Earlier than I Expected

The financial update came early...well, at least earlier than I expected.  I had e-mailed the person who was in charge of the reports, asking if he could ensure that I would get a weekly report instead of just last February's report.  The monthly report came...and this morning 2 e-mails followed: a weekly report, and a year to date report so I could see the month as it was.

Drum roll...I'm over 60% funded!  And now I have a lot of thank you cards to write.  Considering I ended February at 15%...wow.  God is awesome!  And I really appreciate many people who have been really, really generous.

I've been told I'll still get another update at the end of the month, as per normal (and there may be one or two other people on it, who knows).  I know I still have a ways to go.  But I'm completely amazed at how God is providing right now.

I don't have any more words...I think that's enough said.  Yay God!

Spring Break! :-D

Spring break this year almost took my by surprise.  I knew theoretically it was coming, but I couldn't even focus on it until last week.  And now it's here.  I'm going to do my best to put it to good use: cleaning out my house and catching up on papers I need to grade.  And if I can keep to the schedule I set for myself (yes, I have a schedule) I might even get a few days to relax near the end of it all.

Also, with the ending of March, I'll get to see an update on where I am when it comes to funding.  Supposedly I've been getting weekly updates...but more weeks than not it's been a re-reporting of February's donations.  One week I got an update from the previous week (and it had been a good week).  Right now, with what I know, I'm close to 40% funding.  I just don't know how much I don't know.  I could potentially be above 50%.  I could be higher than that...but again, I won't know until I actually get the report in.  I could get a weekly report tomorrow (depending on whether or not the settings got changed) or I may have to wait until April 2.  In which case I may set that day aside to write more thank you cards.  I'm mostly caught up on what I know (which means if you've donated and this month and you haven't gotten a thank you card, I haven't seen that week yet).

Carolyn helped me tonight with cleaning out my storage room.  She organized things into piles: recycling, trash, keep, and sort.  So now all I really have to do is deal with the keep and sort piles.  Everything else I should take care of this week (now that I am very familiar with the recycling place in town).  I got my kitchen clean, my bedroom is mostly clean...tomorrow I'm going to finish any grading left over, and finish cleaning the bedroom(s) and hopefully the bathrooms and finish the laundry.  If I get everything done that I plan to get done, my life post-spring break should be less stressful.

A Moment to Breathe

I'm sitting in class (giving a test) and I have nothing that I can be doing.  I have nothing to prepare, nothing I can be working on, etc.  I have a chance to sit and relax...for the first time in longer than I can easily recall.  [And that being said, I just thought of one thing I can do...but I'm going to continue writing and continue in my enjoyment of no pressing issues.]  I actually can contemplate spring break...which it didn't really occur to me was next week until yesterday.  I was so consumed with stuff going on this past weekend and this week that I didn't have a chance to look that far ahead. 

Granted, I'm still doing something every night this week.  But last night was the worst of them: night class.  It went well, I just didn't get home until about 11 pm.  Tonight is mostly time to work on things...which I need.  I do have a meeting at 7.  Tomorrow I'm tutoring, Thursday is Campus Life, Friday is small group (and the official beginning of spring break). 

I'm going to try to be very productive during spring break, because if I am, it should make April a little easier.  I need to finish the next chapter in my spanish class, because then I can send the second section (of three) out.  Practicing spanish, listening to it, reading it, etc. are all pretty high on my list of things to do...finishing the class unfortunately isn't.  Technically I have a while to get it done, but I would prefer it to be finished, because that would be one less thing to do...so I'll probably try to make some major progress over break...finish off the chapter I'm in, and get halfway through the remaining three chapters or so.  Doing the class is helpful, I have been learning some new things, and been reminded of others.  I surprise myself some times because an answer comes to mind, and I check it (tenses, vocab, etc) and it's correct...and beyond the level that I've technically learned in this class (my prof probably figures I'm taking the class for easy credit).

It's hard to believe that April is coming up very soon.  The time I have left here is shortening...July seemed so far away in January...not so much anymore.  And the time has gone by really quickly. 

Sigh...my moment of freedom is over, class is done (for this period at least), and moving on with the rest of my day.  I enjoyed my moment of processing, though...

More things falling into place

Things have been really busy lately, and when people ask how I'm doing, it's difficult to articulate an answer that is in any way complete.  Some of that has been the push for today...because today I spoke in church and had a "meet and greet" time afterwards.  I think it went well.  I have a lot of e-mail addresses that I need to add to my account.  I talked with different people for probably about 2 hours all told, explaining what I'm doing, where I'm going, and what some of my needs are.  I was told by people after both services that I did well speaking in front of everyone.  I couldn't tell you now what I said in either service...though it helps when you're sharing your experiences...because those I remember well.

