Passport? What Passport?

So getting a passport is proving to be more difficult than I had imagined. I started researching what I need in order to get my first passport, which created my first problem. I was doing some research online and travel.state.gov said that I need a "certified birth certificate".  I read the document wrong and I thought I had to have my original birth certificate. Apparently not. The original one just had to be filed within a year of my birth. Luckily my parents decided to have me in a hospital, so that's not an issue. So I spent an entire day trying to figure that whole thing out.

Next, I started looking for the birth certificate that I know I have. I just saw it a month ago. But do you think I can find it? NO...  That's the problem with being a disorganized person. My method of filing paperwork is throwing it all in a shoe box. Take my word for it. BAD IDEA. So I spent all evening tonight trying to find my birth certificate, to no avail. This means that I have to go to City Hall and get one. This involves an hour of driving each way, and waiting in line to actually get my birth certificate. I'm not complaining. It's my own fault and I recognize that. I'm mostly annoyed with myself.

This is how I actually "file" paperwork...

Then there is the issue of the passport photo. I'm going to apply for my passport at the United States Postal Service. Most branches allow you to take your passport photo there while you wait. I told my sister this and she said "What if you hate your photo?!? Then you are stuck with it!". So now I have to find somewhere else to have it taken. I'm a nanny and I work 9am-6pm Monday thru Friday. It can make having a passport photo taken or getting a copy of your birth certificate difficult. When you work "normal business hours" and places like City Hall close at 6pm, this means dragging the kids you nanny for with you. Also not fun.

So this whole thing is turning out to be more difficult than I had anticipated. I have my passport application filled out, which is a plus. Hopefully I will be able to actually file the application in the next couple of weeks. I leave for Florida on Friday of this week, so it may not happen until I get home. Despite all of the unanticipated hoops, I'm actually really looking forward to having my passport. I live an hour from Canada, and you can't even go there anymore without one. Up to this point, I haven't had a reason to have one, but you never know what is going to happen.... Plus, I definitely need one for India!

And so it begins...

Have you ever felt like God laid something on your heart and said "Go for it!"? This is the beginning of what I hope to be and incredible journey! I've been thinking about this a lot recently, and I feel like God is calling me to go to India for a year. The goal is to live/work in an orphanage. I'm not looking to do this because it's my idea. In fact, the idea totally terrifies me. I do however, feel like it is what God wants from me.

It's been difficult trying to wrap my head around going. Sometimes I feel like I'm making things up in my head. It's hard for me to interpret if I'm talking to myself, or if God is speaking to me. But then these doors keep opening, and I meet these awesome people and I can't mistake God's presence.

A few weeks ago I met Kumar. He's an incredible 21 year old from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I met him at church of all places (go figure, right?). He has completed several missions trips in the last few years, and also went to India last summer for 2 months to film a documentary with some of his friends. I got to have dinner with him a few weeks ago to talk about his trip to India. We talked about his experiences, fundraising and the fact that he has christian family members in India. Isn't that amazing!?! He came into my life right as I was starting to seriously consider taking this journey.

I have a huge fear of the reactions I'm going to get when I tell my family members and friends that I am going to do this. I haven't finished college. My parents are quite angry with me, and I have a feeling that they will be less than excited about this idea. BUT, I've decided after living to please other people for the last 22 1/2 years, that if I want to do this and I feel like it is what God wants from me, I SHOULD. I am at a point in my life where I have nothing to tie me down. I'm single, don't have any kids, no "real" job to speak of. So WHY NOT?

So I don't exactly have it all figured out. BUT, I have a plan. Maybe it won't come together exactly as I hope, but at least I have a plan. This is more than I can normally say for myself. The plan is: Get passport, fundraise, pay off debt, fly to India, have the adventure of a lifetime. Sounds pretty good doesn't it? It may not be easy, but hey! What is?