I'm currently on the Amtrak southbound back to Monterey/Salinas. I had such a fantastic weekend at the Youth Training Project retreat. It was so awesome to finally meet Jamie and get to know her better. On Sunday the Foster Youth Cultural Exchange group had a conference call and it was so great to be in the same room with Jamie and Marcy. It is definitely a challenge to plan an international trip when we are all so scattered. Jamie lives in San Francisco, Marcy lives in Los Angeles, and I live in Monterey. It was great to be at the retreat with them because we also have some work to do as a group. Marcy and I are on the History & Culture committee, and Jamie and I are on the Social Justice committee. Being in the same building makes getting the work done a lot easier.

YOUTH Training Project 2014 Trainers

I can say that I have grown since Friday. It was so awesome to be at a lodge in the outskirts of the city with little to no reception. The Wifi sucked! But it allowed the 22 of us to bond. Marcy and I shared a bedroom and a bed. I have known Marcy for so long, and have hung out with her a few times but this time was different. This time we were able to dig under the surface and connect on a deeper and richer level. She is the caregiver to her siblings and it's so beautiful to hear how she speaks about her siblings. Her eyes light up when she speaks of their accomplishments, and it is great to be able to understand how much an older sibling actually cares for, nurtures, and helps their younger siblings grow while taking care of themselves. It's an actual sacrafice. As the youngest of seven, it makes me appreciate my older siblings much more. Marcy and I honestly talked each other to sleep every night. Laying in bed with Marcy reminded me of the type of bond my siblings and I had when we were really young. It was as if I was laying in bed, sharing my thoughts, fears and dreams with a sister. God bless Marcy.

I will say that I have some fears about this trip to the Philippines. First off, I hate shots and I haven't had health insurance since I was 21. It's only been two years, but I wish I could walk into a doctors office and not fear that fire-breathing bill. I fear the bill that I will have to pay upon receiving the vaccinations I need for this trip. Jamie mentioned that one of the vaccinations/pills made her have crazy dreams and that scares me too! Also, after doing so much research on the social justice organizations in the Philippines, I found that many of them have been created to help stop human trafficking. I am scared of getting kidnapped. These fears are just a result of all those scary/dumb movies that I've watched growing up. I shared that fear with Marcy and she said, "Well you're pretty so I can see why someone would kidnap you" Scary huh? That didn't help.

Although I have fears and concerns, I feel comfortable with the thought that our voyage will begin in 22 days! I am anxious, excited, nervous, and a bit worried. But I believe that God will keep me safe, help me keep my mind clear of negative energy, and guide me on my trip. Once I return to Monterey I will research International Doctors/clinics so that I can set up an appointment to get the vaccinations that I need.