What's Up?

My apologies to those who read this in google reader... I hit publish on the wrong post just now. Obviously that one isn't supposed to go up for a few months, and now you know my secret of writing posts long before they're published! Just pretend you didn't see it... it'll be our secret.


It has been so kindly pointed out to me that most of my recent posts haven't really had anything to do with what I'm doing here in Belfast - just photos and videos that entertain me. Of course, since I'm the one living the daily life, nothing really exciting seems to be happening... but I know that's not the case for you, the faithful readers of my blog.

The weeks here pass so quickly, it's like I've completely lost track of time. In fact, I just realized my last "week in the life" post was almost 6 months ago - whoops! So here's an updated glimpse at a week in the life of this Belfast YAV:

Monday
Most Mondays begin with YAV Meetings. We still meet as a group roughly 2-3 times per month for devotional time, to discuss local issues and share a meal together. On our "off" weeks, we have one-on-one meetings to check in on a more personal level with Doug. Of course, this month will be a little different - Doug is currently in the States to interview the next batch of YAVs (I can't believe it's that time already!), so we're meeting without our fearless leader for a few weeks.

Since our meetings are in the City Centre, I take advantage of the bus fare and do most of my errands in the afternoon while I'm downtown, before heading up to the church to prepare our weekly Bible Study. Our group is small, but I've loved the opportunity to get acquainted with these ladies. We just completed a study on prayer, and are currently doing a short Lenten series.

Tuesday
I meet with Lesley (the minister at Fortwilliam and Macrory) in the morning to check-in and discuss what's on my plate for the coming week. I usually spend the rest of the day in the office working on my larger-scale projects like the monthly magazine or upcoming Artisan Market (the one in December went so well we're planning another for June).

(You're not incorrect if you remember that Tuesday was my day off. But after a few months of my former schedule, I found that it was difficult and a bit lonely to have a different day off than everyone else... so I asked if it would be alright to rework my schedule a bit.)

Wednesday
I start off Wednesdays at the Vine for Mums and Tots. I love playing with the kids and sharing a cuppa and some toast with the carers (sometimes mum, sometimes granny). We just put out the toys and let the kids have their fun, so it is a fairly relaxed atmosphere compared to some of the other mother/toddler groups I've heard about.

My little buddy - we're usually attached at the hip!

I have a few hours between Mums and Tots and JAFFA, the Bible club, which I usually spend writing lesson plans or doing office work. During JAFFA I rotate with David and Elizabeth on teaching the lesson, serving snacks, playing games or assisting with crafts. The kids can be a bit "mustard" - which in this context is an affectionate term to say they're sort of stubborn or rebellious - but overall they're really great.

...apparently I sit on the floor in this room a lot...

After JAFFA, I head home. By the time I get back, it's usually time for our community dinner with the North Belfast YAVs. Each week we rotate between the girls' and boys' flat and someone cooks dinner for the 4 of us. Tomorrow is my turn. We just started this tradition at the new year, but I really enjoy it. We hung out a lot at the beginning of our time here, but now that we've got other friends and activities outside the program we decided to be more intentional about spending time together. We often follow it up with a trip to the local open mic night that Anna and T.J. have promised to attempt later this year.

Thursday
I head back to the Vine on Thursdays for the pensioners' lunch club, which I enjoy. I like hearing about their younger lives, since it offers another perspective on growing up in Belfast and raising families during the Troubles. It is difficult to hear some of the things these ladies (and a few gentlemen) have experienced - losing children or facing paramilitaries in their communities - but I think it is important to get a wider picture of the community.

After lunch we have some sort of activity with the group, which ranges from trivia to bocce or trips to local museums and bowling alleys. I then head upstairs for homework club, hopping from child to child practicing spellings or working out maths problems as needed.

I head home for a bit after the Vine, to eat and change into uniform before I'm lifted (picked up) for Boys' Brigade. We're currently practicing for our display night in April, so much of what we're doing involves learning the words to our songs or taking turns doing physical drills like forward rolls, trampoline jumps or climbing the horse. Keeping the wiggly Anchor Boys still as they wait for their turn is always a challenge!

