Hi, Folks.
There are all kinds of things on my mind. They're all heavy.
...
I don't know what else to say.
Sorry, Folks. It's been a bit since my last blog and I felt the need to type something, but there really isn't a whole lot that I feel like I can say.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
The First Letters
The first of the support letters were put into the mail today.
I'm praying that God do something. I'm praying that I have humility and faith and a thankful heart.
This is a good thing. This is a good experience...the beginning of a lot of good experiences.
I'm praying that God do something. I'm praying that I have humility and faith and a thankful heart.
This is a good thing. This is a good experience...the beginning of a lot of good experiences.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Being Aggressive
I need to get aggressive in my fundraising. If I'm going to go on this mission trip, then I need to put in some elbow grease and leg work. If God ordains it, I will raise the money; if not, I won't. I am still learning that we ought not sit around and wait on God all of the time. Sometimes we have to get out there and do things, and if it is God's will, then our efforts will pay off. In all situations, God doesn't want us to sit around and wait on Him. SOMETIMES He does want us to do just that, but not always. In the case of applying to Time For God, God wasn't going to fill the application out for me, and He wasn't going to pull together the references and all of that; I had to fill it out, I had to gather my references and my photos, and I had to pay to send the application in...THEN I had to wait on God and have faith that His will be done. I believe it is God's will that I be offered a volunteer position at Yeldall Manor. Whether or not I actually go, that is still up to God. I will do my part and I will do fundraising aggressively (but not obnoxiously or be pushy).
That's thought number one. Thought number two comes as a result of a book that I just read. I believe that going on this trip will be a good opportunity for SOOOOO SOO many things. I believe that my faith will be tested, and as a result, will continue to grow. I believe I might find some more direction in life (be it something that I realize I do want to do, or something that I realize I do not want to do). Another opportunity for growth and change is that I will be with men about my age and older. Perhaps...God willing and God being gracious...I might find a sort of brotherhood and...sonhood or sonship or something...with these men. Perhaps I will find brothers and fathers that I have never had before. Some of you know my experiences, and you will understand how important this is to me.
A lot...A LOT...of good would come out of an experience life this one. I believe that my faith in Triune God will become more of what it needs to be. I will pick up new habits after dropping off old ones. Relationships will be made, and perhaps those relationships that are made will continue after returning to the US. I would like to this that would happen. I believe that it will if it is God's will, and if I respond accordingly.
That's another thing; when we pray for patience, God doesn't bestow upon us patience. When we pray for patience, God puts us into situations where we have to excercise what patience we currently have. It's like...God doesn't give us the ability to lift a zillion pounds, but rather gives us opportunities to practice and excercise until we're able to life a zillion pounds. If I pray for faith, God tests faith. If I pray for patience, God tests patience. If I pray for self confidence, God tests that, too. If I pray for positive relationships, God will test me on that. That scares me...A LOT.
That's all. I really need to get to bed. Old Navy in the morning, printing out more letters and support cards, and more "name storming" and fundraising opps after that. OH, and I need to plant some new seeds. I've started a nice little herb garden on the front porch, and I've also planted some flowers. It will be nice to see them grow this summer...hopefully just like my fund raising....
"Jesus, take the wheel"...to quote Carrie Underwood.
That's thought number one. Thought number two comes as a result of a book that I just read. I believe that going on this trip will be a good opportunity for SOOOOO SOO many things. I believe that my faith will be tested, and as a result, will continue to grow. I believe I might find some more direction in life (be it something that I realize I do want to do, or something that I realize I do not want to do). Another opportunity for growth and change is that I will be with men about my age and older. Perhaps...God willing and God being gracious...I might find a sort of brotherhood and...sonhood or sonship or something...with these men. Perhaps I will find brothers and fathers that I have never had before. Some of you know my experiences, and you will understand how important this is to me.
A lot...A LOT...of good would come out of an experience life this one. I believe that my faith in Triune God will become more of what it needs to be. I will pick up new habits after dropping off old ones. Relationships will be made, and perhaps those relationships that are made will continue after returning to the US. I would like to this that would happen. I believe that it will if it is God's will, and if I respond accordingly.
That's another thing; when we pray for patience, God doesn't bestow upon us patience. When we pray for patience, God puts us into situations where we have to excercise what patience we currently have. It's like...God doesn't give us the ability to lift a zillion pounds, but rather gives us opportunities to practice and excercise until we're able to life a zillion pounds. If I pray for faith, God tests faith. If I pray for patience, God tests patience. If I pray for self confidence, God tests that, too. If I pray for positive relationships, God will test me on that. That scares me...A LOT.
That's all. I really need to get to bed. Old Navy in the morning, printing out more letters and support cards, and more "name storming" and fundraising opps after that. OH, and I need to plant some new seeds. I've started a nice little herb garden on the front porch, and I've also planted some flowers. It will be nice to see them grow this summer...hopefully just like my fund raising....
"Jesus, take the wheel"...to quote Carrie Underwood.
Monday, May 18, 2009
PASSPORT!
I just got my passport!
Now I'm going to be applying for the UK Visa.
