Greetings!
     Well, today I went to ACS to test...while I was there, I saw some friends. And they all asked about my upcoming trip...packing, when do I leave, etc. One person, Donna, mentioned I need to write all of this down in a journal. And after I come back, put it in a book. What a great idea!
     After I finished testing, I went to Gainesville to get the second shot in the series of Hepatitis A&B vaccine. While I was paying, which we have to do after we are called back but before the shot is administered, I found out something. I was paying with the money from my yard sale. One of the $20 I used was counterfeit!!!! Luckily, I had another $20. She gave it back to me. After looking at it, all they did was use what looked like construction paper and color copied, front and back! You could kind of tell from the front...things weren't quite clear. But the back definitely gave it away! It wasn't exactly cut straight, and we could see some of the construction paper that wasn't copied. When I got home I called the Sheriff's Office. Apparently, someone has been passing these throughout the county. A few months ago, they said someone received some at a yard sale in Baldwin, while Captain D's and a few other places at the outlet had some come through. They said I could bring it by so they could make a copy of it and compare it with the ones they have. They believe it is someone locally. How sad someone would think to do that! And Banks County, no less! We had soooo many people the day of the yard sale, there is no way to know who gave me the bill. They said if you look for the mark in the bills and don't see it, but you don't want to confront the person about it, get the liscence plate number for the police to track them that way.
     Anywho, I did get the shot. It is ok. I had taken a few pictures of the Hall County Health Department, they lady who gave me my first shots, and today's needle guy with my phone. He really is holding up the needle...hard to see, but it is in his hand which just happens to be in line with the door frame. The first one of Beth and me I actually took myself and it was the first one I shot of the two of us, not too bad.  I had forgotten my camera, so I took them with my phone. Now, I can't get them off my phone!!!! After much work and thinking, I have figured out how to get the pics off my camera! What a workout for the brain and quite a time consuming activity.
     Ok, onto the fact for the day. The average wage in Majuro, Marshall Island is $2.00 an hour! There are not very many skilled workers on the island. No wonder tuition to Majuro Baptist Christian Academy is only $85 a month. Not a lot to us but sure is to someone that has next to nothing. Wow!
Have a blessed day!

Greetings!
     Though I've been away for the week, I have been busy. I've not gotten things ready for the trip, rather, I've been busy making clothes for my new adventure. I had some material from projects never started. So, I got an easy pattern for a slip-on elastic waisted skirt with pockets. The material wasn't the right width for the pattern, but with a little thought and figuring out and some extra sewing I was able to make it work. I also made a cute little shirt...got the idea from pinterest. I made matching ties from the shirt material...and also made from the skirts' material as well. I have a pink skirt and green skirt...still working on the green one. I also worked on a dress...had to finish it with ribbon straps.
     Before I left to housesit, I put a few books on amazon.com to sell. I sold 2 of them! I also put a set of books...Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events...and 9 sets of Abeka Bible Flash-a-cards (sold as a lot) on ebay. Both items sold on ebay! So, I've been to the post office several times this week. Wow, feels good to be getting rid of some stuff and making money to prepare for the trip. I will be taking the rest of the items left over from the yard sale to  J & J Flea Market soon to get rid of them.

     For the information of Majuro...the water is not safe to drink, unless it is boiled. I was told they sell 5 galloon bottles of water on the island. I figure it can't be too bad boiling water.
Have a super weekend!
    

Greetings!
     I know it has been several days since I've written. One reason is that our Internet service has been quite spotty...apparently the modem boxes from windstream is only good for about one year! Well, another one is being sent and will be here in 2 business days. I hope that fixes the problem. Fyi, I've been working on this post for the last 2 hours or so on my laptop. I finally had to go the my parents' pc just so I had some decent Internet connection. My laptop kept shutting the internet off as soon as I would get on. Frustrating!!!! 
     I have been busy the last few days. I have finished packing all of the books, school items, and pretty much everything that is not clothing or personal items such as shower gels and shampoos, etc. I am thinking I will send some of my clothing in a couple of weeks...to allow them to be shipped via parcel post, one of the cheapest ways. It just takes it a little longer than other ways. However, whatever I send in boxes must have a customs form filled out...that has been a task within itself. I sent the last 4 boxes off today. As I will be house sitting next week for my brother and sister-in-law, so I will not be able to do much while I am there...at least packing wise. The boxes are Majuro bound!!! WooHoo!!
     So, Majuro is only 7 miles above sea level and pretty flat. It is 30 miles long but can be as wide as only 1 mile in places. It has lots of coral on the island. I think that is what helps with tsunamis not coming into the land as often.

