The night before....

At last, one more sleep (or at least 4 hours worth...) until airport time! Finally.

It seems like just last month I was in clinical, running around the orthopedic unit trying to juggle patient care and school assignments. On any given day, I barely had enough time to pee in peace, never mind 10 minutes for a presentation. But somehow, I made it to a quick talk about a mission trip opportunity for a nursing student in South America. In the midst of listening, the joy and passion of the speaker captivated me... and although I didn't known this at the time, taking her business card at the end marked a life-changing point - fast forward 5 months and here I am, bags packed and eager for an adventure.

And somehow this trip just fits. The dates match my Reading Week. I miss a single day of school, and return in time to adequately prepare for midterms. I have a flexible job that allows time off. I have had some experience in world of orthopedics, so I'm familiar with the procedures. I inquired about this position 1 week before the deadline date... and managed to get all my documents together in time. I was able to raise every penny of my fundraising commitment, and able to attend every meeting. 

I know this will be a life-changing experience... from here on in, time can slow down because I want to soak in every minute. All week I was drumming my fingers, watching the clock, daydreaming, just dying for the 17th. But since it's time, I want to be in every second and not miss a thing. 

So a HUGE thank-you is in order: for your prayers, donations, and well-wishes. This could not have been a reality without you!!

On a final note, if you're eager to follow along, here's the trip plan: 

• Airport arrival at 3:45, LOTS OF COFFEE, then take-off around 6am. 
• Arrive in Houston around 11 and wait for connection.  
• Depart for Quito at 4-ish, and arrive in Ecuador at 1030pm, Friday night. 

I'm not bringing my laptop, but I'll try to blog via. Kobo and/or hotel computer. Just in case that fails, I'm bringing a journal! I'll re-type my entries when I return if internet access just isn't happening. 

I'm hoping that by my next post, I'll be plenty south of the border. So until next time... 

Adios!

Danielle