Preparation for a trip abroad

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Preparation for moving to a different place for 3.5 months is fairly difficult as there is much to think about. However at the same time, taking a suitcase and a backpack to live out of makes me think about how many unnecessary things are relied upon even in a country where I speak the language. There are some absolute necessary things but there are many things that are trivial that we make out to be necessities. As I leave in 2 days for France there is not much else I can do in order to prepare for this move other than pray and show up at my prearranged apartment. There is a weird sense of peace and contentment that has come over me as I have thought about moving to France. It kind of sounds insane and possibly like I am being put in a position to fail, especially because I do not know the language well at all. Fear of failure will get you nowhere. It is a good risk to take, at least at this point in my life.

A lot of advice that I have been given is to be flexible, and I see that as there is not much I can do about some of the things until I arrive there. I think that is a good skill to have that brings contentment into life. Being able to roll with it. I would have thought that I would feel more prepared before I moved to another country than I feel right now, yet I feel fine. I do not feel unprepared, yet I do. A lot of prep work has gone into this move, about 6 months and up but there is a point when there is just the leap... Jump into the fog. Who knows what is in the fog, but I will either deal with it or learn how to.

I am very excited to see what is in store for me over there as there is a lot of unknown. I have become prepared for the unknown as my past few months have taught me that there are a lot of unknowns in this world. Unknowns make life fun and difficult all at the same time. They will not be unknowns forever. There are many people who have helped me prepare for moving, especially my parents, and it would be impossible without them. Thanks be to God for all of those people.

I am sure going to get good at French compared to what I know now, and many things will change as far as my perception on culture and thinking process, and my individualism. But I myself will not fundamentally be changed nor shaken. Psalm 62: 1-2. I feel well prepared and strengthened through Christ. We will see where this journey takes me.

The glory to God. May that be my focus abroad and yours at home.

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