The past few days have been very full! Sunday morning was amazing...I can't adequately explain to you just how beautiful those kids are. They are so generous with smiles and hugs, and my heart is warmed from just being around them for a little while. I'm so excited to get to work with the children's ministry at church while here. I hope to have lots of pictures because the kids LOVE to get their picture taken!
Monday I got all moved in to the dormitory and it is so great! My room is set up, I am unpacked, and I finally feel really settled. Things are very quiet there for now, but not for long...the first boarders come on Saturday! I've taken advantage of my time there alone to pray over the building, that God would do amazing things in the girls who will be living there. I pray that all who enter the dorms feel His Presence, His peace, and His love, and that the girls who are moving in will be forever changed by their time here. I can't wait to meet each of them!
Yesterday and today I have been busy with school preparations. I got keys to my classroom, which is so beautiful! I love all the space and windows. Plus, it is right across from the dorms, so I have a VERY short walk to work every morning! I got copies of all the textbooks for standard 5 and have been reading them, trying to get a feel for what I will be teaching. It's comforting that so much of it is what I have already taught in the States. Social Studies will be interesting because I will be teaching the kids about Botswana history and culture. I will be learning right alongside them!
Yesterday I had a special moment. I took a minute to stop and really observe my surroundings. This place is so peaceful! There is so little noise here...all I could hear yesterday evening was the birds chirping and the occasional rustling of leaves. The only movement I really saw was the ants scurrying around and the birds flying above. Then I noticed the sky...wow!! I can't paint a good picture with words, but it was painted with various shades of pink and purple as the sun was setting. I regretted for a minute that I didn't have my camera, but then realized that a picture would never do it justice anyway. I just stopped and absorbed everything in that moment and realized that this is what true peace feels like. Everything about this place just warms my heart and makes me feel so at peace. I feel God's Presence so strongly and can only give Him praise and glory for calling me here and providing for me every step of the way. I hope you feel that you are able to experience Botswana a little bit through me...and maybe God will one day provide a way for you to be here yourself!
Please notice the link on the right to get to my pictures. I will be updating it, so be sure to check back again. I'll leave you with a verse that God showed me last night.
"I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:1-3
My First Week
It's amazing that my first week in Botswana is almost complete. Time certainly goes by fast...and things have actually been pretty slow paced around here. I can't even imagine how fast time will go when the kids arrive!
This week has been kind of a "settling in" week. I won't actually move into my room until Monday, so I am still living out of my suitcases for now. The dorm looks so great, though, and I think I will really enjoy living there. School starts the 15th, so I will be spending the next week preparing both the dorm and my classroom!
I think the most important thing about this first week was relationship building and just letting the reality of me being here settle in. One of the missionary families here has been especially wonderful to me. Patricia and Jeremiah have two beautiful girls and a little boy on the way. They have made me feel very welcomed and like part of their family already.
My friends Gary and Stacy (the youth pastors) are living here at the mission now, which is a HUGE blessing. Also, Stacy's sister and I are staying at the same house right now. I met all three of them when I came in March and have loved keeping in touch with them the past nine months and looked very forward to living so close to them. God has been so gracious to surround me with friends already!
The only downfall of this week was adjusting to not having regular contact with my family and friends in the States. The internet has had many problems lately, especially at night when I would want to use it the most. Yesterday evening was the first time I experienced some homesickness and felt frustrated that I couldn't communicate with my parents. I believe the internet should be improving drastically during the next couple of weeks, though, so hopefully keeping in touch will be easier.
I had an important cultural lesson this week, too. I was in the office and made a phone call to a hardware store to ask a question for someone. In the States, after the person answers, we are free to ask a question. Well, after I hung up the phone after doing that, Gary corrected me. He told me that here in Botswana it is very important to take time with every interaction with people to greet them properly with a "Hello, how are you?" and to wait for an answer and possibly other conversation before ever asking a question. Relationships are extremely important here and it is vital to never make someone feel overlooked or unimportant. I'm so excited to become more a part of this culture. I think this priority on people and relationships is beautiful!
I can't stress enough how important and valuable your prayers are to me. Sometimes if I am having an overwhelming or lonely moment, I just stop and find comfort that someone, somewhere across the ocean is praying for me, giving me strength to move on to the next moment. God overwhelms me with His grace and His blessings. Reading through my journal last night brought me to tears as I remembered the incredible road He's had me on to get me to right where I am.
I look forward to being in contact again soon and sharing many more stories and pictures!
This week has been kind of a "settling in" week. I won't actually move into my room until Monday, so I am still living out of my suitcases for now. The dorm looks so great, though, and I think I will really enjoy living there. School starts the 15th, so I will be spending the next week preparing both the dorm and my classroom!
