I was in Australia when this happened, but a young man named Nathan died before age 18 after playing a football game. His parents started an organisation to provide Bibles for those who need one because the Bible was such an intergral part of his life. "The Nathan Project" is actually a challenge to read the Bible every day for a year and talk about it in a group.
I am going to do this challenge while in Nepal. However, meeting in a group may get a little tricky so my "group" to talk about what I am reading will be this blog. Well, as much as I will be able to post with third world dial up speed internet and uncertain access! Also, I will be in Nepal for 2 years so I may take the time to go slower through the Bible. We shall see, but I do want to make sure I am relying on God and not my ownself.
I had been reading current volunteers blogs on occasion, but I have decided to stop because they have become more depressing. I know I will have points in my life while there that will be as low as they have felt at the time of posting, but considering the fact that I'm already near that point myself? Probably not a good idea to surround myself with more of it!
I do not want to come in with any expectations or imaginings. My experiences in Australia really benefited from that, I believe. There were no disappointments and I rolled with anything. My focus now just needs to not be on what is going on around me, but on Jesus as the time for me to leave creeps up.
40 more days!
One of my favourite authors, Robin Jones Gunn, recently came out with a book beginning a continuation series of past novels. Basically, she has a young adult series and it progresses to adult, etc. but you can read one series ie. The College Years and not be lost if you haven't read the past novels.
This new series is the married years of Todd and Christy Spencer and I've been so excited about this! Without giving away spoilers, lets just say that the truths I will be taking away from it will certainly be ones I will be using while in Nepal. They are what are in the forefront of my mind as I think about what challenges I will face.
I've been reading more current PCV Nepal blogs and I've discovered I really shouldn't... I'm stopping myself from really freaking out, but apparently we will have language proficiency tests to do prior to being sworn in as a PCV! This definitely makes sense because you certainly can't be successful without a semi-decent proficiency in language, but it still is causing me to freak out because while I've attempted to learn other languages before - success is not something I've accomplished. However, I also haven't spent a fair amount of time on learning them and been in full immersion!
Also, I've learned that there is a possibility of a family member coming to visit you when you are sworn in as a volunteer. :) Don't know how that works out, but it is a nice idea!
As my mind begins to go to freak out mode from what I have read, these next few verses come to me in response. I need to keep in mind these Scriptures for the next journey where God is taking me.
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified and do not be discouraged for the Lord our God will be with you wherever you go.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I'm well on my way to paying off my credit cards! Very soon, I'll only need to work overtime for a month and it will be taken care of! Next will be working on my non interest collecting debts like student loans, etc.
The Facebook group has begun a few July, August, and September invites so hopefully this means mine may be right around the corner. Still waiting...
My car died a sad decrypt death, if I haven't already mentioned that...we have a new car that my dad and I are sharing since there's not much of a point in my getting one since I maybe out of the country for 27 months.
School is halfway through. I don't have much to update atm, but I'm REALLY excited about almost completely being out of credit card debt! YEAH!!
I really don't have anything to post or update, but I've got some downtime during rehearsals and began thinking on things. Usually, this is dangerous for me to do because it typically results in becoming pretty down on myself - however this time it didn't for a change!
First of all, someone in the future Peace Corps group received their invitation for August recently so I really need to start disregarding what is being said on that count as it obviously varies! FSO was also mentioned and I hadn't heard of it before so I looked it up. Foreign Service Officer...
I wasn't able to get much information on what it meant beyond consuls, but it definitely seems interesting. It made me realize I really don't have much direction beyond possibly 2 years from now and how completely ok with it I am.
I'm still not out of debt and extra expenses are coming up soon. Yesterday I discovered something I appreciated, but wasn't sure about has probably no longer become viable...lol that's a weird way of putting it, but I honestly couldn't be happier about it!
So much of what is going on with my life should be stressing me out, but it's not. Thank You, Lord! I'm me and I'm good with it. Stephanie, when you read this later and if you're not feeling that - remember this time in rehearsal watching a bunch of talented kids and knowing God has made you how He wants you.
I hope everyone reading this knows how special you are - no matter how inadequate you feel around other people - y'all have things you can do that others cannot. Have a great day!
I forget sometimes how awkward I can get without even trying. Practice for a musical I'm in started today and after learning the guy who was going to play my husband was 20...my reason was well at least you're not jail bait! Luckily, he took it well but sometimes I may just not need to say anything.