(case in point: notice how few of the boys are facing forward?)

Friday
Fridays begin with our FMPCI staff meetings, a time to discuss our programs and community issues that have arisen in the past week. In the afternoon we have RESTORE, a small prayer meeting (which will move to Tuesdays after Easter). In the afternoons, I prepare the worship slides and announcement sheets for Sunday morning.

I'm not on football club in the evenings any more, but I do tag along occasionally to lend a hand or spend time with the boys - since I don't really have the opportunity on Saturday nights. They've begun playing matches with other local clubs, and while I haven't made it to a game yet, I am quite proud of their undefeated record!

Saturday
Now that I have the mornings free, I generally spend time with other YAVs or wander aimlessly for hours around St. George's market. It's essentially a covered farmers / craft market, and my idea of heaven on a Saturday morning. Falafel for lunch! Yum!

In the evenings, we still do Youth Club. Currently, it's like a drop-in centre in the Macrory Halls each week. We typically have a game (like football or dodgeball) going on in the main hall, billiards and table tennis in the back hall, and a craft or kitchen activity that the kids can wander between as the night progresses. Others sit up on the stage to chat, listen to music and watch the boys playing football. This will soon be changing a bit.

Making "Fifteens"

Due to other community issues, our numbers have gone down significantly in the past few months. Some of this may have to do with ongoing flag protests and preparations for the beginning of marching season (a few weeks ago, we had no one in the club but heard the bands practicing in nearby Tiger's Bay). As the departure of our Youth and Community Development Worker has left us a bit short staffed, we will move the club to fortnightly (every other week) after Easter; partnering with another local club to fill in the gap until we can get a new staff member. We will also focus more on "detached" youth work, where we walk around Tiger's Bay at non-club times and talk to the community kids as we see them hanging about. I'll fill you in on all that once we see how it goes...

Sunday
I go to church in the morning, then usually have the afternoons to myself. We've just begun watching the Nooma videos in Bible class, which I think the kids will really enjoy. I think it's easier to grasp the concepts in story form, and it has already facilitated better discussion so I don't completely feel like I'm talking to myself! Once a month, the young adults go to lunch after the service. I always appreciate the opportunity to spend time with this group!

So there you go, a week in the life, part 2. I promise I'll try to be more mindful about updating you all on projects and exciting events in the future! Much love.

A Lifetime of Change

I will interrupt this week's planned rehash of Belfast-ness for a moment to talk about the Young Adult Volunteer program. It's coming up on application season for 2013-14, which means it's been a year since I walked into the YAV office to let E. know my decision to apply for "a year of service for a lifetime of change".

What a whirlwind these past 365 days have been!

The decision to take a completely different path in my status quo was difficult for me, but definitely the best choice I've ever made. The PC(USA) has recently renewed its dedication to Young Adults by challenging the YAV program to triple its size and scope in the next five years. This means it's easier than ever to join this wacky YAV family, and to find a program that suits your passions. To do this, they have made a few changes to the program that I'm really excited to share:

• Additional site placements in Boston, Peru, Philippines and South Korea. Work in each site generally focuses on the major issues in that city or country - like Northern Ireland's dedication to peacemaking and reconciliation, Boston's food justice program, root causes of poverty in Peru, education in South Korea, border policies in Tucson, urban ministry in Miami, Chicago, Hollywood and others.... a complete list of sites and their work can be found here. 
• Lower funding requirements! This year I was blessed to have amazing support from family, friends and members of my congregation to raise the $8000 required for International service. Next year, funding requirements will be cut in HALF - meaning $4000 for an International site and just $3000 for a National site placement.

Becoming a part of this YAV family (which, if you'll notice, is the only way I refer to this group) has been incredible. When I walked into the placement event back in March, I felt for the first time that I had found "my people" - goofy and fun with a heart for the Lord.

This program has been in place for almost 20 years, which means they KNOW what they're doing. Discernment and placement events ensure that the best fit is attained for both the candidate and site, and I was completely prepared at orientation for the upcoming challenges of mission service. 

