Checking off the list, one by one

It's only 8:45 and I am already drained.  Today was the first day that I didn't have work and I was actually able to focus on checking things off my to do list.  I'm not done for the day yet, but I'm at the point where I would like to call it a night.  I'm not willing to do that though because I am going to be blessed with hanging out with Niki tonight :)

Today I went and ordered more Argentine pesos so that when I am down there I hopefully wont have to withdrawal any more money for the first month or so.  I was also able to warn the bank that I was going to be possibly using my debit card out of the country.  It worked out nicely because I was informed that I need to let the bank know a week in advance and today marks exactly one week before I leave.  After going to the bank I was able to meet up with Heather Canby, which was a very pleasant visit and I'm so glad that I was able to see her before I head out. After that I decided to make my way home to spend some time with Grandpa and mark more things off my to do list.  I registered my trip with the US embassy, ordered some pictures to bring with me (and a few to leave behind :)) and I called the airlines to check what my baggage allowance is.  I was grateful to hear that I am allowed to bring 2 bags that are 50 lbs each :) With my clever thinking I decided that I will still plan on limiting it to one bag, that way I can bring a 2nd bag home with me! So, aside from checking things off my to do list, I still feel as if I have a ton more to do.  I have not even BEGAN creating a packing list and I must say whenever I even think about it I am overwhelmed.  That being said, I'll start that process later...

For those of you who would like more information on my trip (i.e. Blake) here you go:

I will be flying into Buenos Aires, which is in capital letters, and from there taking a bus to Rosario.  The bus ride should take about 4 hours, which I'm hoping I can sleep during because I will be landing in Buenos Aires at 3:55 am Pacific time.  The school that I am attending is called the National University of Rosario (Universidad Nacional de Rosario) This link is in spanish, but is the official school website: School website And this is the more generalized wikipedia: Wikipedia The classes that I will be taking consist of spanish grammar, spanish communication and topics of Argentine history.

I hope all is well with everyone else.  I am absolutely stoked for this trip!! All I can ask for from you is constant support in prayer.  Although the excitement weighs heavy on my heart, so does the anxiety of leaving everything and everyone behind me.

God bless!

Less than two weeks away...

So I had received my pre-departure package in the mail, only to discover that the information on my host family was very limited.  I was given my host mother's name, their address and their telephone number; none of which could really do me any real service.  I did however use google maps and I tried to see what my house will look like, but google doesn't have many pictures of that area and I couldn't tell if I was looking at the right place. Not learning much made me a bit disappointed, but as the days passed my anticipation for the trip just continued to grow.

Last night I was able to meet two other girls that are going on the trip! They seem like so much fun, and I'm glad I was able to spend some time with them before we are placed in a different country.  I found out when they were taking the bus to Rosario and went home immediately afterwards to book my ride.  I will fly out of Portland on August 31st and I will be landing in Buenos Aires on September 1st at 7:55 am, which is 3:55 am Oregon time.  It will definitely be a long trip!  From there I will proceed to take a 4 hour bus ride around 10:30 am with the other girls from the trip.  Aside from booking my ticket, today I also accomplished other things.  I was able to order 400 Argentine pesos from the bank, I completed my ID card, AND I found out that not only am I living with a host mother (Sandra Gonzalez), but that I get to have a 6 year old little sister for the next 3 and a half months!!! I can't even explain how excited I am!! Her name is Sofia, and I will have a golden retriever as well.  Plus, my host grandparents live in the same area and I was told that they will come to visit often.

I can't wait for this journey to start! As I count down the days I am filled with so many mixed emotions, but I know that I am in for the trip of a lifetime.

12 more full days in the USA...

One Week Down, Three More to go!

So this is really Kimberly now.  I'm really glad that Stephanie was willing to take the time to set up a blog for me as I head out of the country and into a new place that speaks a language I've only begun to learn.  I am so excited for this new chapter in my life and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me while I am there.  It is coming down to the wire, like Stephanie said, and I still have a lot to do.  Next week I will find out my host family, get my immunizations and help Stephanie unpack all her things in Washington.  I can't wait to find out my host family, especially to discover whether or not they have kids, and what age they are if they do.  I'm also hoping to stay an extra week in Argentina after my program ends with some of the Riedel's relatives. (I'm in the process of figuring that out though, and I'm sure I'll touch on it later.)
I haven't even began to think of all the things I need to buy and pack up before I leave, I think that is something that I just keep procrastinating because it will be the most important and most time consuming.  I'm hoping to meet up with another girl in the program in one of the next couple weeks though and that way I will at least have one familiar face and someone that I can ask questions to.

On a side note, I have been incredibly blessed to have my sister, Stephanie, and my nephew, Jack, living under the same roof as me this summer.  They officially left this morning and I already know that over these last couple months I have grown so close to them that it will be hard to not have them around, and even harder not to be able to converse with them every day when I am out of the country. (Same with my parents and the rest of my friends and family, of course!) God truly blessed me with allowing our relationship to blossom these last couple months and I know that it can only get stronger from here. I love you Steph!

To the rest of my friend and family, all I can ask is that you can continue to hold me in your prayers.  I know that leaving will be hard for me, but I am trusting that God will keep me in His hands and when I get home things won't have changed... too much :)

Less than a month!

This is actually Stephanie writing Kimberly's first blog.  We're setting this blog up so it's easier for Kim to keep all of us left in the US updated on what she's doing.  With less than a month until she leaves, she's still got a lot of stuff to do still.  Here's her list:

- pack
- get immunizations
- help Stephanie unpack her stuff in Washington

The next big thing to look forward to is finding out about her host family.  This is such an incredible opportunity she's been given, and we're looking forward to seeing how God uses her in the next few months.