Bon Voyage!

Location: Cherry Park

1466 North Cherry Road
When: Saturday, May 15, 2:00PM to 5:00PM

Phone: 704-965-5202

Everything is underway! Not only have I booked my flight to Ireland May 16-Nov 17, Ive also reserved the open pavillion at Cherry Park for May 15th!

This will be the day before I fly out for Ireland on my mission trip. I would LOVE to see everyone one last time before heading out. If you have not been to Cherry Park or just a little unfamiliar with it. The open pavillion is right next to the kids playground (So yes bring your kids and dress them in play attire) and has some grills (kinda yucky ones- so Im bringing my portable one if necessary.)

Please do not bring any farewell gifts- I wont be able to add anything to my bags, and everyone knows how crazy the airlines are about luggage. All I ask is you bring a covered dish to share with everyone.

Update 4/10/10

Its been a little bit of time since Ive updated anyone -or this blog- on how things are progressing towards Ireland. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I am trying to finish off well at my current job (which I officially have 4 days left) before really focusing on the next step. A few things have been happening in the mean time though which are exciting.

I finally got my tax return in the mail this week, after waiting over 2 months on pins a needles, knowing that was how I planned to buy my ticket to Ireland. I chatted with a few missionary travel agents but found Orbitz to be much cheaper than the options the airlines where offering to missionaries. So I went ahead and grabbed up a perfect flight, one in which I will be sitting accross the aisle from the othe American missionary who will be traveling to Ireland.We will meet up at the Newark airport and travel the second leg together. The over night 12 hour flight, that is. Fortunately I know myself well enough to know that I can not sleep on planes even on overnight flights to Ireland, I will plan accordingly and pray that the other missionary also has an aversion to sleeping on planes. Flight plan follows.

Leave Sunday, May 16, 2010

Depart: 5:15pm Charlotte, NC Charlotte Douglas (CLT)
Arrive: 7:19pm Newark, NJ Newark Liberty Int'l (EWR)
Change planes. Time between flights: 2hr 36min
Depart: 9:55pm Newark, NJ Newark Liberty Int'l (EWR)
Arrive: 9:25am Dublin, Ireland Dublin (DUB)
Total duration: 11hr 10min
Total miles: 3714 miles


Return Thursday, November 18, 2010
Depart: 9:00am Dublin, Ireland Dublin (DUB)
Arrive: 11:45am Newark, NJ Newark Liberty Int'l (EWR)
Change planes. Time between flights: 3hr 0min
Depart: 2:45pm Newark, NJ Newark Liberty Int'l (EWR)
Arrive: 4:50pm Charlotte, NC Charlotte Douglas (CLT)
Total duration: 12hr 50min
Total miles: 3714 miles

I've also just got another financial update from Hilary, and I am still sitting at about 30% funds raised for the mission trip. I know there are a few cheques in the mail and North Rock Hill Church has another deposit to make from the gifts given by the congregation. Once I finish those last 4 days at work I will have more time to invest into making phone calls and visits to complete the fund raising. So please continue to pray for me during that time.