.  I will try to send out more information (like our prayer calendar and similar updates) as I am able to.  If you're interested in reading stories from the first trip, check our http://watermarkblogs.org/africa/.  You'll also be able to read about my team on this blog once we're in the field.

Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”