Saturday, August 20, 2011

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Yesterday and today have been a packing extravaganza. I have basically packed an entire pharmacy of over the counter drugs. It is hilarious how many small packets of propel and EmergenC you can fit in a gallon ziplock bag that is already full. A majority of what I did today was look at books to take to India. If you know me well, you know that books are basically the only possesions I truly value. I just can't bring myself to throw away the memories that get attached to books. Today that actually came in handy. I decided to bring some children's books as teaching tools. It was a nice break to just sit and read over some of the books I used to love. I decided to pack in my already very full suitcase 7 children's books.

- Berlioz the Bear
- I SPY
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear ( two bear books? haha)
- The Lotus Seed (probably my favorite)
- The Shy Ostrich
- The Napping House

and last but not least, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  In my opinion, this is one of the best sing-songy books for learning the alphabet. For some reason when I found it I laughed out loud for about five minutes. The main line in the book perfectly described what I have been feeling in this rush. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room?" I have been asking myself this question so much lately. Will there be enough room in my day to see everyone I want to see before I leave? Will there be enough room in my life for a whole new world of people to love? Will there be enough room for me at Buchanan? Will there be enough room in my suitcase? The answer at the end of the book that I agree with wholeheartedly is YES! In some ways I feel as if I have already gotten to know some of the new people I will be loving next year. Thanks to Madison Munoz, the last volunteer at Buchanan, I have heard so many wonderfully told stories about the beautiful people I will soon meet! It is sad to say goodbye to everyone at home for a year, but I know it is just a short goodbye (I know technology will bridge the gap when I need it)

Tomorrow I will give a Sunday School class with Brent Thompson, a previous YAV in Northern Ireland. We will be discussing what the program means and what it means to us. I will also give a Minute for Mission during the service and then have a final going away shindig at my house at noon. We will be eating my down home Texas favorite, Babe's Fried Chicken. I'm gonna miss that delicious stuff.

On Monday morning I board my plane to New York bright and early at 7:40 AM. I feel so blessed that God has given me enough room for all of this love in my life. Thank You for reading this and for coming along on my journey!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Birthdays and Brain Freezes

6 days from now i will be departing for YAV Orientation in New York and hopefully departing from the U.S. on August 29th! Time is moving so quickly...and i'll get back to why i said "hopefully" in a minute.

Yesterday was also my Mom's birthday! We saw The Help and spent a full day together as a family. It was, without fault to my mother or family, juxtaposed with moments of absolute and utter frustration.

I got off of the phone from Travisa Outsourcing in Houston, TX early yesterday morning. They are the third party company through which I have been trying to receive my Indian Visa since July 15th. They are the primary company dealing with Texas Visas. I speak to a new person almost every time i call even if I ask for a speficic representative. They will simply ask the question, " Why? we all have the same system." Well yes lady in the visa office, you do all have the same system, but you all seem to not be reading my file. Last week i found that my application was rejected for the second time from the Houston consulate. They wanted a more official admission letter to my school, CMS College in Kottayam. Shannon and Thomas John made that happen quickly and by Friday, a revised letter was on the consulate's desk at 12:01. Sadly, the Houston consulate rejected my application for the third time....now we are on to Plan B.

Plan B
Today I start the 3 day process of withdrawing my application from Houston, and place it in the already more trusted hands of Visas to go to get an expedited visa. By my calculations, this should put me about a week off of my intended departure date. This is not what I wanted, but my morning devotional today reminded me that things do not always turn out the way we have intended.

In Sarah Young's book of devotionals Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, the short, paragraph long devotionals are more like conversations, spoken directly to the reader in first person. It is written as if Jesus is speaking right in to my days, and today the book had plenty to say about my struggles. It reads:

Accept each day as it comes to you, do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust me enough to yield to my design and purposes. Remember that nothing can separate you from my loving presence. YOU are mine.

Thanks God for seeing right through me again. Today I have much more drive to complete this task knowing that it is simply a part of my journey.
"To live is to change, to acquire the words of a story, and that is the only celebration we mortals really know." The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Preparation

Wow, It has been so long since my last post. It has been a crazy, wonderful, beautiful, busy summer. My apologies about promising France updates and not delivering. We were not provided Wi-fi often.

My job this summer was wonderful, but simultaneously time consuming. I was a Youth Ministry Intern at Second Presbyterian Church. The highlight of my summer was probably leading a group of 19 kids and 5 adults to the Montreat Youth Conference. It was a blessed week of fun and fellowship. I am truly thankful for the all of the opportunities I was given to learn this summer.

I have had a fun time running around the Dallas area this week like a crazy woman. I realize it was a little nuts of me to think that 2 weeks is enough time to schedule every immunization, appointment, and goodbye meeting into this short of a time span. It has been rushed, but rewarding.

Also, I'd like to ask for prayers for my Indian Visa. I have been struggling with the Houston Office since July 15th to get my visa granted. They still have not followed up since my communication with them on Friday. I am so thankful to have people like Thomas John and Shannon Langely on my side. The most recent hiccup in my visa was solved within 24 hours by my stellar team of support! Knowing that makes me feel so at ease about my journey to India. I am in good hands....now all I have to do is get there.

Overall, I am energized for this adventure. I feel so loved and called to be doing what I am doing. Thanks to all who will follow this blog! I will keep you better updated now that I am preparing for my departure!

Grace and Peace,
Rachel