But I forgot.
And my mom reminded me today, after the fact, and I realized that it may not have been that big of a deal, but she may have been waiting for me to bring a piece of cake, because I had promised.
Doesn't that make me look silly.
Well, this is because I'm vowing not to do that again. I will regard promises with even more seriousness, and now I'm going to make one that I won't break.
I cannot tell you when, or how often, but I will tell you that I PROMISE to weeble more than once a month. Because that's basically what I've been doing.
*I've come up with a new word:: weeble :: it means the same thing as blog, or write... so interject one of those two words into weeble and you've got the definition of weeble :) *
makes sense since my website is on weebly.com...
WELL while you've been patiently waiting, I've been patiently waiting also, and to great results!
I am leaving September 7th, this coming Tuesday. For Indonesia. We have been preparing for this so I'm not in a rush... well I am because I'm who I am and what to get things done, and there's so much to do, but I am getting ready steadily with God each day!
I will be leaving Chicago O'hare Airport on Sept. 7th. Landing in San Francisco, California.
Then I'll be leaving San Francisco, California on Sept. 8th. Landing in Taipei, China on Sept 9th.
Then leaving Taipei, China and arriving in Jakarta, Java, Indonesia a couple hours later!!!
I'll be getting a chinese option for my meals, and 2/3 of the people will be Chinese, and you can have a laptop in the air but there are no outlets so I'll be charging when I land and updating you on what's on my mind in the air! So stay tuned for the FLIGHT!
p.s. I'll upload pictures as fast as possible :)
Packing is handy-dandy. I've been shopping for loads of American gifts for my families in Indonesia, including Notre Dame and Indiana appareal, and an USA puzzle and map.
I had my going-away party on August 28th, and it was a riot. So many of my friends came and it was such a blessing to see everyone together. It went from 4pm-3am the next day... with the number finally trickling down to 6.
I would have to say that physically I am doing okay, I went go-karting the other day with my sisters and got smashed into the side of my go-kart when a guy ran into it. Painful, I know. Added to that are scratches from retrieving wood for the bonfire at my going away party and shot wounds from the Typhoid and Hepatitis A shots I just got today.
Spiritually, I'm doing okay: God and I had a run in on Friday, where- while everyone was in school, I was on a baseball field crying to God.
I don't know if you've ever experienced it, but the pain you can feel when leaving something so good is unexplainable, completely so. I never realized how bad it can hurt.
I finally came to a spot with God after talking and crying with Him for more than 45 minutes, where I could live life at this point with an open hand, surrendering to God, Everything. And just trusting Him. Which is not what I was doing before. Instead I was clinging tightly to what I have here in Indiana, which doesn't work very well and doesn't prove successful with God or with travelling.
After I came to that spot I was able to stand up and walk over to a picnic table.
I took out my Bible and started to read Job, feeling that I had an enormous number of questions about pain as Job has an enormous number of questions about justice.
I couldn't read though and quickly looked up, spotting a Canadian goose limping.
Oh yah, did that make me bawl.
That enforced the questions about why God allows for pain, and anguish, and evil when He is so big...
after toppling and crying with me, He showed me that if there was no pain, we wouldn't realize how much we needed to depend on God, plus we get tested through pain, and realize many things through it. And He uses the bad the allowed for good. So it's all okay
Yep. That gave me peace. But it didn't stop the pain, and when I got to my house, I continued crying as "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns played. I thought of King David praising even when he felt like crying, and man did I. It was not the best singing I've done, but it was raw and real. And afterwards, I felt so much better.
So now I'm healing
And God did amazing things yesterday at church and in the morning and has been telling me to prepare: both my luggage, and my defense to why I have the joy that I do and why I am a Christian.
A lot has happened.
With my List of Things to Do-- I'm down to 24. I'll get pictures up pronto. It is on my list to do before I leave :)
I have been going to help the band at school, and it looks like it's been helping- which is amazing.
AND THIS IS GOD'S ADVENTURE!
I've been in Indiana 2 extra weeks preparing my heart, and everyone else preparing theirs for my departure. and now He is saying: "your ready to do this with me, I've prepared all you need. Now go."
Whose stoked?
Even for those of you staying in Indiana while I'm away. Be Stoked.
Because as for me it will be for you. Each of us will have to find another who can lift us up, as I've done for my friends and everyone in Indiana, or you will have to be the one to step up and be the one to lift others up.
To keep that positive note even when you don't have anyone encouraging you too.
Lee, my sunday school teacher, said to us once- "When your joy leaves, then where will your faith be?"
When I am gone, there may be a little less joy in your heart, feeling like you have a piece missing- I know for sure my mom will feel like this- but don't worry, pray: and ask God to keep you firm in Him. Because our faith is not based on joy, but it is based on God's promises and truths. And I'll tell you right now He keeps his promises a LOT better than I do :)
I will probably give you one more update before I go and then I will be wisked off and away!
Let's do this friends, prep with God this coming week, for afterwards, I will be gone: you will be here - and we'll both be starting our adventures with God this school year.