T-24 hours!

Counting the hours....
Classes, papers, exams, and quizzes are now finished. This has probably been the longest two weeks of my life! But I did it! Punched through the final days of school.
Now I am 99% packed. My Kindle is loaded full of books and music ready to entertain me over the 19 1/2 hours of flying that are in my very near future. We also have 8 suitcases and over 400 lbs of medical supplies packed up and ready to go! Jesus totally blew us away with the medical supplies and finances that have been donated to us over the last few weeks. Clearly, God has some amazing things in mind!
Last night and this morning has been some precious hang out time with my roommates, and our pseudo-roommate Justine. I am blessed to get Allyson and Sarah with me on my trip to Africa, but Jordan heads to Vietnam, Bria to India, Justine to Alaska and Twyla has to stay home in the apartment all by herself for the next four weeks.
We have been so blessed this year with such an amazing house full of girls. We have grown so close, it's been hard as we prepare to leave.
I am so excited about this trip. I love to fly, even on these crazy long flights. I love the people you meet on flights, the comradery of fellow travelers.
And it may seem strange, but I am almost as equally excited for my layover in Schipol, NL as I am to be in Africa. Even though my stay in Holland will only be a few short hours, part of me for just a little while will feel like I'm home.
Most of all I wait in excited anticipation for what Jesus has in store for these weeks ahead.
These verses have been rolling around in my head and my heart for the last month or so:
Jeremiah 20:9 - 
But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
    indeed, I cannot.
It then goes on to talk about persecution, and if we denounce the Lord there's a chance it may end... 
But Jeremiah 20:11-12 says...
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior;
    so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
    their dishonor will never be forgotten.
¹² Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous
    and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them,
    for to you I have committed my cause.

Although I do not anticipate persecution for any of our teams, keeping the Vietnam team tightly in my prayers, I feel a sense of renewed passion. A new vigor. A burning fire rising up. That's my prayer for my classmates and the teams heading out. That they would experience the burning fire and passion for Jesus, and begin to see the world and see people the way that He does. Jesus is our mighty warrior, and He is fighting for us and paving the way ahead. 
Thank you again to everyone who has participated in getting me to where I am today. For allowing Jesus to use you as an encourager,  a prayer warrior, an offer of love and comfort, and a friend. 
I cannot foresee what these next days will hold, but I do know that they will far exceed any of my expectations and they're going to be stinking good. 
The next time you hear from me I will be on African soil. Thank you Jesus for fulfilling your promises and giving me the desires of my heart. 
To God be the glory,
Until soon.
Amanda