Orientation

After that sappy story I thought that I should tell you how orientation went!
Because that was just apart of orientation that actually did not seem to influence me a whole lot until last night.

So... Orientation was much fun. I was not anticipating to really enjoy being with all these people I did not know.  It was almost like going to Bethany for the first time again not knowing anyone and being super awkward!

Well it was not.  It started early Wednesday morning at the airport with some really great people! From Calgary all the way to Akron I flew with two girls from Lethbridge area, Betty and Paulina. And also with Eryn from south of Strathmore.  Throughout the week the 4 of us seemed to find each other and spend time together.  I have really appreciated their friendship this week because I honestly was not looking forward to trying to get to know people.

The other two girls I spent most of my time with too were my fellow South African SALTers; Lydia and Nikki!  They are super great!  I think that this year we will make great team!  And I am so looking forward to getting to know them more!

The session this week were also great!  I knew lots of MCC's history and their calling but to be able to hear it in different ways and hear actual stories from people was great too.  We were also given the chances to talk with the IVEPers that were coming from the areas we were going.  This was so much fun and we all able to learned lots about the culture we are going to.  The picture is actually a picture of all the SwaLaSa (Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa) IVEPers and SALTers.  For those of you who do not know IVEP is the same program I am on but flipped.  It is international young adults coming to North America working for a year.  Also the girl I am standing beside in the black was my roommate for the week, Martha!

This week was a lot of fun. And I have had to push myself outside of my comfort zone, but it has been worth it!  Played frisbee monkey in the middle with some people during free time.  Also learned a Latin line dance type thing, which later turned out to be a practice for the talent show that was happening the next night! Ha! But yes I ended up front performing that little number.

I am sorry this is getting to be a long post but I had to tell you that the place we stayed for the week was beautiful! The Welcoming Place in Akron PA!  If you ever get the chance to stay here you should!

I was not expecting this to be such a great week and to make some really great friendships! Thank you to who ever has been apart of it! I would not change it! Until next time don't be afraid to make a new friend! There are so many great people out there!

Oh VISA's

Still having trouble. MCC Akron sent my application away on Thursday morning bright and early! We were praying that the visa would come back to me in Akron right away. But Friday evening (the very next day) I received an e-mail from the SA consulate saying laws have changed and that I would need to go in person to apply for my visa, in Toronto; and that my passport would be sent on Monday to me.

After much advocating on my behalf by the MCC offices to try and just get me the visa with out me going to Toronto, I am now going to Toronto. I appreciate the efforts of everyone trying to make this process easier on me!!!!

I know I am going to Toronto, the question now is when…. As I had mentioned the e-mail stated that my passport would be on its way to me on Monday. But with the tracking number we have for the envelop we sent; my passport is still in Toronto (this is according to 3:30 Tuesday afternoon). So things might have changed since then. I have also replied to the e-mail asking if they have sent it but there has been no response yet.

So now it’s Wednesday morning, the people I connected with the most are all gone from orientation.  And I saw off my fellow South African SALTers just now.  It’s harder than I was expecting it would be to watch them go on with out me. Especially with out knowing when or if I will get there.

The hardest part is not knowing.  Not knowing if my passport is on its way here; not knowing when I am going to Toronto; not knowing if I will get my visa right way or if I will have to wait 10 days after going into the consulate;  not knowing if I will get my visa;  not knowing.  I know we can’t know everything and that’s part of God’s mystery.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Wow!! It’s actually here!! I leave in two sleeps! It has been quite the journey and I know God has been there all along, even if it’s hard to see some times.

From the last time I left off there were some struggles that occurred.  After applying for my visa I was pretty comfortable and ready for the adventure to start.  Then a week and a half later I got my application back in the mail from the embassy, they figured I needed more information. Which threw me off.  So after a few minutes of panic and frustration I figured out what all I needed to gather to re send my application. The last thing I needed was fingerprinting done by the police station with a vulnerable sector check, because you all know I am such a criminal :p But after panicking that it was going to take 2-3 weeks to get the results I calmed and had complete peace for the two weeks waiting. Thank you for all those who prayed for me I defiantly felt God was with me.  After two weeks I started calling the police station wondering if they knew the status of my results. At two weeks there was nothing, after three weeks nothing, after four weeks nothing…. so then I decided I needed to go and talk to people face to face because I was  supposed to be leaving the country in a week and a half! Eventually we figured out that the people in Ottawa who were supposed to be checking my finger prints had just cancelled my applications (without telling anyone) because they do not do venerable sector fingerprints for people who are leaving the country.  Ha! I can laugh about it now but during the time oh man it was frustrating.

In the middle of all this I got an e-mail from Wade the SALT coordinator saying that we will apply for my visa once I get to Akron for training because when applying for a visa you have to send your passport away which would mean that I would not be able to be at orientation with all the other participants in the States.

So with all my paper work in order and my stuff packed up in boxes, I left Saskatoon last Thursday.  It was really hard to say goodbye to my friends and family.  My roommate and I over the past two months have been able to spend quite a bit of time together so saying good-bye to her for a whole year was quite hard. 

Now being in Calgary I have been packing and re-packing my bag trying to make things fit and making sure it is not over 50 pounds; making sure I have everything I need and maybe a bit more!  I think it is all packed up but it is 52 pounds. I am hoping that they will let the two pounds slip, but we will see.

Now I get to say bye to my family…. not looking forward to it, actually as I type this I am off to Canmore with my Dad and one of my sisters to go and see my oldest sister and her family today good-bye.  Tomorrow I will see the rest of my family for supper and say good-bye to them.

Than Wednesday morning at 5:30 I will be heading through security with 4 other girls (though I will not know what they will look like! Ha that will be a fun game trying to figure that out!) :D for orientation. For now, I am ready to go on my long awaited adventure but at the same time not liking the “Good-Bye” aspect of it.

Until next time make sure you take advantage of the time you have with your family!