In The Beginning

In 10 days I will be on an air plane getting ready for the adventure of a life time. I am going to Jerusalem; The City of Peace. A place where culture and history are so rich. I decided to keep up a blog as really the only way to let my family and friends know what I was doing. I've been told by people who have attended this program before to not waste time on computers. So I sure hope I can keep up on this blog. If not I apologize in advance.
I want to tell the story of why I chose Jerusalem and the path I took that got me here.
It started July of 2010 I filled out my first application to attend the winter semester in Jerusalem. With the economy so low I was almost positive that I would have no problem getting in. I was rather depressed when I got the letter stating I was number 18 on the waiting list. Needless to say I only got to number 9 when the winter semester group left. I was then placed for the program in the Spring/ Summer semester 2011. Time passed and I was super nervous to leave. I kept trying to rationalize a reason of why I shouldn't go; family, work, money, school, friends, etc... In March of this year (like 4 weeks before departure) I called Debbie up and canceled my application and collected all the money back. Satisfied with my decision I started looking for jobs, tried out for the city's summer musical, decided I was going to run for Miss Kaysville had my talent already memorized. All in all I was ready to stay here.
About a week later on a Sunday night I was on facebook and decided to look up Rachel Jackson (we knew each other in high school but that's about it, I thought it strange that I should look her up but I did it anyway) on her wall my best friend had posted a message saying that Rachel's blog had changed her life. Immediatly I found the web site link to Rachel's blog. It was called Rachel's Rosetta Stone. She was in Jerusalem, my stomach dropped and I began to sob as I looked through her pictures reading her comments of the city that changed her life. I had made a mistake and I knew it. I knelt down and prayed to my Father in Heaven, asking him that if this was the place I needed to be that it would all work out. The next morning as I was walking up to campus I called my mother and told her of my findings the previous night. She said to me "Joan call Debbie and see if you can get back in the program." I was so doubtful but said I would call after class, while sitting in class I decided that if there was anyway on earth I had a chance of going when I called Debbie that I would take it, it would be my answer. I called Debbie up and told her I was sorry for being bipolar and wanted back into the program. She laughed and told me it was funny but there was one spot open even after all those on the waiting list were added into the program. She said getting back into the program was easy but getting me a plane ticket, almost impossible. She told me to hold tight and if she could get it figured out she'd call, she left me with only little hope. A few hours later Debbie called and the first thing she said... "Joan there must be a reason you're supposed to go because everything has fallen into place for you. Welcome back!"
So...HERE WE GO!!!!