International Placement Event at LPTS - March 2012

Orientation at Stony Point - August 2012

Things you should know if you're considering the program:

• Young Adult Volunteers are between the ages of 19-30. Sometimes you need to be 21 for specific / international sites, but they even accept second-career old fogeys like me.
• The Louisville office is there to help you make the best decision for you, and to ensure you're in the right place. I had the benefit of proximity, but they were SO helpful when I started the discernment process.
• You don't actually have to be a Presbyterian. You will be doing the work of the church, but the PC(USA) partners with other denominations to do their work around the world. Members of this year's YAV group alone come from the PC(USA), Methodist, Mennonite and Catholic churches. 
• I'm sure it's obvious, but: I am always happy to answer questions about my journey. Feel free to email me any time!

Courtesy Jeff Moles (@jeffmoles)

Finishing up site tours

Today we visited the last of our placement sites for our time here in Belfast. First was David's congregation, Abbey Presbyterian in Monkstown. This is their first year with a YAV, and they plan to use this opportunity to work on outreach with local youth. Next was the site where Anna and I will split our time, The Vine Centre. Anna will work mostly with the advice centre and computer lab, and it seems I will be doing the toddler's group, lunch club and afterschools tutoring. I look forward to learning more about the vast array of programs they offer. Our last site was Whitehouse Presbyterian, which had quite a friendly group on hand to greet us. Their building was burned by a sectarian arson attack several years ago, and they have used the experience to build ecumenical bridges within the community.

Much to the chagrin of people from Belfast, most of the publicity about Northern Ireland involves the Troubles... even today. What isn't seen by the casual observer is the people throughout this city who do amazing things every day to make their communities better and stronger. I don't see how I can go through this year and see what I've seen and not be changed by it. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to work with these people for a year!

Fun fact of the day:

My computer has reverted to blogspot.co.uk. When I want things to be in the middle of the page, I have to "centre" it. 

Today, I saw Scotland.

After quite a heavy day yesterday, today was much more fun. We began at Kathryn's placement, East Belfast Mission - which is a large social outreach congregation. The energy there is amazing as they complete the finishing touches on a gorgeous new building. And we got to wear hard hats.

Doug and Kathryn prepare to tour the new Skainos site at EBM

After EBM, we toured Courtney's site at Garnerville Presbyterian, Beth's placement at Dundonald Methodist, and Grace's church at Regent Street Presbyterian. We rounded out the site visits with Grace's community site, the LINK Centre. All with some very, very cool programming.

I know that I'm just glossing past my fellow YAVs and their placements at this point for the sake of brevity. Once we've settled into our sites, we plan to do guest blogs with a little more detail. Hopefully this will give you a better sense of my Belfast family and the incredible work they will be doing this year.

After LINK, Doug took us up to the Scrabo tower to have a look over the city. The weather was clear enough that we could even see Scotland! We had a fantastic time scrambling over the rocks and frolicking in the grass (it is SO soft here)!

 

Fun fact of the day:
The people here seem to serve chocolate with everything - with tea / coffee or the end of each meal. I could really get used to this!

Getting real

Sorry you're getting these posts a little late, 

but I have a lot to process before I feel I can post these and really do them justice.

Today we started the days-long process of visiting everyone's sites. We started with my church, Fortwilliam and Macrory Presbyterian. The staff seems nice, and the building is gorgeous. I think I'll enjoy it there. We visit my community site, the Vine, on Friday.

After Fortwilliam and Macrory, we visited T.J.'s community site, the 174 Trust. It was very cool, and they treated us to a nice lunch. David's site, the WAVE Trauma Centre, was next. They were formed to work with those traumatized or bereaved by the Troubles in Northern Ireland, but have expanded their services somewhat since that time. It was our first real glimpse into the impact the Troubles have had on people's lives here.

We drove around the area to see some of the peace lines, famous in Belfast for their murals. The walls themselves separate unionist from nationalist neighborhoods, ensuring safety for those on the other side. The murals are used to show political loyalty, to express hope for the future, and memorialize events of the past or highlight perceived wrongs to members of the community.

This was followed by a trip to T.J.'s church, Woodvale Methodist, which is just off the Shankill Road, an area highly impacted by sectarian violence. His supervisor was very upfront with us about the troubles in the neighborhood, which began to make what we'd heard at WAVE feel much more 'real'.

