Well, it’s been awhile since I blogged, but my thoughts needed to be let out tonight. I know that college is supposed to be a fun time, but right now, it just feels so incredibly stressful that I don’t even know how to handle it. My midterms went well, and my grades came out a lot better than i could have ever imagined! But, then I went on Spring Break and basically did absolutely nothing, and now my motivation is completely screwed up and i don’t want to do anything. I have so many projects, papers, and presentations due now, including trying to comprehend the complicated problems in Statistics class. And then I begin adding more to my schedule, like CPR and lifeguarding challenges, and a 5k race for Move for Uganda (moveforuganda.com). I run myself ragged, and I don’t know how to stop or help myself. And I know that there are TONS of other college students out there that feel the same way about it.  I think that college students probably are at least in the top 5 for the highest stress levels in the country.  Anyhow, I suppose all I can do is pray and keep working hard.  Other than that, there really is nothing I can do.  I know, I am rambling, but I needed to just vent and get out some steam.  Hope you all are less stressed than me and that you are in good health!

Don’t forget (and I shouldn’t forget it either) that prayer and having God in your life is always the number one in helping with all of life’s many problems!

Ok, well for those of you who don’t already know, I’m staying in the United States this year.  I figure that after all of the places I have tried to go and the roadblocks that have prevented me from going, that I should probably take the hint and stay home.  It is disappointing, because I really did want to go somewhere and serve this year, but I’m sure that God has a plan in all of this.  I may never know what it is, but I feel that God will make some good come of this somehow.  And hopefully I will be able to go at another time, maybe after I get my nursing license.  I guess we’ll see.

So, for any of my friends that are in the area, I am going to be around and would love to hang out sometime! Let me know if any of you are interested.  I am going to be finding a job so that I can make some good money the rest of this semester.  And then I will be starting back with classes next semester.  Thanks for all of your support everyone! I know that you expected me to be long gone by now, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

I’ve given myself a time limit.  My newest destination choice is Ethiopia, but my going there depends on whether or not they have room for me to stay there.  I am hoping that they do, but on the chance that they do not, I have come to terms with the fact that I may end up staying in the country this year.  I’m starting to be okay with the idea of staying.  So, I told my mom that if in a weeks time I am not able to go to Ethiopia, I will stay here in the United States and work full time until next semester when I start taking classes again.  It’s been tough to realize that this may be what God wants me to do, even though I really wanted to go and help people.  But, as a good friend told me today, “Timing is everything, and God’s timing is the only timing that matters”.  I figure it should be my new motto!  Anyhow, I thought people would want to know that things may end up that I stay home this year.  Maybe I’m supposed to be a student missionary, just not right now.  Or maybe i’m being delayed for another reason.  Whatever that reason is, I am sure that God has a place for me and a reason for my being here.  Again, thanks for the prayers and support.

Hey all,

Yes, I am still here! However my mom and dad get back from Washington state today and we are going to dive into finding me a new place to go this year.  I took this week (while they were gone) to relax and try not to think about that fact that I don’t know what my future holds.  I was somewhat successful, but it’s defintiely hard not to think about what is going to happening next month, ya know?  Anyhow, my mom added a few more options to the list of places to go.  One is going out to Idaho as an Assistant Dean at Gem State Academy, but I don’t think I work really well with teenagers, so that probably isn’t going to happen.  The other option is going to Malaysia (i’m not sure the exact location) and working at a school helping with teaching english and supervision and stuff.  I’m not sure what to do as of right now, but hopefully I will find out soon.

I will continue to keep you posted on what is decided.  Again thanks for the prayers and support.

So… I can’t sleep and needed something to do other than lay in bed for another 2 hours looking at the ceiling.  I have too much on my mind right now, so sleep doesn’t come easy.  I guess the unknown of where and what I will be doing this year is making me very worried and frustrated.  I think the worst part is not knowing what God wants me to do.  I keep praying, but it is hard to listen for an answer sometimes.

So, I basically set an ultimatum for the whole Bolivia situation.  I was talking to my mom and, yes, there are a few other options out there, however the only one that really sounds like the best placement for me is the orphanage in Ukraine.  I decided I would wait to hear about Bolivia until this Sunday, the 21st (when I would have been leaving), and if I don’t hear that I can go to Bolivia by Sunday, I am going to try and go to Ukraine.  I also decided that if the Ukraine doesn’t work out, I will most likely stay home, unless of course, God puts another fairly obvious path infront of me.

The fear that I have about Ukraine, is that I may end up being the only SM there, and that could get somewhat lonely.  I’m not saying that I won’t go there, especially if that is where God wants me, but it would still be hard.  It is also somewhat upsetting to have planned to go to tropical South America and have bought all the necessities for that area of the world, such as bug nets and spray, and other such things.  If I go to the Ukraine, my packing list will be completely different!

I am trying to keep an open mind and keep my optimism going strong, but as you can probably tell, I am really struggling to understand why all of this is happening.  I figure either God is trying to point me in one specific direction or He doesn’t want me to leave the US at all.  I just don’t understand why and I probably never will.

