I failed to announce a few months ago that my Dad had finally received my Consular Report of Birth from the powers that be and had sent it directly to me. So in my hands I have held the one thing that allows me to at last feel that I actually exist! This piece of paper with the stamp of Condoleeza Rice was so difficult to track down and I am sure that everyone who prayed for me helped to speed up the process as I needed this piece of identity to be able to travel with some of my church members and 300 or so other young adults from around the world on the mission trip I had mentioned in a previous post.

So this December, the week before Christmas, we will be going on a 7 day cruise to Belize, Santo Tomas de Castilla, and Costa Maya Mexico to volunteer our time at the ports of call to help the local people in the small towns living just outside all the tourist traps. We will be spending 5 hours with over 300 volunteers at each stop performing tasks that are pre-determined. I am so excited, happy, and full of hope for the work that we will be doing there.

And now that I am able to apply for a passport, I can travel the world…and finally be able to meet my extended family in Paris—Ellen, be prepared for a visit!

Thank you everyone who helped along the way by either making phone calls, or sending emails. Now I will have a passport with an imbedded microchip so that I will not be deemed a terrorist and arrested with no questions asked and forced to give up all my underworld connections; ultimately sending my family into hiding which will lead to my kids blaming me for how they turned out when they are arrested for trying to smuggle a pint of shampoo, NOT inside a plastic bag, past airport security.