I think the most important thing about this first week was relationship building and just letting the reality of me being here settle in. One of the missionary families here has been especially wonderful to me. Patricia and Jeremiah have two beautiful girls and a little boy on the way. They have made me feel very welcomed and like part of their family already.
My friends Gary and Stacy (the youth pastors) are living here at the mission now, which is a HUGE blessing. Also, Stacy's sister and I are staying at the same house right now. I met all three of them when I came in March and have loved keeping in touch with them the past nine months and looked very forward to living so close to them. God has been so gracious to surround me with friends already!
The only downfall of this week was adjusting to not having regular contact with my family and friends in the States. The internet has had many problems lately, especially at night when I would want to use it the most. Yesterday evening was the first time I experienced some homesickness and felt frustrated that I couldn't communicate with my parents. I believe the internet should be improving drastically during the next couple of weeks, though, so hopefully keeping in touch will be easier.
I had an important cultural lesson this week, too. I was in the office and made a phone call to a hardware store to ask a question for someone. In the States, after the person answers, we are free to ask a question. Well, after I hung up the phone after doing that, Gary corrected me. He told me that here in Botswana it is very important to take time with every interaction with people to greet them properly with a "Hello, how are you?" and to wait for an answer and possibly other conversation before ever asking a question. Relationships are extremely important here and it is vital to never make someone feel overlooked or unimportant. I'm so excited to become more a part of this culture. I think this priority on people and relationships is beautiful!
I can't stress enough how important and valuable your prayers are to me. Sometimes if I am having an overwhelming or lonely moment, I just stop and find comfort that someone, somewhere across the ocean is praying for me, giving me strength to move on to the next moment. God overwhelms me with His grace and His blessings. Reading through my journal last night brought me to tears as I remembered the incredible road He's had me on to get me to right where I am.
I look forward to being in contact again soon and sharing many more stories and pictures!
I'm here!
Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I arrived in Botswana safely and have had a wonderful experience so far. My flights were great and I appreciated the chance to get so much sleep! My night at the guest house in Johannesburg was wonderful and I had some good time to just relax. When I arrived in Botswana yesterday, there were four women there to meet me with huge smiles on their faces and big hugs to offer. It has been kind of surreal to be here and know that I am not leaving in a couple of weeks, and I know that I will have to allow some time for adjustments. However, I feel very at home here and so welcomed by the wonderful people at the mission. A group of us had a fun time of playing dominoes last night, and despite not playing that well (I was second to last place!), I had such a good time. I am thankful for God answering so many prayers, and I really felt the answer to my prayer for community and friendships here answered last night. He provides in such amazing ways!
Today one of the missionaries took me into town and I got many things to get settled here, such as a cell phone, small refrigerator, toaster, iron, groceries, etc. It was so great to be around the people in town, and I was even blessed with an opportunity to chat with a few people at one of the stores and share some of the Setswana I've learned. It always motivates me to learn more when I see how excited they are that I know any.
The internet has been having many problems lately, so I don't know when I will have access again, but I wanted to let you know that I have arrived and am having a wonderful time so far. THANK YOU for your prayers. I feel each and every one of them!
I hope to be in touch again soon!
Today one of the missionaries took me into town and I got many things to get settled here, such as a cell phone, small refrigerator, toaster, iron, groceries, etc. It was so great to be around the people in town, and I was even blessed with an opportunity to chat with a few people at one of the stores and share some of the Setswana I've learned. It always motivates me to learn more when I see how excited they are that I know any.
The internet has been having many problems lately, so I don't know when I will have access again, but I wanted to let you know that I have arrived and am having a wonderful time so far. THANK YOU for your prayers. I feel each and every one of them!
I hope to be in touch again soon!
Here I go!!
Right now I am sitting in the airport in Washington D.C., waiting to board my plane to South Africa. I will spend the night there tonight and then fly to Botswana tomorrow! I should arrive about 4:00 a.m. Texas time Sunday morning. Thank you so much for all of your prayers, amazing encouragement, phone calls, text messages, e-mails, letters, etc. I feel totally loved and covered in prayer, and I feel so blessed to get to share this with you!
I am unsure when I will have internet access again, but promise to post an entry as soon as I can to let you know that I have arrived and that everything went smoothly with traveling. If you would like to join with me in prayer the next few days, these are some things I am praying:
1) That I would follow God's Word to Joshua to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
2) As I travel and feel any anxiety, that I would constantly remember all of the reasons why I love Botswana so much and how much joy I experience from being with the people there.
