Well, the last few days have been a little uncertain and stressful. But the fog is clearing. I just sent our paperwork for Laos to ELIC. They will send it off today. We are now at the same stage with all of the other ELIC teachers going to Laos this year. We should probably receive a word of approval or disapproval from the country in a week or two. . . hopefully.
Our departure date has not changed. We leave for Fort Collins, Colorado on July 20 to spend a week training at ELIC headquarters. On July 27, we leave for Hanoi, Vietnam. We will spend a month there studying for our TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate. We will begin a semester of formal language study in Laos at the beginning of September.
I'm particularly excited about language study because I've always wanted to learn another language. Hopefully, it won't be the last. And it will be nice to be able to communicate with the majority of people in Laos instead of a minority.
I spoke with Erin this morning to go over our financial profile for Laos. It's a good bit more. Instead of $15,000 in upfront cash for China, we'll need $21,000 in upfront cash to go to Laos. And instead of $2,300 in monthly pledges for China, we'll need at least $2,900 in monthly pledges to go to Laos. But I had a chat this morning with someone of extreme influence, and He said not to worry. So I'm not.
You know, life used to be normal. I'm not sure I'll know normal again for a long time, if ever. I try not to think about that because Bethany and I cling to normal. We love normal and routine. I guess that's where faith comes, and we will trust Him to lead the way from now on.
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Sorry, I'm always the first to post. I think living as a pilgrim is not as rewarding as living as a citizen. But being a citizen of another world is something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteYou're the first to post because no one else knows I blog. They will soon.
ReplyDeleteHey! I'm the second. :) Something that i've found interesting is even though you see "normal" far away and everything else as very new and different, soon that will become your "normal." You'll get into a routine in...(whatever city you said you'll be in) and begin thinking of that as you new "normal."
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what Kiley said. It's fun, exiciting, and new living in a different place. It will be changeling and stressfull at times, but it is worth it.
Ok, I think I've said enough. :)
Hope it helps.