I'm going to the Dominican Republic...like SOON!

YES!! That is right! On Monday I will be flying to the Dominican Republic where I will be living and teaching at Jarabacoa Christian School!!! These past two weeks have been the craziest, most stressful, most emotional and most reassuring of God's presence that I may have ever experienced. Even though I did not have neon lights telling me to go, I believe God has spoken to me in His still small voice. Though the journey of job searching has been long and rough, He has reminded me that He is in control.

I just bought my plane ticket tonight so it seems more real to me now. However, I still feel like I may pee my pants at any second!! Okay...so I should probably start with...how did this all happen?!?!?

As many of you know, I was offered a job in Burkina Faso after student teaching there this past fall. I felt like God was telling me, "not now." So, I said no. At the time I thought "not now" meant that it was going to be far off...at least a year before going to teach overseas. I NEVER would have thought that "not now" meant...in a few months!! I started applying to schools in the spring and then made it a full time job through the summers. Applications are everywhere in my room and all over the house. I cannot even begin to think how many I have filled out. Then there were the few interviews. They all seemed really promising, like many of the other situations. However, each door was closing. In the middle of the summer I remember asking the Lord if He was closing these doors to show me I was supposed to teach overseas. Around that time I got an email from Natalie...my soon to be roommate and co-worker and also former TU student...who wondered if I would be interested in teaching in the DR. This thought stayed in the back of my mind, but it seemed logistically out of the question. After all, I passed on a really good financial offer to Burkina already. Well, more doors kept closing, and I thought more about this opportunity. One day while praying while sun bathing in my pool, I thought of what was holding me back. Because this is actually where my heart is. I realized that student loans were the only thing. So, I did some research and realized that I could put my loans on hold for a year without being penalized. Everything from that moment seemed to keep falling into place. My heart was growing more and more fond of this idea and the more I thought and prayed about it, the more I realized this may be exactly where God wants me this year. It was so neat when I realized that all of the things that I was hesitant on about going to Burkina were not the case here:

Problem 1...I didn't know French and really didn't have a desire to learn....Spanish is the language of the DR. One of my life goals is to learn Spanish fluently because I have a deep passion for this language.
Problem 2...I didn't want to live in another country alone....I will be living with Natalie and another girl!
Problem 3...The students are not locals so I didn't feel like I got to be a part of the actual country and people of Burkina--the Burkina I love...I will be teaching local Dominicans and be able to form relationships with them and their families!
Problem 4...I didn't want to make a two year commitment....this is only a one year contract
Problem 5...Plane tickets are so expensive so if there was an emergency I couldn't come home and my parents probably wouldn't be able to visit....flights to the DR are MUCH cheaper and affordable.

So...based on just these little things...I was and still am at total peace with this new endeavor. I promise this is the end of this long story...but the last confirmation I had was when the door to a school in Indiana closed...actually it slammed shut. I prayed specifically that God would open and close doors for me to either go or to stay. I want to be where He wants me and that is it! The day I prayed this...last Wednesday, I got called for an interview in Indiana. "Ok, Lord, I hear you!" So I went to Indiana, interviewed, came back, and waited to hear the verdict. Well, for some reason it took forever for them to get back to me...and finally I found out that the positions had been filled. I truly believe that the Lord has clearly opened this door for me to go to the DR. He knows my heart and what is best for me. I am so thankful for that!!!

Now, as I prepare to pack up my life and to say good-byes and start planning lessons for my little kiddos, I need your prayers! I'm so thankful that I have the weekend to spend with my whole family...even little Dylan and Jack! :) Please pray that things during this time would go smoothly and that God would comfort my family and our hearts as we prepare to say good-bye for nine months.

Well, buenas noches!!! :)

Summer is Almost Over?

