In one week from now, im gonna be stuck in an airplane over the Atlantic ocean. It's kind of weird to think about that I wouldn't have known any people here if I hadn't done the au pair thing. From elementary school until High school I didn't really mind school and the schoolwork at all. But there was one thing I coudn't stand... ENGLISH! I hated it... I hated it so bad that i didn't want to go to the periods, and my worst fear was to read english alound in the class. And I thought people that went abroad as exchange students were crazy. And look at me know. It's really weird, this was not my plan at all.
I don't know if I have told so many about it, but I had a dream (my second year in high school) I don't know, or remember what I dreamed, but when I woke up the next morning I knew for sure that I had to go to the US. And I really didn't want to go as an exchange student. And soon I heard about the au pair thing, and that was perfect since I love kids!!! But I never really thought that I really would go, and that someone wanted me to come to their house. I was scared to death by the thought, that I would have to speak english. But in another way, I saw it as a big opurtunity to learn it better...
But I didn't tell anybody about my au pair plans in half a year... until I suddenly found a webpage and an au pair organization in Norway that I liked. So I wrote them, and they sent me the applications papers... It was almost 15pages... ALL IN ENGLISH!!! So, I started filling everything out, and it was fun and difficult at the same time. The hard thing was that I had to get so much information, my medical record, a statement from the police office, proof of childcare and so on... And through all of this my parents didn't know anything... I was scared and didn't want to tell them before I had forwarded my application.... I think it was a little crazy,but I decided to tell my parents on Christmas Eve...(then I had all of my siblings around to support me...)
A couple of months later I hadn't heard anything back from STS(the norwegian au pair organization at all... So I called them and asked if they recieved my papers... Then they told me that I was already approved to the program and I could expect families from the US to start calling any day... Guess who was super nervous from then on???
And this is how I got in touch with the Rogers family and ended up in Clarksville. I really think that God was using me to help the Rogers family when Kris was in Iraq. And at the same time, I've learned alot about kids, life, another country and God. He works in incredible ways. I think God had a plan for me to go over her and meet all of you. You will always be in my heart, and I'll pray for you guys. Iam very thankful for the opurtunity I've had to get to do this. If you're a christian your life is never gonna be boring... There is a new task for you around the bend.
So Im both exited and sad that im leaving. Sad because Im gonna miss you, and exited to meet friends, family, to talk norwegian(all the time), to go hiking in the mountain, and then of course. I am very exited that I'll get to go to Africa in October. I hope people will stay in touch, and please pray for me and the rest of my group, and the people we'll be in touch with. We have such an amazing God!
