Day 1

I can already tell that this week is going to be overwhelming.


Yesterday when I arrived at the airport, I was to take a train to central station and be picked up at the corner across the street. Well, when I went through the airport towards the trains I realized that there was no way I could get myself and my two large bags, two smaller bags, and a backpack (So I may have over packed but I really don't feel that way) through the barriers for the trains. My mom has been saying the last few days that she didn't think I would be able to do it, and on the plane ride over I was starting to worry that I could make it. So I cheated and got a taxi. When I arrived on the corner I waited for about 30 minutes for someone to come and pick me up, and the later it got the more I started to panic. I called the community house and they said that someone was there, so I walked around the corner and there they were. They had been waiting on the other side for about 20 minutes. Once that was over the rest of the day went a lot smoother.

I met my roommate, who is from Illinois, and we walked around the neighborhood.  She's just arrived Friday night, so we're both the new people. Our community house and the hostel I'm working, is in the Jordan area and it's mostly a residential neighborhood. I found a few shops that I can use (drug store, grocery store). Then for dinner we rode our bikes to the hostel. I’m going back today with a group of people, which is good cause I’m really not sure if I could find it by myself.

I start my introduction class tomorrow and then begin working on Tuesday. I’ll need a lot of prayer to make it through this week; it’s a lot of training.

Here are some pictures that I took yesterday.  The first is from my bedroom window and the other two are from my neighborhood.

I made it!!!

I just want to let everyone know that I made it!!  But I'm really jet lagged cause I didn't sleep any on my flight (we were packed like sardines), so I'm going to sleep and updating tomorrow.

I'll take a picture of my new mode of transportation and post it tomorrow.  You'll love it!

Goodbyes

This weekend I managed to pack one full suitcase and half of another.  I am very excited about my progress.  Hopefully I can get the other packed tomorrow.

On Sunday, I went to church and my Sunday School Class had a little going away party for me.  It was so nice.  We had cake and lemonade and our lesson for the class was about making tough decisions.  It's kind of funny cause I've felt like the last few lessons have been about what has been going on in my life and the decisions that I've had to make in the last few weeks.  God always finds ways to encourage me, which is very comforting.

Then Sunday night we had a small get together here at our house for all my family.  It's been a long time since we had everyone over and it made our house seem so small.  At the end we decided to get out photo albums and see how cute we were as kids.  It's just nice to know that you have so much support from your family.  I'm so lucky to have a group of people I can lean on.

Tomorrow is my last day of work and I'm kind of sad.  I hate saying goodbye to people, although it is more like a see you later.  It will be weird to wake up Thursday morning and not do the same routine that I have been doing for the last two years.  I'll miss all the conversations and the jokes that we've shared.

This week is a very big leap for me and all I know to do is just pray that I can make it through.

One Week

So I leave for Amsterdam in one week.  I'm getting a little nervous that I won't be able to get everything done in time.  This weekend I'm going shopping to purchase everything on my list that seems to continue to grow.  It's already one page, so I hope I stop thinking of new items.  Then sometime I want to pack my summer suitcase and get it ready to ship.  Let's just pray that I don't stress out!  lol.....