My name is Emily, and I am living through a situation I never imagined I would face.

I am in Israel with my service dog, Piglet, on a journey I have dreamed about for a long time. I am here to see the places connected to the life of Jesus Christ — the locations I have read about, learned about, and wanted to experience for myself. I picture this trip as a meaningful, unforgettable adventure.

Instead, everything changes in a matter of moments.

While I am staying at a hotel, my purse is stolen from the lobby. Suddenly, I am without the things I depend on every day. My identification, phone, money, credit cards, important documents, medications, and personal belongings are all gone.

I feel stranded and overwhelmed. I am in a foreign country without a way to easily communicate, access my accounts, or prove who I am. Every simple task becomes complicated. I have to figure out how to get help, replace my documents, find a safe place to stay, and make sure Piglet has everything she needs.

I am trying to arrange the things required to get home to Minnesota: emergency identification and passport assistance, transportation, a flight back home, temporary lodging, food, a working cell phone, access to my medications, and supplies for Piglet.

Being alone in an unfamiliar place makes everything feel more frightening. I am constantly aware of my surroundings and focused on keeping both myself and Piglet safe. I am doing everything I can to stay calm, find resources, and make a plan to get home.

What begins as a journey to experience history and faith becomes a test of resilience. I am learning how to ask for help, adapt when things go wrong, and keep moving forward even when I feel completely lost.

My only goal is simple: get Piglet and me safely back home.