Menu
  • All the crazy
  • Who am I?
  • Nica in a nutshell
  • Be my pen pal!
820 Días: My Adventure in Nicaragua

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS BLOG IS NOT A REPRESENTATION OF MY HOST COUNTRY OR OF THE PEACE CORPS. 

Rivers Til I Reach You

2/25/2015

2 Comments

 
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*
2 Comments

19 Days and Counting

2/12/2015

1 Comment

 
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...
Picture
Here's a little outline to my Peace Corps process for those who are interested:
  • November 30, 2013: Submitted my PC application (I applied before the reform of the application process; you newbies are lucky ducks!)
  • January 23, 2014: Peace Corps Interview
  • January 27, 2014: Submitted my country preference list to recruiter
  • February 11, 2014: Received my nomination (Health Sector Volunteer, Tentative Departure March 2015)
  • March 28, 2014: All Pre-Clearance medical forms submitted for review
  • May 8, 2014: Medical Pre-Clearance approved
  • May 19, 2014: Legal Clearance approved
  • July 18, 2014: Invitation for Nicaragua, departure March 2015: Health
  • July 19, 2014: Invitation accepted
  • December 22, 2014: All final clearance medical forms received
  • December 29, 2014: Final Medical Clearance approved
  • February 2, 2015: Staging information email sent and flights booked
  • March 3, 2015: Staging in Miami
  • March 4, 2015: Pre-service training begins in Nicaragua

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.
1 Comment

    Hola, I'm Justine

    Archives

    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.