World Math Day

If you didn't already know today was a very special day. It was World Math Day! My students played math games online, competing against students in over 53 countries around the world. I loved seeing which countries my kiddos were paired up with in the games. Unfortunately, I didn't see any students from Uganda. Maybe next year though :)

Not only was it World Math Day, it was also Justin Bieber's Birthday! This is a big deal in fourth grade and this kiddo celebrating by dressing up for the occasion :)

Dolphin Trainer Turned Teacher/Missionary

A couple weekends ago I shared the exciting news that God has called several families, individuals, and a church to partner with me in my calling to Uganda and I have been blessed with 50% of the financial support needed to make the move! Without supporters here at home I would not be able to go live in Uganda and teach the kiddos of the World Harvest team in Bundibugyo. Missionaries are only able to go to the field because people at home are providing them with financial and prayer support that is vital to their ministry. Believe me when I say I know there are many giving to me sacrificially and I am SO grateful to each and every person supporting my calling. I have been blown away by the generosity people have shown me. It is completely humbling to have people supporting me financially and in prayer so I can go to Uganda. During the missions conference I shared that 5 years ago I never would have believed I would be where I am today. It is so true! Five years ago I wanted to train dolphins in Florida for the rest of my life. I NEVER thought Jesus would call me to be a missionary, and I NEVER thought He would send me to Africa! What a blessing that God did stir up a passion in my heart for teaching, Africa, and missions. Teaching is such a joy and I am excited that is what Jesus is sending me to do! Will you please pray that God will continue to miraculously provide the rest of the support I need? My prayer is that 4 supporters will commit to $50 a month, 4 supporters will commit to $100 a month, and 1 supporter will commit to $500 a month. If you or anyone you know might be interested in partnering with me please let me know. I LOVE being able to share about what Christ is doing in Bundibugyo, Uganda.

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is what I loved about today: This morning when I woke up there were flowers and a card from my pup Addie (aka: my mom) on my desk. When I got to work my best teacher friend gave me chocolates and a sweet note. My kiddos poured into class all morning spoiling me with flowers, candy, and cards. Everyone was wearing pink and red and looked so adorable. We had a class party in the afternoon, and ate cupcakes, brownies, cookies, chips, and drank juice boxes. After school I went to an early dinner with my best teacher friend. Then when I came home I had the cutest Valentine’s Day card from the sweet Johnson boys! I felt so loved all day and had so much fun. Plus my kiddos were really good which was the cherry on the cupcake! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Beyond Measure

I’m taking a course right now through World Harvest called Sonship. Perhaps some of you have heard of it or even taken the course. It is similar to Gospel Transformation (which my church offered last year as a Sunday school class).  I am in Lesson 4 and have really been thankful for Sonship and my counselor, who I discuss each lesson with. So far I haven’t necessarily heard anything that I hadn’t ever heard before, but I have been reminded of some things that I needed to be reminded of. For one, I need to hear the gospel every single day of my life (which is something Ande Johnson, my RUF minister always reminded me of.) As I was speaking to my counselor on the phone this past week I was struck by something in Lesson 3. There was a question in the homework that said, “Think of someone close to you. What is your view of them?” Well I was thinking of a friend of mine, and I described that friend as someone who has been an encouragement to me, an inspiration, patient with my faults, someone who I enjoy spending time with, etc. Then my counselor reminded me that the things I love about that friend are nothing compared to what Christ feels and sees when He looks at me. I was thinking “ what!? WOW!” I know that is true. I know Christ loves me as He loves His own Son. He sees Jesus' righteousness when He looks at me, not because of anything I’ve done, but because of the work of Christ. I don’t deserve this gift, but nonetheless it has been bestowed upon me. Thinking about how much Christ loves me blows me away, brings me to tears even. If I could grasp the depth of the love Christ has for me think how it would truly change my life, and the way that I would love others. I'm so unbelievably thankful that I am a chosen daughter of the Creator of the Universe and beyond.

Romans 5: 6-8

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ dies for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though for a good person one would dare even to die- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Halfway

We just passed the halfway point in the school year! With every week that passes I come to the realization that I am getting closer and closer to moving to Uganda. The past few years have been hard, wanting to be in Africa, but needing to wait for just the right time. I've also reached the halfway point in my support. I sent an email today reporting that I was at 40%, but after hearing from a couple more people today I am actually at 50%! Every time someone tells me they want to partner with me in this ministry to Bundibugyo it brings me to tears. I am so humbled that Jesus is sending me and I am in awe of how He provides. I have such little faith and yet Christ continues to give me more than I can imagine on a daily basis. I am so thankful for His provision. Please pray that I will trust Christ to provide another 50% of the support I need to go. Thank you so much to my supporters who are giving sacrificially to send me to Uganda.

Tape or Candy?

It has been a little while since I posted a funny kiddo story. I think these stories are always funnier in the moment or to whomever experiences them, but this sure made me laugh, and hopefully will make you laugh too J

There is a kiddo in my class that I have a behavior plan with. The deal is that if he has a good morning he earns a piece of candy, and if he has a good morning and a good afternoon he earns a prize. So today he had a good morning (but not afternoon). This morning I moved the treasure box to the teacher’s room next door so the other kids won’t be upset when they don’t get a prize and this kiddo does. Mr. H put the treasure box on top of the overhead projector and I told him that I would send him over if he earns anything. At the end of the day I called the kiddo over and here is what happened.

Me: Hey kiddo you had a great morning so go next door and tell Mr. H that I sent you over for a piece of candy. Ok?

Kiddo: Yes! Ok!

2 minutes later the kiddo comes back and hands me a roll of scotch tape and a roll of masking tape.

Me: What is this?

Kiddo: I don’t know. Mr. H told me to give you this tape.

Me: Why?

Kiddo: I don’t know?

Me: Is this a joke? What did he say about the candy?

Kiddo: He didn’t say anything.

Me: Ok, go put the tape on the back table. (I ponder the situation for a moment.)

Me: Kiddo, take the tape back to Mr. H and tell him you are coming for a piece of candy. Tell him it is in the treasure box on top of the overhead projector. Ok?

Kiddo: Ok!

2 minutes later kiddo comes back eating his candy.

Me: Did you return the tape to Mr. H?

Kiddo: Yep.

Me: And he gave you the candy?

Kiddo: mmhmm.

2 minutes later Mr. H comes over.

Mr. H: Miss Stephens, do you need tape?

Me: No, why do you think I need tape?

Mr. H: Well kiddo came and knocked on my door and said, “Miss Stephens sent me for tape.”

Me: What!? No, I told him to go ask for his candy.

Mr. H and Me: Kiddo, why did you ask for tape?

Kiddo: I don’t know.

Me: I sent you over for candy.

Kiddo: I guess I forgot.

Me: Mr. H, what did kiddo say when he came back the second time?

Mr. H: He brought back the tape and told me to put it in the treasure box on top of the overhead projector. I though you were sending me some type of code or something about the candy and couldn’t figure out why you didn’t tell kiddo to just say what he needed!

Me: Hahahahaha! I never said anything about tape! Kiddo, why did you tell Mr. H to put the tape in the treasure box?

Kiddo: (As he is finishing up his candy.) I don’t know. I was confused.

So there you have it! I would love to know what was going on inside kiddos head! This is why I love kids. They make me laugh at the end of a long day!

Snowshoe

One of my favorite things about winter is being able to ski. Every year I take an annual trip with a group of friends in January to go skiing and snowboarding. Most of them snowboard, but I ski JLast weekend I had a fabulous time at Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia. I hadn’t ever been there before and had a great time exploring tons of new trails and to top it off there was fresh powder on the slopes!