During the Sunday School hour (between 1st and 2nd service) I had a high school student approach me and ask about my cat.  One of my prayer requests has been to find someone to take my house, and someone to take my cat while I'm gone.  She said that she thought her family could take my cat, but she'd have to check with her parents.  They had cats in the past and hadn't for the last 5 months.  One of the issues with Loiosh (my cat) is that she is super friendly...when she is the only animal in the house.  She's not really a fan of sharing space with other animals.  So this seems like it would be a perfect situation.  The check with the parents went well, one prayer request answered, Loiosh has a home. 

I also had a few people approach me with possibilities for renting out my house.  If any of those work out, that would be awesome.  I have a few people I need to get information to over the next few days (one more thing to put on my to-do list).

After church, I talked with many people, some I knew and some I didn't, about what I'm doing, where I'm going, etc.  It wasn't as bad as I feared (I'm an introvert...crowds and talking with a lot of people drains me...but I made it through, it went smoothly, and I'll probably keep bringing prayer cards and information to church over the next month or so.

And now, I can switch focus again...the next one is to clean as much "junk" out of here as I can by Wednesday/Thursday (to throw out for free).  And I need to make it through the week at school (and then Spring Break...I haven't even thought that far ahead until now... :-D ).

For those of you who want to donate and weren't at church this morning, or who I haven't already contacted, you can go to WGO's website (http://www.wgoreach.org/) and under "Ways to Give" drop down menu, click "Support a Missionary", find my name and go from there.  I'm interested to see what the response from today will be.

Split personality

I never really though about how difficult it is to have more than one major, long-term focus in life at a time.  I'm currently juggling Honduras and school, as well as other myriad things that come up (Grandpa's house stuff, Stephen's Ministry,Campus Life, working out, keeping my house clean, tutoring, etc.).  Most of the time it hasn't been too strenuous, because I can put one on hold while the other one is requiring a lot of attention.  However, the last two weeks have been pretty work intensive on both fronts (but thankfully Stephen's Ministry has backed off for the time being).  I have lists to myself everywhere (mostly digital) of things that I need to get done.  I'm trying to keep them in one place, but I also am trying not to forget to write anything down, and it's a little exhausting.  Just a bit...  I know that it's been overwhelming when I haven't even been thinking about Spring Break coming up...I'm more focused on just getting through this week/weekend well.

New developments on the Honduras front:
- I'm now at least 29.2% funded.  [I say at least because there are people who have told me that they are going to donate, but I haven't counted them because the money isn't in the account...it may be closer to 35%].
- The article about my trip in the school paper came out this past Tuesday.  I think it was pretty well written.  I've gotten a higher number of questions about my trip (and understandably so) over the past few days.
- I'm speaking in church on Sunday (which has taken up a fair bit of my concentration lately as I'm trying to figure out what exactly to say).
- My prayer cards showed up last night.  They're really cute and I love them...basically.  And I have over 900 some left...so anyone who wants one...I'll be including them in thank you notes ;-D.  (I will, but if you want one otherwise, just let me know.)  I'll have them in church on Sunday.

I think that's what's been updated in the last week.  I'm sure there are things I'm missing, but now I need to switch focus and work on school stuff.  Mostly figuring out the test for this chapter in physical science.

Next on my list

My "to-do" list is rather long when it comes to things that need to get done before Honduras.  And one more thing was officially added to the list: get my house organized (or mostly) before "Spring Cleaning" day...in two weeks.  My town does a major garbage collection day once a year (it used to be every other year, but right now it's running every year).  It's set for the last full week in March, on your regular collection day.  Otherwise, in organizing and disposing off all the "stuff" I've accumulated over the last 4 and a half years of living in my house, I'm going to have to spend a decent amount of money for extra disposal bags, etc.  If I can get my act together and get everything sorted, I should be good.  (Granted, the amount I have to go through and dispose of doesn't hold a candle to what we've been shifting at Grandpa's house...but still...).  I'll also probably make a run to the recycling collection center with papers and magazines (again, one trip there...not upwards of 50).  But I think I have my project for the weekend.
Spring break (which happens afterward) will probably be full of little house projects...the "I'll get around to that eventually" sort of thing.  I'll probably try to get most of my stuff boxed up and ready for storage...at least the stuff I don't use on a daily or weekly basis...like the books I've read three or four times already that I love but I have practically memorized, the winter clothes we will hopefully no longer need...which I won't then need for another year plus.  A lot more of this will be happening in the summer, after school is out, however it would probably be to my advantage to get a head start on it all.