You know, I'm going to miss a lot of things in the US while I'm in the UK...like Chick Fil A. I'm really going to miss those sandwiches....
I still need to get some more letters out.
I'm reading a new book. I really like it, and it has me thinking about a number of things...mostly God.
Okay. I'm done. I need to check my work schedule for tomorrow.
Now I'm going to be applying for the UK Visa.
You know, I'm going to miss a lot of things in the US while I'm in the UK...like Chick Fil A. I'm really going to miss those sandwiches....
I still need to get some more letters out.
I'm reading a new book. I really like it, and it has me thinking about a number of things...mostly God.
Okay. I'm done. I need to check my work schedule for tomorrow.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
New Post for a New Blog.
As I said in "Full of High Sentence, but a Bit Obtuse," the title is far too long, so I decided to switch to this one. I believe this one, "England-HO!," is more fitting for the purpose of this blog.
I will be posting the first two blogs from "Full of High Sentence" in just a few so that everything will be in one place as it should be.
So...here begins to new blog for my journey to England!
Today at Old Navy, a woman from England (near Liverpool) came through. Bless her sweet heart...she had a few questions about the currency. It was a lot of fun talking to her! Shortly after she left, another woman came to me and asked me about the mission trip. She was so interested, and said that her daughter was interested in doing something like this. It was wonderful telling her all about what it is that I will be doing! I hope that it will be okay for me to wear a shirt at work telling people about the trip.... It's not meant to gloat; it's just to tell people that this is something that people can do, and here's how, and if you do want to support me in whatever way, then I'll tell you how. I wouldn't be asking people to help me and let that be the end of it; I would be talking about how others can do the same thing.
I love watching British comedies on GPB (channel 8) on Saturday nights. It's so much fun to watch their culture. Plus...I think they're a bit more funny than some of the American sit-coms.
I still need to buy stamps. OH, and I need to change the blog website on my letters and facebook and support cards. That's okay, though. It needs to happen.
Okay. I'm done. I need a shower and some sleep. It's been a long day, but a good one!
I will be posting the first two blogs from "Full of High Sentence" in just a few so that everything will be in one place as it should be.
So...here begins to new blog for my journey to England!
Today at Old Navy, a woman from England (near Liverpool) came through. Bless her sweet heart...she had a few questions about the currency. It was a lot of fun talking to her! Shortly after she left, another woman came to me and asked me about the mission trip. She was so interested, and said that her daughter was interested in doing something like this. It was wonderful telling her all about what it is that I will be doing! I hope that it will be okay for me to wear a shirt at work telling people about the trip.... It's not meant to gloat; it's just to tell people that this is something that people can do, and here's how, and if you do want to support me in whatever way, then I'll tell you how. I wouldn't be asking people to help me and let that be the end of it; I would be talking about how others can do the same thing.
I love watching British comedies on GPB (channel 8) on Saturday nights. It's so much fun to watch their culture. Plus...I think they're a bit more funny than some of the American sit-coms.
I still need to buy stamps. OH, and I need to change the blog website on my letters and facebook and support cards. That's okay, though. It needs to happen.
Okay. I'm done. I need a shower and some sleep. It's been a long day, but a good one!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Support Letters
The first batch of support letters are about to go out, and I'm pretty nervous.
The process of creating the support letter, the support cards, the envelopes, etc. has been yet another interesting experience. I've never done this, and I want to make sure I do this correctly.
While I was typing and printing letters and envelopes, I would check the names on the letters with the names on the envelopes, then check them again, then fold the letter and put it in the envelope.
I was so afraid that I had put the wrong name in the wrong envelope, so I checked them yet again.
Half way through doing this I realized I didn't sign them!
Now I'm nervous about the color of the pen; should it be black, to be professional, or should it be blue...to add some color to the letter...and seeing as blue is one of the colors of the UK...?
Should I take off the picture of the UK...or should I leave it to keep it interesting?
After I've stuffed and sealed each envelope, I'm going to pray two things:
1) that God's will be done with these letters, and
2) that if I screwed anything up that God would perform a miracle and fix it before they arrive in the hands of their owner(s).
::sigh::
I do this all of the time. I want to make sure that it really is 5:00 that I go into work, so I check my e-mail. Then I check the schedule that I printed out to make sure something funky didn't happen with the printer. Then I set about 8 different alarms to make sure I start getting ready at the right time.
I also worry about the dumbest things ever, like the weight of the paper. Are these people going to notice that the paper that I'm printing on isn't office-quality copy/multipurpose paper? Chances are yes, and chances are they aren't going to care. What about the envelopes? What kind of stamps am I going to use? What about the support cards? What about...and then...and what if...and....
Lord God make me chill out before my head explodes. It doesn't matter if I have the picture of a monkey on the stamp or if I use cardstock with a watermark. Just get the letters out there and let God do the rest!
So a few letters and envelopes later, with the addition of a soap opera on mute and 80's music playing in the background, I'm almost ready to send out my first support letters. We'll see what God does with them.
The process of creating the support letter, the support cards, the envelopes, etc. has been yet another interesting experience. I've never done this, and I want to make sure I do this correctly.
