Tuesday, May 12, 2009

12,000 ft...

...is a high elevation. I will call this elevation home for two years. Cincinnati is a lot lower than that...I'm really curious how my body will react and adjust over 2 miles above sea level. I'm anticipating altitude sickness. I've already experienced altitude sickness at 10,000ft in the mountains of Colorado. Just a headache. How long will a headache last? I don't like to take advil...would it even help? Does Coca tea help? How long before I don't feel like a chain smoker just walking around town? Will I ever be able to get in a hard workout? Mountain biking? Trail running?

I hope so.

Will I notice a difference when I'm back in the states visiting?

It will be fun to experience.

I'm not feeling many nerves yet about my trip. I know it will be difficult to leave my family, friends, and the familiar. I know I'll have some depression and loneliness. I know some days I'll probably wonder why in the world I decided to do this...but mostly, I hope I'm just rock solidly founded in Christ, and hope I can rest in the peace knowing that He's in control...even on awful days.

I think what I'm most nervous about is the responsibility of teaching and preaching the Bible to a bunch of non-believing high schoolers...I don't want to just tickle ears. I want to be true to the Word. I want to preach Truth and Love.

I love the approach Piper, Driscoll, Chandler take in their congregations...I want to have that sort of intentional approach.

But it's just a chapel service. Is that different than a church? It's a Bible class to non-believers...I'm not really sure what I'll be teaching.

This first year will be interesting. I hope I can maintain a humble approach to teaching and living in Bolivia. I'm sure I will probably learn as much, if not more, as I'll be teaching...