Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!
Can't believe that it's here again! I have made it to my sisters place in Michigan and we are having a great ole visit. Loving my little nieces and doing all the christmasy stuff. Last year at this time I was visiting my parents for a couple of days for the Christmas holidays. But I was also thinking about leaving a week or so later to travel to Haiti with my friend Kathryn. We went down to help out at God's Littlest Angels orphanage for a couple of weeks. What an unforgettable and eye opening experience.
I leave for Spain in 14 days...and know what? It will be pretty well exactly a year to the day that I left to Haiti and the date that I leave for Spain. It's amazing what all I have learnt in this past year...when I look back...my goodness there has been a lot this year. But I'm not going to write all about that. But God has been faithful through it all. Just like the song says "Through it all, through it all, I've learnt to trust in Jesus, I've learnt to trust in God...". It's true! I was just thinking...if there was no Christmas and Jesus did not come to earth as a baby to eventually die on a cross for my sins...I would not know that Jesus loves me, I would not know what a relationship with Him is like, I would not know the creator of the world. Thank you Jesus for coming...your the best gift ever :)

Ps. These are my beautiful nieces

 

The Adventure Begins

Last night I went to bed looking forward to a day full of adventure!!! I didn't know how adventurous it would get...and I haven't even left Grande Prairie yet.

My morning started at 4:30am. But really I didn't sleep much last night. So I was up and out the door on time...but once I got to the airport I was told that the plane just left. It was scheduled to leave at 5:45am and I was there early enough...but apparently not. I have never missed a flight before...I guess there is always a first time for everything. So I had to rebook with a later flight from Grande Prairie at about 11:30am I will go through security...and be really early for this one :)
So with this new flight schedule I get to have an nice little stay overnight in the Toronto airport...I hope the seats are comfy!!!

That was just the first thing...Then all my luggage was pretty heavy. That's ok I expected that. I have two big suitcases and a backpack as a carry on. And when she was done with me I had 3 checked in pieces and 2 carry ons. One of the carry ons is going to be staying at my sisters place anyway. So I am going to have to rearrange a few things when I get to my sisters.
In the midst of all of that I lost track of my phone...and I am pretty sure that its in a pocket that I left open as a checked in luggage that started off as a carry on...So we will see if I have a phone when I get to Toronto.

I will give an update later tonight...cause I seem to have some time on my hands!! ;)

 

On the mend!

Thank you all for your prayers...I am on the mend and my cold is going away. Praise the Lord!!

Continue to pray as I finish packing and figuring out what I need to bring and what can be left here. Also a couple last minute things as well. I have a good chunk of it done...and knowing me I will be ready a couple of days before I leave!!

I have one last day of work on Monday. I can't believe it!! I have been at this job for almost 2 years and have met some great people and learnt sooo much. Ya there were some challenging things at times but over all it has been good! :) 

Prayer Request

So with 16 days until I leave Grande Prairie. I have been busier than a bee and I have apparently overdone it...and got myself a cold!
I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am almost to the finish line before I leave. Please pray that my body will heal and the cold will go away. And the strength to finish all my last minute preparations.

Twenty more days!!!

Wow!!! the time is going by soooo fast. The count down is on!!! I leave Grande Prairie in 20 more days and on my way to visit family for Christmas...and there is 46 days until I head to Spain. Can you believe it?? I can't!!!!
As you have probably noticed I don't update this blog to often and I am sorry. Once I actually get to Spain I will attempt to write something in here once a week. There really is not much to tell you right now.... OOoo...Except that I got my Visa!!!!! last Thursday morning...it was brought to were I work...I almost did a happy dance, but there was to many people around!! :)

I have 5 more days of work, started packing by washing all my clothes, learning a little Spanish, and in between all of that I am doing all my last good byes (see you soons). Also doing a few other last minute things too. It does feel a little strange to be leaving here after living up here for the past 6 1/2 years. I have met so many wonderful people and have gained so many great friends...and many people who have adopted me into their family. Yes! I am sad that I have to leave them here, but I am excited to go out on this new adventure...and who knows what all God will do in this year.

On this Snowy October afternoon!!!!

So I made myself a cup of tea and... I thought it was about time that I gave a bit of an update! It has been extremely busy this past month and I have a feeling this next one won't be any better. But it is a little more than a month until I leave Canada to go visit family in the States for Christmas and then I will be off to Spain.

