Hey all, I feel like I’m joining the party a bit late, but I always seem to find myself showing up late.  But that is a trend I can thank my family for.  On that note, my family has been ever-present in my life.  I grew up working alongside all of my family members on an orchard outside of Reading, PA—envision typical farm life with trees replacing cows.  However, being addicted to change, I knew I would not be sticking around home.  I tend to be the black sheep in my family; I was the first to play any sports, the first to attend public school, and the first to switch from skiing to snowboarding. (Yes I love the snow!)  These tendencies fed to my desire to deviate from my elder brother’s footsteps and leave the orchard.  (Disclaimer: despite my comments I have developed a deep appreciation for my family and childhood.)  My subconscious awareness that I would leave the ‘homestead’ was confirmed as I grew older and received multiple words of missions in my future.  However, God did not put those words for my life into movement until recently. 

            I am wrapping up my first semester of nursing school and am, frankly, relieved to be a part of this trip.  I have been to Mexico 5 or 6 times and Peru twice for short-term missions.  However I have not been on a trip in two years and have been going through the college motions.  Needless to say, thinking ahead to this summer, I was not looking forward to another few months of working full-time in comfortable America.  I have been extremely restless and considering discontinuing nursing school.  I developed an incredibly strong itch to live a lifestyle that has no focus except for God.  Thus, I began praying that God would give me the opportunity to put my calling to missions into motion.  As I said before, I was incredibly relieved when God gave me this opportunity to scratch that itch.  A friend of mine when to Thailand with AIM and after conversations about her experience I knew AIM’s vision for missions was one I could resonate.

            So, New Zealand.  When I opened up the RL page the country jumped off at me.  It is a place that I have known I would go to in my lifetime.  So, after letting it stew for a few months of prayer, I just could not get away from it.  And here I am writing this. 

            It would seem that I have gotten out of hand and the length of this has gotten away from me, for which I apologize.  In closing, a few random facts that I overlooked:  I am currently 20, and live in Lancaster, PA during the week (for school) with the worship leaders from my church.  I find myself back home just about every weekend, because I have grown to love Reading, PA.  I am part of a church in Reading that is young and has a huge heart for service.  I love music and listen to quite a wide range of genres, except country. (Sorry to those of you who do!)  I am a drummer who got bored and now dabbles in guitar.  Snowboarding is one of my biggest passions, and I could live with year-round winter. (Sorry, summer lovers!)  I recently took up longboarding to satisfy my itch to snowboard when summer does not permit.  I love a well-written book.  I tend to be stubborn, spontaneous, opinionated, and disorganized.  I could go on, but I have gone too far, so I will retire.  I cannot wait to meet all of you face to face my friends.  I find the idea of working with individuals whom I have never met intriguing.  I pray that God stirs all of our hearts to a greater extent than he already has!

I really am so excited to see each one of you!  

Eric J Weaver