Retreat Weekend

I’m finally getting a moment to update the blog because I’m away on a retreat this weekend in Krakow. The retreat time finally arrived. Leading up to this weekend had been exhausting! My week started off well. Tuesday morning had my 3rd grade class. There is a student in there with special needs. She sooo cool. She has incredible hearing and so she picks up on languages. She uses a lot of English!! Well, I’ve never wanted to push her to participate in my class. I’ve wanted to let her join on her own terms. Tuesday was like all the other days. I passed out a piece of paper. And low and behold she grabbed it and began working on the activity. She drew her family and afterwards cut out the pictures and glued them down on a desperate piece of paper like I had asked. It was such an exciting moment!! That first step was so exciting!! 

Later that day I went to a nearby city to drop off my visa application and paperwork. Talk about a difficult process. I mean every time someone does the process it’s different! We had everything so ready and then they went through the paperwork telling us what was wrong. Then came the big kicker. So you can’t leave originals because you need them for other things and so you have to make copies but anything that isn’t an original copy you get charged for to keep with your paperwork! It’s frustrating!! So up and down the stairs we went to get all of the paperwork copied and turned in and the receipts to show that we paid! Then at the end they were telling us that I shouldn’t travel until the decision is made but because they are so busy it will be up to 4 months!!! I was sooo thrown! But luckily though my director talked to them and I got stamps in my passport allowing me to come and go for Christmas! Phew! Such a crazy process...now I wait. The rest of the week was a blur as I’ve been fighting a cold and I’ve been sleeping most of the days! 

This weekend is the retreat. Yesterday I traveled to krakow on my own! Caught the train and had a quick ride! They’ve improved since I last lived here. I got situated in the hotel and got to catch up with some folks from America/Colorado!! This morning I had free time since the conference doesn’t start until this evening. So I made my way to the botanic gardens. It was a 5 minute walk and only $2.50! I just wandered around taking pictures. While there isn’t a lot to see as of now it was a ton of fun to just relax and enjoy the fall colors. I got to take time to prayer and read my bible. Much needed rest after being sick. I can’t wait for the next few days. I’m so blessed for this opportunity!!