It's about time

Well, It's about time I write another blog since my last was in 2009.. about a homicide outside of my apartment in TACOMA. That couldn't have been the last interesting thing that has happened in my life! Either way, here I am writing from Spain. I have been here since Dec 11th and I have three more days till I fly out on the 31st of Dec to South Africa. It was a cheap ticket and I didn't see that I actually fly out New Years Eve. Con- I miss New Years Eve in Madrid, Spain which is presumably quite awesome. Pro, it will still be a memorable New Years Eve spent in a plane flying to South Africa- that is if I'm not sleeping at the time. Maybe they will serve us champagne for a toast at midnight. =)

I had a great time with my older sister Joy and her husband Elmer and their two daughters Hosanna (10) and Halelah (8). Trip total of three weeks, visiting some sites, meeting some people seeing what they are doing here. Attended an English class, had a sister-sister trip to Portugal where I found that Portuguese sounds a bit like Russian and they make so many different types of pastries and desserts out of egg!

I've enjoyed cool sites, good food and meeting lots of interesting people.

Although I am excited about getting to my "final destination" I also feel sad that this time is coming to a close. Who knows what God has ahead for me.

I have already had two unexpected adjustments. One change is another lady and her small son will be joining me and two other ladies and three children (plus hopefully two more children) in the home I will be living in. That's a lot of new roommates! =) I was feeling a little bit distraught with my lack of flexibility compared to the last time I was in South Africa, when a good friend reminded me that 24 is a lot different then 28. It's much easier to be flexible with changes when your younger! Ah, a little bit of grace for myself, and I'm feeling better about the whole situation. More information to come about our little household I'm sure.

Second the South African Nursing Council (SANC) is on strike, which means they will not be working on my paper work. They are the next step I am waiting for. I have completed 3 of the 5 steps with them. Now just waiting for them to let me take the Nursing Test, which will allow me to get a license which will allow me to apply for a job, which will allow me to apply for a work visa, which will allow me to apply to do foster care... So you can see why their strikes is super frustrating. I contemplated going down their to strike with them, as I have joined my sister Hope and her husband Nate in a few protests/strikes the last few years, but that lasted two minutes before I realized what that might actually mean. Probably not a good idea. On the other hand when they go back to work, they might remember the blonde nurse from America who walked the lines with them and my paper work might go through really quickly!

One thing that helps me be a little less frustrated is that from the beginning friends have been praying for me that God would go before me and prepare the way. The night before I found out about the strike, I awoke with a splitting headache I had had for the last three days. I decided to use the time to pray for people with chronic pain, and other things. I found myself thanking God and acknowledging that He is in control of my life, and the future. All the things are out of my control, but they are not out of His. I also thanked Him for going before me and preparing the way. A few hours later I heard about the strike. Ah, but see God already knew about that didn't He?