We ended the day at the Bakers' house for dinner and a video taped from the BBC a few months ago about the Bloody Friday bombings in 1972. I've hesitated to post this video, but will include a link below for those interested in learning more. I will warn you that it can be quite emotional. Seeing the personal stories of these people really hit home the work that many of us would be doing in this area.



I know this may be new to many people back home. For those of you who might be worried for our safety, please don't. Doug has assured us that the most danger we're in here is to look the wrong way when we cross the street!

Fun fact of the day:
To add money to your pay-as-you-go phone is called "topping up".

Clumsy

Anyone who has ever met me can testify to the fact that I am not exactly graceful.

Yes, I'm the girl who got a concussion playing ultimate frisbee, broke her nose playing sharks and minnows, sprained her ankle on a first date. The girl who was actually referred to physical therapy for being accident-prone.

But for once, it's not that type of "clumsy" that I'm talking about. The type of clumsy I mean is referred to in Exodus, chapter 4:

But Moses pleaded with the LORD, "O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spoken to me. I'm clumsy with words."

Exodus 4:10

This passage comes soon after Moses' call in the wilderness (pop over to my flat-mate Anna's blog for the particularly insightful discussion of Exodus 3 which inspired this post). While I don't have Moses' stutter, it is difficult for me to share my faith with a crowd (remember that post about avoiding seminary?). I always feel that things come out wrong or I'll say something stupid - so I avoid it. My cousin's wife kindly asked me to read a blessing at their wedding last month, and I was touched. But when I realized she meant pray, spontaneously, in front of hundreds of guests... I panicked.

So, I get what you must be thinking: "this girl has essentially signed up to be a missionary for a year, and praying in front of people gives her palpitations. She must be cuckoo for cocoa puffs." (Your inner monologue is so sassy, Reader!)

I know that for the most part, I've kept the tone of this blog light and focused on my preparations and excitement for the adventure I'm embarking upon. But while I've always felt this year as a Young Adult Volunteer has been the response to an unmistakable calling, it's easier to get caught up in the details of the trip itself than to face my very real fears about what will happen when I get to Belfast.

In my previous work with youth, my greatest concerns have been relatively trivial: Will we have enough food at youth group? Would the kids rather play laser tag or go rollerskating? The youth I've had the pleasure of spending time with for the past 7 years have been for the most part happy, privileged and well-adjusted. I don't know how I will be able to reach kids with such a vastly different upbringing.

Together, the Northern Ireland team will be learning to understand and interpret another culture.  It's intimidating to know that I still have so much to learn about the community I'll be living in, but we are tasked with bringing an outside perspective to the communities in which we serve. I know that my mission is a ministry of presence - to be there for these kids and make them feel loved and special. But even though I consider it a special gift to love people, that doesn't mean that I know what I'm doing - I have constant fears of inadequacy and failure. I wonder if I can really do anything to make their lives better.

For those wondering, I eventually flustered my way through the prayer at my cousin's wedding with only two or three "ums" (yes, someone counted for me). I let it go to God, and while I still have no idea what I actually said, I survived the experience. People actually came up and complimented me later... I will pretend it was because I said something meaningful, and not that they saw me break into tears as soon as it was over. I figure that with this coming adventure, that's all I can do: put it in God's hands and hope I don't make a fool of myself!

Excitement!

Things have been moving forward at a steady, if uneventful pace since the last time I wrote: preparing to transition my work responsibilities, sorting through my storage unit to determine what gets kept / sold and donations rolling in (now at over $5,600 - you guys ROCK)!

In the midst of this, I got some exciting news this morning that I wanted to share with you guys... our site coordinator Doug has matched us with our placements for next year! This not only means that I now know where I'll be working, but it also means I know where I'll be living / who I'll be living with, and I can begin the process to apply for my visa!

Sooo... drumroll please!