3) That God would comfort and strengthen my family during this time as they send me off to another country. I pray that He will give them an amazing peace that I am in His protective hands and He is taking care of me completely.
4) I am praying for my health to be perfect and praying against any sickness or injury of any kind.
5) For relationships to be formed right away and that I would feel an incredible sense of community where I am living. Also, that I would be able to easily keep in touch with my friends and family in the States. (Internet there can be somewhat unreliable at times.)
6) That God would equip and annoint me daily to minister to His people in Botswana: to be a light for Him while teaching or spending time with my teenage girls at the dorms, while out in the community interacting with people, at church working in the children's ministry, or any other situation He places me in while there. May I be His hands and feet, and a tangible expression of His love for the beautiful people of Botswana.
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and wish you a wonderful and blessed 2008. Thank you again for your partnership in prayer. I can't wait to write to you again...from Africa!!
I am unsure when I will have internet access again, but promise to post an entry as soon as I can to let you know that I have arrived and that everything went smoothly with traveling. If you would like to join with me in prayer the next few days, these are some things I am praying:
1) That I would follow God's Word to Joshua to "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
2) As I travel and feel any anxiety, that I would constantly remember all of the reasons why I love Botswana so much and how much joy I experience from being with the people there.
3) That God would comfort and strengthen my family during this time as they send me off to another country. I pray that He will give them an amazing peace that I am in His protective hands and He is taking care of me completely.
4) I am praying for my health to be perfect and praying against any sickness or injury of any kind.
5) For relationships to be formed right away and that I would feel an incredible sense of community where I am living. Also, that I would be able to easily keep in touch with my friends and family in the States. (Internet there can be somewhat unreliable at times.)
6) That God would equip and annoint me daily to minister to His people in Botswana: to be a light for Him while teaching or spending time with my teenage girls at the dorms, while out in the community interacting with people, at church working in the children's ministry, or any other situation He places me in while there. May I be His hands and feet, and a tangible expression of His love for the beautiful people of Botswana.
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and wish you a wonderful and blessed 2008. Thank you again for your partnership in prayer. I can't wait to write to you again...from Africa!!
Getting excited!
I am beginning to get very excited now! Yesterday I went shopping with my mom and bought some needed items, I am in the process of purchasing my vehicle online, and I have begun packing my suitcases! After a wonderful shopping day yesterday with my mom where I purchased many things for my trip, I finally feel really excited and ready to go. I am enjoying my time with my parents and my sister so much, and my brother comes Saturday! I can't wait to enjoy some great time as a family before leaving. Thank you for helping to pray me through my fear and anxiety. God is so faithful and is reminding me of all the things I love so much about Botswana. I get to be there in a week and a half!
"And He said to them, 'Follow me...'"
"I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." Isaiah 49:6
This is the verse the Lord showed me recently and encouraged me with. Several chapters back in Isaiah 6:8, God asked a question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" I want to have the willing spirit that Isaiah had when he immediately answered with "Here am I! Send me."
I've been in an interesting place the past few weeks because I have had such a mixture of emotions. The past few months in Austin have been the best out of all the years I have lived there. For the first time since feeling God's call to Botswana, I began to feel torn...part of me still so excited to go, but part of me suddenly wanting to stay. Through the varying emotions, God has shown me that part of following Him is having to sacrifice some things. When the disciples were called to follow Jesus, scripture says that they dropped their nets and followed, leaving their former life behind. "And He said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they dropped their nets and followed Him.'" Matt. 4:19-20 Scripture does not tell us if any of them ever had moments of sadness in leaving their former life behind, but I have to wonder if this emotion ever crept in. I am fully confident that even if there was some sadness in leaving their life and things behind, they would not have traded their new life of walking with Jesus for anything.
Jesus is showing me that in living here on earth, sometimes there are things we have to give up or leave behind in order to follow Him and the plans He has for us. Even though this can evoke many emotions in us, sadness included, I feel comforted in knowing we serve a compassionate God who feels every emotion with us and gives us strength to deal with all of them. And the truth of life is, there is absolutely no peace, joy, or excitement that can compare to what we feel when we are right in the middle of God's will for our lives, living fully for Him and His purposes.
I pray for each of us to continue to have the strength and faith to step out of our comfort zones and have the courage to follow Jesus completely, wherever that may be and whatever that may look like. I would be so grateful if you would pray the same thing for me. If you could, would you also pray Philippians 4:6-9 over me, especially these next couple of weeks?
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Thank you so much...December 28th is right around the corner!
