18 hours...

In close to 18 hours our first plane will officially take off from the Jackson airport! Our team has done a great job of preparing for tomorrow's trip, but all the work we do in advance cannot prevent the crazy rush that happens today. For example, we went shopping for our supplies on Tuesday, but most of us are probably going back to the store today for one last WalMart run. We started packing earlier in the week, but we will not stop rearranging our suitcases until late tonight or in the morning. We have to-do lists that grow ever larger even as we check things off of them. I (Katie) have already talked to J half a dozen times today and it's not even lunchtime yet!

The mass chaos involved with the 24 hours before a trip does not stress me out in the least; it only makes me more excited. Many of us have waited a full year now to return to La Senda and see our amazing Guatemalan friends; some of us will be experiencing La Senda for the first time. For both groups, I can confidently say that we are ready. We do not know all that is in store for us, but we know that we are going with the One who will make a way no matter what we encounter.

I hope you'll check the blog throughout the week! We will try to have someone from our group post about our adventures every night. For now, you can help us pray for two specific, somewhat humorous, but still serious things... 1. That we all hear our alarms in the morning and make it to the airport by 4:30 AM sharp! 2. That we are not delayed so we can make it quickly through the Atlanta airport - we have only a 1 hour layover before our flight to Guatemala City!

I covet your prayers as we go through this week. Thank you for all you have done to make this possible so far! Can't wait to send you news from La Senda!
--Katie.