I started this post almost two weeks ago. I was super excited and wanted to share that with all of you! But before I could even finish the post and within just a few hours, I got an email which changed that excited. Ugh. But then just a few more hours later, there was more news that at least gave some hope. And then within a few days, the excitement was back! What a rollercoaster! And it's time you hear all about it.
If you haven't read my post Not Sure How I Feel, you really should. It gives you the beginning of this whole exchange student story. And that was back in the middle of July, I do believe. I literally waited all summer to hear about whether I would get an exchange student or not. I would get an update every once in awhile saying that the regional rep was just waiting but that was about it. And then the deadline to find all of these students a home was just a few days away. I had basically given up. It didn't matter. They weren't going to give me a student. So I decided maybe I would try again next year. Or maybe it wasn't worth it.
But then I got an email on Monday August 28th from my regional representative stating that she knew this was going to happen. They were at the deadline and so now they were willing to place a child in my home. But they only had boys available. And in that email, there were profiles of three teenage boys for me to look at. So I did. Smart boys. Probably very good kids. But it's not what I wanted. And I didn't feel comfortable. I'm a single woman. I felt like housing a boy by myself was asking for trouble from people who just don't have any sense. (You know you understand what I mean!) But I didn't want to just say no because I was disappointed and because I was afraid of what other people would say. So I prayed. And I asked others to pray.
My dad was scheduled for hernia surgery the next morning (because why don't add one more thing to all of the medical issues he's had this year). So I woke up early and instantly prayed about dad's surgery as well as this exchange student situation. I decided that I wouldn't take a boy. I was taking a bunch of stuff with me to the hospital to work on so I decided I would email the regional rep and let her know that my answer is no.
My cousin Calin joined me at the hospital so after they took my dad back, him and I sat together and just talked. I told him about the situation and he agreed that taking a boy was probably a bad idea. But he said, "But you never know. Just keep praying about it. God will work it out." We went to lunch after dad came out of surgery and then Calin needed to leave. The receptionist came out to get me to tell me that I could now go see dad and then my phone rang. It was my regional rep. I silenced it and then immediately sent her a text letting her know I was about to see my dad. She text me back saying she sent me an email about a girl. I needed to look at it ASAP and let her know ASAP if I was willing to take her. WHAT?? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?? I barely read the email before I text her back saying YES YES YES! It was so hard to believe that this is where I was. Because just a few hours before, I had given up on the idea. It just wasn't going to happen. But here I was. I was getting a student!!! The regional rep called me a little later and she told me that she had been sent an email that morning with my name as the subject. And in this email was the information on this female student. So we started the rest of the process, which honestly was pretty easy. I just needed the school to sign off to say that they would take her. And they did! The regional rep called me back to say it was official! She told me I should hear in the next few days when the student would make her way over to the states. I would be getting info by email and mail as well on other things. I talked to the area rep and had set up a time over the weekend to speak with her for my orientation. Things were rolling.
I talked to that regional rep that morning. I don't even remember why. But while we were on the phone, she asked me if I would be interested in becoming an area rep for the organization. What?? Are you serious? I didn't even know what to say. She asked me to pray about it and get back with her. But that same day, I got an email sometime later in the morning. My regional rep was giving me the bad news that the student had turned down the placement. No student for me. Talk about bummed. Wow. I tried not to be but I was. I've been wanting this and really praying and planning for this all summer. It finally felt like it was going to happen and then BAM!
Just a few hours later, though, I got an email from my regional rep that said "I believe in miracles. Call me when you can." I won't go into any more details about that phone conversation but I will say, it was exciting. But I chose to not get my hopes up. Nothing else had worked out. There's no way this way was going to either.
I received a called on Thurs Sept 7 from my regional rep. I actually got two calls and the second was to let me know that I would need to pick up my student if possible from a home in Toledo. Johanna was coming to stay with me. The greatest part of this story is that Johanna was the very first student I picked back in June! And of all the places in the US that she could have been placed, she was place in Toledo. This was God's plan for sure. It has to be! And what a wonderful plan it was. It wasn't easy. That was quite the roller coaster but I'm thankful for it anyway.
I also accepted a position with the organization that day. It's part time. It works around my own schedule. But I think it will be a great experience!
