Why am I doing this?

 My dear son JP said "you can do it mom."  I wanted to believe him and try.  Now... I'm not so sure. 

Actually the reason I even considered doing this in the first place, is because my dear friend KA wanted to "see and hear" about our time in Portugal.  I'm not sure that my days will be of any major excitement or adventure for anyone, but I am going for it!  So here goes...

A jornada means "the journey" in Portuguese.  And that is what it will be!  We will be away for 6 weeks, the kids will be taking care of our home and our beloved cat, Butternuts, aka Bufurd.  The hardest part for me personally is that I will be away from our home and family for such a long period of time.  This is a trip that has been in the planning for a couple of years and will finally be happening. 

It began as R and I wanted to spend an extended time with our dear friends and missionaries in Portugal, O & M.  They assured us there would be plenty to do as we love spending time with them, being in the churches and with the people there we have come to love during our visits to Portugal over the past several years.  The trip has expanded in purpose and not only will we be spending time with O & M, we will be joined by 18 or so MBA students, faculty and staff from PLNU for a "study abroad field trip."  We will travel together as a group in Portugal and also in France for 2 weeks.  The students of course, will have the good pleasure of class time while there, as they continue their course work.  But many days will be spent touring several businesses and sights in both Portugal and France.  I am excited and feel so privileged to be able to take this extended time away. 

We will be leaving the states in about 10 days from now and will be living in an apartment we have rented from friends in Portugal not far from O & M's home.  We look forward to being "neighbors", but also being somewhat independent as a van will be also waiting for us to drive as we need it.  During our last visit I drove the van several times and realized I can do it although it will take getting used to.  I am grateful that driving is on the right side of the road, but the turn-abouts instead of actual stop signs will be interesting to maneuver around and through. 

Like I mentioned earlier, I am excited and yet at the same time I am also nervous.  We have been to Portugal several times over the past years so I know what to expect, yet because we will be away so long, I don't know what to expect.  Please pray with me as we prepare over the next week to travel, leaving behind our life here for a few weeks.  Pray with me that God will use us/me in whatever way He has already planned ahead of time for me to do while there.  Pray with me that our children will be safe here at home. 

"Show me Your ways O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior and my hope is in You all day long."  Psalm 25.4-5. 

PS  Please come on this journey with me and respond with a comment here or of course the old fashioned way -- email.  I know I will look forward to hearing from you!