Cross Your Fingers!

Just got this email update from Peace Corps.  Let's hope the government gets things figured out by Friday!

Dear K-19s,

I hope you are all doing well.  In light of the recent federal budget situation, I’m writing to confirm that we still intend to hold your Staging on March 25^th and plan for your group to depart the next day for Kyrgyzstan.  In the event that Congress does not pass either a budget or another continuing resolution, we will contact you by email as soon as the lack of funding is confirmed.  The current continuing resolution provides funding through the end of Friday (March 18th), meaning that it could be late Friday or even early Saturday before a lack of funding is certain and our notification can be sent.  A lack of funding would delay your departure until a new budget is passed and we have the funds to make a new set of flight and hotel reservations for your group.  In this situation, your Staging would proceed as soon as possible after the new federal budget was passed.

To ensure that you are up-to-date on the latest information, please check your email daily for updates.  Because the plan is for you to depart on schedule, I will only write to you if Congress cannot reach an agreement.  Watching for developments in the news is still the best way for you to follow the situation.  So that I can be sure that all of you have seen this message, please respond to this email with confirmation that you have read it.  No further action is required on your part at this time.  Rest assured that I will be in touch immediately if I have reason to believe your departure will be delayed and that I have given you the most up-to-date information I can provide in the meanwhile.

Thanks for your patience during this process,

Mat

UPDATE! (3/18) - WHAHOO!

Kyrgyz Republic Trainees,

The Senate approved the House-passed Continuing Resolution appropriation bill yesterday.  The White House said that the President will sign it today, Friday.  The Continuing Resolution will run for 3 weeks thru April 8.   What does this mean? It means that if the bill is signed today, the Kyrgyz staging is scheduled to depart as originally scheduled next week.   For now, plan to arrive in Philadelphia on the 25^th (except for Early Arrivals) and depart out of JFK on the 26^th.

Have a great weekend!

Mat