In KZ -looking around the bend....

I arrived in Kazakhstan safe and sound! It was actually an enjoyable trip, overall. On my flight from DC to London, I sat next to a girl who was moving to Florence, Italy for a year to teach English! She and I had some great conversations and we hung out in the London airport until her flight left! I was very thankful for that sweet little gift from the Lord. As I got onto the flight to Almaty, I was not quite so excited...I boarded the plane with probably 40 middle schoolers returning home from a summer "excursia" in London! And some how I ended up right in the middle of them...naturally. That six hour flight seemed to last oh so long! However, I finally made it to Almaty, quickly got through customs, and even quickly got all my bags!!! Such a huge blessing!!!

I'm still not sure that it's hit me that I will be here for an entire year! If I'm honest with myself, I am a little nervous about what lies ahead in regards to this job! I am looking forward to this experience, but I know it will come with its own set of challenges! They are challenges I want to look forward to, because without them I would just be stuck here never moving forward or developing in the woman God has called me to be.

To quote a fantastic movie, "I'm like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's 98% scared, 2% excited, but that's what makes it so intense!" :)

But as I have been relaxing, I have enjoyed time with my family, my mom especially, I've helped my parents paint a couple rooms in the house, and I'm almost all moved into my apartment, and am loving the weather here! I love getting to "goolayet" (go for casual, calm walks) in Almaty!!! In that resting I have now finished book number one of the Anne series! I have successfully read "Anne of Green Gables"! I have seen the movie countless times, but can now say I have read the book!!! As the book was coming to an end I came across a passage that I felt I could relate to quite well....and maybe you can too, or did at one point in life :)

"I'm just as ambitious as ever. Only, I've changed the object of my ambitions. I'm going to be a good teacher...Oh, I've a dozen plans, Marilla. I've been thinking them out for a week. I shall give life here my best, and I believe it will give its best to me in return. When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a little bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but i'm going to believe that the best dos. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes-what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows-what new landscapes-what new beauties-what curves and hills and valleys further on."

Looking back at my life a year ago, this was nothing close to where I thought I would be! I got my bend in the road...and I am ever so glad!!! And just like Anne, I'm going to believe that the best lies around the bend! I'm so excited to see all that God is going to do in my life and hopefully through my life :)

.....Pics of the new apartment will be coming soon:)