its official

I got an email this week that was filled with the most wonderful news. I am accepted to the Children at Risk school with YWAM in Costa Rica! So many things are racing through my head right now.


~stoked that in 45 days I will be flying to CR to begin the next phase of my life
~excited to be able to help the precious little ones of Costa Rica
~a little nervous to have to rely on God in the financial department (although He HAS always provided)
~I am going to miss my sister, family and friends terribly, but I am so excited for all the amazing new people I am going to be meeting. Please pray for these relationships =) I am also so excited to see all the people who touched my life last year
~I feel like so much has to be done!
 <support letter {that I have been putting off way to long} needs to be written>
 <the spiced plum walls of my apartment need to be painted>
 <books to buy, and read>
 <apartment needs to be packed up, and then unpacked at my loving parents house> 
 <repack, with the dread of trying to fit 9 months worth of belongings into a hiking pack + a backpack {doubtful that this will happen}>

I heard about this school while I was on outreach with my YWAM DTS {discipleship training school} last fall.  I immediately had an interest and started filling out my application as soon as I got home.  After a while the excitement had worn off and I was having second thoughts about going.  I received an offer to be an au pair in Spain {awesome right?!}, and was regretting sending my application in.  I found myself trying to talk myself into going {that is obviously not the right attitude to be having when we are talking about a 9 month dedication} and tried to get others to talk me into in as well. {thanks mom!}  I was invited to a Women at Risk jewelry party {WARS www.warinternational.org} which I was really excited about, but the day came and I just really did not want to go {you know how it is}.  I sucked it up and went, and as I walked through the tables of jewelry I couldn't help but think of the people who are struggling in Costa Rica.  They showed us a video on human trafficking and began talking about the severity of this issue.  As I watched the video, tears began rolling down my face. It was at that moment God reiterated to me that I am not going to Costa Rica for myself or for my gain.  I going make myself more aware of the problem down there, to show Gods love to these people, and help in any way that I can. 


 I am actually hosting a WAR jewelry party before I leave! I believe they do such a great job raising awareness and are helping women at the same time by creating safe places for these women, and giving a voice to their silenced cries. {more information to come}