Somehow the summer days and nights have slipped away, and we are already into the middle of August. When I think of this time, I think of getting ready to go back to school. Well, as an elementary teacher, this is exactly what I planned on doing. Through the entire spring semester, my last semester at Taylor, I heard the question, "What are you going to do?." This question drove me crazy...at least I thought it did. It did not compare to how I feel now when I am asked that same question 3 months down the road. All summer I have been spending my days applying to any school I can find in Ohio, Indiana, some in North Carolina, and even one in West Virginia. Earlier this summer I got interviewed for a Kindergarten position in Akron, Ohio which would be close to home. It seemed like it was a great opportunity, and I got a second interview. I felt so good about it and thought there would be a good chance I would get the job. I remember thinking how amazing it would be to start working on preparing my classroom, lessons, and most of all....I would have security. This word has been a huge learning process this summer. Needless to say, I did not get the job. I was second out of 150+ applicants...but I did not get it. Another door closed and again...no security.

I have realized how much I want security in my life. This has been a surprise to me because I feel like I am a "go with the flow" kinda girl. However, with more friends landing jobs...and husbands...I feel myself craving just something to have that I can call mine and lean on that won't close or fall apart. To some this probably sounds so silly, but it truly was wearing me down...until I broke. Thankfully, I was reminded through scripture and through amazing friends and family that God is still all that I need. It's funny...well kind of sad too...to me how quickly we forget things that God teaches us in our lives. There have been countless times in my life that things looked dismal and hopeless but God has always shown His face and brought me from darkness into light. I look back on these past situations and think how silly I was to worry when God knew all along what was best for me. I believe that soon I will look back on this waiting for a job experience and feel the same.

Besides job searching, I have been up to a few other things this summer. One major highlight was going to Philadelpia on a missions trip with my church's youth group. This trip was unique because it was my first state side missions trip and it was also my first time as a leader. I was looking forward to both aspects. Truthfully, I went into the trip thinking that I was there to learn as a leader and that my eyes probably wouldn't be opened that much...afterall, I have been to Burkina Faso and so many other hurting countries. It was just like our God to totally blow me away and open my eyes in SO many ways. One thing that God really taught me through this trip was humilty. This probably isn't surprising considering my pre-trip thoughts. The first night in Philly God started showing me how selfish I am even in ministry. I love ministry, and I love people. However, many times without even thinking, I choose which ministry and which person/people that I want to love. I seldom allow God to set this up. There were a lot of times in Philly that I wanted to jump in and be where the action was...especially with the Vacation Bible School. As I love kids and am experienced, I wanted to work one-on-one with them. But that wasn't where God wanted me. He wanted me to allow the youth students to reap that joy and to be changed by the kids. It was amazing how when I allowed God to work this way...the way He intended...I was able to experience so much joy in a new way. God continued to show me that I cannot be selfish in ministry throughout the trip. My favorite part of the trip was ministering on Kenzington Avenue. This is one of the roughest spots in Philly. As you can imagine, sheltered Amanda was really out of place. As I walked these streets I realized that I have seen a ton of things in my travels...but that was mainly due to poverty. This was different...this was total darkness. I cannot explain the darkness...it just existed. It was in the air, and it was in the faces of those we talked with. In my twenty-two years in the church, I have never felt the desire to want to share about the Lord more than I did this week. After just sitting on the side of the street talking with a homeless person or huging someone with multiple diseases, I realized that they need nothing on this earth...they ONLY need the Lord. I am so thankful that I was able to make some relationships with these precious people who the Lord loves just as much as me and you. I will always remember their faces and their eyes. Even in this darkness, Jesus is there. He just appears hidden with all the sin. But He is not. He is alive. And I know that little by little that street will experience light. What a joy it will be when some of these people are worshipping beside me in heaven.

Okay...I will not make this next part as long! Other than all of the above stuff...this summer has been filled with family. If you know me...you know that nothing on this earth makes me happier than being with my family! This summer has truly been a gift from God to be a family and to enjoy one another and just laugh. Some highlights have included: swimming and sunbathing with Bri, late night dollar theatre runs with Eddie, visits with my grandparents, hugs and smiles from my little Dylan (my nephew), jamming sessions with dad, heart to hearts and quality time with mom, weekend visits from Jack and Andrea (Bri's girlfriend and her 4 year old son), and most of all...just "being" a family.

So, that is my summer recap. Here are a few pictures. Thanks for reading! I will make sure to update this when God opens up a door. I know He will. :)

Jack and I swimming! Or should I say floating? :)

My first trip to Chuck E. Cheese which included: Mom, Dad, Jack, and I

Eddie and his precious baby, Dylan! This kid LOVES the water! :)