The Countdown...2!

Since New Years has already been celebrated, this can mean only one thing! I'm talking about the countdown until I leave for Ukraine, which is quickly, quickly approaching. friday morning at 7am Seattle time, I am leaving, and by midnight in Seattle, I should be in Ukraine. It'll be one long day.

Although I'm looking forward to leaving, I'm also sad to be leaving behind friends and a community here. And I think that's a great place to be in, both sad and happy. I think it keeps perspective, perspective that there is always more than we think out in the world. Leaving something means I'm going to/toward something else. And that in and of itself is exciting. I will get to see my kids in the orphanages and my friends in Ukraine, and live in place that is so foreign and yet so familiar. But leaving also means leaving something/someone behind. I'm leaving behind friends, family, community, America.

So, that being said, I believe that these past 4 months that I've been stateside has been successful. When I first arrived, I didn't think I could get back to Ukraine fast enough. And now that the time has come for me to leave, I'm wondering how I can move some people from Mt. Vernon to Ukraine. Haven't figured that one out yet.

So these last days that I'm here are filled with goodbyes, deep sighs, and remembering I'm leaving because He called me to go out and be His hands and feet.

I'll write again when I land in Kyiv!