God has been soooo good. It is hard put into words how I feel...I feel really blessed.
Also...I have been realising more and more that when God calls you to do something, He gives you all the tools to do it.
I came across these quotes when I was doing my devotions a while ago and they seem to sum everything up.... Both quotes are by Gary Wilkerson.
"When God calls you to something, He is not always calling you to succeed, He's calling you to obey! The success of the calling is up to Him; the obedience is up to you."
Another one is...
"If you'll just commit to putting your toe in, you will see Me part the water for you. I will carry you across to the other side. I have already laid out My plans for you and I will see them through to fulfillment."
 

What I have learnt over the past few years is that God is real and this is no hokes pokes. He made this world...and that means you and me too!!! He loves us very much and only in Him I have found real joy and peace and only in Him I have found my worth and purpose in life. And it's an awesome feeling to know that you know...God has called me to do this and I am just stepping out in obedience one day at a time and leaving the rest up to Him. 

 

Now to just give you a bit of an update on my preparations for my trip.

Well!!! Praise the Lord I have now raised all the support I need to be able to stay there in Spain for the whole year!!! 

I HAVE:

All funds raised

A place to store my belongings + car 

plane tickets booked

 

Just one thing to wait for: My Visa. I had to wait for one last document before sending in my application for the second time. I just got that today...and then I sent it all in. Now its the waiting game. 

So my prayer request would be that the whole Visa process would go smoothly and not have anymore big bumps. Last time it was sent back because I sent it in too early. I like to be punctual and get things done...this time it didn't pay off to do that. But everything will be fine.   

I know that there are many of you who have been very supportive and have been praying for me and I want to thank you soo very much. 

Redo...Visa :(

So I sent in my application on the 20th (Thursday)...got a phone call the next Monday morning. Apparently I sent in my application to soon! Really to soon?? I leave in a couple of months.

What I was never was told is that I need to send it in 90 days before leaving the country.
So now I have to redo my application and it all is going to cost a little over 200.00.
So I have to get all my things together this month and send it in as soon as possible...I leave Grande Prairie in just over 2 months from now...but dont leave for Spain until Jan 8th. I am pretty excited to spend Christmas with my sister and her little family!!!
Sooo much to do...Sooo little time!!!

I am not sure where I came across this one quote but I thought I would share it.

“If you’ll just commit to putting your toe in, you will see Me part the water for you. I will carry you across to the other side. I have already laid out My plans for you and I will see them through to fulfillment.”

Visa Application

Its done and sent....All the information to get my Visa. It should arrive in Toronto by Monday or Tuesday. I know I have everything in there But I feel like I forgot something...But I didnt!!!! So please pray that my application will get into the right hands and get done sooner than later. It is all in God's hands now.

As for support that I have gotten for my trip...just about there!!! another 1500.00 to go. I have a little less than 3 months until I leave Grande Prairie. December 13 I fly out and have Christmas with my family and then January 8th is the day I fly to Spain!!!

On Sunday October 14th I will be sharing about this trip at my church. If you would like to know more about this please feel free to contact me and I will give you more info.

Ticket

Soooo!!! guess what? I got my ticket...and I am on my way to Spain January 8th 2013. I cant believe it. The ticket is booked, the insurance is paid. Now I just need to make sure I get all the rest of the documents I need to apply for my Visa. I dont need to much more before I send the info away to the Spanish Embassy in Toronto.

One prayer request would be that the right people get my application...I have called there a couple of times and got the same lady... doesnt speak good English and doesnt understand what I am saying...so she gets annoyed very easily...and I get frustrated because she does not giving me the time of day (not literally). So please pray that my application gets to the right person and that God will give me the patients with this lady if I have to call back there again.

With everything I have been going through with my house and all the preparations to leave. Sure its been tough at times...BUT it has been amazing to see how God has provided not just funds but the love and support of people around me and much more. It has been pretty humbling to see Gods hand in all of this and I know He will take care of the whole Visa situation.

Just thought I would give a little update...I am not to good at all this blog stuff but I am trying!!! I have never really journal ed growing up...so this is stretching me a bit. But I want to do this so that you are able to come with me somewhat on this journey but also for me to write out some of my thoughts and experiences so I can look back on them.

ps. I will eventually put some pictures up too!!   

God is Good!

Well, things are coming around and some things in my life are getting back to normal! Praise the Lord!
I am going through some of the preparation that needs to be done so I can be on my way to Spain the beginning of January. Things are coming together. Just need a few more things before I send in my application for my Visa. Continue to pray that these details will go smoothly and that I get the right person looking at my application at the Spanish Embassy in Toronto.

As for my support and funds to go. I am almost there!! I am looking at only another couple more thousand...and I dont leave until January!!!