The Beginning of the Whirlwind

Today I finally caught up on grading/work I need to do that is school related (well, at least for the next few days).  And as I was contemplating that, I realized that it's a really good thing...because the next week or so will be crazy with Honduras stuff.  My prayer cards are designed and being printed (possibly as we speak...thank you Oscar!).  I'm speaking in church in a week and a half (March 20th).  I'm speaking at Campus Life sometime soon (I don't know when yet...any help, Todd?).  The school newspaper with my "personality profile" is coming out next Tuesday.  I'm assuming I'm going to get at least one copy of the paper...and probably be asked about it by many students.  I have students walking into class now speaking to me in Spanish (and I'll respond in kind).
I now have a thermometer drawn on the white board at my desk which has a current update in funding...as well as a line for where I need to reach before I can buy my plane tickets (which is 80% funding).  This morning when I came in, someone had placed a short stack of pennies...and had added $0.11 to my total on the board.  It made me laugh...and I guessed correctly which teacher had done it.  (And he threw me a nickel before I left...so if that keeps up, by the end of the year, I may get about $10 out of him, right?)  The thank you notes for those I know have donated are already written and in the mail/delivered.  (That was my project for last weekend...in addition to filling the dumpster at grandpa's house.)
And now things at Starbucks have gotten really crazy (as in I'm surrounded by 3 seniors who have math questions...so I should probably end this and help them).

Financial Update

I got an update on finances today.  There are two ways to spin what I found.  Of the many people I've e-mailed, talked with, mailed letters to, etc...7 have donated money.  And I was admittedly a little disappointed about that.  Part of it is that I'm not planning on going until July, so there probably isn't this urgency on the part of others to really give yet.  On the other hand, I can't buy my plane ticket until I have at least 80% of the funds given (or promised).  The good news is that even though only 7 people have donated, I already have in 7.5% of my total funding.  I should be finding out what funding my church will be giving me next week.  I will be speaking at church during services on March 20th, so hopefully I'll get more donors then as well.  So I definitely am not completely discouraged, it's early days yet...I'd just prefer they come in sooner rather than later.  And that's the me that needs to have everything lined up, listed, and planned when it comes to things like this.  It's in God's hands, and I just have to remind myself that it's in God's hands.

The cool thing about the 7 people who have donated so far:  1 is someone I don't know.  He was my first donor.  Two of them are relatives...and account for over half of what is donated so far in terms of amount.  And the remaining 4 are people from school.  And I've had more people at school come up to me and say they are planning on donating, but they haven't gotten around to it.  I also don't know how much was raised yesterday by the NHS students in the cafeteria.  Depending on those factors, I may get up to 25 or 30% supported before much longer...and hopefully people at church can step in and help with a decent amount of the remainder.  I'd love to be able to purchase my plane ticket by May.

A Moment of Awkwardness

I was told a while ago by one of the teachers that run NHS that a group (who needed a project) had been assigned me as their project.  She said they were going to be doing a small fundraiser or money collection, or whatever...so I guess I knew it was coming.  I went down to the lunch room today to buy soup (broccoli cheddar, not as good as my mother's).  I saw a few girls standing there holding milk cartons about a third to half full of change.  After I made my purchase, one of them (a former student) came up to me and said "Hey Ms. Tollberg, do you want to donate money to your Honduras trip?"  I laughed, and told her that I'd probably be donating plenty to it.  [Had I had coins in my hands, I probably would have, just for kicks.]  But it was rather awkward, seeing students (most of whom I haven't had in class) collecting money...for me.  It's one thing to know in theory that it's happening, but I'm not comfortable asking for money from people in the first place.  I can talk about the trip to no end.  I'll sit down with people for hours and talk about what I'm going to be doing, where I'm going to be going, the organization I'm working with, whatever.  But actually asking people to give money is a stretch for me.  After talking with me, many people are willing to...and some have passed the message on to other people.  I'm really passionate about it, I'm really excited about it, and I'm guessing it shows to a large extent.  But I still walked away from that, thinking it was really cool that this group of students were making an effort on my behalf (and they were asking everyone and anyone)...but also a little uncomfortable at the same time.  And these are the times when I go to God and say "I'm going to trust what you're doing, even when it's not what I would have pictured".  I envisioned family, friends and my church donating money...and maybe one or two unexpected gifts along the way to make up the difference.  I never pictured, never even imagined that my school would get behind me as much as they have already.  And it's barely March, I've "officially" been on this journey for a month (I don't count it as official until I got the leave of absence from the school board, because I didn't start really promoting it until then).  I should be finding out where I am in terms of funding for the past month sometime over the next few days.  I'm trying not to have expectations...but in some ways that's rather difficult.  I'm sure I'll be updating again when that happens...