To New Beginnings in a Familiar Place

Hello friends, family, loved ones!

Good Bye Beautiful Pacific North West

  It appears to me that in this day and age, when a person strikes out on a life altering adventure the greatest tool of communication is found in blogs.  So I shall now attempt my own version of this form of update, although if you would like to find out more details, snail mail is my favorite form of long distance communication and I can guarantee a response.  So all of you reading this have one thing in common, curiosity about this Wickstrom's life.  I can positively confirm the rumors that have been spreading, I will be moving to one of the few continents currently not occupied by one of my family.  It is true that it is one not unfamiliar to the Wickstrom family and is in fact one that remains dear to our hearts.  On October 1, 2012 I shall begin my journey to the beautiful country of Chad.  As some may know, returning to Africa has been a dream of mine since, well, pretty much since I left it.  Growing up, I was taught to feel the pain of the continent through observing my dad, who rarely cried, mourning for the struggles he read about.  I felt a strong desire to go, serve and love those who had so strongly affected my upbringing.  So at the age of 24, I have finally found an opportunity to do this.

  I received a recommendation to investigate an organization called Mission Nannys and I applied, was accepted, and matched up with a missionary family for whom I will work.  My position will be to assist in homeschooling the four children and general household chores.  I will also be able to watch the children enabling the parents to spend more time in the community.  Though I will have my own room behind the family home, I will be dining with the family and spending a large portion of my day becoming a part of their household.   I am also praying that I will be able to make some friends outside the family, particularly someone to assist me in learning French.

  Now it might seem like I am starting this blog extra early, but that is primarily because (A.) I could use your prayers NOW and (B.) there are many much smaller adventures to come this summer so I want to inform you of those as well.  As far as prayer requests go, I am in the process of organizing the details for my trip (applying for a visa, figuring out evacuation insurance, getting vaccinations and medications, figuring out the best bank account for living over seas, etc.)  Much of this is rather new to me, and thus I have moved home to Ohio for the 
summer where I can have my loving 

Hello Ohio

parents assist me with these details and where I have plenty of time to get everything done.  I also need prayers in the fundraising department.  Room and board is provided by the family I will be living with, so I am primarily trying to raise funds for travel costs, insurance, visas, and internet access once I am there so that I can write to all you lovely people.  This is quite the humbling experience for me, as I typically do not like to accept gifts from people without doing something in return.  Thanks to all those who have already donated, I am 1/3 of the way to reaching my estimated goal.  As far as other adventures go, beginning in August I will travel to Massachusetts, North Carolina, Connecticut, Alaska, California, and Minnesota.  My first stop however will be Lancaster, Pennsylvania to meet the family I will be living with this next year.  More to come after that adventure!