Preparation

Things are starting to come together, we've been busy getting everything we need for the trip, and figuring out how to pack it into three bags. Packing for Africa is harder than other places I've been because we have to bring all our toiletries with us, often things like shampoo isn't readily available, or if it is its incredibly expensive. We're busy trying to see friends and family before we leave, finalizing all the other nuances of travel and moving all our stuff into storage.

 It reminds me a lot of wedding planing, there is always this part of your mind that is trying to think of what else you have to do, and prioritize it all. It works its way into most conversations between Annie and I. It becomes hard to turn it off, it becomes hard to focus on the spiritual preparation for the trip which is more important. Its funny how the pervasive "needs" of the seen push the needs of the unseen aside, yet we are to "persevere seeing Him who is invisible".

Above all the errands and to-do lists there is a looming sense of substantial change. It's both exciting and frightening to relinquish control over your life. To stop planning and learn to follow. To move away from monetary dependence and rely entirely on provision. To, as Jason Upton puts it, not know where I'm going because I've been blinded by the truth.

But past any of the apprehensions that may ail our thoughts there is the overwhelming certainty that the Lord is good, and what He has prepared for us is better than we could possibly hope for. This is the change we've been praying and waiting for or as I've often described, it's like walking up to the Jordan after so long in the wilderness. The realization of it caries so much mass that it takes a while to settle in and then it systematically takes your breath away.

This long hope of our hearts is upon us, and it's wonderful.
-kyle