Day -19: Getting Closer (but it's not getting easier)

Well, as it turns out, not everything is sunshine and rainbows and happiness when you're preparing to leave the country for a year (I'm not entirely sure where I got the idea that it was, but I'm sure someone promised it at some time or another...or maybe not).  It's not like I expected it to be a breeze, but it's hard. I've never had to prepare to leave my life that I know for a whole year.  There are so many details I need to work out, so many things that are out of my control, and a lot of it is simply overwhelming.

I did, however, have many of my questions answered today.  I now know that I will be living with another woman who works at the Rahab Foundation, and she will drive us to work every day.  I know that September 25th (the day I'm counting down to) is officially approved to be my departure date to Florida for two days of training before heading to Costa Rica the 27th.  I learned more about payroll information and other (previous) unknowns that had been hanging over my head; so that's good.

Yet, I still feel like there's too much to do before I need to leave; also that my world is changing in a way that no one else's seems to be, and that's really scary.  Tomorrow is my last day of working at Jimmy John's, and I'll use the remaining 17 days to run around and do errands and clean and pack.  Meanwhile, I'm seeing all these posts from my Hope College friends who are so excited to be moving back into Hope and starting the school year.  As part of the most recent graduating class of Hope, not being part of the new school year is a new and weird experience.  Heck, having been a student for the past 16 years not being a part of the new school year is a new and weird experience.  I will say, however, that I still had a first-day-of-school stress dream about a week ago; it was strangely comforting.

Seeing everyone start school (via Facebook), and having two of my brothers off at college, and my sister being gone all day teaching, and my youngest brother in school during the day, well let's just say that the fact that I am NOT in school is blaringly obvious to me.  Not only am I not doing what is familiar to me and everyone around me, I am doing something decidedly unfamiliar.  It's uncomfortable knowing my life is about to change drastically, and yet life as normal is all around me...but I'm not really a part of it.  I guess this is the part where I realize that now is when I can call on other people in my life to continue supporting me because no matter what they still love me.  I suppose I can also realize that this is where I start calling on God to be my familiar when I'm tossed into all the unfamiliar.  All I really want, though, is to curl up under a blanket and eat a huge vat of ice cream and then sleep for a million hours...ok, part of that might be because of crazy hormones right now...but who can really say?

.....

Details are coming together, and that's awesome.  The detail, however, are coming together in a somewhat roundabout way.  I wanted to buy plane tickets a couple weeks ago, when prices were around $190 but was told to wait on purchasing them until LAM could finalize the details of my arrival.  Well, that happened today; not only did the prices increase to about $330, but all my previous points I had earned with American Airlines expired the 25th of August (when I had been looking at tickets earlier).  This was severely upsetting...and that's probably an understatement.  However, after a little more searching, I can travel on JetBlue for about $135!  How awesome is that??  Also, after talking with family in Miami, it sounds like the transportation to and from my two days of training will work out perfectly.  It's so amazing how quickly a situation can turn around.  I think this is just a testament to how much God is looking out for us.  I can say that even though I'm really out of my comfort zone right now (and only getting farther away with every passing day), God is good and I'm glad to have him with me in all this.

Peace and Blessings,

Kiki

Deuteronomy 31:8 
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.