the beginning

I'm awful at journaling. Really, I am. My mom used to make me write one page in my journal every week while I was growing up, which seemed at the time to be more a form of punishment than a character-building exercise. That being said, I've recently realized how valuable a journal is. I love being able to look back at my life (at least, at those rare times when I actually have kept a journal) and see what was happening, who the main characters were in my life, watch the story of me unfold, and see how God has been working in my life over the years.

Last year I went on a missions trip with the Navigators to Norway and Latvia for about six weeks. I had such a grand time that I decided to go back this summer. While I did keep some semblance of a journal last year, I wasn't particularly dedicated to the concept or very thorough in my chronicling. It was more of an afterthought than an integral part of my daily routine. I'm not sure what spurred the decision, but at some point I decided that I was going to try and write daily journal entries for the entire time I was gone this summer. The intent was to have something to look back at for myself, and also something to share with friends and family once I returned home so they could get a better picture of what happened in my life while I was gone.



My itinerary started off looking something like the following:

• Fly to Norway
• Spend a few days backpacking, then begin summer program with the Navigators
• After a few weeks in Norway, travel to Latvia
• Help run summer camp in Latvia
• Fly back to Norway
• Summer program ends; fly to Oregon
• Go to Jesse's wedding in Oregon
• Spend some time on the West Coast, and then find a way to get back to Maine. Options being considered: buying and riding a moped, hitchhiking, biking, or perhaps train or bus. Hoping to visit friends throughout the U.S. while traveling back East
• Find a job

As to what actually happened... well, you'll have to read on to find out.


I'd love any feedback you might feel like supplying... comments, compliments, and criticisms are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is just one person's view of events: others who experienced the exact same situations may have had comepletely different thoughts or reactions. That being said, I'd especially love any comments from anyone who has been on the trip (either this summer or an earlier one).


So...


Start reading at the beginning (click here), and read as much or as little as you desire. I can't promise quality, but I can assure (for better or for worse) brutal, transparent honesty.



Thanks for stopping by!