Pre-Departure Orientation

Captain's Log: 30 May 2010

As I prepare for my departure to Rome, Nafplion and Binchester I have been asked several questions. I hope to address these questions before I leave so people don't continue to bother me. Normally, I would love the attention, but to be honest, when you ask me about my trip, we are not really talking about me. More talking about space I will occupy in the coming weeks. Though that is important, I feel like I am far more important than said spaces. In order to move the conversation away from wonderous European spectacles, let's answer some questions.

Q: What's her name?
A: Your mom.

SN: This is a common question asked by twelve year olds. a.k.a. my friend Kyle. If you are not the intellectual level of Mr. Kyle Gregory, he is trying to make a play on words - abroad becomes a broad. Look, the "gender chess" master himself could rival the likes of Mike Anderson with his word play. Let us marvel at his genius.

Q: What are you studying there?
A: Mostly archeology. In Rome, we will be doing site survey. That is where we go to landmarks and look at the archeological features. We will be looking at temples, the forum, baths, famous roads and things of that sort. In Nafplion we will be doing ground survey. Walking the Argolid plane, old roads, old citadels and those types of things. In Binchester we are going to actually dig at Hadrian's Wall. Pretty sweet, no?

Q: How long will you be gone?
A: 7 weeks. Or in Zach time 13 years, 4 months, 3 days and 18 hours.

Q: Woah! Greece?! Aren't they in turmoil.
A: Watch the following clip.



As you can see, yes. Greece is in turmoil. But with all the bailout money headed their way, I am totally going to get myself a statue. They owe me. I am a tax paying American citizen. I payed $27 in taxes last year. So... yeah, they owe me.

Q: Will you get me something?
A: Did you get me something when you went on your last out of town trip?

Q: What are your looking to do there?
A: I want to veer away from the expected answer and give you my goal for the trip. Very early on in the planning for this trip, I wanted to be independant. I wanted to do my thing and get some life experiences under my belt. This was the plan, however, God likes to take things different ways. In the midst of my hopes and dreams of unfettered independance, God spoke to me. This is a less exciting message than I would have liked to hear, but sometimes what we want matters nil.

It has been on my heart for months now to really help change Lubbock. I feel like God is wanting to move and affect people's lives and my heart has been saying, "Once I am back in the 806 God's work is getting done!" Well, God kind of asked me in a soft gentle tone, "what makes you think you have to be in Lubbock to affect my work there? Do you think that I provided this opportunity for you just to chill? You don't think that the people going on the trip with you need Christ?" And then I realized what God was asking me. I have discovered that this trip is not about me. Not at all. It is about the people that I will meet. The people that I will travel with, eat with, study with and do so many other things with. So many chances to bless others and show other the love of Christ. So, the real goal of my trip is to meet one person a day. Meet one of God's precious children and try and affect their life following Christ's example. I have 49 days abroad. My goal is to meet 49 people. Hopefully and prayfully I meet that goal. I intend to blog about my days experiences and most importantly tell you about a person I have met in my travels. I am going to have countless to bless people. Learn about their lives, their struggles, their triumphs, their stories. I am stoked to say the least.

Now I leave you the floor reader(s). If your question hasn't been answered, feel free to ask.

Transmission over.