I'm waiting to hear from the Peace Corps. Some from the Facebook group have begun saying four months out from your nomination date while others' timelines still show a month to a month and a half after pre clearance you receive contact from Placement.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is enjoying this holiday season! I will continue posting updates as I get them and wait. Yeah for my all As this semester and here's to another one, graduation, and no debt!
No recent posts due to focusing on finals and nothing really to update until now!
I recently joined the Future Peace Corps Volunteer group on Facebook. Someone posted that they had been invited to the country and sector at the same month and year as I have been nominated. There may be more positions available at that time...I just do not know. Also, the person mentioned they had submitted their application in April of this year...this makes me think that the process currently takes longer than one year and I possibly will not leave until 2015 if I receive an invitation.
:-D Just as I am typing this, I receive an e-mail!!! I AM FINALLY LEGALLY PRE-CLEARED!!! Someone else in the Placement Office sent me an e-mail about my credit card debt and what I needed to do if I still had it at the time of invitation. I sent them an e-mail letting them know that I would update them as I paid it off.
Now, hopefully soon I will receive a questionnaire involving the Health Sector. They will also apparently ask for updated information.
Previously, I have not wanted to read other peoples' blogs about their Peace Corps experience or look into it because I do not want to have expectations. When I went to Australia, I knew the basic job of what I was going to do, but that was it. I loved not having any preconceived notions, etc.
I still feel the same way, but since it seems like things have not been moving along until just recently - I did decide to look at others' processes to see what to expect. I have discovered how awesome it is to have people going along the same steps that you are as you set out towards a common purpose. As I can, I will probably (if I do end up going) read others' blogs about their experiences as they post them.
One thing I discovered is that a person was nominated for the Health Sector, but was then told that they were not competitive enough for the role. This gives me pause as I do not think I am eligible for anything else - however, I will have 2+ years experience in the health field and have 5 years working in group homes for people with disabilities. I think and hope that this experience will make me competitive!
For the past couple weeks, I thought I had been doing better until I began talking about my friend's death and tears occurred. A couple days later, in class we talked briefly on what to do in student death and tears just kept coming. I set up appointments to talk with people, but it wasn't until I talked with my pastor that he was able to put words to what I have been feeling.
I have a tender heart and love people.
Since I have been in school and unable to work much - I have not been able to share my love for people through service (as that is primarily how I show others love).
My heart has been full for sometime and it has been frustrating for me with my constraints that I am unable to share my heart in service. This will change soon, but just knowing why I have been so emotional has helped very much.
This time in my life, I am in preparation. My full heart is anticipating when it can be released like a runner prepping for a race. :-D I can feel my spirit welling up within me as I type this! lol There will be a time when my race will start (not that it hasn't already, but a stage of my race rather) and when that signal goes off - I will be able to expel my heart and share the love of Christ that is in my heart for people!
I do think I will end up doing the Peace Corps. While I haven't received something I would call a definite yes...while talking with my pastor, I felt no hesitancy when he stated my doing the Peace Corps. My heart is still open to whatever He has for me if it ends up not being the direction He wants me to go, but in the meantime...I will more than likely be out of the States for 27 months!
I met with a friend of mine this weekend about the Peace Corps. Essentially, she strongly recommended me NOT do it because I will more than likely not be supported much spiritually. This is an excellent point, however, one of the things that I have been looking forward to if I do end up joining is not having people around me to rely on - I will have to rely on Jesus. I do realise this has the potential to go dreadfully wrong, but as long as I am continually choosing to seek God in all I do...He is there. There is no place that I can go in any aspect of my life that He will not.
She also brought up some other points that I did not have an answer right then about or realised I had not thought through some concepts. How will doing the Peace Corps help me in my long term goals when I will more than likely not be working with people who have disabilities primarily? Why do I not get alongside a person I know who is doing what I want to do and see how they do it? Why do I not see again about joining the community in Ukraine?
This is where I will begin processing my thoughts on all of those because I'm sure many people are sick of my verbal processing so that either leaves talking to myself (which I'm totally cool with, but I have found I at least need a person there. They don't even need to fully be paying attention to me as long as there is an appearance) or journaling - hence writing on my blog!