Greetings!
     I have been busy today getting two boxes ready to ship! I know they had said I would have to fill out customs forms...but I didn't know that each form only allows 4 items, and I have to put description for each with weight, quantity, and value. The first box, in the large flat rate box took 6 custom forms! The second one used only 2. I had to stop because I ran out of forms! I will take the first two boxes in to the post office in the morning and pick up a stack of forms I guess! I did even decide to take out some stuff to store here instead of shipping them. How do you decide on what (2) single hole puncher weighs? I looked up what I had in the boxes on amazon.com, picked as close as I could get to what I had, and used the shipping weight it listed...and sometimes I tried to estimate it if I had to. That part wasn't too bad, but when I had to write out my address and the address of where I am sending it about killed me. I had to press hard...it had to go through 6 sheets. And I had to do it 8 times! Well, I better get ready and keep working on them!
     I met with someone at Grove Level today about getting approved to work with them in missions...for my missions. I had two packets of information to fill out...one was an application for missions with Grove Level and the other was a Readiness Assessment Evaluation for prospective cross-culture workers.
I will drop that off Thursday...when we are out that way. He said that after they get the paper work back and go over it. We will have another meeting after that.
     OK, Majuro Baptist Christian Academy has about 300 students from K4 through high school. Students are only required to attend school through the 8th grade, however they still offer through 12th grade. I believe they had 4 Sr. last year going onto college.

Have a blessed day!

Greetings!
I am trying something out. I want to see how you all can subscribe to my feed and be able to automatically get my updates on your computer/Internet. It may take a couple of days and I will let you know what I find out. If you know of some way to do this, please let me know...you can comment to the post if you would like to let me know.
Thanks!

Greetings!
     Not much happening today. I've been resting up from the weekend. I have a meeting with someone at Grove Level tomorrow. Pray for the meeting. I was presented at Nicholson Baptist Church yesterday, and I spoke in the morning service and at the church conference last night to tell more of the school and what I will be doing. I have asked that the money from sponsors that would like to claim it on their taxes be able to send money to NBC and then onto me. During the meeting, a committee was formed to investigate the rules and make sure all goes well for everyone involved. We will meet soon to make sure all questions have been presented and answered. They are also checking with the Southern Baptist people. I guess they've done this before but had bad results, not that this one will be bad. They just want to make sure everything is right and the best way to handle it all. Pray that this works out.
     Apparently, on the island of Majuro, which is the capital of Marshall Islands, there are no snakes or bees/wasps or the like. Bugs, yes...and spiders, yes! YIKESSSS!!!!

Greetings!
     Well, well, well! The yard sale yesterday went very well for the trip. Sold down over half of the items. We are planning on going to J&J Flea Market in a few weeks to try and sell off more items before we donate them to Christian Outreach in Commerce. Great guy...have known the Morgans for many years. We did take several containers of items yesterday to them after the yard sale...just stuff that won't sell too well. I was up at 6:15 am. We put out signs by 7 or 7:30, and the sale started about 8...or whenever the first customers showed up, really. :) We couldn't have asked for a better day with the weather. Thank you Lord! Wow! Lots and lots of customers throughout the day. We had people coming even up to 4:00. Amazing crowds!
     Didn't sell a whole lot of teacher stuff...which I was kind of surprised. Still have bulletin board stuff and lots of file folder games and some other stuff we will be taking to the flea market when we go. I did take some pictures of the yard sale first thing as we were still setting up! Look below~you will get a general idea of how many items were donated and much appreciated! Thank you to all who donated items! It certainly was a blessing to get all the items. I made about $400 from the yard sale, which will help tremendously! I could not have had such a successful yard sale without you and your donations! Thank you! Isn't it Awesome and Wonderful how Awesome and Wonderful God is?
     Today I attended Nicholson Baptist Church. They had a great drama! Before the message began, Pastor Terry presented me to the church that I was going into the mission field. He asked me to say a little about where I was going and such, which I was not really prepared for. Plus, I don't do great in front of adults and large groups! Of course, my parents were there and said it was great. :) Also, they had VBS last week in which several children received Christ as their Savior~Awesomeness! We also had the Lord's Supper, which is always a good reminder of being on good terms with the Lord. It has been a wonderful Sunday...even with the rain/drizzle.
     Thank you for your prayers as I get ready for the upcoming new adventure! Thank you for reading and being interested in the path the Lord is leading me down. Never thought I would be headed into the mission field! Let's see...the island of Majuro is about 30 miles long from end to end...one 2 lane highway. I am not sure how wide it is, but I don't believe it's very wide. The school I will be teaching at is called Majuro Baptist Christian Academy and was started in 1999 (the year I graduated high school) by missionaries. It is an outreach ministry of Majuro Independent Baptist Church.
Have a blessed day!

