A Journey of a Thousand Miles: The 1st Step

Hello World! Eileen here!

Before you read this post I advise that you read Lizzy's post below this one for the backstory.

For me this all started in June, 2011. I had gone on a Mission's trip a few years previous and was desperate to go on another one. One night I was praying about this and the next morning in the mail I found an invitation to go on a Mission's trip to South Africa. I was ecstatic. After discussing this over with my mother she suggested I go to YWAM instead. I decided to do some research and a month later had settled on going to the Notting Hill base in London, England. I soon set out filling in the application and by October it was in the post. By December I had a response: they want to Skype with me in January as the final step of the application process.

During this time the plan had always been that one of my friends would join me. About 2 weeks ago we found out that she hadn't been accepted to the Notting Hill base. Lizzy and I were in shock! I instantly ran to my computer and started looking at other bases she could go to and we found the perfect one. It was so beautiful and Liz and I were terribly jealous! So she will be applying to that base and will also be blogging her trip.

I was then left traveling on my own, for my friend would be leaving 2 months after me!

Then a miracle happened! The door had been thrown open and Lizzy was able to go! So now if we get accepted all three of us will be going to England in the coming months. Most of the forms have been filled out, we have had the necessary shots, a list has been made of things to do in London, cameras are purchased, and luggage picked out. We are just waiting to hear if we have been accepted to book our flights!

So that is my version of the beginning of our story, keep checking back to hear more!

-Eileen

The Beginning

LIZZY
I would like to welcome you all to "Over Hill, Over Dale". My friend and I are starting a blog about our trip to London, England and would like to welcome you to come along with us. You see, it all started out when Eileen decided that once she was finished high school that she would be going to Nottinghill, London for YWAM. YWAM stands for Youth With A Mission and is a part of the University of Nations. It is a 5.5 month program where you get to stay in Nottinghill, one of the nicer areas of London. For 8 weeks of your stay you are a part of a missions trip to anywhere in the world. Honestly, when Eileen informed me I was so shocked. This sounded like the perfect opportunity. She really wanted me to come along with her, but I was going to a college in Abbotsford at the time and I did not think I would have enough money. I am still trying to figure all of this out, because honestly, I am scared that I wont make it.

I talked to my parents about it, and we decided that I would not have enough funds to go. I was so upset about this, oh and I forgot to mention that this took place in October. So, anyways, I did not think any of this was going to happen, and so I was constantly listening to Eileen talk about how excited she was, how she was, she even wrote a list of things to do in London.

As time moves on I continually kept getting more and more upset to a point where I just wanted to pull my hair out, when suddenly I come home for Christmas and things move over night. I go to Eileen's house for a sleep over when we learn that our mutual friend that was originally going to go along with Eileen was not accepted in to the same base that Eileen was. The moment we heard that news you could have heard a penny drop from a mile away and it would have been so loud your ears would have been ringing. Eileen and I just stood there stumbling over our words, trying to make sense of it all. I felt like our world had just been torn apart. I mean, I had accepted the fact that I was not able to go, but she didn't deserve to be rejected.

We were talking it over when we realized that God wanted her somewhere else, and we found the most perfect place in all of Britain. I have the utmost confidence that she will get in, but I was still utterly shocked.

Immediately after this change in plans, I was informed of a sudden influx in finances regarding my trip. In the span of 5 minutes I went from absolutely not going to almost positive as long as I am accepted. My days suddenly seemed brighter and I could not sleep at night due to excitement. I just went over my finances and I am excited to announce that I am for sure going as long as the school accepts me, and I mean, why wouldn't they when I already have a year of bible college under my belt? So this is the conclusion of my exciting news. I will leave the rest of this incredible, God lead story to my travel mate... Eileen :D