I am getting really excited to go!! :)

My Life at the Moment

So Friday a little bit after 5...my world seemed to come to a Big Stop. The persons BBQ that exploded just at the end of my building changed many peoples lives including mine. This morning is Monday morning and I have not been able to get in and see what condition my belongings are in. But is afternoon I am told that with my insurance people that I will be able to go.

As far as my plans to go to Spain. I am still going!!! I just have a lot of extra things to sort through. God has a plan and it will get all sorted out. I know there will be something good that comes out of this whole thing...even if it is me learning to have patients or learning to lean and trust in the Lord. Because I can't do this alone...and I have been so very blessed to have the support of so many people...I know I have always had it but it comes out even more when something big happens. I feel very blessed!!

Visa Update

So...I do have an update on the Visa process.
After a lot of research and quite a few dead ends...I finally got a very nice lady at the Spanish Consulate in Ottawa to direct me in the right direction. I have to apply with the Spanish  Consulate in Toronto but this lady was able to figure out the right Visa for me. Since I will not be technically be working because I won't be getting paid. I am not going there as a student and I am not totally a tourist either. So there is this visa called the Youth Mobility Visa that I can apply for. So I can go there as a volunteer! The age range for this visa is between 18-35 years old....and I guess I am somewhere in the middle there hey!! ;) So I feel pretty relieved that I got someone that could point me in the right direction...but I'm pretty sure God had something to do with it too!!!

The next thing I have been working on is Travellers Insurance.

Like I was reminded the other day. God is in control...I can do all these things and struggle so hard by doing it on my own. I need to stop doing it on my own because I can't...this is not the first time I've had to learn this!!! God is the one that is bringing me to Spain to help the Smith Family...I don't need to stress out...God has a purpose and a plan for me, it doesn't mean it will be easy but it is worth it. He loves and cares for me because He is God and He made me!!!

Thank you for all the prayers and advice! :)

Visa

So as I continue preparing to go to Spain...there are always things that come up that make a little bump in the road. So this one has to do with a Visa. I found out that there are things happening in Europe with the borders of each country. I don't know how to completely explain it but I know it is called the Schengen Agreement...if you look it up on it on google it will tell you a bit more. So normally people can visit a country for 90 days but have to leave for 24 hours or so then are able to get back in. But with this new Agreement (that has not been passed as of yet) I could go for 90 days but I would have to leave for 90 days before I could go back...and that would be way to expensive.
 I hope this is making sense!
Anyway, so what I have been informed to do is contact the Consulate for Spain here in Canada and try to get a Visa for one year...so I can just stay there for the year as a visitor. I have figured out that there is a Consulate in Edmonton so I am hoping and praying that I will get the right person on the phone that will be able to walk me through this...I have 6 months to get this figured out...which is really not that long.

SO if you could keep me in your prayers about all this that would be so wonderful. :)

Also I have a Prayer Letter and Prayer Card that I would love to pass around. If you would like one please let me know and I will get it to you...where ever in the world you may be!!!! Just knowing that I have people praying is such a blessing.

Did You Know?

No!!...will be the response for many of you. Yes I will be heading to Spain for the full year of 2013. Why? Well...I have been accepted by the Mission Nanny organization to be a Mission Nanny. So that means that I will go help a missionary family wherever in the world they may be. And the big part of that is helping them with their children so that they are able to learn the language and culture more easily. So I am there to make it a little easier process for them.

So after I was accepted with the Mission Nanny organization then was the big part of which family! So I should probably say... I was looking through the list of families and praying about this before I even applied with Mission Nannys. I went through the many choices and came across a beautiful family with triplets...2 boys and 1 girl who will be turning 3 in Aug. I felt such a peace about this family and had a funny feeling that I would connect really well with them. Well I guess it wasn't a funny feeling but at that moment I was like "Lord what are you telling me?".

So once I had completed the first step of applying and be accepted. Then they wanted to know my choices of 3 families. So I put down this lovely family and I prayerful considered two other families as well. So Mission Nannys sent out my application to Spain where the Smith Family is. SO I waited and prayed and waited and prayed and prayed some more. And I told the Lord if this is where you want me to go I am willing and ready. But if this not where you want me to go than please close the door.

Then one fine morning I opened up my e-mail and read that the Smith Family would love to have me come! I read and re-read it...It felt a little surreal for a couple of weeks. But it has sunk in and I am Soo looking forward to getting to know this family and helping out with their munchkins!!! Learning a new language, culture and meeting new people.

I have created this blog so that my friends and family can come along with me on this adventure. I have lots of details to finalize but with the Lord's help it will all get done...it's a good thing I am a fairly organized person!

Well if you have any questions feel free to ask. Also I would so very much appreciate all your prayers as I get ready in these next 6 months.