Nine days.  That’s how much time I have before boarding a plane for South America once again.  Wednesday I received the last of my immunizations and this Sunday I begin the anti-malarial regimen.  Last minute arrangements are being made in Colombia and Venezuela – flights and accommodations along the way.  Packing begins soon.  I’m always afraid I will forget something important.  Not a big deal here where almost anything can be replaced but in the third world there is no replacing a crucial item.  And there is always the butterflies about the possibility of a connection gone wrong.

The agenda is full.  A couple days ago I had to make the painful decision to eliminate a stop to a new city where our services may be needed.  It caused some disappointment.  I’m disappointed, but you can only do so much.  The conference in the jungle is taking a big chunk of the trip.  I’m looking forward to the Grand Opening of our new school Colegio Privado Juan Christiansen.  Getting together with the board of our civil association Una Sonrisa Para Todos is always enjoyable.  They always give me a dose of enthusiasm.  It will be exciting to meet the board of our new NGO (Non Government Organization) in Colombia.  We will be expanding our ministry in Colombia as well as in Venezuela.  Then there will meetings with the pastors in communities waiting for one of our Help and Hope Centers.  Hopefully I can provide encouragement to them.  I also have to ask for their patience.  How I wish we had the resources to open all of these Centers now.