Tomorrow's the day!

Tomorrow, Monday, July 13th, at 11:50 pm (PST), my family should be on a plane about to take off over the Pacific Ocean. I'm getting nervous and excited. It's finally starting to feel real-my family is leaving the US in less than two days, and we will be in Papua New Guinea next weekend. I'm still wrapping my mind around the fact that I'm going to back to PNG for a year. I get to see my guinea pigs this Friday! Before we leave Bakersfield at 7 pm, I have to pack up my room here and clean it-I've taken a lot out of my suitcase to use while we've been here in California. I also have to say goodbye to my grandparents and aunt and uncle. My time in Bakersfield has been great, even if I have been busy. I'll miss getting up and seeing my grandparents every morning. It won't be the same without nightly walks. I won't be going swimming again for a long time, especially at my aunt's house. However, I really do want to go back to PNG. I'm willing to put up with over 25 hours of flying and 40 hours of layover time to get home.

I was just informed that we will hopefully be arriving in Ukarumpa around 1 or 1:30 pm on Friday, instead of 5 or 5:30 pm. It will be nice to get there earlier rather than later.

Well, that's about all I have to say about Bakersfield. I'm almost finished with all of my college applications. Please pray that I finish them. Please keep my family in your prayers as we travel. Thank you!

Btw, I am planning on making a movie about my life in Papua New Guinea. I will be giving more details later on. I also want to let you know that I will rarely be on Facebook after tomorrow, and I will not be able to update my blog very often. If you would like to contact me, please send me an email. My family's flight schedule can be found in my previous entry. Thanks.

God bless each one of you as you move into the future that He has for you!

Love,

Jessica

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

One week left

My family has one week left in the US! The two weeks that we have been in Bakersfield, California so far have gone by quickly. I have been busy filling out college applications, shopping, swimming, sending emails, and taking photos. I am overwhelmed by how much time college applications take to fill out and all of the work involved in completing them. I will be thankful when they are finished, hopefully sooner rather than later. I need to finish them by the end of this week, which sounds very soon, but I am pretty sure that I can do it. Please pray for me, because these college applications are really taking a toll on me.

Yet, in the midst of it all, God is teaching me more about Him and how to live for Him. My faith hasn't been very strong lately. I had been doubting that I was saved, but I just reread a devotion this morning that I had received some time ago, on June 1st, about the topic of doubt. There were suggestions of things to pray for near the bottom, so I took them to heart and prayed about them to God. The recurring doubts that I had been having for days were nonexistent today! Praise God! God is so amazing! I have seen his power at work in my life so many times, and yet, often I forget those little miracles and let doubts overtake me. But God is good, and He is always helping me to be more like Him.

2 Corinthians 4:15-17

¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

I'm so thankful that God is renewing me on the inside each and every day. What an amazing promise!

This last week is promising to be busy with so many things to accomplish, but I know that God is here with me and He will help me to make it through. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

This is our flight schedule:

Monday, July 13th:

Fly out of LAX at 11:50 pm (Pacific time)

Arrive in Hong Kong 15 hours later

18-hour layover in Hong Kong

7-hour flight from Hong Kong to Cairns, Australia

22-hour stop in Cairns, Australia

Friday, July 17th:

2-hour flight from Cairns to Port Moresby, PNG

Several hours of waiting in Port Moresby

1 hour flight from Port Moresby to Ukarumpa

Please pray that we will have safe travels and that we will recuperate quickly from the jet lag that will certainly entail our long trip!

God bless,

Jessica