(Sent: Sat, November 22, 2003 9:53 pm)

Hi all,

Time is moving fast and now there is only one week left. I can hardly believe it. Only seven days left in Australia.

I should be sad. Here I am leaving all of my known friends and disappearing, perhaps forever. Yet I am not. Of course my sentimentality sometimes creeps up on me and I start thinking about being stuck in a foreign country with noone I know and unable to communicate effectively and the feelings this creates. Then I think about my deep love for my friends and especially my family and tears well up in my eyes, my heart aching with the realisation of the loss I am about to experience.

While still surrounded by people, and with much left to complete before leaving, I can fool myself into thinking that nothing will change. But it will. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know it will. There is a part of me that is dreading it, fearful of the unknown. But that is only a small part compared to my desire and total commitment to do what God has asked of me. I know that when I follow God's commands everything works out unbelievably well. I find comfort in that.

Last night was a combined dinner with all of my friends. So many of them have hectic schedules and very busy lives, yet all of them chose to come to honour me. I am incredibly moved by their response, it means so much. How incredibly blessed I am to have such faithful, wonderful friends.

With work finished and most things done, I have only to finish off some loose ends before I am ready. Sign some documents for my house, finalise documents for my Argentinian Study Visa, pack and repack a few times, and finalise my website (which contains all my travel information and documents in a private section) and then I am done.

Already life looks different. There is a hope in my heart that when I come to arrive in Argentina I will be ready for lays in store for me there. I can think of no better way to prepare for where I am going than to travel the world first. I can also think of no better way to alleviate my sadness of heart in leaving friends and family than to visit many of my friends along the way.

Argentina is not a desired destination by many people. The poverty that has overtaken the country recently, the violence that has spread as a result, and the dangerous diseases that are present in some places there do not make it a favourite destination to live. Yet my God has called me to that place and for that reason alone I am thrilled to be going there.

What is waiting for me when I get there I really do not know, but I know this, that God has called me, and where He has called me He will also be sure to protect and equip and direct. I go there in total confidence that my God is able to do all of that and more. My steps are guided by Him. So even though I have no plans for when I get there I have confidence that everything will fall into place.

And now I have only seven days before I start my journey. Exciting. Scary. All at the same time. And my response? Ho Mai! Bring it on!!

Love you all heaps,

Rob.