Greetings!
I'm sorry I've not posted for a couple of days. It sure has been a busy few days! I have been able to look over the scope and sequence for 6th Grade Abeka that Jackie let me borrow last week. I met up with her today to return so the 6th grade teacher at her school would have it. Started pricing and going through yard sale items yesterday. My mom and I have made quite a bit of progress. I have made it through a friend, Debbie's stuff and all of Bonnie's items. Tomorrow I have no where to go, so we will get to work earlier than we have been. Tomorrow's items will be items from Tammy and a couple of other teachers at school gave me. I will also possibly be getting some more items in the next few days. Thank you so much for all that has been donated so far! Please remember to stop by Saturday, June 9, from 8-whenever...my house~1571 Hwy. 164, Commerce for the 5+ family yard sale. Items include baby/kids, teacher/school, housewares/decorations and lots of stuff in between! You don't know what you are missing, if you miss it! All the money made will go towards my moving and living expenses in Marshall Island! I hope to see all of you there! One man's trash is another man's treasure! Come see if you can't find lots of goodies. We have something for everyone! Donations also accepted. :) Still have to finish packing up what school items I am going to send on before me to arrive in Majuro soon. Apparently, even though it has a US zip code, still have to fill out a customs form for each package.

In case you don't know, Majuro is the capital of Marshall Island. It is about half way between Guam and Hawaii. Marshall Island used to be a territory of the United States, but about 22 years ago or so, it was granted its freedom. Some of you history buffs out there may recognize the name Marshall Island from its significance during WWII. I will start adding little bits of info about the island/country in each blog.

Greetings!
Here it is a Saturday. I am cleaning out rooms to find yard sale stuff, but I thought I would take a minute to write. Thanks to a friend, Jackie, that uses Abeka material at her school, I was able to borrow for a few days the 6th grade curriculum. It is helpful since the school I started at used only Abeka, but didn't really have curriculum and teacher editions...and I only taught thru the 2nd grade. The school I was just teaching at, uses some Abeka in 6th grade, but not a bunch of it. I have been looking through the curriculum guide to get an idea of what I will be teaching in each subject over the course of the year. I received in the mail today a 6th Grade teacher edition Math and test key book that I had ordered through ebay. Out of all the subjects, I believe this will be the most challenging, as I haven't done much of the 6th grade stuff for some years now. This way I can refresh my memory of how to do some of these topics over the summer before I get to Majuro. Well, I better get back to cleaning and starting supper here shortly.
Have a blessed day and weekend!

Greetings!
I enjoyed lunch with my mom and a friend...Jackie! She and the Social Circle Mary Kay ladies put together a wonderful goody bag for my trip to Majuro! It will definitely will all be used and much appreciated! Thank you ladies for your thoughtfulness and prayers. Then when I got home and checked email...someone had donated to the fundrazr account I've set up! What an awesome surprise. Thank you Brown family! Going to start going through stuff for yard sale for next Saturday this week to start pricing! Be sure to put it on your calendar for next Saturday...June 9! All items will be priced to sell! Thank you for all that are checking out my blog. Stick with me, as it will get more interesting as time goes on...and I begin the new adventure. Right now I am still in the beginning and preparing stages.