If this isn't a rainforest, I don't know what is.

Well here we have it. The last final hours before another HUGE experience: in approximately 12 hours I shall be landing in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for two and a half weeks of taxi-brousse-riding, photo-taking, and life-dream-fulfilling.

What can I say? The past couple of weeks have been crazy. Exams finished well enough, and I am glad to announce the official start of summer vacation - I'm even finished with my English teaching job! So since finishing my last test Wednesday, I've been going going going - preparing, partying, saying final goodbyes to a few people, and overall just allowing my heart to build up and up with expectation about the upcoming trip.

Yesterday was a wonderful release of some of my pent-up energy. Several of my friends and I were able to drive up to Takamaka and hike down into it.



I'll spare you the details, but I will say that this particular portion of the island is one of the rainiest places in the world, and boy I felt like I was certainly crawling through the jungle. There were several points along the trail where I couldn't see where my foot met the path due to the overgrown vegetation. It was a short hike - about two and a half hours both ways, but the scenery was delightful.



There is so very much to say about all I'm experiencing and feeling right now, but all that my exhausted body (Takamaka + sleep on floor of the Brit girls' flat + 3 hour bus ride back from St. Pierre today) can tell you is that life is unquestionably lovely, and God is unquestionably Good throughout it all. Please pray over these next three weeks that our adventure goes well - did I mention it's four girls and one guy going? - and that through everything we trust in God's provision and see beauty in the country and people, not just our own discomfort or assumptions. I love you all very much and will update again once I have another very interesting stamp on my passport.

P.S. This trip to Madagascar DOES mean, unfortunately, that I am thoroughly unavailable for communication for the next 18 days. So don't take offense to my lack of response - just be your sweet selves and write nasty sarcastic things on my facebook wall to entertain me when I return. Love!