And away I go!

Today, I'm leaving for a mission trip in Arlington, Texas. I am going as a leader (for the first time) with my church youth group to Mission Arlington. Mission Arlington (during the summer) hosts groups that lead a "Rainbow Express" for inner-city apartment kids. Rainbow Express is like a VBS. During the winter, they have a Christmas Store. It's all free and we help organize it and deliver things. I've been over winter, but never summer, so I'm doing something new!

In the morning, we'll work at the mission doing whatever Mrs. Tillie tells us to do. Sometimes it's cleaning, sometimes it's sorting donations, sometimes it's delivering bicycles. Anything.

In the afternoon, we do Rainbow Express. I've never experienced Rainbow Express, but I've heard amazing things.

While we're there, we are going to a Hillsong United concert one evening!

Take it All in Spanish!

We'll also go to Twisted Root burgers! I linked to the menu. Just look at it. I have never had ANYTHING that tastes better than kangaroo. Thanks Twisted Root for opening my eyes to the wonders of Australian hopping animals.

We'll go to Six Flags too, but that's just Six Flags. It'll be really hot. I'll get sunburned.

On a London note: I bought my carry-on bag.

I decided to use it for this trip, just to see how much I could fit in it. It almost became a game.

I used a strategy I saw on a different blog, only in place of the towel, was a suit. Towels take up a lot of room, right? Well, I flattened part of it on the bottom and started stacking my (rolled) clothes on top. At the end, I folded the towel over the top. Saved me so much room.

Inside the regulation size carry-on, I fit

• 15 shirts (half work shirts, half for evening outings)
• 8 Nike shorts
• 2 jean shorts
• 1 Bible
• 1 swimsuit
• 1 toiletry bag
• 1 waterbottle
• 1 pair Reebok Nanos
• 2 bottles sunscreen
• 5 pair socks
• 1 box bandaids

I also have a lime green fanny pack filled with a few things (chapstick, pens, chargers, Neosporin, etc.)

I was worried about not having enough space to pack for London. After fitting a weeks worth of stuff in a carry-on, I'm not as worried.