The Day Approaches!

Is it really happening?

Is it really this soon!?

I depart for the ship in 4 days, guys.

FOUR DAYS!

It's been a pretty busy time, getting everything arranged and ready to go, but I wanted to post a quick update before I do.

Last Saturday was the 2nd ever "Brunch for a Cause" at my church, theParish. My amazing parents and the amazing Rob, Sue, and Victoria organized all the cooking, and as always they did NOT disappoint.

There were parfaits, scones, eggs & omelets made to order, homefries, and bacon.

SO. MUCH. BACON.

The brunch was a huge success, with over 70 bellies filled and about $1300 in donations received! I've now skyrocketed past my fundraising goal...and the cheques keep rolling in. A massive thank you to every single person who is supporting me, and in turn supporting Mercy Ships! Since I've now raised more than I need to cover my expenses, all additional funds are going straight to Mercy Ships to provide more supplies and equipment for their life-changing work.

See those adorable twins? How sweet and innocent they look? ALWAYS cheating at Uno. Don't trust those smiles. Little impossible-to-get-mad-at troublemakers those two. ;)

I had my last shift at work here on Thursday, giving me over a week to prepare for my three months away. I pulled out my duffel bag today and thought to myself, "Really? That's all I brought last time? It looks...so...small." I'm slowly but surely accumulating piles of "must haves" and "maybes," and my to-do list is shrinking.

Taxes filed - check!

Anti-Malarial Perscription - check!

Side note about Anti-Malarials. I'm always flabbergasted by the cost of these pills. If it weren't for my drug plan, I'd be forking out over $400 for a 3 month supply. This just drives home the importance of projects like Malaria No More in reducing the prevalence of malaria through other means, such as mosquito netting, reducing the mosquito population, improved diagnostic tools, and research into vaccines. They've already made a tremendous impact, but there's still a long way to go.

Malaria Sucks. But we're getting better at fighting it.

Anyways. As my exciting day of spending 14 hours in uncomfortable airplane seats and not really being able to sleep approaches, I am starting to notice a familiar, bitter-sweet feeling again. Thinking about how I won't get to snuggle with my kitty again for a very long time. I won't get to give kisses to my nieces and nephews for a long time. I'll have very little privacy and constant ambient engine/ventilation noise around me.

But then I remember the incredible smiles I get to see every day walking onto the wards.

Trouble, I tell ya. 

And those smiles alone make it all worth it.

Be talking to you again soon, but from another continent!

-D