Saturday, December 13, 2008

Working Girl!

Work is going great. I am loving the student I work with. He is a great little guy and has a fun personality. I am really enjoying being in a regular third grade classroom, and also getting to spend time with my student in speech, at the occupational therapist and I am getting to work with the inclusion teacher (special edcation). This is proving to be a great learning experience.

I am trying to figure out what to do as far as getting a master's degree. I am thinking something in the education field and something I could apply on the mission field. We'll see...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

I have a job!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I certainly have much to be thankful for this year. On Tuesday I had an interview at an elementary school to be a Special Education Assistant and on Wednesday I got the call that they wanted to hire me! I am so excited about. I will be in a regular third grade classroom working as an assistant to one student with special needs as well as assisting the classroom teacher with other activities throughout the day. I go on Monday to sign my contract and I start Tuesday.

This does mean that I will not be going to Fredericksburg to work for my Aunt Pam, so please pray that she is able to find a reliable person to come help her out in her home a little bit while she is having chemo treatments.

Thanks for all of your prayers and have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Fredericksburg

My Aunt has asked me to come live with her for the next three months in Fredericksburg while she is undergoing chemotherapy to be her nanny/assistant. She will be able to cover my expenses and I will continue to look for work and pursue missions. Fredericksburg is about 2 hours north of my parents, just outside the DC area. My Aunt is an amazing Godly woman and it would be a blessing to get to live with her and her family during this time. I am continuing to research and pray about what mission organization to go with and where to go. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and encouragement.

This is a prayer from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. We prayed this prayer in church on Sunday and I think it is so fitting for my life.

Holy Lord, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find Thy mind in Thy Word, of neglect to seek Thee in my daily life. My transgressions and short-comings present me with a list of accusations, but I bless Thee that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Go on to subdue my corruptions, and grant me grace to live above them. Let not the passions of the flesh nor lustings of the mind bring my spirit into subjection, but do Thou rule over me in liberty and power.
I thank Thee that many of my prayers have been refused. I have asked amiss and do not have, I have prayed from lusts and been rejected, I have longed for Egypt and been given a wilderness. Go on with Thy patient work, answering ‘no’ to my wrongful prayers, and fitting me to accept it. Purge me from every false desire, every base aspiration, everything contrary to Thy rule. I thank Thee for Thy wisdom and Thy love, for all the acts of discipline to which I am subject, for sometimes putting me into the furnace to refine my gold and remove my dross.
No trial is so hard to bear as a sense of sin. If Thou shouldst give me choice to live in pleasure and keep my sins, or to have them burnt away with trial, give me sanctified affliction. Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of Thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in Thee. Then I shall bless Thee, God of jeshurun, for helping me to be upright.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Now What?

Today I found out that I did not get the job at Discovery Cove. I applied for a job yesterday and found out today I didn't get that job either. Still haven't heard back on any of the positions in VA Beach (Special Ed. Assistant, Social Worker, Pre-school teacher). I have continued applying for teaching positions in Orlando and I am desperately looking for a sub-leaser for my room in Orlando. I can't afford to keep paying rent without a job.
I am still in Virginia with my family. This weekend I am up in Northern Virginia spending time with my Aunt Pam and cousins. It is refreshing to be with my family, but I am missing my friends in Orlando. I feel very overwhelmed with what to do. Through prayer and seeking counsel from others I do feel that I am called to go overseas and I am pursuing that now. Please pray that God would show me exactly where He wants me to go, becuse that is still a bit unclear to me.
Even in my sadness and frustration I know that God is drawing me to Him. I find myself calling on Him constantly in times like these. It is sad that it takes difficult situations for me to run to Christ. My prayer is that I will see how much I need my savior at all times...in the good and in the bad...I believe that, I just need to live it out.
Psalm 32:8~"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you with my eye upon you."

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Weekend Getaway


This weekend I enjoyed the peak of autumn in the mountains of Virginia. There are few things I can think of better than this. And to top it off I was with my best friend Joanne, the other bridesmaids in her wedding (which is Jan. 2), and a couple other close friends. The weekend was really Joanne's bachelorette party. We drank wine, spent time in the hot tub, went to a wine tasting at a local winery complete with a picnic lunch, played games, and we even practiced our dance moves for the wedding, haha :). It was great to get away for the weekend and not think about work (or lack thereof).
Tomorrow the weekly Virginia Beach City Public School job openings will be posted. Can't wait to see what there will be!! :)

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Search Continues...

