looking ahead
The clock officially declares it to be Christmas Eve. I’m sitting between a cozy fire and a Christmas tree, enjoying a little quietness in a house that usually isn’t. I’ve spent most the day at work, but now there’s only one shift between me and a fabulous Christmas day.
Thinking about everything 2012 holds fills me with ridiculous amounts of excitement. The spring semester at school is shaping up to be full of fantastic classes and good times, and even before that, there’s a trip to New York city with two of my sisters and some friends to look forward to. Last time I was in NYC, my 11-year-old self was a little over-stimulated and a bit scared. This time, I can’t wait to see a show on Broadway and take a stroll through Central Park in the winter.
After the semester ends, things will move rather quickly. I’m working with an agent to book plane tickets for the end of May, and then I’ll be off for the summer. It’s amazing how everything is progressing. Finances aren’t looking quite as bleak, and fundraising is making a significant dent in my estimated costs. That’s thanks to all of you, of course. I’ve been on the receiving end of some amazing generosity.
As the Christmas season reaches its climax, I hope all of you are enjoying the blessings of home, family, and friends. Continue to pray for me and my upcoming trip to Uganda, and please feel free to help push total donations up to $500. Maybe we can reach that mark by the end of the year?
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Hey Beth! I hope you had a great Christmas!
I was wondering if you could give me some details on your missions trip–that’s so amazing that you’re doing that! I was really wanting to go on one sometime in 2012, but I have no idea where to start. What’s an agent and what do they do? Are you going with a group, or did you find a base in Uganda where you could stay? How do you find out about immunization, go about raising money, or get current news about the country? I’d love any bits of advice you want to give me!
Have a great new year, and God bless your work for Him. It does not go unnoticed!
-Pip
Pip! How lovely to hear from you!
You should totally try to do something next year…but yeah, it is rather daunting to figure things out. I really just started on Google, and researched some programs/places I’d heard of. But the opportunity in Uganda came from my mom, who had an old friend over there working. I’ll be living with them in the summer. So…I guess talking to parents helps too. 
I’m not sure what you mean about agents–I have a travel agent working on booking my tickets, but that’s it. I’ll be going by myself, so I think it’s a little harder than it would be if you went with a group–I’m having to ask lots of questions and do plenty of research about immunizations and everything else. All of my fundraising so far has been here on my site, but I’m sending out support letters within the next week or so.
Do you have any ideas about where you would like to go? That’s probably the best starting point…but Google really comes in handy.
By agent I meant the travel agent, yes; how did you manage to snag that? It sounds very official.
But thanks for this info; every little bit helps. I wish you the best of luck in sending support letters!
I would love to go to Jaipur Rajasthan, in India, because we know a missionary family in my church who could give me details about how to get there, but beyond asking them, any sites or references you could give me for research would be awesome. I would use Google as my trusty companion…if I knew what exactly I was supposed to be searching for!
Hope you had a merry Christmas!
-Pip
Ah, okay. The missionary family I’ll be staying with recommended the agent I’m using; she arranges all their travel and she’s been really great so far.
(http://mymissiontravel.com)
I suppose my best advice would be prayer…there is so much out there, and really, so many places you /could/ go if you put your mind to it. So the question is…where /should/ you go? And that’s where God probably knows better than anyone else.
Keep me updated on how everything goes, though! I’m sorry I don’t have more specific answers…I’m still figuring this out, myself. 
~Beth