55 days and counting...

It's hard to believe that in just a couple of months I'll be on my way to Kandern, Germany to serve at Black Forest Academy (BFA). It's actually 55 days to be exact!
My days have been filled with completing projects at work (I am on staff with the kids ministry at Grace Fellowship Church), fitting in all the fun I can with friends and family, and wrapping up all the details that go with moving overseas: such as, figuring out how much I can stuff into a couple of suitcases, getting a drivers license that will be valid in Germany, and learning how to drive a manual shift so I am able to drive the cars/buses that belong to BFA.

On June 16th, I will be flying to Canada for a week-long orientation at Janz Team headquarters. All of the new staff of BFA (teachers, house parents, RA's ect.) that are partnered with Janz Team (JT) will be at this orientation, so I am very excited! Although I have talked with a few people from JT over the phone, it will be great to meet people face to face and really connect with those whom I will be serving alongside of.

Speaking of phone conversations, I recently had a very encouraging talk with a personnel member from BFA. She worked in the dorms for 2 years and now is more on the administrative side of things. I asked her what a typical day would look like for me and this is just a short summary of what we discussed:

6am-8:30am
*wake up
*wake up the girls
*fix breakfast/prepare lunches
*drive the girls to school
9am-12pm
*meeting with other staff (1-2 times a week)
*laundry
*cleaning
1pm-4pm
*free time
4pm-10:00pm
*pick up girls from school/sports activities, ect.
*help with homework
*prepare dinner
*oversee girls' chores
*oversee study/homework time
10pm-12am
*devotions
*make sure girls get to bed :)
*bedtime for me
Weekends...
Saturday:
*Big, fun brunch
*sports games
*shopping trips, hiking, & other activities
*organized social activities with other dorms
Sunday:
*church
*lunch
*fun "sister" activity with your own dorm in the evening

Overall, I will just be doing life with these girls--we will see the best and the worst of each other, but in this we will have an intimacy that is as close as you can get to being family. It is an intimidating thought to have my life and relationship with Christ be so closely observed by these girls that I will be caring for. I pray that I will live out my faith and dependence on Christ in a sincere way. I know that God has been preparing me for this role in so many capacities and so I look forward to it with nothing but anticipation!

Janz Team's policy regarding my support is that once 80% of my support is given or committed, they will then purchase my ticket to leave. When the funds are at 90% committed, then I can go...drum roll please..

With your help, I have enough funds to buy a plane ticket that will get me to Germany by August 1st! THANK YOU!! Now the next step is to buy that ticket and count down the days!

I love you all!

Lizzy

specific prayer needs:

*emotional & spiritual preparation

**for the remaining funds to come in