Change is in the air...

I was really not excited to come back to Provo for my last year of nursing school.

After working at a real job this summer at a hospital back home, I felt like I was so ready to just be done with school and couldn't wait to start working as a registered nurse. Also, it was really hard for me to come back, especially with so many of my friends moving on, graduating, and getting married.

I was going to be on my own. I had to start over.

Needless to say, these past few weeks have been very difficult for me. (That's hard for me to admit.)

Then in one of my classes, our professor told us about a amazing and unique opportunity. The College could send one student to Finland for the capstone semester. They could work at a hospital there, learn about another culture, and another healthcare system.

I really can't describe how I felt that day. I was sitting there with about 50 other friends, but she was talking just to me. I felt something, and I knew that this was for me.

After talking with the professor that day, I decided to do some soul-searching. I prayed. I cried. I planned. I analyzed. I broke this decision down bit by bit. I agonized. Everybody told me, "just do what you want." But I didn't know what I wanted.

Finally, I decided to fast and to pray about this decision. I took the frustration and excitement to the Lord and poured out my heart. I have never felt so much overpowering love as I did that night on my knees in the basement of my apartment. I was surrounded by God's love and guidance. He was telling me to go to Finland. He told me that it would be alright. He told me that this was a blessing for me. This is a gift and an opportunity. One that I have to take advantage of. I don't have to feel left behind, I can make my own path. I can take my life into my own hands.

It's once in a lifetime. 

So here I am. The bottom line is this. In less than two months,

I'll be in Finland
I'll learn nursing from another perspective.
I'll learn about another culture.
I'll learn about another system of healthcare.
I'll learn about people.
I'll make new friends.
And I'll fall in love...with another country.

With Savonlinna, Finland.