Benin is fast approaching! I am so excited! I am working on my mad crochet skills so that they are in top form for the women at the center we are working at. There will be about nine of them that I teach to crochet and an interpreter. I have never worked with an interpreter so I'm a little nervous about that.
I've managed to get all my clothes, shampoo, and yarn into one suitcase. It's kind of strange having a suitcase half filled with skeins of yarn but we have to bring all our own supplies for the ladies we will be working with (there's no Walmart near by). We are actually allowed two suitcases, but the missionaries we are working with (my pastor's daughter and son-in-law) would really like us to bring a couple of hams and turkeys for their Thanksgiving meal so I'm trying to not use both pieces of luggage to ensure we get those birds over there. Plus my carry on still has nothing in it so I'm set to go.

On the budget raising front I have a few churches who have offered me services. Both are contacting me this week to set up a date. I'm supposed to go to my friends church in November. I will be speaking at a missions convention the day after I get back from Benin and though it doesn't guarantee the church will support me I'm hoping they find it in their budget after they meet me.
I had another pastor call me back and say that he had gone to Bible school with the missionaries I will be working with and he is going to see what his church can do (I also found out that my church ministries director has known this pastor for twenty-some years and said I should bring up his name if I talk to the pastor again.)

I'm still making lots of phone calls, usually three days a week. I have had several more friends who have offered to pledge and one of my father's co-workers want to make a donation so all-in-all, it's going really well.