Incommunicado (by Jimmy Buffett)

I suspect that going a week at a time here and there without getting a chance to update this page is going to become a rather common occurrence ... especially when I'm up in the Himalayas with no electricity and certainly no internet! Yes, I finally made it to the mountains and got to experience what it's like to hike up roughly 6000 feet of altitude in three days with an overpacked, overweight backpack and nearly no time to acclimatize. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there would have been no way I could have kept pace with Fu on the A.T. I guess I have quite a bit of training ahead of me for my next trekking experience ... whenever that might be.
The past week on the trial has taught me a lot of things:
1) I'm VERY out of shape!
2) God truly answers prayer in a very clear and very real way.
3) When God tells us that He will provide for us just enough of what we need each day, He's not kidding!
4) The beauty of God's creation knows no bounds.
5) This side of the world does crazy things to your dreams.
6) 14,000 feet seems to be a barrier I can't break ... YET!
7) There's a LOT of evil and spiritual warfare going on over here ... people need to start coming here to pray (seriously, if you're interested let me know)!
8) You don't need to be able to speak the same language to make a true friend.
9) I need a shower ... BAD!!!!
10) Monkeys really DO ride on dogs like in the Taco John's commercials ... and I have the picture to prove it :)
11) When you ride in a car on some of the narrowest, bumpiest, twisty-turny roads with a dropoff of hundreds/thousands of feet and no barrier to prevent you from going over ... riding on the roof is the only way to go!
12) I'm being prayed for (THANK YOU!!!!)
13) GOD IS GOOD!!!!!

And the list goes on. But for now, it's late and I'm tired. I anticipate more stories and certainly more pictures to come before too long. Please keep your comments coming, pray often, and know that I continue to be in good hands here on the far side of the world :)

Survive (by Jimmy Buffett)

I made it ... I survived. I'm sitting here on the far side of the world, just like I said I would. I left on March 16 and arrived on March 18 ... two and a half of the shortest days of my life (with some of the longest travel ever ... go figure)! Ironically, those two and a half short days were followed by one of the longest days of my life. I got to where I'm staying at 2:15am and was taking a ride on the dreamland express by 3am. I was up by 8:30am and spent a day touring around town and soaking in the culture. It's been a day of acclimation and I have a feeling that one day won't be enough. Chances are it's going to take the full three weeks to truly allow any sincere level of adjustment. But I say that in a very good way. The people are wonderful, the weather is warm, and I'm excited to see the high country. I've taken a few pictures, but for both safety and mere technical reasons I'm going to delay posting them online here. I'll try to get a few up before my temporary return. But for now, it's 8:30pm and suprisingly it's bedtime. Tomorrow is an early day with a 6am departure for the train station and voyage deeper into the unknown ... I can't wait!

Fair Thee Well (song reference by The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan)

The time has come and my flight is about to depart for the first leg of my six month adventure. I can't say for sure what's in store for me in the weeks and months ahead, but I know I'm ready for the ride. Right now I'm just trusting that my health, my travels, my packing, and my time on the far side of the world are in God's hands ... I can't think of any place else I would want it all.
One of the uncertainties I have is the frequency in which I'll be able to get online and update this page with enteries and pictures. If for some reason you don't hear from me for a while, trust that I'm safe and I'll be keeping my own personal log of my time away with which I'll update you upon my temporary return.
There's something exciting about not knowing what's around the corner. It's like riding a roller coaster with your eyes clenched shut and your hands in the air, knowing that you have no idea where the twists and turns will take you but having faith that the tracks are securely laid out ahead. It's taken quite a bit of perperation, but the roller coaster car has stopped in front of me and it's time for me to climb in. I hope you enjoy watching me as much as I know I know I'm going to enjoy being on the ride!
Now, it's time to hit the friendly skies. I'll see you on the flip side!

That's What Living Is To Me (by Jimmy Buffett)

My supervisor, Mark, shared Proverbs 16:9 with me when he found out I was going on these trips. This verse struck my heart and I decided I wanted to make it my cornerstone verse for this chapater of my life. As I was reading it, I came across one other part of the same chapter that I wanted to add to it. So, please familiarize yourself with Proverbs 16:3 & 9 and, if you wouldn't mind, encourage me to remember these verses in my heart as I embark on my travels to the far side of the world:
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Feel free to throw more verses my way if you think of any that are particularly appropriate. To get things started, I'll go ahead and thank my mom for supplying me with the encouraging verse the last time I was at that end of the globe:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

So, whatcha got for me?! :)

Changing Channels (by Jimmy Buffett)

Well, it seems that it's time for yet another chapter in my life to end while another one begins. What chapter are we on now anyways? Well, regardless of the chapters that have been lived already, it's time to move ahead to a new one. So, what's the title of this one? We're going to go with "The Far Side Of The World". I get to experience a whole new culture and country with India as well as revisit my island friends back in Indonesia. After following the Lord's calling back to the plains of the midwest I'm finally getting the green light to go back home to both my mountains and my ocean. There are a lot of questions that come with these changes. Questions like, "What will I learn in India?", "Will Indonesia become a long-term move?", "Will I come back to Minnesota and Westwood or will I land somewhere new?" Well, for now, those are going to have to remain unanswered questions. But rest assured that as the answers come to me, I'll share them with you for as long as you're interested in hearing about them. I'll even show you a picture or two of my journey ... how's that sound?! So, as the channels of my life get changed, stay tuned because the show is about to begin!