Preparations

When I bought my plane tickets several months ago, I knew that my passport would expire at the end of the summer after my trip. I made sure to check if that would be a problem or not, and was assured that as long as the passport was good, and not expired before the end of the trip, it was fine. But that is not true. France for one demands that your passport be good for at least 6 months beyond your trip date. I realized this at the beginning of March, almost exactly 6 weeks before my departure. I knew I had to get a new passport. Onto the website, download an application, take a photo of myself, print it out (darn, my printer's out of ink, run to Hermann to have it printed) send it all off to the passport center. They promise to have your new passport in 4 to 6 weeks. I was leaving in exactly five weeks six days. Of course for an extra $60 they can process your application in three weeks. Should I not risk it and just pay the extra $60 or trust that they would have it back to me in time. Two people told me they do have it back as promised, so I decided to just send the fee for normal processing and trust The Lord to take care of me. I did send the extra $14.50 for overnight return delivery.
Well, imagine my surprise when I had a new passport in my hands in just ten days! ! Wow no worrying about whether it'll arrive or not, I'm set to go! Of course I was delighted, but even more it was a sign to me that God was watching out for me, and thus a sign that He would continue to do so. I need not fear. I could enjoy my trip and God would be with me. So I am leaving with that attitude, ready for the adventure ahead of me. Pray that I remain faithful.