Time for goodbyes.

So this time next Sunday I'll be on a plane to NYC. Scary...

But a lot of friends are off on amazing camps this week so even though I'm not away long I've already said goodbye to you. You'll all come back hyperactive but exhausted next Saturday and you better leave me some comments about what happened in Wales so I don't feel left out!! But I'll see the CCiD bunch at the leaving shindig when I pick my Jimbob up. Leaving him behind in the UK feels pretty in stupid. We're just praying I don't miss out on anything because I'm wasting time feeling homesick or lonely, there isn't much point when, God willing, I've got years left here and only six weeks exploring!

I also finished working at H&M last week which means I'm unemployed! No more money coming in... I don't think it's quite real yet because it hasn't been very long. But no job! I feel so irresponsible. The H&M crew were lovely and they put up with me for nearly four years but I don't think I'll go back, it's time to look for a job I want to stick with for at least twenty years, being a grown up and that. May end up in a supermarket for a while until I find it but hey, it's an income.

And our little Gemma flew away to South Africa for six months last week... I really admire her. She'll have the most life changing time but I know we're all secretly hoping she comes back to us, at least for a little while. Here's her blog if you want to stay in touch with her and up-to-date with the happenings; gemma-leanne.blogspot.com It blows my mind to think back a few years to when the younger bunch all started to come through and get to know us and now mostly all of them are saved and going out into the world as followers of Christ. It also makes me feel incredibly comforted knowing all my extended family will be praying for me while I'm away, and if I forget to say it after, thanks for that.

Anyway, please stay in touch through here as I don't think I'll check my e-mail much while I'm gone. To become a follower click around the top right and to receive e-mails when I update type in your address at the bottom of the page.

Hope to see a few more faces this week but to those of you going away tomorrow, I love you guys! Have the best time in Wales and have a swim in the stream for me! (That means you Hannah!)

Your Jobo xxxx

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

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.

This time next month

With only two weeks left at work then two weeks of packing and seeing folk the days are counting down fast! Plus the fact everyone keeps asking me how long which makes me think about it more... This time next month I will have been in New York a whooole day.

I'm quietly confidant that I've got everything ready - I just need to make it fit into my bag. Here's a photo of what I have to live with for 6 weeks. It's not that long really. The problem is just that I'm a girl and we tend to try and pack for every situation we may encounter, even if it's not that realistic. Hence, I just spent twenty minutes explaining to my mum why I absolutely need every item I'm taking. Thankfully she agreed with most of it. And reminded me of a couple more practical items I'd bypassed.

Below is the photo of my whole tour, starting in the East in New York then travelling South. Most days we'll be travelling for about 4 or 5 hours so at least there's more time to catch up on sleep if we've had a late night. I'm really not sure how often I'll be able to update while I'm in the US but I'll aim for once a week. If you have my number feel free to drop me a line as I'm using it as my camera, just don't be offended if I don't reply - money and that...

I've heard tons of tips on travelling and back packing etc so why not throw some more my way if you have any.

Over the next few weeks I really need to start planning for New Zealand. Aside from the actual trip there's still flights and hostels to sort out...

Just a few weeks left to go.

x

Dublin

Trek-wise, I think aside from actually packing my bag I'm as organized as I'm ever going to be. I've also read a couple of blogs of people who are doing their treks at the moment. There's just So Much to see... but that's not all I'm dwelling on at the moment.

Last December, during the snow England didn't know what to do with, I flew away to Ireland for four days with two friends. At the end of October we just wanted to get away and Do something, so we booked a flight to Dublin and a hotel a few minutes walk from St. Stephens green.

Flying out of Southampton with ice on the runway was more than a little worrying and landing somewhere with an even whiter landscape then the one we'd left was worse. But we survived. In just over an hour we found ourselves in a wonderland that felt a million miles away from the troubles of home.

It was beautiful everywhere, even when the snow turned to slush as we hit the hum of Grafton Street. We went at the ideal time of year. There was snow, Christmas lights, festive songs floating out of shops and even though it was freezing, weather like this was a novelty my snow boots were yet to know! They only let me down in the rain when it soaked through the top, but for crunching, fluffy or falling snow they were perfect. And unfortunately for the other girls, I couldn't sympathise with not being able to feel my toes.

Somehow this city was a home from home after a while and four days felt like four months and we didn't want to leave and face reality.

Unlike most holidays, we had absolutley no plan. We knew we wanted to see the Guinness Factory but we hadn't looked into anything else. So we grabbed a map at the airport and jumped in a cab to the hotel. After signing in, we wrapped up and went out, ready to slip our way through the next few days.

Food-wise we just ate whatever we wanted. We were drawn into Bewleys twice by the cakes in the windows, had a classic greasy breakfast just around the corner from the Guinness factory and indulged ourselves in Elephant and Castle. And one afternoon we simply sat in Costa next to Trinity College and watched the world go by.

