plans

i don't have time right now for a long post, but i just wanted to let you guys know what's been going on since that last post. i hate to leave ya hanging!

my parents and i talked about a backup plan last week. i decided that a backup plan was by no means an expression of doubt, just being sensible.

• plan #1: george fox could work out, there's still the possibility, but it's not the most likely.

• plan #2: apply to bryan college. they're being really really helpful and doing all they can to get me something close to a full-ride scholarship, since the deadline for the other full-ride opportunity has passed, and they know our financial situation as missionaries and all.

• plan #3: if bryan isn't able to come up with enough scholarship/grant/whateverelseisn'tloan money for me to attend this year without a whole lot of debt, i will most likely come back to albania for one more year. i could use that time to volunteer at more places, continue in the ministries that i'm already involved in, and pad my figurative wallet with babysitting money. i wouldn't graduate (more specifically: put a graduation date on my transcript), so that i could qualify for more "just out of highschool" scholarships when the next college opportunity rolled around (most likely bryan, unless.. who knows! God may have something totally different up His sleeve...).

so that's the low-down on what's going on these days... in its shortest, most basic form.

i've got a lot of spiritual stuff going on, too. summarized, i'm learning to take what God has blessed me with (acceptance to gfu, etc) and hold it with open hands, so that it is free for God to leave there or replace with something else (such as bryan, or anything else He may prefer). this is a major process--a difficult one, a hard one--but i'm sure it'll be worth it in the long run. every time a "bad" (in my eyes) thing that has happened to me before, God has taken it, turned it around, and taught me incredible life lessons of immeasurable worth. i'm seeing that potential for this situation, and doing my best to learn from it. i've just gotta trust God, and have true faith, through the whole thing.

yeah, and if you'd still like to be praying for me, i sure would appreciate it! love y'all.

(yes, i did just say "y'all". if i might end up in tn, i may as well practice a bit. ;P )