My new job(s):


Fortwilliam and Mcrory Presbyterian Church

Fortwilliam and Macrory Presbyterian Church, in a mixed part of North Belfast, is actively engaging with all sections of the community – regardless of political or religious affiliation.  This post involves support for young people in the congregation through Sunday morning Bible Class and Sunday evening youth fellowship.  There is also work with a youth club primarily attended by those outside the congregation. 

The Vine Centre

The Vine Community and Advice Centre is in a low-income inter-face area in North Belfast.   This involves work with after-schools tutoring/study support, a senior citizen’s lunch, a children’s outreach programme called JAFFA (Jesus A Friend For ALL) and a parent/ toddler group.

My new home:



Anna is super psyched to be my roomie, and is also quite proud of my computer / superimposing skills. She may or may not think this is the best photo of her EVER. And yes, I now have my address and phone number for next year... but we've gotta leave a little mystery for another post!

My new family

Friends, meet (most of) the 2012-13 YAV class, and a few of our fantastic facilitators!

The placement event was really great. For the past 3 days, 24 potential Young Adult Volunteers spent time getting to know one another, learning more about International site options, and interviewing with site coordinators. The focus of the weekend was on discernment - PC(USA) staff and former YAVs shared their stories of going through the process, which I think really helped us realize we weren't alone in the confusion and difficulty we were experiencing. By the end of it all, we were able to place it all in the hands of God and trust that the placement we received would be the place we could be best utilized within this program. 

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

Overall, the group got along really well, and I am so glad to be a part of this funny little YAV family. We had a fantastic weekend getting to know each other, and I really look forward to seeing everyone again (and meeting those who weren't at this event) at the orientation in August!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

As of about 9 p.m. tonight, St. Patrick's Day, I learned that I will be spending my next year in Belfast, Northern Ireland! I'm really excited for the opportunities this will offer to work with local churches and youth in a ministry of peacemaking and reconciliation.

I know the first question many of you are wondering is, "what about India"? It's no secret that I was originally drawn to this program because of my desire to live abroad in India. Throughout this weekend, I heard story after story about YAV Alums who had gone into the weekend TOTALLY SURE they would choose one site, and ended up feeling called to another. When it came time to give my preferences, it was actually a harder decision than I expected.

Unfortunately, the India program has been discontinued for the 2012-13 year, as there were not enough applicants to develop the sense of community that YAV is based around. In interviews and conversations I've had throughout the weekend, I feel that the work I'll be doing in Northern Ireland will actually be a great, if not better, fit for my skills and interests.

I'll definitely need your support in the coming months. I would appreciate your consideration and prayer for the people that will become my second family over the next year and a half: Anna, Beth, Courtney, David, Grace, Kathryn, TJ, our site coordinator Doug and all of the other YAVs who have discerned their calling (Kenya! New Orleans! Guatemala! Denver!...) over our past 3 days together.

I am SO excited about traveling with this group. The people I've been placed with in Northern Ireland are seriously amazing and hilarious and Belfast has no idea what it's in for!

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"

© Abbey of Gethsemani 

So close...

As I type, I am exactly one week away from the YAV placement event held at Law's Lodge here in Louisville. According to Shannon's most recent email, this is what I can reasonably expect from next weekend:

• Thursday night: dinner, informational meeting, worship, small groups
• Friday: worship, two informational sessions led by the site coordinators for the two sites you have chosen for interviews, small groups, interviews, social time
• Saturday: worship, interviews continue, candidate feedback from interviews, worship, information about site placements, small groups, site meetings
• Sunday morning: nuts and bolts meeting, lunch, departures

My stomach has been in knots about this for weeks now. More accurately, my stomach has been filled with butterflies that have been attacking the knots in my stomach for weeks. I'm SO excited to finally have an answer to those people who have been kindly checking on my progress since I first told my close friends about it last fall (or took it semi-public when I went to session for approval in December). I am SO nervous that the reality is finally sinking in. In just a little over a week, I will know for sure if I have been accepted. I will have to walk into my office where I love to work and tell them that I'll be leaving in just a few short months.

...I have to leave in just a few short months!