I was looking up verses to help with my worries and I found a few that proved helpful to me that I’d like to share.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

“God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?” -Psalm 62:1 (The Message)

“Don’t fret of worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” -1 Peter 5:7 (The Message)

I keep telling myself that whether or not I go overseas or stay home within the next 9 months, God has a plan.  Knowing what that plan will be; that is when I get frustrated.  Anyhow, these verses calmed me down a lot.  So now, I am going to try to go back to bed and hopefully get some sleep before waking up for church in a few hours.  Thanks to everyone for your continued prayer, support and friendship.

I got an e-mail from my mom today, who got an e-mail from one of the girls in Bolivia.  It sounds as if things are starting to cool down in Bolivia, so Abby and I may still have the chance to go there.  I am really happy about it, but also don’t want to get my hopes up, in case things don’t work out after all.  I’m still praying a lot about it.  I really would love to go to Bolivia, especially since I have everything ready to go to that area of the world.  I will let you know when things work out either way.

Thanks for your continued prayer and support!

Ok, so I have just found out, not too long ago, that going to Bolivia might be impossible, given the sudden political issues breaking out in the country.  To say the least, I am pretty upset, considering all the time and effort that has gone into trying to get there.  First Paraguay didn’t work out, now Bolivia too.  I’ve been told by my mom that there are a few other options available as to where I can go this year.  I feel like the longer I wait the less time I am going to be able to serve though.  So, I am praying a lot and hope that God will answer me soon.

The two places in the running, so far, are the Ukraine, and the island of Chuuk in Micronesia.  I’m not sure how I feel about either of them.  And to be honest I feel a little bit scared that I won’t know the language in these countries like I would in South America.  At least I would be able to understand a little bit better.  So, give me some opinions on what you think.  Obviously my final decision will be made by what I feel God wants me to do, but I would welcome any in-put that you could offer me.  I’m very frustrated as you can probably understand.

Anyhow, your prayers are appreciated and please keep the country of Bolivia in your prayers as well.  Thank you.

Hey everyone,

So, I’m sure you were not expecting me to be saying this, but my trip to Bolivia has yet again been postponed.  There is political unrest in Bolivia, and it is so bad that 28 Bolivian people have been killed.  Apparently there are people who are against the new Bolivian President and they are presenting problems, mainly in the Pando region in the Northeast of the country.

Abby and I may still be able to go on the 21st if the problems are settled and things become safe again.  I will be honest I am pretty upset.  I was finally getting excited again, but it seems as if there are still some roadblocks we must overcome.  The question: Is God or another “being” putting these roadblocks in our way?.  I don’t really know, but I hope that this is just a small problem and that we will not be delayed for long.

We actually may have been able to get there okay, but were sent an e-mail from the man in charge of Familia Feliz.  He is in Santa Cruz right now and told us that not even he could get back to the orphanage.  He also said that there was a roadblock between Familia Feliz and the town of Rurrenabaque, so the people at Familia Feliz cannot even get things from town that they may have need of.

It is a somewhat scary situation, but I still feel so strongly about going there.  Please pray that we can leave for Bolivia as planned and if not, that we are not held up for too long.  We have been waiting to go somewhere for months, and now that we had a place, this is very disappointing news for Abby and I.  Hopefully things will be resolved quickly and we will be on our way.

God bless.

http://www.1stheadlines.com/bolivia.htm  <——- Link to the Bolivia News story

Hey all,

So, I finally have some contact info for those wanting to keep in touch with me while I am in Bolivia.

Address:

Jerica Moore

c/o FAMILIA FELIZ

Km. 13 Carretera A Yucumo

Rurrenabaque, Beni

Bolivia

E-mail:

jericamoore@southern.edu

Skype:

jerica.moore

I believe that is all you will need.  Please keep in touch, even if it is just a small e-mail! Anything will brighten my day i’m sure!

God Bless!

Bolivia

So, I am not leaving the 17th anymore… I am not leaving on Sunday the 21st… this time is for sure because we have our tickets and Abby should have her visa by that time.  So, Sunday the 21st I will be leaving at around 11:00 am from the Atlanta Airport where I will meet up with Abby.  I am really excited, although I am starting to get nervous again.  I had a dream the other night that I was already there and that I had forgotten half of my stuff!  Of course, I also dreamed that Abby and I were dropped into a river and there was a hippo in it… which tells me that the dream wasn’t real, since there are NO hippos in South America… at least, not to my knowledge! 

Well, I’m sure everything will turn out okay… I believe the flight to Santa Cruz is about 6 to 7 hours long, then we will stay there for a few days, while we buy a bus ticket to Trinidad and a plane ticket from Trinidad to Rurrenabaque.  The bus ride will last 8 or more hours, i’m not sure about the plane, but i’m sure it will all be an experience… I think the plane is one of those really tiny plane hopper types.  Well, wish me luck!

Oh, and here is a picture of the “Highway of Death” in Bolivia… pray that I don’t have to EVER ride on this!

Highway of Death