There still is no news for me to report about a job. Wish there was...believe me. Last week after not hearing anything about Discovery Cove, I drove up to Virginia to see what I can find up here. I have applied for 3 Special Ed Assistant positions, a social work position and a pre-school teacher opening. Still looking for other opportunities and still waiting to hear from Discovery Cove.

I am completely enjoying being at home. My brother and sister-in-law moved to Virginia recently and live about 3 miles away. So I have seen them everyday and have been hanging out a ton with my sister-in-law Ashley. She is one of my best friends and it has been almost 4 years since we have lived in the same place, so I am loving it. My best friend Lindsey and her husband live here too and came by for lunch on Tuesday. So even though being in Virginia would mean leaving so many wonderful friends in Florida, I am surrounded by my family here, and they are so important to me.

I'm off to search for more jobs. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Decisions

Making decisions is just so hard. I decided yesterday that I was just going to move back to Virginia. I hadn't heard anything about any jobs, and I think I may have found a sub-leaser and after talking to my whole family in Virginia I decided moving home for a while sounded great.

Then today I got a call from Discovery Cove! Well of course! Mind you, I have not been offered the job, I am swim testing next Monday, but now it is very likely I will be offered a position there. I have been praying about seminary and asking others for advice and I am not convinced RTS Orlando is the seminary for me. I think it is a great seminary and I do not doubt I would learn a ton there, but they do not have a missions degree. I have been encouraged to spend some time on the field first and then go to seminary. That does sound like a wise plan.

The 2 reasons for me to stay in Orlando are all the wonderful people I know and seminary. But my reason for moving to Virginia is my whole family now lives there. My brother and sister-in-law moved there recently and my aunt, uncle and cousins are in northern VA. So that is a huge draw for me to come home.

I think being happy with what you are doing is so important. I don't want to "work to live" I want to just live life and enjoy it! Money isn't important (I know my parents would love for me to support myself and I do agree:)), but I don't want to get some job just to make ends meat. So I have tons of thoughts going through my mind. I thought God was going to give me one clear path, but He certainly has other ideas. I am such a mess.

Do y'all have any input? I would love to hear it!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Autumn in Birmingham




This weekend my roommate Allison and I have been in Birmingham visiting my dear friend Sarah for her 23rd Birthday. Sarah is an RUF Intern at Birmingham Southern. Allison and I know Sarah from RUF at UCF (Happy Birthday Sarah!). Last week I was feeling a bit stressed about life, what to do, looking for a job, etc. This weekend has been a wonderful break. Yesterday Sarah, Allison and I spent the day in the Birmingham Botanical Garden. We had a picnic and just strolled around enjoying the crisp fall weather, the flowers and the changing leaves. We made homemade pizza for dinner and carved pumpkins and enjoyed baked pumpkin seeds and hot chocolate. I also had the chance to meet up with Joanna, one of the Kenya Interns (who goes to Samford University in Birmingham) and catch up and reminisce. It has been wonderful to be with sweet friends who love and encourage me in the midst of me being a mess, worrying about life. This morning we went to Sarah's church and I was encouraged by the reminder that Christ is indeed on His throne and is working out all things for His glory. I still have not heard anything on the job front. I am continuing to wait to hear about my old job and I have continued to apply for teaching jobs in Orlando. I am praying about seminary and missions and trying to decide whether or not to pursue seminary now or later. Thank you to those who have been praying.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Home Again

Waterfall we hiked behind
Chamelion
Tarzan Vines
Another beautiful waterfall!
6 weeks old!

Cute kids I got to play with

Pico Bonito

I have returned home from Honduras. I had such a wonderful time and I am missing it there. I am however enjoying sleeping under the covers again :)

Last Thursday I went with Mike and Erin to Armenia Bonito for ESL class and after class went to the home of a family they have been getting to know. There is a new baby in the household and the oldest daughter is also pregnant. So nurse Erin checked out the moms and baby and a couple of the kids. I had fun playing with the kids while we were there. They had a great time playing with my camera (I'll post some of those pictures).

