Day Zero

I have arrived! Three hours ago, I unpacked into my dorm room at NTBI, which I will be sharing with five other girls this semester. I am so excited I can barely sit still!

My last week of work ended on Tuesday (actually about 3 Wednesday morning), and Wednesday (yesterday), I slept in, then finished packing. Then evening, My family and I celebrated my youngest sister Japhia's birthday! She turns five today, but wanted to have her party before I left for school. Our friends the Cotas came over for the party, so I got to spend one last evening with my best friend, Olivia.

This morning (Thursday) I woke up at four and got ready to go to the airport. The car was loaded, with: Me, My mom, My dad, My sisters Kara and Japhia, My brother Gideon, My two suitcases, and my stuffed Panda, Danny! (The picture is me and Danny waiting for liftoff from Memphis) My flights went wonderfully, and when we broke through the cloud cover above Wichita, I saw the most gorgeous sunrise! I switched planes in Memphis, and things went so well once I got to Milwaukee that I was ready to go 15 minutes before my ride arrived to pick me up!

And now for the best part: a financial update! I paid all my initial fees, and I almost have enough to make my first month's payment! God never ceases to amaze me!

Bike Adventures and Goodbye Parties

Four days to go, and I have more good news! I have officially paid my initial fees to the school, and I have all the money I need to travel to Wisconsin! Above that, I have $300, which will help pay for textbooks, student insurance, etc. It's not quite enough, but I know God will provide. He has already done so much; how can I doubt!

Yesterday morning, though, I took a break from school plans. I took my siblings Gideon (8) and Japhia (4) to a local park for a 'bike adventure'. It had rained the night before, and was still sprinkling, but that didn't stop us! We rode around for about twenty minutes, then stopped for a picnic breakfast. After that we sailed our pirate ship (the playground tower) to an uncharted island that we explored (on our bikes)! We finally found a small boat (my van) and sailed back to our home port, but not before vanquishing many enemies and vicious monsters.

That evening I spent several hours with four of my friends at a sort of unofficial goodbye party, and then went on to a birthday party where I said goodbye to most of my home school friends.

Today was my last Sunday at my church, Eastside Community (www.eastsidecommunity.com), and it was so neat to be able to see everyone one last time before I leave! Now I am at lunch with the whole Burnham family at my Aunt Gracia's house, which is a goodbye for both me and my cousin, Ben Spicer (who is also leaving for another college in Wisconsin on the 24th).

My next four days are completely booked; I am working, packing, and seeing friends one last time before I ship out EARLY Thursday morning. Thanks to everyone who is praying for me; I will definitely need God's strength to make it through next week!

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Diving In

It's official: I am returning to NTBI this fall! I have been literally bouncing around the house the past few days, and I can't believe it's less than two weeks away!

As of today, I have $1,610 of the $1,800 that I need for the initial payment, though I also need $200-$300 for travel expenses, etc. But I have felt nothing but peace about my decision, and both of my parents are completely for it, so I'm diving in and trusting that God remembered to fill the pool!

I will be turning in my slightly-less-than-two-weeks-notice at work and I plan to leave for Wisconsin on August 14th.

I want to send a HUGE hug of thanks to all of you who have been a part of my life this summer through your prayers; I am so blessed to have an amazing network of God-followers in my life!

And a special note:
Olivia, you are the best friend ANYONE could have! I will miss you more than you know this semester. Thanks for all of your support, and for being happy with me even though I know you don't want me to go away. I will treasure every moment I got to spend with you this summer, doing crazy photoshoots and having serious converstions. You are in my heart and my prayers, and never forget that we are both in Christ: we will never be truly apart.
With love,
Deborah

More updates to come as Day Zero draws closer!