Quick Update...

So Orientation is almost over. In one week, I will have been commissioned and I will be getting ready to fly back to Dallas the next day. What a whirlwind this has been. It feels like I got here yesterday, yet I've learned so much. I'm reminded more and more every day that I need to make Him a priority. I'm reminded of it even more when I don't.

Every time I'm put in a new situation, I learn more and more about myself. This time I have been reminded of how God has blessed me to make friends easily. I did not have a hard time making friends when I went to college, nor did I have a hard time in the last 2 months making friends. I know He is faithful, but I still am afraid of what my friend situation will look like once I get to Romania, simply because I won't be taking classes (except language, praise the Lord!).

I guess I'm just afraid of the unknown. In my flesh, I am afraid. I know God is already there, though, and that is good for my spirit. It is not the unknown to Him, and therefore I try not to worry. But my flesh worries. I need to live in the Spirit and not worry. So pray that I will build relationships once I get there with other people my age. There is no one in my city that works for the same organization that I do that is my age. Pray that I would have opportunities to even meet others.

One of my biggest desires (besides learning the language) is to also build relationships with nationals. I don't desire to surround myself only with other GCCs (Great Commission Christians) from the United States. I know that other GCCs will be important for my spiritual growth, especially where Christian fellowship comes in, but I guess my MK instinct is to want to blend with the culture and become part of it.

I know this post is everywhere, but it's been several hours since I started writing...I went for coffee and a wal-mart run in between, so I've had some time to think and come back with a different perspective maybe.

Oh quick request before I go....this nasty 24 hour stomach bug has been going around this place like crazy. I don't normally get stuff that goes around, thank-you to my iron stomach that was developed while living in the middle of no where. Anyway, I don't want to start now. It seems to have a 1 week incubation period after being exposed, 6-8 hours of continuous "getting sick" at least hourly, and then major fatigue...followed by being perfectly back to normal 24 hours after it's showed up. Pray that I don't get it, because I dont'want to be sick on the plane, visiting friends, or meeting my niece for crying out loud.

Thanks friends...I love you all.

Shopping Fun...

Yesterday a group of us went down to Willamsburg to the outlet mall there. I didn't plan on getting anything, but when I saw these things and their prices, I knew it was meant to be. I did it only because it was like an act of God. He truly does not want me to freeze during my first real Winter ever...

I found the only pair of snow boots in the women's section of L.L. Bean right in my size. Turns out they are technically men's shoes, but the price was right ($100...they were on sale, people!), they fit perfectly, and I have since learned they are REALLY GOOD snow boots.

I also found an UnderArmour outlet which had base layers on sale, also! Praise the Lord! I will not freeze in Romania! Each item was $30, so I bought two pants and two shirts...and on top of that, since I was spending over $100 in that store, I got a 10% discount! I was really excited about that, too.

The third item that I found were some socks made out of something called smartwool. They are pretty much the best socks ever. They have different intensities of cushion for different activities. I just got the medium cushion for hiking, even though I'll wear them around town under my amazing new snow boots. I figure they'll work. Oh yeah, and they were a really good price, too... $7.95/pair, which normally I would not pay that much for socks, but their usual prices run close to $10-15 a pop.

So there you have it. I will not freeze in Romania. Praise the Lord.....Now if I can only figure out how to get this all back to Dallas without having to pay an arm and a leg for overweight luggage...

I'm an Aunt Now!

Praise the Lord! My niece was born yesterday afternoon!!! Her name is Sahara Xiomara (Sahara pronounced with the second "a" sound like "ah") and she was 6lb 8.9oz and I'm told perfect in every way. I sill have not gotten any pictures, but I'm thankful for this precious life and already love her so much!

Please pray with me...

Friends, Please pray for my brother, his co-workers, and students as they deal with the loss of my brother's cooperating teacher in Irving.

My brother teaches 2nd grade, and tomorrow will have to help 30 2nd graders that he and this other teacher team-taught deal with the unfortunate loss of their teacher.

She and her husband, who have been married just over a month, were killed in a car wreck overnight in Dallas.

Here is the link to the Dallas Morning News article

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/090208dnmetcrash.32a228ca.html

Here is the link to the NBC 5 report

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/17358829/detail.html?rss=dfw&psp=news

Thanks so much!