I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to share about Johanna as time goes on. I'm excited. We've had fun the past few days. But it's all still new for both of us. I'm excited for the plans God has for us!
If you haven't read my post Not Sure How I Feel, you really should. It gives you the beginning of this whole exchange student story. And that was back in the middle of July, I do believe. I literally waited all summer to hear about whether I would get an exchange student or not. I would get an update every once in awhile saying that the regional rep was just waiting but that was about it. And then the deadline to find all of these students a home was just a few days away. I had basically given up. It didn't matter. They weren't going to give me a student. So I decided maybe I would try again next year. Or maybe it wasn't worth it.
But then I got an email on Monday August 28th from my regional representative stating that she knew this was going to happen. They were at the deadline and so now they were willing to place a child in my home. But they only had boys available. And in that email, there were profiles of three teenage boys for me to look at. So I did. Smart boys. Probably very good kids. But it's not what I wanted. And I didn't feel comfortable. I'm a single woman. I felt like housing a boy by myself was asking for trouble from people who just don't have any sense. (You know you understand what I mean!) But I didn't want to just say no because I was disappointed and because I was afraid of what other people would say. So I prayed. And I asked others to pray.
My dad was scheduled for hernia surgery the next morning (because why don't add one more thing to all of the medical issues he's had this year). So I woke up early and instantly prayed about dad's surgery as well as this exchange student situation. I decided that I wouldn't take a boy. I was taking a bunch of stuff with me to the hospital to work on so I decided I would email the regional rep and let her know that my answer is no.
My cousin Calin joined me at the hospital so after they took my dad back, him and I sat together and just talked. I told him about the situation and he agreed that taking a boy was probably a bad idea. But he said, "But you never know. Just keep praying about it. God will work it out." We went to lunch after dad came out of surgery and then Calin needed to leave. The receptionist came out to get me to tell me that I could now go see dad and then my phone rang. It was my regional rep. I silenced it and then immediately sent her a text letting her know I was about to see my dad. She text me back saying she sent me an email about a girl. I needed to look at it ASAP and let her know ASAP if I was willing to take her. WHAT?? ARE YOU SERIOUS!?? I barely read the email before I text her back saying YES YES YES! It was so hard to believe that this is where I was. Because just a few hours before, I had given up on the idea. It just wasn't going to happen. But here I was. I was getting a student!!! The regional rep called me a little later and she told me that she had been sent an email that morning with my name as the subject. And in this email was the information on this female student. So we started the rest of the process, which honestly was pretty easy. I just needed the school to sign off to say that they would take her. And they did! The regional rep called me back to say it was official! She told me I should hear in the next few days when the student would make her way over to the states. I would be getting info by email and mail as well on other things. I talked to the area rep and had set up a time over the weekend to speak with her for my orientation. Things were rolling.
I talked to that regional rep that morning. I don't even remember why. But while we were on the phone, she asked me if I would be interested in becoming an area rep for the organization. What?? Are you serious? I didn't even know what to say. She asked me to pray about it and get back with her. But that same day, I got an email sometime later in the morning. My regional rep was giving me the bad news that the student had turned down the placement. No student for me. Talk about bummed. Wow. I tried not to be but I was. I've been wanting this and really praying and planning for this all summer. It finally felt like it was going to happen and then BAM!
Just a few hours later, though, I got an email from my regional rep that said "I believe in miracles. Call me when you can." I won't go into any more details about that phone conversation but I will say, it was exciting. But I chose to not get my hopes up. Nothing else had worked out. There's no way this way was going to either.
I received a called on Thurs Sept 7 from my regional rep. I actually got two calls and the second was to let me know that I would need to pick up my student if possible from a home in Toledo. Johanna was coming to stay with me. The greatest part of this story is that Johanna was the very first student I picked back in June! And of all the places in the US that she could have been placed, she was place in Toledo. This was God's plan for sure. It has to be! And what a wonderful plan it was. It wasn't easy. That was quite the roller coaster but I'm thankful for it anyway.
I also accepted a position with the organization that day. It's part time. It works around my own schedule. But I think it will be a great experience!
I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories to share about Johanna as time goes on. I'm excited. We've had fun the past few days. But it's all still new for both of us. I'm excited for the plans God has for us!
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