PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS BLOG IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF MY HOST COUNTRY OR OF THE PEACE CORPS.
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It is crazy to think that this time next week I will be in Nicaragua. I feel a little in denial about leaving… This past weekend, my parents threw me an incredible going away party and yes, mama LaVoye outdid herself once again. In total I think there was about 7 huge tables of food alone. I don't think I am able to put into words the gratefulness and joy my heart was filled with having so many people from so many walks of my life in one room. If I ever doubted that I was loved, attending that party slapped that lie in the face. AND OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS my sweet friends surprised me by performing “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart. Talk about a tear jerker, #amiright?! I'm super glad they played it to me while I had my back to the rest of the party because the water pouring out of my face was actually RIDICULOUS. (If you haven't heard the song, prepare yourself to have this stuck in your head for the next week) But on a real note, I have 6 days left in the states! Now that I have my shopping lists nearly completed and my bags almost packed, it's funny how "preparing to leave" has made a huge shift from material things. There is a lot of preparation I have realized needs to be done in my heart and in my focus. Soon, I am going to be escaping comfort and the routine life that I've grown so used to. While there is definitely some anxiety, I'm really looking forward to making Nicaragua my new home. Such excitement stems a lot from knowing that I have an incredible support system back here in my family, in Norwood, at Pleasant Valley, and at Mosaic Boston (to name a few)... And most importantly, the excitement comes from the confidence in knowing that the Lord has brought me this far, there's sure to be some really great stuff ahead. In an effort to maintain my sanity and composure in these last crazy days, I am focusing on these verses: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough of its own." Matthew 6:34 "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" Colossians 4:2 Please be praying that this crazy, crazy winter will hold off and allow me to get to staging without any problems due to weather next Tuesday morning! By next blog, I'll hopefully be rocking my Chacos, having escaped my triple layer socks and Bean Boots! *fingers crossed*
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Initial apologies, I'm a total amateur at blogging but here it goes! At the beginning of January, I whined that I wasn't being given a "sufficient" winter to experience before heading down to Nicaragua's eternal summer... WELLP, I definitely spoke too soon! Boston has literally been pummeled with snow over the past month and it's taken a huge damper on the time outlines I had constructed in my head for my departure preparations. Talk about needing peace and a reality check! Things most definitely do not go according to plan! Nevertheless, I can't believe how quickly the time is flying by. For those who have known me, you've been aware that I have wanted to join the Peace Corps since I was 17. With this dream 6 years in the making, it is crazy that the time is already approaching to ship out! I've been having my slight panics about leaving but God was definitely gracious in trapping me in the city with some of the greatest friends over the past week. With the forced snow days and plethora of time for deep thought, I have realized how future-focused I am. I get waaaay too caught up in the thoughts about what could happen ahead rather than seeing what is happening now. Con.Vic.Ted! A little scripture chunk that I have been reading and re-reading is Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Whew.. punches me in the gut every time. I'm hoping these next 19 days will take their time. I've got so many fun things coming up and don't really want to think about goodbyes just yet! And don't even get me started on packing...  Here's a little outline to my Peace Corps process for those who are interested:
What a process, huh?! Be sure to check out the other pages on this blog by clicking the menu on the top lefthand corner of the screen.
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