why have i never visited north carolina before?

Happy Thursday!
I just finished out my first day of training. I am in a small town called Waxhaw near Charlotte, NC. The training session I'm attending is called International Communications Course. It's at a Wycliffe Center for their aviation department, JAARS.
What I've seen of this state in the past 24 hours has been beautiful. Compared to the Midwest drought right now, it is so lush and green here! I love the outdoors and especially trees so I am in love with these surroundings.
During the next month, I will be learning with about 20 other missionaries (headed all around the world!). We will be in classroom settings for some of the time but it sounds like there are other projects and hands on learning activities. I'm staying in a cute apartment with Karen, my Kids Alive teammate.
Please join me in praying about these things:
-that I will have a learner's heart and soak up what I need to know
-that I will make new friends and connections
-that I will not be distracted by other things but can just be really focused on what God is doing right here and now.
Love from the South!
P.S. My cell phone service here is spotty, but I'm on skype (theresnoway) or feel free to drop me an email (emilyrbill@gmail.com)