Logistics Are Complicated!

 I decided a couple of years ago that I would like to live closer to more of my family.  Some of them are scattered around the country, so it’s impossible to be close to all of them at once.  But Iowa is the state where I grew up.  My sister and her spouse live there, my son lives there, and my nieces and nephews live there.  Also, the next generation: a great-niece and great-nephew live in Iowa.  Iowa is the state with the highest population density of my relatives! 

 I am taking a leave of absence from my appointment as a United Methodist pastor in the Indiana Annual Conference.  The Board of Ordained Ministry saw fit to honor my request.  I received permission from my Bishop to inquire about appointments in the Iowa Annual Conference.  And I have completed the application process and been approved for appointment by the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.  This means if there is a church available I am eligible to be considered for the job.  But I don’t have any guarantees. 

• a self-financed move means I need to only move what I really want to keep
• I need to sort things into
  • what I need now,
  • what I need for my journey,
  • what I want to move to my new location
  • what I want to sell or give away
  • trash
• moving company arrangements
• pack
• storage options until I find work
• continue training
• raise funds for the Fuller Center for Housing
• buy a plane ticket
• arrange for health insurance coverage
• figure out how to pay my bills while I’m away for three months
• take care of my dog and two cats
• prepare my congregation for a new pastor
• leave everything in good shape for a new pastor
• say goodbye
• where to live while I look for a new position