Well, like the last post, God has been continuing to blow me away with what He is doing here, and how he is allowing me to be a part of that. The month of February was great, and I received so many cards and letters in the mail from dear friends and family reminding me how much I am loved. Thank you. It was such a month of encouragement.
On a heartbreaking note, about a month ago one of my students dealt with the death of his mother. His father was drinking and shot his mother in the head, instantly killing her. His father is now in prison. My little boy lost both of his parents that day. This boy has some special needs and has won my heart from the first day I came to Fall River. Because of new family arrangements, he now is going to another school in the county. My kids and I miss him like crazy as he was impossible not to love. God has blessed me by getting to show my love to him and his family through a visit to their house, being able to attend the funeral arrangements, and also getting to have a few surprise school visits at Fall River. For the situation, I think that this little guy is doing okay and adjusting well to the new school. I know that he has a long road ahead and misses both his mom and dad. Please pray for this little guy along with his whole family.
Things with my class are still going well, and we have had some great days. I had the opportunity to teach the whole school some basic Irish dancing for March's good behavior incentive. It was so much fun, and I remembered that Irish dancing is a big workout! ha. Also, I helped put on our school's first talent show in several years. It was a great opportunity to work along side my principal and get to know some more people in the community. The highlight for me was getting to dance to Cotton Eyed Joe with my fourth grade girls. They were awesome, and we had a blast!
God has been opening a lot of doors professionally for me. I am still looking into a few different graduate schools to begin my masters. I've been accepted by Liberty University Online program and am finishing up my application process for Youngstown State. I am contemplating taking some classes at Youngstown this summer. Then, there is a good possibility that there will be classes through McDowell this fall for a Reading Specialist certification. If this happens, I plan on joining this. If not, I will sign up for Liberty this fall. Either way, I am nervous but excited to take classes again. I miss being a student and feeling the accomplishment of the end of a semester. I'm sure after a few days teaching and taking classes, I will not feel as excited. Ha! :)
The most recent development since the last blog is that I have been praying about teaching in Rwanda next year. One of my best friends asked me at the beginning of February to pray about going with her to a Christian school in Rwanda as there were two elementary positions opened. If you have known me in the past 8 years...you know that teaching overseas...in Africa...is my heart's desire and dream. I have felt called to use teaching as a ministry since I was a junior in high school. Also, I have felt that God has called me to overseas ministry to some extent during my life...whether short term or full term. My biggest fear has always been to go as a single girl alone. I don't do alone well...or at all. But, God has showed me that if that is His will, then He will bring someone for me...even if it means that I have to go alone first. I learned this lesson in Burkina Faso the second time (2008) and also as I moved here to War alone. Well, did I mention that one of my best friends...who has the same passions for God and the world that I do...asked me to go with her? Did I mention that this sounded PERFECT to me?!?! Well, yeah..it did.
I started praying like crazy as the weekend before I went to the Young Life retreat and know that God had spoken to me about McDowell and revealed a glimpse of His plan. It was crazy that I was finally for the first time excited to be here...and looking forward to next year in WV...and then Rwanda comes up. I wrestled with this for a good month. Printed the application and tried to start it several times. For some reason, there was always something that God kept saying, "This is not the right time." It made no sense to me, because to me the timing was perfect. I'm single. It's my dear friend. It's Africa. I currently don't have a job yet in McDowell for next year due to seniority cuts. Let's GO! Well, as much as Rwanda made sense to my mind and even to my heart...I felt no peace. I kept praying, and Jesus kept telling me that McDowell and the windy roads were where I needed to be again next year. The crazy part...I'm still thrilled about that. I keep saying to my family and friends here..."God is up to something so big! I can feel it everywhere!" I believe this! I am so excited to see how He is working, and how He will continue to work.
So now...prayer requests...Please pray for the remainder of the year that I would give it my all and that my kids would keep progressing. There is one girl that I want so badly to see a change in her heart. Pray that God's love would be displayed in me and my actions each day. Jesus can melt this girl's heart. Also, please pray that a lot of teachers that want to come and serve here in McDowell would get interviews and hired. I know that Satan is at work and probably feels this moving. Our God is greater and stronger!!! Thank you for your prayers. They are felt!
Much love!
I want to leave you with lyrics from a song that I loved singing while at Taylor. I have thought about it a lot lately...especially living in the mountains. This is my prayer for McDowell and our world!
Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble by Delirious
Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one
Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one
And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord
Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice
Did you feel the darkness tremble?
When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokeness
And here we see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord
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