Christmas break has drawn to a close here, and this week was the first week back at school. I have to admit.. I'm happy to be back to a regular routine in my classroom.
Christmas here was wonderful, but to be honest, really hard. One of my best friends Veronica is here with me now, and has been since the first day of break. High expectations on both our ends lead to a serious crash. With the help of lots of prayer, honest words spoken in love, and counseling by my "sister" and her husband, we are now mostly on the other side of the conflict that arose. We praise God for His unchanging love for us, but desire to break us and grow us in unimaginable ways!
There was fun to Christmas oversees though! Highlights:
- Christmas Eve party - house was packed with people from all over and lots of soup!
- Sleeping under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, to be woken by my cuddly nieces and nephew ready to open gifts
- Christmas morning with just the family, then their team came over for brunch and movies
- Christmas afternoon/evening spent at a friend's house, cooking and preparing dinner for many of my fun teacher friends in Chiang Mai
- Day trips around Chiang Mai with Veronica, family and friends
- 2-day trip to Bangkok with a couple friends
- Ringing in the New Year on a bus back to Chiang Mai (overnight bus there and back - didn't I swear never to do that again?!)
As mentioned earlier, school started again this week. This begins the longest stretch of the school year. Our next long break isn't until April, and the weather will begin to warm up dramatically up to that point as well. I've been told it is a long haul and can be hard on teachers and students. Please pray for us as we enter into this time.
Lastly, I have WONDERFUL NEWS to share with you all! Many of you probably already know since my parents let the cat out of the bag in their Christmas Newsletter (up until then I had only told my parents.) But nevertheless, it is my pleasure and excitement to share with you all!
GIS asks staff to state whether we intend to return for the next school year by the end of November. If we are unsure, our position will be posted and advertised as needing to be filled. My principal and "older" staff warned me that they would be asking for this information from me early on. So, in September or so, I asked my parents to begin praying as I began to pray to stay or not for the 2013-2014 school year. By the time the "Intention to Stay" form was presented to me, I had a very clear answer - I'm not done here yet. I was given the form the first week of November. It sat on my desk for 3 days, staring me down, seemingly burning a hole there. When I couldn't handle it anymore, I signed and turned it in. Committed.
Once that paper was submitted, I felt a peace unlike any other come over me. And a surge of excitement :) I'm coming back home next year!
This year hasn't been easy. It has been a paradox of amazing joy and growth along with some deep pain and hurt as I transition to making life here "home." When the question arises, "If you are so homesick, why are you staying another year??" I resonate with Peter's answer to Jesus in John 6:67-69.
Jesus had just preached a particularly difficult sermon, to which many disciples chose to leave Jesus' following. Jesus asks the Twelve if they too would like to leave. Peter answers, "Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are are the Holy One of God." If God is telling me to stay, where else would I go? He alone knows what is ahead, and the desire of my heart is to follow where He leads. He loves me (imagine that! Amongst my screwed human failures, He LOVES me!) and wants me to search for Him. If I search for Him, He will lead me along a path of growth (in Thailand for now. In His plan and in His arms is the absolute best place in the world for me to be, so where else would I go?
Please join with me, and my family, in praying God would again provide all that I need to return to GIS. I have no doubt that He will. He did it in a miraculous seven weeks last summer. He will somehow, in a way that teaches me to trust Him to use my weaknesses to show His strength. I ask you pray about joining with me both prayerfully and financially as I step out in faith to return to teach missionary students oversees!
If you would like more information about how this decision came about, or on how to spiritually and financially support for me next year, I would love to answer your questions! Please email me :) I would love to talk with you!
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them, and to all believers, will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
2 Corinthians 9:13-15
GIS asks staff to state whether we intend to return for the next school year by the end of November. If we are unsure, our position will be posted and advertised as needing to be filled. My principal and "older" staff warned me that they would be asking for this information from me early on. So, in September or so, I asked my parents to begin praying as I began to pray to stay or not for the 2013-2014 school year. By the time the "Intention to Stay" form was presented to me, I had a very clear answer - I'm not done here yet. I was given the form the first week of November. It sat on my desk for 3 days, staring me down, seemingly burning a hole there. When I couldn't handle it anymore, I signed and turned it in. Committed.
Lord-willing, 2013-2014 will be spent in Chiang Mai, teaching Second Grade!
Once that paper was submitted, I felt a peace unlike any other come over me. And a surge of excitement :) I'm coming back home next year!
This year hasn't been easy. It has been a paradox of amazing joy and growth along with some deep pain and hurt as I transition to making life here "home." When the question arises, "If you are so homesick, why are you staying another year??" I resonate with Peter's answer to Jesus in John 6:67-69.
Jesus had just preached a particularly difficult sermon, to which many disciples chose to leave Jesus' following. Jesus asks the Twelve if they too would like to leave. Peter answers, "Where would we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are are the Holy One of God." If God is telling me to stay, where else would I go? He alone knows what is ahead, and the desire of my heart is to follow where He leads. He loves me (imagine that! Amongst my screwed human failures, He LOVES me!) and wants me to search for Him. If I search for Him, He will lead me along a path of growth (in Thailand for now. In His plan and in His arms is the absolute best place in the world for me to be, so where else would I go?
Please join with me, and my family, in praying God would again provide all that I need to return to GIS. I have no doubt that He will. He did it in a miraculous seven weeks last summer. He will somehow, in a way that teaches me to trust Him to use my weaknesses to show His strength. I ask you pray about joining with me both prayerfully and financially as I step out in faith to return to teach missionary students oversees!
If you would like more information about how this decision came about, or on how to spiritually and financially support for me next year, I would love to answer your questions! Please email me :) I would love to talk with you!
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them, and to all believers, will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!
2 Corinthians 9:13-15