Cora and Aunt Tricia. BFFs.
Photo by Kate Chapman



This weekend, my youngest niece Cora (2) ran up to me with her arms wide for a hug. I scooped her up and told my sister that this was the thing I would miss the most while I was away. In the year I'll be gone, my sweet baby will become a 4-year old child, and I'll miss all the giggles and hugs between now and then. I asked Cora if she would miss me if I went away for a long time - she stared at me, shocked, with the saddest brown eyes I've ever seen and begged me not to go.

Yep, I cried.

Happy Valentine's Day!

As a sweet surprise, I got an exciting email today (OK, technically last night)!

You are invited to interview with up to two international YAV sites at the YAV Placement Event, March 15-18, in Louisville, KY. By sending you this invitation, the YAV staff team indicates that pending the results of your interviews with individual sites, we believe you are a good candidate for placement in a national or international YAV site for the 2012-2013 YAV cycle. Being invited to Placement Event is not a guarantee of placement. However, if a national and/or international site requests you as a YAV for this next cycle, the YAV staff team is in full support of your appointment as a YAV. 

!!!

While it isn't surprising based on my interviews last month, it is nice to have something concrete to look forward to! The difficult decision that comes now is choosing the two sites I'd like to interview with at the event.

India is my obvious first choice - seeing that there was a program there is what initially sealed the intention to apply to the YAV program, and it's just one of those places I've always wanted to visit. Easy pick. My second choice is significantly more difficult.

My first inclination is still Northern Ireland. It is the land of my ancestors, afterall, and the programs I would be involved with focus on work with local youth, which has always been a personal passion. Plus, my friend Steph lives like 20 minutes away, and that would be awesome. The drawback is that it's one of the most popular sites in the program, which means its highly selective. I'd hate to miss out entirely if I didn't make it in to either program (the sorority girl in me wonders if they offer snap bids).

The other choices suggested for me are Guatemala and Kenya. Neither of these were on my initial list, but were suggested by the program coordinator based on the interests I expressed in my application. Of these, I'm leaning more toward Guatemala. My main fear is that my Spanish is pretty spotty... but an intensive language course at the beginning of the program is meant to fix that one. Friends that have been there are highly complimentary.

So, Northern Ireland or Guatemala? Either way, I need to make my decision soon. Lots of prayers for discernment will be flying!

And in the spirit of love, a favorite verse in honor of the holiday:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3; 13 

Back to the beginning

Hi.

This is me.

...or at least it was, about 22.5 years ago.


Floridian by birth, Kentuckian by choice, I'm about to begin an adventure that will change my life forever - a year abroad with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s Young Adult Volunteer program.


Right now, I'm playing the waiting game. All of my applications are complete, recommendations are in, and I have 6 weeks to go until the site interviews will determine whether I get it. All of this waiting is driving me crazy - I can't make my decision 100% public until I've actually been accepted, so even after months of personal discernment and applications... I wait!

While YAV encourages participants to host a blog during their year in the program, I decided to start early. During the past few months of researching the program and sites that I find appealing, I've found the blogs by other participants to be really helpful. I've really gotten excited about my decision, and at this point I feel like I know the people I'll be working with at my top choice sites!

Here's a look at the process up to this point:

About about a year and a half ago, I started to work for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I love my job... so don't take the fact that I'm applying for this program to mean anything but! Being in the national headquarters, however, opened me up to the programs that the denomination offers. YAV is one that I had never heard of, but really appealed to me. I began to wish that I'd heard about it when I was just out of college my life was still more flexible. While I was packing up my apartment last fall, I realized it's not too late to make a change.

So I went for it. I put all my stuff in storage and worked up the courage to ask my parents if I could {gulp} move in with them for a year until I left (for the record, I didn't really need all that courage, they are totally supportive and cool about it). I began to talk to my friends and coworkers that had been involved with the program, and they suggested that I start researching sites I was interested in - particularly by reading the blogs of participants.

I started working on the application and rounding up recommendations, which were due mid-January, and had my first round of interviews with the YAV staff. I told them about my first-preference sites (India and Northern Ireland), and they gave me a few suggestions as well based on my interests and strengths, which was really interesting - since they know the site coordinators, they suggested things I might not have originally considered (Guatemala and Kenya).

Now that the hard work is over, I've begun to get a little nervous about the change.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11