Home again, home again...

Finally I've slept in my bed for 5 whole days!
My summer seemed to rapidly come to a close, but all in all it was pretty awesome. After Stuart finally made it back (but missed Luke's wedding) we immediately left for Wilderness Week. This was quite different because every summer up to now we've gone to Orange Beach, AL and spent every day soaking in the rays and listening to some awesome speakers. This year we changed it up and spent a week sleeping on the ground and cooking our own food. Everyone was slightly skeptical at first but it ended up being one of my favorite trips all summer. We got to rock climb, repel, hike, swim/shower in some lakes/rivers/ponds...we went caving & white water rafting, and spent 95% of our time outdoors in eastern Tennessee. It was great. The best part was our debrief at the end of every night. We had a good number of students from every trip represented (Cincinnati, Tijuana, Peru, Costa Rica, Philadelphia, & Czech Rep.) Every night one team got to share about their experiences. It felt like a family coming back together.

One night we had a talent show. All I can say about that is you should probably check out Stuart's YouTube page. Three of the guys did some improv songs and sang one about Stuart being stuck in Costa Rica. It's pretty hilarious and you might understand a lot of it! Check it out for a good laugh...

The week after camp Stuart, Ryan, Jake, Hannah, and their daughter Mavis (1 year old) headed up to Wilmington, NC and hung out at the beach. Jake tried teaching us how to surf...I need some more practice. I was still living out of a suitcase but we had a good time not being responsible for 30+ kids.

Now I'm at home (at my wonderful host family's house) and on the job search. That's my next big task, but I still have a few weeks at the youth group.
Thank you thank you thank you for all of your prayers and support. And especially for your life updates! You know they all mean so much to me. Keep in touch!
Here are some prayer requests from my end:
* I would like to find a good job by September. God's really laid it on my heart to find a job that has purpose and can help/serve people. I'd like to be making some kind of difference.
* Stuart starts seminary on Monday the 18th! (let me tell you how glad I am that he'll be the one with the homework now). He's not thrilled about that but I think it will be a good change of pace for him.

Thanks again! Love you all! Keep in touch!!!

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Here's the latest on our alien friend =)

First let me say thanks to everyone for your prayers and messages! It's been pretty awesome. After two days of just waiting and praying the papers finally arrived in San Jose at 6:30am this morning. HUGE praise! We had been tracking the shipment on DHL.com. Usually their are more steps in between leaving one DHL location and arriving at another, but I think God just had us trusting Him. I was waiting for transits, customs clearance, shipment etc. Next thing I knew, the papers were all ready to get picked up!
Stuart should be on his way over there right now to get them. NOW the big prayer request is that everything goes smoothly at the Embassy. Pray that there are no more glitches and that the consulate is lenient, compassionate, understandable...Christian

...who knows what might help. Once he gets cleared, his next step is finding a flight home, which, as far as we know, shouldn't be a huge problem, just some more fees.

Thanks again for all your support and prayers. It's undeniable that God has had his hand in all of this. We still don't know how it will end up, but we know that God is faithful.
Again, feel free to ask questions, leave comments, or call the U.S. Consulate in Costa Rica and plead.

Another post coming soon!

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I'M back from Costa Rica, but Stuart isn't!

Hey Hey!
I got back from Costa Rica on Monday evening and turned right around to fly home on Tuesday afternoon. We had an awesome time in rainy, humid Costa Rica. Mainly working with youth and little kids, we got a good taste of the culture there. Our team of high school students did an awesome job serving and putting all of their preparation to action. The best part about the trip was that I had a lot of time to to spend with God. We did a Bible study through Romans as a team and I learned so much which deepened my faith incredibly. The main theme God spoke to me was how the righteous live by faith, not deeds, not going to church...just faith. This has been so applicable since I returned back to the states because of all that has been going on with Stuart.

