It's here...

Well, it is currently 3:07 AM [early] Friday morning. My plane leaves Houston in about 9.5 hours. I won't be back on United States soil until July 2012. How crazy is that! I don't even know how to feel or what to say. I have no clue what my life will look like in a week. What I eat and where I eat, who I hang out with and how much we'll be able to communicate, where I'll go during the day and what I'll do. I'm trying to have as few expectations as possible so as not to be disappointed when what I thought would happen doesn't happen. Blessed are the flexible for they will not break, right? Well, we'll see. All I know is that I am super excited about living in a different place. I know it will be difficult at times, but it's an adventure and it's where God has called me, so I'm going.

I've been getting quite a few questions about the immediate future and what I'll be doing, so here is a rough outline of where I'll be and when.

- For the first month I'm there I will be just hanging out in Manaus. I'll get a head start on language and maybe do a little traveling with my supervisor on the river. I should have internet during this time so I'll try to update this blog and do some facebooking, but no promises on anything.

- In mid-November I start formal language training. I'll be living in a house of sorts in Manaus and a tutor will come to me each day. I assume he will be there in the mornings and early afternoon and then I will go out and practice what I am learning in the late afternoon and evening. This will last a little less than 3 months.

- At the beginning of next February I start jungle survival training. I don't really know what this will look like, but I do know that it sounds really cool and really intense! I will be learning how to live in the Amazon Basin, which I assume means learning which plants to eat or not eat, which bugs to eat, which plants are good for medication, how to make a shelter, how to fish Amazon-style, how to avoid mosquitoes, etc.

- Then [finally], next May I believe I will for the first time go to a people in need of the Gospel. And that starts my 3 months in and 2 weeks out process.

Hopefully that clears some gray area so you know where I'll be and what I'll be doing.

Prayer! So, here are some ways that you can be praying. I'm sure these requests are elsewhere on the blog, but these are the ones that I think are most important at this time.

Pray for safe travel.

Pray for an open mind that understands a new culture instead of deeming it 'wrong.'

Pray that God would give me His grace in learning a new language as quick as possible.

Pray that God would lead me to young Christian men in the city of Manaus that I could grow close to and depend on through the transition of moving to a new place.

Pray that my eyes would be open to the lostness in Manaus and that wherever I am I would be a light shining in darkness that causes others to give glory to God.

Pray that I just fall in love with the country and the people.

Pray for safety.

Pray for strength.

Pray that I would remain rooted in the Word of God. That I would look to Him as my rock, my shelter, my fortress, and my foundation. Pray that He would be my source.

Pray for the people of Manaus. That God would open up their eyes and their hearts to the truth of who He is and His grace.

Thank you all!