As most of you know, tomorrow I ship off for Ghana, Africa for the next two years. This experience has been a long time coming, and I'm ready as I think I can be. Still, words can't properly describe the mess of emotions that I am feeling right now: extreme nervousness, sadness, and exhilaration! I pray that I am cut out for this...I think that I am.

Please keep in touch. Your support from home will be instrumental in making this a positive experience for me. I don't care how mundane you think your updates are, I want to hear them. In return, I will try my darndest to send semi-frequent emails, but there is no telling how frequent until I get placed in my village and figure some stuff out. If anyone sends me snail mail, I will promise to write back! I will have plenty of time to hand write letters but limited computer usage. I'm serious about all of this. You are all important to me, so lets stay in contact. Agreed? Good.

Thank you so much for all the cards, gifts, and, most importantly, support that you have given me! It means so much.

Hasta pronto, ~Matt~