For all of you wondering about/losing sleep at night because of Stuart's current status being trapped in Costa Rica, I thought I'd lay it all out for you. First of all, let me say that he's doing fine and seen how God is providing for him. That's always a plus.If you have no idea what is actually going on, let me fill you in. Stuart's visa expired in June but he has been in the process of changing it to a student visa. The school he applied to (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) informed him that he needed to go out of the country to get everything validated. Therefore, after our mission trip to Costa Rica he had an appointment scheduled at the U.S. Embassy. He went Tuesday morning but was told that his I-20 form was filled out incorrectly by the registrar at NOBTS. SO, he's spent the past day trying to get the papers shipped via DHL. Eventually the school cooperated and got the papers in the mail. The problem is international express mail takes 2 business days. They said it should get there by Friday morning. If he gets them in time he'll hopefully be able to make it to the Embassy before it closes at 11am.

So please pray that those papers get there even before Friday morning. Last time I checked the tracking number through DHL (9am this morning) the package was in Florida. We're praying that it might even get to San Jose, Costa Rica today so that he can see the Consulate early tomorrow morning and possibly get a flight out on Friday. We leave for Wilderness Camp, which Stuart is leading, on Sunday afternoon. If he does not get his papers in time he'll have to wait until Monday to go to the Embassy.

Throughout all of this we've really seen God's hand at work. A friend of a friend of mine has allowed Stuart to stay at his apartment in San Jose for no charge. It's right in the city and close to everything he needs to be able to get to. He also has a cell phone with an international SIM card so we've been able to communicate. The most unfortunate thing is he is supposed to be in a wedding tomorrow and we've had to cancel everything. No bueno.

So please, please be praying for a miracle that those papers get there today and everything goes fine with the Consulate tomorrow morning. If you have any more questions feel free to ask away. I'll post a new note as soon as I know more. Thanks everyone!

PS: you can also being praying for Stuart's Spanish...or lack thereof...hehe. =)

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on my way to costa rica!

Okay, I finally got a few minutes to sit down and update you on my crazy life!

We arrived home from Cincinnati last Friday. I spent the whole week with 40 middle schoolers doing all kinds of ministry stuff. Our group mainly worked in local thrift stores. There is a great organization called St. Vincent de Paul and it has thrift stores all over Cincinnati as well as a food pantry and pharmacy that we helped in. I always love middle school trips. It is so fun to see how they grow and how their eyes are opened the world they live in.

The day after we got back, Elise (youngest/tallest sister) flew out to visit! We have been having a wonderful time together all week. It’s always a good time with two or more Omi’s. Actually, I’ve been waiting for a long time for her to come see me here so it’s been lots of fun. Pretty much all we do is laugh, just ask Stuart.

My mom drove out to Mississippi about two weeks ago to visit her family. She, her dad, and my cousin all drove here yesterday to join all of us for a Braves game. Now we’re all visiting my uncle near Macon, GA. To make matters a little crazier my dad is flying into Atlanta tonight. Actually, last time I talked to him he was sitting on his plane in Denver for 2 hours just waiting to take off. We’ll see if he makes it here by morning. To sum up the Omi Adventures they’re all driving back to Denver together in a couple of days.

As for me, I leave for our Costa Rica mission trip on Friday. We’ll be there from July 4^th-14^th. Stuart will be there two days longer because (you guessed it) his visa issues. BIG prayer request for him: he has to meet with Consulate in Costa Rica to get his student status confirmed. Please pray for his traveling plans as he has to go from the north down south to San Jose; also that he finds a place to stay while he’s in San Jose; finally pray for the Consulate he meets with is a friendly, compassionate, easy-going guy that gives Stuart the visa he needs….and allows him to come back to the US. J Kind of a big deal.

I’ll keep you posted on that.

The day after I get home from Costa Rica I fly back to Denver (yippee!) for Luke’s wedding. Assuming that everything goes according to plan, Stuart will join me a few days later. We fly back from CO on Saturday and Sunday we leave for wilderness camp. (WHEW!)

