Count down to Mexico.

Four days.

Four days to figure out and finalize what to pack.
96 hours to worry about things that are totally not in my control.

My coworkers keep telling me it will be "awesome!" "you'll be surprised how much you'll love volunteering." "how often do you get a chance like this?!"

I guess I should back it up and explain:

I work for Rejuvenation in Portland, Oregon. It's a great company filled with compassionate folks and every couple years they try to figure out a way to GIVE BACK. Like when they set a dozen people down to New Orleans to help clean up Hurricane Katrina. Rejuvenation coordinates what they call DAYS OF SERVICE. Days when employees can go out into the community and volunteer their time and energy to different causes. They helped do demo work for the Hollywood Theatre. They worked with REACH to help community members complete project around their home. A team of volunteers was sent to Vernonia, Oregon to assist with flood clean up.

It's an awesome company. I am proud to work with them.

So why am I talking about Mexico?

Rejuvenation has teamed up with Medical Teams International to help out impoverished families living in a community outside of Mexico City.

I am one of 12 people from company selected to spend my work week giving back to my global community. I am 27 years old and I have never traveled out of the country. I play video games and I draw comics. During the week I help people select lighting and hardware to beautify their homes. I love sleeping in on Sundays and taking in episodes of 30 Rock. I like that my life is comfortable and have never really put myself outside that comfort zone.

Now I have my first passport. I have all my shots. My head is full of ideas of what things might be like, but I accept that I have no idea what I am in for. I am lucky to be traveling with 11 other people whom I respect and admire. We will watch out for each other. We will work hard. We will help as much as we can.

But right now, in this moment, I am anxious and excited.

Four more days.