Beginning the Journey

My journey with RAD is in the works, and as the date of my training comes closer, my eagerness and business increases. Lately, I've been working on letters and prayer cards to send out to all I know. Letters to church folk have been placed in their mailboxes and letters to family and friends are ready to be printed. This past Saturday evening I hosted a fundraising "Spaghetti Dinner" at my church, with the help of my "Connection Team" (my support group consisting of Alan and Eleanor Krieder, John and Marty Bender, my parents, and Paula Snyder-Belousek). It was a great success, in terms of money raised and the support I felt. I feel so blessed already in my journey, with the love and prayer and well-wishing of all I talk to about my year ahead.

About 40 Prairie Street members showed up for spaghetti meal cooked by LaMar Fletcher, a quiz on Argentina by my dad, and a breif note on my fundraising by John Bender. With Alan Krieder interviewing me, I spoke about why I had come to choose RAD, what RAD is, and what I will be doing in RAD. Here's an overview:

Why I choose RAD:
- I've felt God calling me to do service for a number of years
- I want to give first-fruits fashion: doing service before going to college, as opposed to putting off service until late in life
- I am at a searching point in my life…searching to know God more, and what God wants me to do with my life
- I want to learn Spanish, explore and learn from other cultures and people, and take a year off from studying

What RAD is:
- A Mennonite Mission Network service program for young adults (18-30 year-olds)
- An Anabaptist program based on preparing young adults to serve in the world, and be witnesses to God’s love and power through deed and word
- Sends teams of 5 to overseas locations for service

What I will be doing in RAD:
- 2 months of theological training, language study, cross-cultural experiences and other practical skills learned while living in Chicago
- 8 months in Argentina (not sure where yet) doing a variety of service work, living with host families, and connecting with the Argentina Mennonite church
- 2 month internship at my home congregation, Prairie Street Mennonite Church

I'm hoping that this "travel blog" is a good way to stay connected with everyone supporting me. I will try to keep regular postings on what I am doing, my prayer requests, and photos of events and places. Please feel free to leave comments on this site, or email me at andreakraybill@yahoo.com. Thanks a lot!