If you didn’t catch that all, here’s SparkNotes version for you:

Now: Spending time with my family (minus Dana and Kylie) in Georgia

July 4: I fly to Costa Rica (please pray for safe travel)

July 5: Dad, Mom, Elise drive back to CO (please pray for safe travel)

July 14: Fly back from CR without Stu. (please pray for safe travel)

July 15: I fly to Denver (please pray for safe travel)…you get the point

July 15: STUART’S APPOINTMENT W/CONSULATE for VISA at 7AM

July 16: Stuart back to ATL

July 17: Stuart flies to Denver for wedding

July 19: We both fly back to Atlanta

July 20: Leave for Wilderness Camp

Thanks again for your prayers and updates! Sending you my love!!!

Paige

PS: for those of you wondering about Ryan Nelson wondering how he’s doing, he just got back from 2 weeks in Peru. He said he had a good time as they traveled all over the Amazon. All the kids here love him and can’t wait to spend more time with him. I’m pretty sure the next trip on his agenda is camp for the upcoming sixth graders. That is the same week we’re at Wilderness Camp. He went to the braves game with us last night and it was fun cheering on the Rockies together. (Braves lost, Rockies won…yeah rocks).

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Back from Colorado...on to Cincinnati

I had an amazing time at home in the mild, non-humid weather! The wedding was beautiful and lots of fun. And, of course, it was incredible to see my friends and family.

Other than that I don't have a lot to say except that Stuart made a video of the "new interns" for youth group. He posted it on youtube. It's pretty funny, especially if you know both me and Ryan. So here you are, check it out. http://youtube.com/watch?v=1HdFfDr8jHE

We leave for Cincinnati on Sunday with the middle schoolers. Those trips are always my favorite. Please pray for us as we go. Safety, community, open hearts, leadership, patience, etc. All the good stuff we'll need for a middle school mission trip.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my Blog! Thanks for the prayers and updates from your life too!

LOVE LOVE LOVE
paige

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June 12 update

Hi Everyone!
I thought I'd be part of this blogging phenomenon of our generation. I figured that I'd let you have the freedom to read/open my updates at your own will. :) I will email you all when I post a new one though. So here you are!

Believe it or not, I am surviving the heat here. Actually I've been sick the past couple of days and I think it's because of heat exhaustion. Today I feel about 98% better though. Sunday night we got back from Philly and all week I've been thinking about how great that trip was. Thanks for your prayers and support. We spent the week ministering and getting to know some homeless people in the city, as well as volunteering at different organizations. It was pretty incredible. The best part was the group of high schoolers we took. I just had great time hanging out with them. It was such a blessing to start my summer my off with a fun trip. Sometimes I forget I'm actually a leader on the trip and still get in trouble for being too rowdy...hehe, but that's what makes it a a great trip. I found myself laughing for the majority of the day. It's so fun to go on these trips because they are such a fond memory of mine from high school.

It was also awesome to see how our team was so changed by the people they met. I learned a lot about what humility can teach people. We studied Philippians all week and there is a part that talks about how Jesus came and humbled Himself before everyone. In the end, however, every knee will bow to worship this humble man. We live in a society that says you have to be the best, the top, the most successful...those are the people we tend to worship. Jesus was exactly opposite--becoming obedient to death on a cross. And yet, He changed the world. That got me to thinking...maybe there is something to humility. Then I was able to witness that first hand as these people who lived on the streets and had only a backpack as their own taught us all so much. That was incredible to see and be part of.

Some of you may be wondering if I am a felon on the loose right now....nope!! (As far as I know). This is a huge praise to God. It took several long phone calls and lots of explanation but I did get my court date rescheduled for when I am home. I just need to take proof that I was in Jamaica for spring break and in Philly this past week. Also I need proof that I live in GA now. I think that everything will be taken care of once I do that. THANK YOU for your prayers over this silly situation. I guess they don't have too much to do at that Wheat Ridge Municipal Court. This is just keeping them busy and annoying everyone else. Oh well.

Anyway, lots of good stuff going on. I'm missing all of you so much, but I'm realizing that the people here do love me and are excited for me to be here.

A look ahead in Paige's life:
This weekend I'll be back in cool Colorado for a wedding (yay leanne!!!!)
Next weekend we leave for Cincinnati with middle schoolers.

thanks for your updates too! It really does mean a lot to me.

Hopefully this blog thing works out okay for everyone.
Love you dearly,
Paige

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