39 And Counting

39.

39 days till I leave.

That's so close.

I still have things to do.

Get a suit case.

Pack that suit case.

Sell my car.

Hang out with friends.

Clean my room.

Travel to Idaho for a wedding.

Get rid of a bunch of stuff.

Make memories.

It's funny how when we have a number we are more apt to follow through on things. Before I knew I was going to New Zealand I knew that I should clean my room. Go through all my stuff and get rid of lots. Value times with people. Enjoy everyday. And all that stuff...but with a countdown it makes me want all that more. I want to accomplish it because I have a limited number of days to do it. 

But honestly, that's how we should always live...our days are limited. Maybe you and I only have 39 days left in life...think about what you want to accomplish in life and live with the urgency to actually accomplish it...instead of just putting it off till next  week, or next year, or never. 

 It's funny how God works. Sometimes I think He just has to be so blatant in order for me to notice that it's really Him working and not my plans. I sent in my paperwork and my passport for a visa a little while ago and have just been waiting and praying hoping it all goes through and that I filled everything out right (It was quite an extensive process). 

Today my grandma asked me how she could pray for me. My answer...Pray that I get my visa.

When I got home I checked the mail...there it was. My passport is back with my visa in it! I'm welcome in New Zealand from right now until June 30, 2013!! 

It could be easy to say it all just went through because I had no red flags, but I know that it all went through because this next step is part of God's plan for my life. I am so excited to keep on pursuing Jesus this year. New Zealand here I come in 42 days!

 

Every Day Heros

As it says in the about me of this blog...I seem to stumble upon adventures no matter where I go...So today I was trying to do right by my poor car and run inside the gas station to buy oil to fill his little belly up and what do you know I locked my keys in my car. I called AAA Insurance, but they said they couldn't find my account so they wouldn't come. WHAT!?!? That's not what I paid them all that money for! So then I went inside and asked the man working if he was any good at breaking into cars. He said that someone else had all his tools, but he would try. He told this other lady working there that he was going to help me and she was "less than thrilled" about it. I felt bad cause it was obvious that I was getting him in trouble, but he came anyway. He got his truck and pulled out his tools. He said he would try but that these were his trash tools and someone else had the good stuff. He tried and tried and finally that woman left...yelling at him as she went. I apologized and told him I hoped he wasn't getting in too much trouble and he told me that it was his mom and he didn't care (though he did yell that he loved her as she drove away...so sweet). He said they owned 35 different stores so sometimes she got grouchy because all that craziness gave her a headache. 

He tried and tried and couldn't get it. I don't know why but my car is like anti theft and beyond! We grabbed the door handle, but it won't unlock the door. We hit the unlock button but it wouldn't unlock the door. We hit the lock button and it worked but the unlock wouldn't...weird. I called/texted everyone who I thought had a spare key...no answer. Then another guy walked up and started helping. He didn't have the right tools either but he had more tools, so we added them to our mismatched tools. They kept reminding me that I wasn't supposed to lock my keys in my car. And asking me about all the other times I had done it. They said I probably overused AAA and that's why they "couldn't find my account" cause they were sick of unlocking my car. =) Eventually the first guy had to go back inside because mommy-dear was going to be back soon and as she drove off yelling he had told her he was giving up and on his way back inside so if he was still at my car when she got back it'd be ugly. So mechanic man took his turn. Eventually what made it happen was shoving the wire down in with the lock and yanking with all his might. It broke a little plastic off around the lock but that was way better than their offer to smash out my window! 

So these two strangers saved the day. Yay for nice people in the world willing to give up their time and even get in trouble to help a stranger. Every day heros are all around us...who have you helped today?  

Oh, and go get gas at Marathon Petroleum if you need to fill up that tank...they are nice there!

Day by Day

It is starting to sink in that I am moving.
Moving far away.
Moving by myself.
Moving to New Zealand without knowing anyone there.

It's super scary.

But it's so exciting.
It's so motivating.
So awesome.
Knowing I have to rely on Jesus to fulfill all my needs.
I know I will have struggles, but they will be few in comparison with the joys of being obedient to Christ and doing what He wants with my life. It is less than 2 months till I leave (I think...since I don't have a ticket yet). But if you are a pray-er here are some things I'd love for you to pray about:

• Getting a visa - currently all the paperwork and my passport are in the mail somewhere between Grand Rapids and Washington DC.
• Getting a ticket - just figuring out the best price and route and all that goes with that.
• Getting insurance - I have to have international insurance in order to attend school...
• Getting rid of lots of stuff - my car, clothes, things...I'm a bit of a pack rat, so learning to let go.
• And most importantly living day by day and not just looking forward or being scared of the 'then' but doing everything I can for God in the 'now'.