I believe after I am done here, I will make all of these blogs into a book, published, real, for me to have, and if you want one too. Just shout out :) Because I'd love to make you one too.
That's the one way that I can remember things, if I write them down, so that's what I'll do with this experience God's blessing me with.
Calvin College Conference was incredible, in many ways. And I feel that I don't want to put it all down here because it would take hours and it would be longer than the longest blog I have here :)
The first day we started, the opening ceremony was with the FIFA World Cup theme song, it inspired me to travel, to see, to explore in wonder, and love God's diversity and creations. It was beautiful, they had the most intense slide show of photos from around the globe, and all the flags from different countries flying, and it was outstanding.
Right after the tingles and tears that I got from the opening ceremony, God messed up everyone's plan and provided us with a power shortage, so it ended quickly with an evacuation. Tell me that's not totally cool how even though God's truths are not claimed to be his, THEY ARE HIS!!! and you can see Him clearly. - This truth grew larger throughout the three days, and expanded into many other things at the conference while I was there.
Another thing to make this truth more evident is how I found Kelsey*there's a photo of her too!*who is the only other girl in the Central States District, which is from Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan- up to the Middle provinces of Canada-- going to Indonesia. She was sitting in front of me, turned around, and asked where I was going. We both said Indonesia and I screamed, haha. It was like a family reunion, except with more enthusiasm. She lives in Ontario, Canada, and will probably be leaving August 23rd. She and I are so much alike it's amazing. She also has a boyfriend, friends, will be going to college when she comes home, and understands when I talk to her about my puzzle and other things. It's unbelievable how God worked that out.
There were amazing speakers, *if you look at the photos, you'll see who I'm talking about!* and each one deserves a little paragraph of their own, for sure:
Karen Connelly was the first, the author of Touch the Dragon, and a former foreign exchange student. Her book is her journal from when she was there, and it was so straightforward and gut honest about what she experienced. It's the one book that people look to, to honestly get a view of what a foreign exchange student goes through over in their host country. No matter where they go to. Because there are things that we will all run into. Such as the language barrier, loneliness, and frustration. I would recommend reading it, or just to continue reading to hear the reality of exchange students from her book ring true in my blog.
Stephanie Selvick was another speaker. After her introduction, it seemed like it would be me in 15 years up there... if God wants travel to be in the center of our world, his and mine- I mean. She had done so much, and said yes to so many things, that opened so many doors and she found herself doing so many things she never thought she would. *note: even when there was no mention of God, at all, He was so present with what she was doing, and her idea of saying yes* It was so cool to see her up there, because it seemed like what I thought I would be like, except I would be talking about God to a profound amount because He's the center of my world and flows over into everything!
Jeannette Fregulia is the last speaker I really listened to. She was so funny. Just that simple statement can't contain it. haha. She talked about the trend that most foreign exchange students go through. There's a photo of it too... :) When you first get there it's honeymoon, and as you realize you won't be home for Christmas you bottom out, but around January when you start to understand the language, it gets much better. ~ Then you come home and have a very short honeymoon before you start to miss your host country, and you start to fall into reverse culture shock (which I believe will be the hardest for me) where I personally won't know how my puzzle with God, travelling, relationships, and college work out. After God figures that puzzle out... then you have reintegration, which is where everything you've learned is finally put into place in your life, sounds sweet as honey doesn't it? Well I'm still at the beginning, friends, we're not there yet :)
Jeannette also talked about culture, and how to just give yourself time to catch on to what's going on in your host country. And if there's guys that are aggressive- do what the women there do to deal with them!
Altogether, the conference was great. They put on a terrific variety show, in which every single act was unbelievable, because they have so many different things to pick from!
We also got to meet with our travel agent, who said that my papers are stuck at the consulate and we're still not sure what shots I'll need to get. So we're looking that it'll be 2-3 weeks until I get the confirmation forms, then I need to get the Visa, then the plane ticket... hopefully they'll set me up with a girl from Alaska whose going to Indonesia too!
Then it'll probably be 2-3 after that until I leave because I think that would be appropriate :)
I know my first host family, they are all beautiful. I will be staying with Mama Shirley, Papa Ronald, Naomi (16), and Jessica (9), plus mbak Iin (the maid) and Bapak Prapto (chauffeur !! ). I will be going to Tirta Manta Christian High School, and the church that is with it- or another one that I like... that's what they said!
Did you know that 5% of the Indonesian population is Christian?? Yep. Tell me that isn't insane. That is thoroughly God. My parents have always wanted me to go to a Christian school, and we were very aware of how Muslim is the dominant religion in Indonesia, but God is already taking care of my trip, He's already there working :) and you can see it!
I have legitimately started packing just in case I leave very soon, and I won't be packing tampons or TP because they've got it, where in India, they do need to bring it. So thank goodness for more suitcase room! I'll be bringing Notre Dame shirts and memorabilia, Indiana stuff, USA stuff, the works... :)
Life is good right now.
I was crying the other day because I've started to just now realize that I am leaving.
I am leaving.
Wow.
I was reminiscing while creating a slideshow to show Rotaries over in Indonesia, and started crying. It took a few hours, but God brought me back into His arms and reminded me that the things I'll be missing are still going to be here, and I'll be giving up little things to ultimately gain something so much bigger :) He's taking care of me. And I'm okay. Not saying I won't cry again. I've been randomly tearing up and crying since Friday. But I believe I'm allowed to, and I just try not to show it too much. Unless I'm alone with God outside, or in the presence of someone who will just sit, listen, and remind me of God. Thanks Alan.
Alright, please email me if I'm writing too much at one time, because this was a long, informative one I believe!
:) God Bless.
Hebrews 4:13
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable."