Leaving Home

I think I have completely forgotten how it was I used to do this whole blogging thing.  I think I need to relearn and rebuild my momentum again. So I'm putting out my "tricks of the trade" so that you know, and I'm held to them by all the lovely people out in internet land.

How to write a Rachel-style Blog post:

1. Pick a deadline for writing
2. Think about a million possible topics
3. At one day before deadline, decide on one topic and start to formulate phrases and ideas.
4. On day of deadline, completely forget/procrastinate and write nothing.
5. On day after deadline, feel kinda guilty for not having written anything.  Seriously think about writing, though.  Still write nothing.
5. 3-5 days after deadline, after all the thought on topic of choice, decide to write something totally different and spontaneous. Submit.  Feel relieved about having posted a week late.
6. Never proof read.  Only make corrections weeks later when my sister messages me about them. (I asked her in advance to do this for me, she's not a grammar police type person usually)
7.  Realize that next "weekly deadline" for posting is in two days.
8. Repeat.
Peanut Fudge!
No Episcoparty is complete without a cake!
So there you have it.  After typing that out, I'm now surprised at all the posts I managed to write in the first place.

But anyways, on to the real reason you're all here: This post says something about leaving and you're now super excited for me! Well, I caution you now to slow your roll, cause I'm always intentionally misleading like that.  Yes, things are moving forward (and a little south-ish) but I'm not gone yet.

So yes, I was thrown a Send-Off Celebration by my home parish (cause they're awesome!). And it involved a good portion of the youth group (although not all, because, let's face it, youth before noon on a weekend will never net 100% attendance around here).  It also involved a chance to further talk about my specific placement and the community I'll be joining in Brazil.  Also, a big colorful feather boa, a great slide show of so many of the things I and the youth have been blessed to do together in my time there, and lots of hugs.
 Most importantly all the youth laid hands on me and prayed for me.  It was absolutely lovely and so important to me, both their love and the blessing of the whole church family in this journey.

If you're reading this and feel left out of this whole endeavor, might a suggest a brief visit to my "support" page on this site.  There are still multiple ways to get involved *wink wink*









 Also, because I don't want to completely be a liar, I did actually leave home...for two days.
I was finally able to travel down to the Brazilian consulate in Miami to apply for my Visa!  I was so blessed to be welcomed into the home of a dear family friend, Janelle, and she was absolutely so great to me (I am so lucky to have so many wonderful and great Godmothers!!!).

The cool news was, thanks to my email inquiries and the unique nature of my Visa request (they usually get mainly tourist applications) the staff at the consulate already knew who I was.  Also, they remarked that all my paperwork appeared meticulously in order, so I was rather proud of myself.

However, they are still required to send the whole packet back to Brazil for processing, so I have absolutely no idea when I'll see it back and truly be ready to leave home.

So while I'm waiting to go, and you're out there waiting to hear about me going, here's a couple really cool things to check out:

The Anglican Church in Brazil's Facebook page where you can see some of the cool people and events I'll be joining as soon as I possibly can.

The pages of other YASCers since a bunch of them have started their placements around the world already!  These people are doing some awesome stuff, and with the "Six degrees of Episcopalians" if you're part of the church, there's a good chance you'll know people who know them, too!



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