I wasn't until our second night that we discovered the Temple Bar pub. It was a huge relief from the cold outside and instantly a cosy place to pull up a bar stool and listen to the live music. Once inside we didn't leave for hours. The crowd was made up of people from all over the world, all friendly and all willing to sing along, which we did, very loudly... and cried for an encore. After that we laughed and ran home in the snow to our cosy beds. The next day was more wandering, more food and more singing and dancing before a big sleep.

The night we flew home the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen took place above the clouds, but all too soon we were back on English soil and all the snow had melted.

 I would love to go back, but I don't think we'd ever get the same experience twice.

Josie x

No time for backing out.

It's actually coming together! Since last time nearly everything is booked!
I fly out of Heathrow at 8:45am, Sunday 31st July and arrive in Newark airport around midday NY time. The scariest part of the trip will probably the first thing when I try to get myself from the airport into NYC and then find my hostel. Not a fan of the subway alone so from the train I need to walk about 40 blocks or something... but I get to walk through Times Square and Broadway so it's fine, I wouldn't see anything underground. I'm booked in for two nights just down the road from Central Park and will hopefully meet Lucy there! I'll roam around the city for a day and a half before heading back to the Hotel near the airport where we stay the night then meet our group the next morning. Then six weeks in a minibus! Lush!

Getting very excited! My visa has also been authorized so there's now backing out now. The only thing left to book is my stay in the hotel the night before I fly home on 14th Sept on a morning flight.

One thing that is playing on my mind is the weather. Massive prayer is required for the people of Alabama this week with the recent tornado. I'll be in Alabama around the fifth day before we continue to New Orleans so I won't deny that I'm a little scared. Psyching myself up to see or hear of the damage that still remains in New Orleans was one thing but now we'll probably encounter the fresher carnage in Alabama too. It's so sad. There's not a lot I can do and there's not much point in wasting my time being frightened. Helpful quote from my beloved sister; "You did chose to travel in hurricane season." Thanks.

All the same, those of you who believe in a God who loves to answer prayer, please pray for safe journeys as we travel around in our minibus everyday from city to city. Thank you :)

I'm off to count my pennies now to check I can afford to feed myself while I'm away...

yours,
Josie

Psalm 17:6
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer

Much to do.

Still so much to do... But I have found a girl who's going on my tour! One stranger down. Being scared has lost a little meaning now I know at least one person who will be expecting me in New York. I was considering staying in NY an extra day or two after the tour to explore but now I've met Lucy who's going out a week before, so I think I'll just go early. The only problem is, we can't find a decent hostel... Every five complimentry reviews are followed by a disgusted one - which stick in your mind much more than the happy customers. If anyone has a suggestion I can trust please let me know... I need to book this, my flights, my hotel stay before and after the tour and I need to get money changed. (If I have enough!) The entire tour except the day before and after is organized by Trek America, and at the moment I can't sort myself out for two days... I'm sure it will come together.

I have managed to set up my account with Trek America Live which will activate my groups page a few weeks before we go. When it's ready, I'll post the link to take you to a map of the US that has my route planned out. It should update whenever I long-in on route. Become a follower on here for photos and links and the like.

It will be the experiance of a lifetime but staying motivated about it beforehand isn't easy when things arn't coming together. Plus, I'll miss my family, friends and my Jimmy. But thats the sacrifice of facing your fears and making the most of the oppertunites you have. It's what the Lords given me and I'm taking it while I can. My next big adventure in life will be much more grown up, well sort of...

Unilt later...

Josie

First Time

So I've never kept a blog before. Journals yes, but blogs no. And never for public viewing. But here we are.

Around 2nd August this year I should be flying out to Newark airport New Jersey to start a 42 day trek around 26 states of America with a group of complete strangers who I will meet the morning we depart. To keep my family and friends in the loop, here's my blog. Whenever and wherever I can access it I will try and let you know where I am and what I'm up to.

So far, I'm terrified but excited beyond words. Thus I'm mostly blocking out any thought of it except for the necessary preparations. I am yet to book my flights for liability reasons but should be in May. My travel insurance is bought, as are all my toiletries which I fear will be too heavy to take with me along with all of my clothes! But it's all in a very sturdy backpack.

After my US travels I'll be home through October before flying out to New Zealand at the end of the month to do a similar tour with my mum for 3 weeks. Both tours have been booked through realgap.com (Trek America & Trek AUS/NZ)

But from now until then to get used to this I'm going to try and stay updated with how my preps going as I count down, as well as create posts for places I've already been. Some that I had in mind were Greece, Italy and Dublin, some of my favorite travelling memories!

I hope it makes for entertaining reading...

Josie