Preface

So I know I haven't said anything in a while. It really will be a while before I do any major postings, because I only have a limited amount of time on the internet. It has definately been an interesting experience so far. Lots of stuff has happened.

I hear that all anyone cares to hear about in big adventures are disaster stories. Well...everyone should love the first few posts, because I feel like I have one disaster story after another. You will have to read it with humor. Even though most of my postings will be well after the event, I think I might write as if it just happened that day. So it will be more in the present tense than past. Just to warn you, I tend to write the setting of the story to create a visual as if you were there, so they will be long (whenever I do get the chance to write). Plus, I will be writing from a journal that I have been writing in. Anyone who knows me well, knows I love to write in a journal during overseas trips. I have gone through MANY pages in my journal I recieved from my brother and sister-in-law. At least I won't forget anything. So I guess I will just start at the very beginning.

My journy actually began a year and a half ago after I came back from a Mission trip from Bulgaria. It was an amazing experience of building a Church, building relationships with people, talking with local teachers...I loved it. I have always loved to travel whether across the US or overseas. Bulgaria was my first long term Mission trip and it was an amazing experience (as I have stated before).

Anyway, when I got back, I really had a desire in my heart. This may seem strange, but I had a great desire...but had no idea what that desire was. All I knew was I had to get on my knees and pray. I felt that God was moving me in a direction, but I was not sure where that direction would lead me. So many times during the night (as early as 2:00 am-4:00 am) I would get out of my bed and pray, asking for direction, asking for guidence, asking for help.

I began to feel a pull toward going overseas. So I started researching teaching overseas. I found many opportunities, but I needed to have a TESOL certificate to teach English abroad. I really wanted to go to Europe or even South America. So I took a class to get the certificate. BIG MISTAKE. I loved the class, enjoyed the material and instruction, and loved the time I would get to spend with my friend Daisy after the classes were over (12 hours of classes on Saturday and Sunday for 3 weeks), but it led me to a dead end. When I recieved my certificate, I started searching for schools abroad. All I kept getting was "This certificate is not recognized. You need a different certificate." I got really frustrated and began to realize that my certificate was only recognized in China, Thailand, and Korea. Not the places I was looking into. If you have any questions about where or how to get a good certificate, come to me. Don't make my mistake.

Anyway, after a while, I got an email from a former college roommate of mine, Alison. She told me that she was going through an organization to help her get to New Zealand. She invited me to come with her. It intruiged me, so I started researching New Zealand (a place I never would have thought of on my own). I found an program just for teachers overseas. This program was actually paid by the schools to find teachers overseas and help find jobs in New Zealand. I was able to speak to a person over the phone (who actually works in Austrailia, but works for the schools in New Zealand...interesting). Anyway, I loved the way it sounded, and thus began my journy.

It just felt like the right thing for me. It suited my travel wants, it helped me get out of the state where teaching is not the position to get into, and I felt at peace...at the time. So then, I contacted Alison and told her my intentions, and we began our journy together planning, packing, and discussing where to go and what we wanted to do when we arrived.

Naturally, we were excited and nervous about not having jobs. The plan was I would get a job before we left, and she would follow me whereever and get a job in the area. But, as we well know, our plans never turn out right. I feel that this is the direction God wants me to go, even though I have no idea why. I am trying to trust in Him, but I have to admit that it is so hard to go blindly. Thankfully He has provided me with a wonderful support system of family and friends. They have been wonderful. I know God has a plan for me, and I will just trust that and see where He leads me.

And that is where I stop until next time. I am hoping the next post will be about the pre departure and the departure from the US to New Zealand. Good luck with your reading!