30 Days Notice

Yesterday I didn't accomplish quite as much as I had hoped. Between a lunch meeting, a fairly long physical therapy session, and meeting up with my parents in the evening, I was only able to get out some correspondence with a number of the NGOs I have been in communication with over the past several weeks.

So far, China has been a difficult location to find a project. EARI has not written me back, despite several attempts to get in contact with them. World Vision did respond, and was helpful. The human resources department has told me that, although we sound like an enthusiastic group, and they are jealous of our trip, there is little they can do for us. Apparently, this year has been a particularly difficult year for China, and the people are fairly sensitive to foreign presence. World Vision China is also unable to accommodate foreign volunteers, at this time, with the amount of work they are involved in, due to the changing sociopolitical climate. I decided to write ADRA after realizing that World Vision wasn't going to work out. The assistant to the director for China wrote back, and it sounded like there was the possibility of finding a placement, finally. It ends up that after several letters back and forth, the story is very similar to World Vision. ADRA doesn't have any projects that they can place us in, at this time. They only have projects for local, Mandarin-speaking volunteers with their own transportation. That's not quite us. It's looking like Austin and I may just have to show up in Beijing and do some investigating. I am going to give it one last shot, and contact OXFAM China, despite the two similar responses I have received these past couple of weeks.

I am working on finishing up the financial paperwork for the Antioch job, today. There is a lot riding on the profit from this job. I am hoping that the church will recognize the difficulty created by the construction delays, and the extra work that was put in. Even after completing the job, there have been several financial setbacks. I am just looking forward to closing it out.

So, I have given my 30 days notice to my landlords. That doesn't necessarily mean it will take me 30 days, as I am expecting to leave sooner, but it does put this trip in motion. I was hoping I would find someone to take my apartment over for me, but that is not looking like it is going to happen.

I have been woefully delinquent in the prayer department. Not that I am an overtly religious person, but most people don't realize how much I rely on faith. I need to chat with God more often. I am setting out to accomplish all of this, and have so much to do to be prepared for it, but haven't really included God in the discussions. I have a difficult time discerning what God's hand looks like in my life events. I am a typical guy. I need to be smacked in the face with something in order to recognize it. I will work on changing that.

Well, I'm off to the University. We are starting pre-production on the Center for Public Health Preparedness' influenza campaign.

The Beginning

So, it is 2:45am, and I am sitting in the silence of my apartment. It's interesting to think that somewhere else in the world, it's normal to be up at this hour. I realize that most, if not all, of my loved ones are asleep. I take comfort in that. I, over the years, have developed myself into a late night person, for better or for worse. Working at this hour has it's advantages. Falling asleep in my office chair this late has it's disadvantages. It's being aware of that tipping point that is the trick.

I, like Austin before me, am trying to adopt this new habit. Blogging is fairly foreign to me. I don't assume that everyone is interested in the daily grind of my life. But this could keep me accountable and motivated. There is so much to do before I start my journey. I have set in motion things that will eventually lead me to the airport, flying to a far off place. It's everything between now and then that has me second guessing my endurance.

I spoke with Austin earlier, yesterday. We are beginning to coordinate our meeting in China. He is visiting the embassy to make his way. It's now my turn to make the tentative plans on my end less so. As I turn in my invoices and receipts for the Antioch project, I am getting a better picture of what it will afford. By next week, I should have a check in hand, and will be able to purchase my around-the-world flight. I am working on several smaller freelance projects that will round out my savings and afford the remaining portion of the trip.

Beyond the freelance projects, I've been visiting with close friends, as frequently as time has permitted. This is a double-edged sword. It's great to see them, but causes me to realize who I am leaving behind, and what that means I am missing.

Reeling my thoughts back in, sitting in my office, glancing around me, I realize that there is much to do to prepare my life here to be put on hold. I have much to pack, a car to sell, a cat to put up, correspondence to finish up, and travel gear to arrange. I'm beginning to wonder if I should turn the walls of my office into the plans for my exit strategy.

My eyelids are a little heavier, and the chair is getting too comfortable. For those who will be reading this, as this blog is currently just me and my thoughts, alone in the ether, I know this will all read a little more waxed than usual. It's my first major blog entry. I'm allowed some license.

Good night.