On my way to Paraguay!

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to post!  I have been very busy getting settled in Paraguay and it took me a few days to get my computer set up...  The following post was actually written before arrived and is just getting up loaded now.

Friday July 15^th 2011- 

I missed my first flight to Paraguay!  Remember in my last post how I mentioned that I was still waiting on my visa to arrive, well basically I didn't have my visa on Wednesday when I was supposed to be getting on the plane.  So let me explain the whole situation...

On Thursday last week my visa was priority mailed to Ulm, MT.  I had been planning on leaving Montana to go to Seattle (where my flight would depart from) on Monday, so that I would be able to spend Tuesday with my little sister Lena.  On Monday my visa had still not arrived but everyone was sure that it would come on Tuesday and encouraged me to still go through with my plans to leave Monday and have my visa express mailed to me in Seattle the next day. 

Morgan and I before I left

So Morgan (my twin) and I left for Seattle without my visa.  On Tuesday my visa arrived in Ulm, MT and my aunt Peggy express mailed it to my friend's house in Seattle with a guaranteed arrival by 12 noon on Wednesday.  Meanwhile, Morgan and I had a great time visiting my little sister and taking her shopping for ear rings (she just turned thirteen and got her ears priced for her birthday)!  On Wednesday morning I was a little worried when my visa had not arrived by 11, but Morgan and I decided to go to the Pike Place Market and enjoy our time in Seattle before I left…  However, when it had still not arrived by 1 that afternoon I was pretty worried. After making a few calls I received the very disappointing news that my visa was lost in route and would not arrive at least until the next morning...  

After recovering from the disappointment and realigning my mindset to focus on still getting to Paraguay, I was able to find a new flight for the next day!  So now everything has worked out and I can reflect on the situation much better!

On Wednesday morning (before the chaos) I was reading a devotional on gratefulness.  The devotional was about finding something to be thankful for despite our circumstances; for example instead of focusing on a loved one who is ill be thankful for having the loved one in first place.  As I was reading this devotional I thought to myself; "hmm, how can I apply this today? I couldn't imagine finding anything to be grateful about if my visa did not come today..."  Well, that was exactly what happened and I was challenged to find things to be grateful despite the disappointment!  Here is a list of only a few of the many things I found to be grateful for in the midst of not receiving my visa on time and having to reschedule my flight:

1.       When I bought my ticket I had purchased trip insurance- which saved me money when I made the change!

2.       Everyone that I spoke to in figuring out something else was very kind and helpful in quickly helping me make new plans.

3.       My new flight had a five hour layover in Miami, FL; so I was able to see my Dad and little brother before leaving!

4.       I got to spend one more night in Seattle! We went out to eat at a Thai restaurant where we sat on pillows on the floor to eat! It was a fun experience!

5.       ACA was very understanding and flexible with me needing to make changes and arrive a day latter.

6.       I had one more day to prepare to leave- it was so nice to make a few more phone calls and say goodbye to people I had not yet gotten to talk to.

7.       I was able to spend more time with my friend Emily from high school and she and her apartment mates were so kind in letting me stay with them!

So besides learning that there really is something to be thankful for in every situation, I learned to never boast of my own plans! Everything is "Lord willing" and God has his own plan and time for everything.

Now I am on the plane to Peru (although I will probably not be able to post until after I have arrived).