A Month of Change

Well I've finally made it to Mississippi! And boy was I in shock once I got here...it's very different from what I am used to in Seattle, but of course, I did expect that. The drive here was very long and mostly uneventful and boring. Chica (my cat) hated all of it, but I couldn't get her to take any drugs, so she just had to deal with it...by the last and longest day, I think she was finally used to riding in the car and barely yowled at all.

I left Seattle, WA on Thursday, September 2 and drove to Oregon. I stayed there two nights with my Dad and Joni, and then left for Spokane, WA to see the Willson's!!! I really loved Spokane...it's very open and beautiful! From Spokane I drove to Burley, ID and stayed with my Great-Aunt and Uncle on Sunday night. I had a pretty long drive the next day and was going through Wyoming (which I was not looking forward to at all - BORING!), so I left Idaho at 5am - yuk! I was so tired, but I loved that I was able to watch the sunrise!

I drove through the northeast corner of Utah before entering Wyoming. I had it all calculated - 400 miles and 5 hours to get through Wyoming. It was so long and boring...there is absolutely nothing in Wyoming. I am sorry to those of you who love and/or live in Wyoming, but I've decided that it's not for me. And then, about 20 miles from the Nebraska border, my car broke down! Did I mention that I hate Wyoming?? My intended destination for that night was another 2.5 hours away and I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. I called my sister-in-law, Lisa and also Debbie Engle (who I was supposed to be staying with) to let her know I wasn't going to make it, and I cried a lot. I got out of my car and looked under the hood, not that I knew what I was looking for. I knelt on the side of the highway and prayed and cried some more. A state trooper pulled up and called a tow truck for me. While I was waiting for the tow truck, Lisa and her Dad made plans to come get me and tow my car out to Iowa/Missouri so he could fix whatever was wrong (we were pretty sure it was my alternator). The only problem was that they were a good eight hours away, but I had very little money left and had no way to get anywhere from where I broke down. And then Debbie called me back and told me that she and her husband, Dennis, were going to come get me instead - turns out Dennis is a mechanic!

I feel I should include the story of how I know Debbie and Dennis. Back in my ward in Seattle, a missionary by the name of Elder Deines was serving. I found out that he is from Nebraska and I also knew that I would be needing to stop somewhere in Nebraska on my road trip to Mississippi, so I asked him where would be a good place to stay. He gave me the name of a place, but then a few days later told me that I should just stay with his grandparents and that they loved the idea. So I got in touch with his grandma (Debbie) and made plans to stop in Grant. So I had never actually met them and they did not know me either...but they came to my rescue anyway! They brought an extra battery so that we could get my car back to their house. We had to stop twice to recharge the battery, but we made it! The next morning we were able to find an alternator for only $50 and I was back on the road by 4pm! I hadn't actually lost any time...I made it to Jeff and Lisa's house in Northwest Missouri late Tuesday night. The next day was my last and longest day of driving, but I finally made it to Mississippi late on Wednesday, September 8th.

I drove straight to the house of the family I would be a live-in nanny for in Foxworth, MS. They live out in the country, it's very dark at night and they're surrounded by forest...I was so afraid I was going to get lost because I couldn't see the street signs and I had no service on my phone. I felt very isolated when I first arrived. Needless to say, it's very different than what I am used to. I never thought I'd actually miss the city! But I am enjoying myself and still getting used to being in a completely new and different place.

The family that I nanny for has six kids between the ages of 2 and 11 and so it gets pretty crazy and loud around here - it's definitely a challenge. I was with them for about a week and a half when I found out that the father (who works on an oil rig) was going to be laid off...I found this out Sunday. So - less than two weeks in Mississippi and I am now unemployed and homeless. I have been getting so much help and support from my church though. I have found a place to stay temporarily and will be looking for a job this week. I actually have an interview on Thursday with a mom in Hattiesburg. She has a seven-year-old daughter and is going to have a baby in about four weeks. I am hoping this will go well...it is not a live-in, so I will have to find a place to live. I think I'm going to try to find some girls in the area who need an extra roommate - Hattiesburg is the home of USM, so there will be lots of people my age and more affordable housing.

So that is where I'm at now...my time here so far has definitely been a roller coaster ride, but I am trying to stay positive and have faith in my Heavenly Father's plan for me. I know I'm here for a reason and I know that I will be supported through my trials and righteous endeavors. And no, I do not regret leaving Washington :)

"...for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day." (Alma 36:3)