On Friday Erin and I went hiking in the jungle to Pico Bonito. It was beautiful! We saw waterfalls and went swimming at one of them, even venturing behind it. You can read about it on Erin's blog.

Now that I am back in Orlando I am trying to seek God's will. I have many fears and hesitations, but I do believe God is calling me onto the mission field. Right now I think I am going to plan to go to Reformed Theological Seminary in the Spring and begin the process of being approved for the mission field soon. So we will see where God takes me in all of this. At this point I don't even think I know where God would want me to serve, but I have a heart for street-kids and actually for the elderly too. While in Honduras Mike took me to a senior home and there is such a need to reach out to the elderly in many places as well. For now I will be looking for a job in Orlando (I think I may have a good prospect at my old job), and serving God in Orlando until he sends me elsewhere.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Shopping


Street Vendors

Downtown

Look at the power lines!

The past couple of days I have gone shopping with Erin to get various things around La Ceiba. Pretty much you can find what you need, but rather than making one quick stop at Target or Wal-Mart, you have to make more like 10 stops to get all of the items you need. We went to one store for furniture, one for a bed (different from the furniture store), another stop for sheets and towels and yet another store for blankets. Then we went to a Department store where you could actually get pretty much all the main department store stuff, and a couple other stops in there. The employees in the stores work on commission, so when they see a couple gringos walk in they pretty much stick right by us helping us all they can. Everything we picked out they would take up to the front and they would always offer to help us to our car. I am sure at times this is annoying, but I really enjoyed the good service! I have enjoyed being able to live with the Pettengills this past week and ask them my tons of questions and just see what it is like to be an American missionary living in another culture.
Tomorrow we are going back out to Armenia Bonita for ESL class and Erin (who is a nurse) will have a clinic aferwards for whoever wants to be seen. I am excited to see the kids from last week again!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Electricity


The electricity project in the village

Traditional Honduran stove

Beach in La Ceiba

The Pettengills have two guys staying with them from Baylor. They are engineers and have been working on installing electricity in a village about and hour outside of La Ceiba. The village has 35 houses and 23 of them now have electricity because of this project. Yesterday I got to tag along with them out to the village. It was so cool to see the work they are doing (I don't think I totally understand it all, but I do know that 23 houses have power)! It was fun to drive out of the city a bit and see some more rural parts of Honduras. At one point it started to rain and we had to get out and push the car up a dirt hill.
I will post some pictures of the project. It is run by a waterfall. Last week lighting struck the converter? or something like that, so for a week they have been using the backup generator. So yesterday and today the engineers are working with the locals to fix whatever is wrong. The goal of the project is for it to be self-sustaining. They are training the locls to run the equipment and the people in the village even pay a small fee so that the project can be self-sustaining rather than run on donated money. The long term goal is to put the same system in several hundred more villages over the next 5 years. There are also plans to install water purification systems in several places as well.
I will post some pictures so you can see the project.


Friday, October 3, 2008

Como se dice...everything in Espanol!

