One Week Left

One week left - little scary, little crazy, little excited, whole bunch of feelings.

Feelings that I realized I have not laid at God's feet lately.  I have been keeping it all inside and to myself.  How can I do this at such a time!? At such a time when I really can let God show off. . .and have His peace about me - I decided to suddenly take over.  Whoops. Big whoops.

I think that God finds our "whoops"es to be okay. He is not a huge fan.  But the moment we say "whoops" is the minute, as His children, remember that we can rely on Him. That is when I think He smiles at me. It is then that the "whoops" becomes an "Ahhhh" of relaxation. Remembering "I" am not in control - but "He is in control". Ahhh...so much better.

Today was a little stressful (*last post if you want details) and as I was just writing my last blog entry - I realized how much I said the word "I" and how little I said God. Today was about me.  Today was about what I could do to make MY life easier when I move to Mexico.  But now I am ashamed at how many times I said the word I/me/my/mine. Ugghhh.  "WHOOPS!"  I ended my last blog entry saying He is in control.  Funny how "my" own words had to remind me what I allowed myself to forget.

He has brought me here.  He has brought me there to this place. I leave in one week.  I leave my American life here.  God is taking me to Mexico in one week.  He is going to make my new home in Mexico.  I have to trust in Him to comfort me and to get me there with everything I NEED.  He is my ultimate provider.  It is time to step back again, be humbled by His love, grace, and mercy to surrender-even the little issues-all to Him.  Lay them at His feet and regain my peace - regain HIS peace again.  "Ahhhhh" = ]

He has been good to me.  He is good to me.

I read in "Fearless" by Max Lucado: "Putting your worries into words disrobes them.  They look silly standing there naked." *I'm smiling right now behind my computer screen.  After writing all of my worries down in a simple blog - now I realize how silly they seem. All my "fears"...gone because of Him as of this very second.


Another fear has fallen victim to trust. = ]
Love you!

Only Business Days Count

Today was an adventure.  I ran some "last minute" errands.  Errands that should NOT have been put off until a week before leaving, but now I have to deal with the remaining "4 business days" until take off. 

I'll take you through my "issues" of the day for those of you who like details. If not...skip to the bottom! = ]

Cell phone issues: Impossible to get a plan under $60 a month without extra fees.  AT & T is the only phone company that has coverage in Oaxaca, Mexico.  There is a missionary there at the base that uses AT & T and gets great coverage - at the cost of an arm and a leg. The "go phone" was going to be $60 a month plus 75 cents a minute for every call. If for some reason that call would slip into a "roaming" zone it would be about a $1.50 or 1.75 a minute.  Basically, out of control expensive. 
 - Praise God for people with prior experience.  Marcie Smith ended up having connections via phone call (you see, I could find out more information from people in Mexico - but I have to communicate with them via e-mail/internet and wait a few days for a response.) to a missionary that lives in OK right now.  He gave her advice for me and now I think we have a solution.  There is a phone company down in Mexico that is affiliated with AT & T but only charges 12 pesos for 20 minutes.  So basically a $1 for $20 talk time.  So PRAISE GOD for a possible form of communication for my family and I.  That is the only reason why I need the phone in the first place - emergencies, or a very much needed phone call back to my parents. = ]
Bank issues: My current bank does not have "any way of making my debit card work in a different country." Aka - need a new bank for the duration of me being in Mexico.  So after much searching/talking with representatives - Marcie Smith to the rescue again.  She informed me that Farmers Bank and Trust is who she banks through when in Mexico.  Long story short - they will work PERFECTLY for my trip.  ONE DOWN FALL - I will not be able to get a debit card for up to 14 business days.  I leave in a week.  Seems simple though right? They can just mail it to me in Mexico...not exactly.  There's horrible mail service where I am going, so it would be a shot in the dark to mail it to me let alone it actually be delivered to the right address/if any address for that matter.
Solution: I will exchanged enough US dollars for pesos through Farmer's Bank to get me through my first month's living expenses.  When Marcie comes to Mexico November 6th - she will HAND deliver me my debit card for further needed pesos. So Yay for a solution.

Long Story Short: No US cell phone company is going to work - they all just want my money. Money I do not have that is.  Haha  = ] So therefore, pray that the phone companies in Mexico will work (reception is the biggest concern) so I can make calls to my family while I am there and do not have to wait to travel to a different town and only talk via e-mails to my parents.
Banks...well some of them are silly and can not exchange money via debit card to a different country - however, I have found a bank that will work and due to Marcie Smith (my angel) I will be able to have a debit card in my hands a month after moving.

BUT Stress went down after finding solutions and tomorrow will be a filled day of opening bank accounts, packing, and gathering last minute supplies so I can enjoy the last few days with my family. My head hurts when I try to think about what all needs to get done before take off. Good thing God created me as an organized person and someone who LOVES to fill lists! = ] andddd thank God He is in control and I am not.

Love you!