More Travel Plans

Look at those girls -- they're sure going somewhere! Grace (3) and Kate (1) just came to visit me from Michigan.

I forgot! My Mom wants my entire itinerary. :) I skipped two trips in the last post.

• Argentina -- September 5 - 30.

I will visit three cities that LifeWind has begun activity in to determine where to live: Cordoba, Buenos Aires, and Rosario. I will also look for an apartment, visit the current CHE programs, and attend an urban "TOT1" (Training of Trainers, first step). I have taken a TOT1 already as part of the acceptance process with LifeWind, but this one will have an urban focus. It will be facilitated by Bibiana MacLeod and Stan Rowland. Bibiana is the Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean and South America for LifeWind, and although she lives in the Dominican Republic she will be my direct supervisor. Stan Rowland is the author of the CHE program, now used by development and mission agencies throughout the world.

• San Diego -- September 30 - October 4

That's right, I get off the plane after an overnight flight from Argentina and drive to San Diego for the American Osteopathic Association National Convention. This course will provide needed continuing medical education credit and I will be able to stay with my stepsister Karina. I'm also trying to convince my friend Jenny (and possibly her family) to attend the conference, like we did last year in Las Vegas.

The pictures above are of Jenny's kids, so you can see why I would want to see them (although hitting the town with Jenny sounds like fun, too). They are also great travelers, so they fit with the theme of this post!

Travel Plans

As I've been reading about missions and preparing for the work, a consistent theme is "relationships." Missions is relational -- both the work on the field and the preparation of a support team. I really want to get to know more people at my church, since they will be my main body of support. Our church is just over two years old, and while I've been involved as a Sunday School teacher for most of that time and am in a community group, that isn't much time in our culture to really get to know people. I have just started to go around to all of the community groups to meet folks and let them know ways in which they can partner with me, which I've really enjoyed.

Also, in the spirit of building relationships, I've planned some trips!

• Minnesota from June 16 - 24


• San Diego, CA -- some weekend in June or early July


• Berkeley, CA -- July 13 - 18

The official reason for the California trip is to go to LifeWind's headquarters in Modesto, where they will take DNA samples in case I am kidnapped (okay, also to meet the staff).

I am also thinking of a road trip prior to moving to Argentina. This plan will only work well if my father agrees to either buy or sell my car (ahem!). The agenda would be:

• TEXAS: brother Matthew, sister-in-law Michelle, and nephews Will and Alexander. I haven't gotten to meet Alexander yet -- he's in the photo above, adorable at only a few days of age.


• MINNESOTA: friends and family


• CHICAGO: Mark and Julie


• MICHIGAN: Jenny, Ken, and their children Grace and Kate, Jenny's mom Kathy


• CLEVELAND: Mom (including the help I've promised for years on her house), Dad and Beverly

The only trick is that I can't figure out how to make the above work while leaving no later than early January but spending Christmas in Minnesota. I have geographical issues. Help, anyone?