Two weeks . . .

Two weeks.

That’s the amount of time we’re now counting down before we board a plane for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Several members of our team of 18 people made the trip last year. Both their passion for the people they served and the excitement that fuels their stories about Ethiopia have the rest of us eager to experience it all for ourselves.

But we still have two weeks.

During this time, we’ll be starting malaria medication, tying up loose ends at work and at home, buying everything from bug spray to toilet paper for our travels, packing, and even, in some cases, raising the rest of our funds for the trip — but that’s the easy stuff.

We’ll also be preparing to leave our families, the comfort of our homes and our technology-cluttered way of life for nearly two weeks.

Of course, it’s all worth it — it’s what Christ calls us to do. We’re ready to be stretched and used by God.

While the people of Ethiopia and the call of Christ are the reasons for our trip, we’re able to do so, in large part, through the prayerful, generous support of our families, friends, church and even complete strangers. You’ve responded to our letters, participated in our various fundraisers and answered our requests to do odd jobs to raise the necessary funds for this trip.

Thank you.

As we serve the homeless and at-risk street boys of Addis Ababa and do whatever else Life in Abundance asks us to do, we’ll remember everyone who helped us get there. By contributing to our journey to Ethiopia and praying for us along the way, you’re a part of this adventure, too.

So let the countdown begin . . .