Fishing dock in La Ceiba
ESL Class
Some students from the class
Litchi Fruit

Today was day 4 in La Ceiba. I have been extremely spoiled with "cool" weather. I believe it is extremely tolerable and comfortable although not everyone would agree (mom and Becca :)) It is in the 80s and very humid, but there is a nice breeze, and it is cloudy, keeping things cooler.
Yesterday I went with Mike to Armenia Bonito, the poor community they are working in, he taught an ESL class to 23 students. Since I don't speak Spanish and only understand a little I was able to help only with pronunciation. I would walk around saying words and listening to the students repeat them. After class a few of the kids hung around and had a blast playing with my camera. The kids also taught me a few words in Spanish and wanted me to tell them how to say names in English. They would say...como se dice Miguel...answer...Michael. Como se dice Pamela...answer...Pamela. And on and on the names came. They were fun kids and I loved hanging out with them.
Last night we met up with a couple, who are friends with the Pettengills, for an all night youth event. This couple, Megan and David, have a yoth group called "Flame" and last night was the 2 year anniversary of the group. We met up at KFC-that's right, they have KFC. Then we headed over to see a movie-something about Horror on Prom Night or something, not going on my list of top ten favs (although Allison guess who was in it-that's right Jason Street!). Then we went to play some futbolito-indoor soccer on a mini field. I LOVED watching these kids play soccer. I mean it is seriously awesome. Then we headed over to have a time of devotion and played some ping pong. And the final stop was at one of the students' house where the kids swam and we had a pancake breakfast. I came home and crashed for a couple hours and then Mike and I headed back out to Armenia Bonito to visit with a couple people. There is a shelter out there for boys called-Ninos de la Luz (Children of the Light). I got a tour of it and it is an awesome place.
This weekend we are gonna take it easy and rest a bit. I have been praying that while I am in Honduras I would just soak up my time here, learn all I can, and stop constantly dwelling on the future. I have been asking Mike tons of questions and I am really enjoying the culture here.
Today we tried some fruit-we had pineapple, oranges and a fruit called litchi (kinda like a grape).
I havn't seen too many creepy critters. So far just lots of geckos, a bat, and this morning there was a tarantula in the house (fortunately I was asleep at the time.)
I'll post some pics. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

La Ceiba

Yesterday I arrived in La Ceiba, Honduras where I will be spending the next couple of weeks with the Pettengills. Today Mike showed me around the city and showed me several places where they hope to begin ministries. The Pettengills have been in La Ceiba for about 3 months. Some of their plans include planting a church, teaching ESL classes, ministering to the poor with medical clinics, working with street children as well as the elderly. There will be 3 interns joining the Pettengills next month and two more families in January. Please pray for the team here in Honduras as these ministries are beginning. It was exciting to see the opportunities here in La Ceiba and I am excited to learn more during my time in Honduras. Tomorrow morning Mike will be teaching an ESL class, so I'll get to tag along and observe that. Tomorrow night we are going to a youth function where we will stay up all night hanging out, playing games, and sharing the love of Christ.
Ya know those three years of Spanish I took in high school sure haven't helped me to communicate much. In fact, I think I have forgotten how to speak English as well. Ever since I got on the plane in Miami people have spoken to me in Spanish before English and I just give them this look and completely blank out, and they realize I have no clue what they are saying. Hopefully I can remember a few things over the next couple of weeks.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Prayer

During the first two weeks in October I will be in La Ceiba, Honduras living with the Pettengills, a missionary family who has recently begun a ministry there. They have a very busy month in October and it would be great, if you think of it, if you could include them on your prayer list. This is a list of prayer requests.
I still am without a job and I am trying to trust that God has a plan for my life, but of course I am a mess, and I have a hard time just resting and trusting in Christ. Please pray that I would continue to search dilligently for a job and that I would be realistic, but also that I would trust in Christ to provide the right opportunity in His perfect timing. I had an interview last week with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and I was not offered the job, but I am excited about what this organization is doing, and may be interested in working with them in the future. Please also pray that my time spent in Honduras will be a time of growth and will give me further insight into overseas missions.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

What kind of dog is best?

So I think this week I have another decision to make. Should I get a dog or a security system for my house? You can read the reason for this on Allison's blog.

I did make a decison about Honduras. I am going! I am really excited about it. I'll be going the end of September. And I applied for another job this week. Hopefully I'll hear something soon.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

What to do now?

For the past 3ish weeks I have been back in Orlando and trying to decide what to do with my life. I have applied for 13 jobs (ten teaching jobs). I don't understand why when you apply for a job, and the employer doesn't want to hire you, they give you no response at all. Is it too much to ask for a simple email stating they didn't like me and I'm not good enough? Aside from the teacher jobs (which I just applied for today) I have applied to be a swim coach, elephant trainer, and a gorilla trainer.
Other than looking for a job I have been praying about going to seminary at RTS and I am considering longer-term missions. Maybe a year, maybe more, I don't know. I have been in touch with MTW and a missionary family in Honduras and they have invited me to come to Honduras the end of September. I am not sure what that will look like with all of the job searching and depleting funds, but I REALLY want to go. I would just go for 2 weeks and I think it would give me a better picture of being a full-time missionary in another culture than I got this summer. This summer was AMAZING, but because I was only working with nationals I didn't get a great picture of full-time cross cultural missions since they were serving within their own country.
Please pray that God would show me when/if I should go to Honduras, when/if I should go to seminary and what to do with my life.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Muthiga Bible Club

The note in this picture says Asante, Thank You if you can't read it! Thank you to my supporters!
Women from the HIV/AIDS support group in Muthiga
Craft Time
Adorable Elizabeth waiting for lunch
Lunch Time!




Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Home Visits

Ministry Team at Covenant Presbyterian Church
Me, Buena, Angelo, Adam

On Wednesdays, we spent time in a slum called Kawangware where we worked with Pastor Shikonde at Covenant Presbyterian Church. We would split up into groups and go visit people in their homes. Along with a translator or two, Adam (one of the other interns) and I would go out in search of people to visit and pray with. This was so much fun because it was an incredible experience to be able to go into peoples homes and talk to them. Even though these people have next to nothing they were so generous. They almost always offered us something to eat and drink. One of my fondest memories when visiting Kawangware was going into the home of a Sudanese family. There are many Sudanese refugees in Kenya who have come to escape the civil war in their country. Well we went into the house of Buena, the cousin of our translator Angelo, and at first only Buena and his mother were home. By the time we left there were about 20 family members packed in the house. They all went around and told Adam and me things they needed prayer for. Adam read some scripture and I prayed. This family was so generous and made us feel right at home. They went out to get Adam and me a soda and after we prayed we watched CNN for a while (the only time the whole summer I saw any television). Another time in Kawangware, we went into a home where we were offered lunch-rice and beef and tea. There were homes we visited where we were able to share the Gospel with non-believers and homes where we could pray for people who knew the Lord. Spending time in Kawangware was inspiring and encouraging.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Safari In Masai Mara

Here are some pictures from our time on safari in the Masai Mara. Words and pictures really can’t do justice to the beauty in this place. It was completely breathtaking and I have to say it is my favorite place in the world. The open savannah seems endless and I loved the sweet smell of the grass as we drove along with the top of the van open . I was blessed to just be in this place and see the beauty of God’s creation.
African Elephants
Joanna, me and the giraffes
Lions

AMAZING Lizard!
Safari Van
Water Buffalo

Zebra and Wildebeest Migration (This was amazing! There were literally thousands of wildebeests and zebras all migrating to Tanzania in search of green grass.)
White Faced Vervet
Hippos (We stopped here by the river for lunch and had to fight off the monkeys and mongooses so they wouldn't steal our food!)
Sunset over the African Savannah

Here is a complete list of all the animals we saw if you are curious...
Elephant
Giraffe
Rhinoceros
Lilac Breasted Roller
Vulture
Secretary Bird
Bustard
Meercat
Warthog
Lizard
White Faced Vervet
Mongoose
Turtle
African Solcotta Tortoise
Stork
Buzzard
Dikdik
Impala
Wildebeest
Thompson Gazelle
Heartabeast
Eland
Grant Gazelle
Silver Fox (Jackal)
Water Buffalo
Zebra
Ostrich
Hippo
Cheetah
Lion
Topi
Crocodile

Monday, August 4, 2008

Finally Some Pictures!

These are some pictures from the Kibera slum where we spent the most time. I worked with Teacher Abigail in the Nursery Class. This church has an incredible ministry for people with HIV/AIDS and they have an awesome Women's Bible Study and many other ministries to outreach to the community. The people in Kibera were so welcoming and loving. The children were so adorable and just wanted love and attention and I was happy to be able to spend time with them. Being in Kibera was a comlete joy. The poverty is overwhelming and there are so many needs in this place. But the love the people have for the Lord is incredible. I learned so much from spending time in the Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Children playing outside Kibera Reformed Presbyterian Church
Teacher Abigail with Alex and Teddy
Pastor Imbumi playing with some street children
The entire team on the edge of Kibera
Some sweet girls from the Kibera Youth Group
Kids at the Mamlaka School in Kibera



The Nursery Class

I will post more pictures soon from the other places we spent time. Thank you for your prayers. I am adjusting well to being back in the States.