Getting Excited

Since things are starting to come together, I am beginning to get excited. Before there was so much to do and so many things to concern myself with that I didn't have time to get my brain into the fact that we are leaving soon!!

Knowing the bags are packed, the donations are organized, and having figured out most of what we are doing with the financial donations is such a relief! Trust me, that is a big one!! Taking people's money and making sure it is utilized in the most beneficial way is a huge responsibility and I was stressing about getting it absolutely right!

This last two days I have been at the bank for at least 30 minute a day. They are probably glad to see me go!! Yesterday, when I went in there I had to get $2100 in American money. You would think I was asking for a million dollars!! Well, they didn't quite get it. I told them I needed *only* 100 dollar bills - no creases, no marks, and not any earlier than 2001. They looked at me like I was strange and told me it would take at least 20 minutes as they would have to go into the vault and look through the treasury. *laugh*

So off I went to sit. They finally came out and gave me my money. We arranged that I would call later and see how many more bills they found, as I told them that I would need a lot more before I was done! They said they might have to order in some from out of town and that would take 10 days. Imagine that!

Today, I headed to the bank again and went through the same procedure. The new teller helped me find nice, crisp $20 bills for the Visa at the airport. I am not sure if those bills matter, but I wasn't taking any chances!!

When we get to Ethiopia it is not as simple as walking into a bank. Yes, some people do that, but it is a procedure and apparently the rate is not the greatest. So the money gets exchanged on the black market. Can you imagine? What a different life they lead over there. I have a friend who came back and she could not use any of her bills that were older than the year 2000! They would take them!! So I am following 'protocol'!

After they gave me all my money - another 32 - 100 dollar bills, the bank manager told me, "That's it. I don't have any more. If you want more we will have to order them in and it will be two weeks."

God is good. Just enough. We had to cover all our personal expenses, as well as the donation money, as there is no credit card use, and travelers cheques are just 'not done' over there. So cash is it!

Now if we get more donation money, then we will be going to another bank!! *laugh*

After we had done the money exchange it was time to telephone transfer money to Ethiopia for our hotel. This meant I was carrying $810 less cash when we travel. Well, I have never done a money transfer over the telephone before!! You learn something new every day.

So, now our hotel is booked and paid for and we are that much closer!

NOW I am getting excited, because it is getting 'tidier'!!