After I felt God tell me to walk in the direction of the Peace Corps and I began doing so, I looked a little more into what it was and began to feel more comfortable with it as I looked at what I would gain from it and what it would mean.
-Leadership training. I feel like I could be comfortable in a role I am confident in my ability to do so, but if there are other people around, even if they are not as knowledgable about it and they want to take charge? I would more than likely still defer to them especially if there is a leaning towards them. Part of that may still be my self efficacy needing work, but I do feel like I am being led to more leadership roles and I would like more tools than I have at the moment.
-Myself. I will be it in the community. Yes, I will be working with other people and be living in community. However, I will be the one people look to do and assist with other things. There will be no one else to rely on to assist them with or do it for me. I will have to rely on Jesus.
-Language techniques and skills. I want to be fluent in another language. While I would REALLY like Russian, the Peace Corps would teach me skills and techniques in learning the particular language I needed to quickly and I can take those to learn Russian later if I end up not being in a Russian speaking country. I would also be immersed in that particular language to learn it faster and more efficiently.
-Living and working in another country. I have done this before and I loved it!
-All expenses paid and then some. My flight from my origin to training and the country is covered as well as my living expenses while there and my flight back. I will also receive money to live on to supplement while I try to find a job. Afterwards, if I decide to continue my education - they will contribute to it and depending on the college and program I attend, the college will match what they contribute.
I think all of these reasons, while they don't directly contribute to my long term goals, provide me with skills that will indirectly assist me with them. Now the question is why not just go straight into working with people who have disabilities in a group home setting again? Why not spend time with a person that I like what they are doing with the role I want to eventually have? Why not look at joining the community in Ukraine?
In regards to the first question, I don't know. While I want to do it and miss it heaps, I guess I am saying that I don't want to do that just yet. I can't even tell you why at the moment...actually, while I'm typing this out...here is almost the ideal situation that would be perfect and I'm not even sure that I would say yes to doing it if the opportunity came up. If mostly everything from the Peace Corps was combined with what I "should" or want to do - it would probably look like this.
-Working/learning alongside the founding live-in assistant in the Ukrainian community.
Maybe I would...I'm just not sure. I think my hesitancy stems from the length of time. Prior to thinking about doing missions, I considered working in the Lethbridge community and while I'd still like to experience living life there - I got hung up a little on how much time I should tell them that I would stay there when I hadn't even applied. Working/learning alongside the founding live-in assistant in the Ukrainian community still could be only 2 years...
This is why I don't question things...lol My brain is jumbled so I am going to take some time to dwell more on these new thoughts to see if I can come up with other reasons or explanations - just please, brain - NO MORE QUESTIONS!!! :)
I realised after posting previously that I haven't updated going from nursing to my other degree I am working towards now. Again, long story short - my GPA is not the greatest so the couple times I have applied I have been denied. I talked with a college counselor and he pointed me in the direction of this major so I decided to go ahead and get my bachelor's degree in something else and then possibly go on from there.
I had my Peace Corps interview today!!! It went so well apparently, she told me that I would be nominated to join. Now, I am going to be sent things to have my background checked and ensure that my health is good. Then Placement will call and talk with me about different things available and I should eventually receive an invitation!!! :-D
I'm excited and scared at the same time. I mean, its scary that I have passed everything and now unless there are no positions out there...I'm pretty much in...scary thought, eh?
Hello, from ages ago.
One of these days, I'll be better at blogging more often but obviously that hasn't quite happened yet. I went back to school to finish my degree even though what I want to do doesn't require one. I wish I had discovered this degree awhile ago because it involves everything I'm interested in and more, but definitely wouldn't change my experiences for anything.
After I graduate, long story short I've applied to the Peace Corps. My interview is soon so I'll have an idea how competitive my application is compared to others. I would be gone for 27 months and picking where I go isn't an option. However, you can give your preferences and for me of course, that would be any Russian speaking country. If this is where God ends up leading me, no matter where I go - I will at least have the tools for me to learn Russian quickly afterwards.
I'm visiting one of my best friends in her new community of the international organization where we met. It's been awesome and I can't wait to go back into it at some point in my life. However, I've noticed that I have all sorts of ideas that I'd like to do and not sure how those are going to play out so stay tuned every so often and see if I've updated more than once a year! Lol
Have a great day!
