God is in control.

i got a text from katy this week with an awesome story i wanted to share with you. it's one of those ones that remind you that God is way bigger than anything. everything.
here it is.

last sunday, katy felt like she needed to go to her bible study from high school that morning. thinking it was just an opportunity to reconnect with her old bible study leader, she decided to go. at bible study, they prayed for our trip and for my fundraising efforts. and after bible study, the mother of one of her friends approached her and said she felt led to give to me to help me pay for my trip. her daughter had done a mission trip last year and she remembered how difficult it was for her to fundraise but God came through for them and she wanted to give back.

i found myself not knowing what to say when she told me this. the way that God was so obviously taking care of me was overwhelming. it reaffirms the fact that God has plans for this trip and wants to do something awesome while katy and i are there.

i can't believe i'm leaving on thursday. i feel like i'm entering a dream sequence. probably partially influenced by the fact that i opened a new pair of contacts this morning and my eyes have been watering quite a bit, giving everything that weird hazy look that dreams had on the brady bunch. but mostly because it's hard to believe that this is finally happening. and overwhelmingly i'm feeling excited and ready. the other day, i ran into a girl who had graduated from city a few years before i did and we ended up having our conversation in spanish. good to know i can still communicate effectively.

we got an email last week with some last-reminders and bits of information. one of the more exciting tidbits in there was that we'll be living in homes for a large portion of our trip. this has always been one of my favorite parts of serving abroad and i'm so glad we'll have that opportunity to immerse ourselves so completely in guatemalan culture.

i got a another not-so-happy email from katy last week with a link to the state department's page on guatemala. their information on safety and security in the country was pretty extensive and rather disheartening. a weak government has allowed an increase in gang activity that leads to lot of robberies, kidnappings, and murders. also, mayan cultural beliefs make the indigenous people very wary of white women because they believe that they steal children. katy sent an email to the head of mpi program in guatemala who sent a really well-developed reply about the safety measures mpi employs. i think we have little to fear, what with all of mpi's efforts to keep us safe and God's hand that's been so obviously over this whole trip. but please pray for the guatemalan people and tourists who aren't as well protected in addition to strength for the government.

today is the day of my fundraiser at buffalo wind wings on the east beltline (near celebration cinema)! if you're in the mood for some chicken, come on out and present this flyer to have 20% of your purchase donated to my trip (you can also find a larger copy to download here).

i'll be there from noon to 2:30, 6 to 8:15, and 10 to midnight. i'll have some copies of the coupon there but i'll have to give them out discreetly (their policy on handing our flyers has a bit of gray area). generally it'd be best if you brought your own copy. =)

also, the procedure for donations has changed: since my departure date is so close, it's unlikely that mpi will be able to process any donations in time. the best way to donate is just to send your contribution to me (checks made out to kati turner) and i'll guide to where it needs to go. sadly, it will no longer be tax deductible, but it will still help me get to guatemala!

i'm so grateful for all the support i've received as i prepare for this trip and can't wait to actually be there in 5 days. another tidbit in the last-minute details email mentioned that we'd have internet access the whole time we're there in the mpi house. which means potential in-country updates. stay tuned. =)