While I was typing and printing letters and envelopes, I would check the names on the letters with the names on the envelopes, then check them again, then fold the letter and put it in the envelope.
I was so afraid that I had put the wrong name in the wrong envelope, so I checked them yet again.
Half way through doing this I realized I didn't sign them!
Now I'm nervous about the color of the pen; should it be black, to be professional, or should it be blue...to add some color to the letter...and seeing as blue is one of the colors of the UK...?
Should I take off the picture of the UK...or should I leave it to keep it interesting?
What about the placement of the stamp?
Am I going to put it on correctly, or am I going to screw it up somehow?
After I've stuffed and sealed each envelope, I'm going to pray two things:
1) that God's will be done with these letters, and
2) that if I screwed anything up that God would perform a miracle and fix it before they arrive in the hands of their owner(s).
::sigh::
I do this all of the time. I want to make sure that it really is 5:00 that I go into work, so I check my e-mail. Then I check the schedule that I printed out to make sure something funky didn't happen with the printer. Then I set about 8 different alarms to make sure I start getting ready at the right time.
I also worry about the dumbest things ever, like the weight of the paper. Are these people going to notice that the paper that I'm printing on isn't office-quality copy/multipurpose paper? Chances are yes, and chances are they aren't going to care. What about the envelopes? What kind of stamps am I going to use? What about the support cards? What about...and then...and what if...and....
Lord God make me chill out before my head explodes. It doesn't matter if I have the picture of a monkey on the stamp or if I use cardstock with a watermark. Just get the letters out there and let God do the rest!
So a few letters and envelopes later, with the addition of a soap opera on mute and 80's music playing in the background, I'm almost ready to send out my first support letters. We'll see what God does with them.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Blogger is Bugging Out
I have been keeping a blog for about a year about how the process of applying for an international mission trip has been going. Suddenly, when I try to access both my Gmail account AND my blogger under the same name, all is unrecognized, and I am forced to start over. Have past entries been sucked into a black hole in cyber space? Looks like it. :-P
Okay. SO. Here's the past 10 or so months in a nutshell:
I applied to Time For God. Time For God called me. The phone call went well. Time For God put me in touch with Yeldall Manor. I called Yeldall Manor. The phone call dropped after 20 minutes. I freaked out. Yeldall Manor called me back the next day after I sent them an e-mail apologizing for the dropped phone call. The second go-round went very well. Both Time For God and Yeldall Manor offered me a 12-month volunteer position at Yeldall Manor. I accepted. This blog. Support letters. Passports. Visa Applications. Traveloer's Medical Insurance. Airfare. Telling my family. Excitement. Anxiety. God? GOD! Thank you, God! Oh, God.... More God....
::sigh::
Peace by still....
I'm praying the United States Department of State (or whatever) decideds to have some mercy on me and give me my passport sooner than everyone else's. Maybe Colin Powel...or Hilary Clinton...or Condoleezza Rice will pull some strings. I should send them a bribe...I mean...a thank you note with some chocolates in a basket.
So there is a lot to do, but I feel like there is so little I can do right now. After I get that passport, I'll be able to send the appropriate information to Time For God, and then they'll start helping to hook me up with my UK visa.
My cat is so wonderful. And mean. I think I'll bring her with me to the UK. She can fit in my carry-on. No one will have to know.
So that's about it. I'm going to continue working one some paperwork that I am able to work on, and then get ready to look for some new glasses. Hopefully, I'll find some flashy new spectacles that will WOW the world on my awesomely amazing face. Prince Charming has NOTHING on these dashing good looks...especially after some too-hot-too-trot glasses are on me.
Okay. SO. Here's the past 10 or so months in a nutshell:
I applied to Time For God. Time For God called me. The phone call went well. Time For God put me in touch with Yeldall Manor. I called Yeldall Manor. The phone call dropped after 20 minutes. I freaked out. Yeldall Manor called me back the next day after I sent them an e-mail apologizing for the dropped phone call. The second go-round went very well. Both Time For God and Yeldall Manor offered me a 12-month volunteer position at Yeldall Manor. I accepted. This blog. Support letters. Passports. Visa Applications. Traveloer's Medical Insurance. Airfare. Telling my family. Excitement. Anxiety. God? GOD! Thank you, God! Oh, God.... More God....
::sigh::
Peace by still....
I'm praying the United States Department of State (or whatever) decideds to have some mercy on me and give me my passport sooner than everyone else's. Maybe Colin Powel...or Hilary Clinton...or Condoleezza Rice will pull some strings. I should send them a bribe...I mean...a thank you note with some chocolates in a basket.
So there is a lot to do, but I feel like there is so little I can do right now. After I get that passport, I'll be able to send the appropriate information to Time For God, and then they'll start helping to hook me up with my UK visa.
My cat is so wonderful. And mean. I think I'll bring her with me to the UK. She can fit in my carry-on. No one will have to know.
So that's about it. I'm going to continue working one some paperwork that I am able to work on, and then get ready to look for some new glasses. Hopefully, I'll find some flashy new spectacles that will WOW the world on my awesomely amazing face. Prince Charming has NOTHING on these dashing good looks...especially after some too-hot-too-trot glasses are on me.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