This is the verse the Lord showed me recently and encouraged me with. Several chapters back in Isaiah 6:8, God asked a question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" I want to have the willing spirit that Isaiah had when he immediately answered with "Here am I! Send me."
I've been in an interesting place the past few weeks because I have had such a mixture of emotions. The past few months in Austin have been the best out of all the years I have lived there. For the first time since feeling God's call to Botswana, I began to feel torn...part of me still so excited to go, but part of me suddenly wanting to stay. Through the varying emotions, God has shown me that part of following Him is having to sacrifice some things. When the disciples were called to follow Jesus, scripture says that they dropped their nets and followed, leaving their former life behind. "And He said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they dropped their nets and followed Him.'" Matt. 4:19-20 Scripture does not tell us if any of them ever had moments of sadness in leaving their former life behind, but I have to wonder if this emotion ever crept in. I am fully confident that even if there was some sadness in leaving their life and things behind, they would not have traded their new life of walking with Jesus for anything.
Jesus is showing me that in living here on earth, sometimes there are things we have to give up or leave behind in order to follow Him and the plans He has for us. Even though this can evoke many emotions in us, sadness included, I feel comforted in knowing we serve a compassionate God who feels every emotion with us and gives us strength to deal with all of them. And the truth of life is, there is absolutely no peace, joy, or excitement that can compare to what we feel when we are right in the middle of God's will for our lives, living fully for Him and His purposes.
I pray for each of us to continue to have the strength and faith to step out of our comfort zones and have the courage to follow Jesus completely, wherever that may be and whatever that may look like. I would be so grateful if you would pray the same thing for me. If you could, would you also pray Philippians 4:6-9 over me, especially these next couple of weeks?
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about those things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Thank you so much...December 28th is right around the corner!
Good-bye Austin....
Unbelievably, the time has come for me to say good-bye to Austin, my home for the past six and a half years. God has done so much in my life while living in this city. He has introduced me to some of the most amazing people in the world, allowed me to teach the greatest 4th graders every year for six years, and deepened my relationship with Him more than I ever thought possible.
I had a heaviness in my heart when I woke up Sunday morning and realized this season of my life was really at the end. I've been in a spiritual battle, as well, as fears and doubts have crept up unexpectedly. However, God is so faithful and His presence never ceases to calm me and remind me that it is He who has called me to this great new season in life. He will be with me each step of the way, leading each step I take. He has already set up divine appointments with many people in the country of Botswana. I will have the privilege of loving on them and demonstrating the love of Christ to them on a daily basis. He has precious kids all ready for me to teach and minister to and a group of beautiful teenage girls ready for me to love on and disciple in the Lord. When I think of those things, I get so excited!
I come to you as your sister in Christ and ask for you to partner in prayer with me during this time. I so badly need the peace of Christ to cover me constantly and the assurance that I am not alone in this move. Even though I have such a peace in my spirit that this is God's will, my flesh still interferes and causes me to fear what's to come. I pray that I would be diligent in seeking hard after God's heart during these last three weeks before leaving. And I pray for wonderful time with my family enjoying the last days together that we will have until I return in two years.
I would also LOVE for you to write as often as you'd like to let me know how you are and how I can pray for you. It encourages my spirit so much to walk this life out with spiritual family, remembering that we have each other for encouragement and support. It's such an honor to serve the Lord among such amazing people. I love and appreciate you!
I had a heaviness in my heart when I woke up Sunday morning and realized this season of my life was really at the end. I've been in a spiritual battle, as well, as fears and doubts have crept up unexpectedly. However, God is so faithful and His presence never ceases to calm me and remind me that it is He who has called me to this great new season in life. He will be with me each step of the way, leading each step I take. He has already set up divine appointments with many people in the country of Botswana. I will have the privilege of loving on them and demonstrating the love of Christ to them on a daily basis. He has precious kids all ready for me to teach and minister to and a group of beautiful teenage girls ready for me to love on and disciple in the Lord. When I think of those things, I get so excited!
I come to you as your sister in Christ and ask for you to partner in prayer with me during this time. I so badly need the peace of Christ to cover me constantly and the assurance that I am not alone in this move. Even though I have such a peace in my spirit that this is God's will, my flesh still interferes and causes me to fear what's to come. I pray that I would be diligent in seeking hard after God's heart during these last three weeks before leaving. And I pray for wonderful time with my family enjoying the last days together that we will have until I return in two years.
I would also LOVE for you to write as often as you'd like to let me know how you are and how I can pray for you. It encourages my spirit so much to walk this life out with spiritual family, remembering that we have each other for encouragement and support. It's such an honor to serve the Lord among such amazing people. I love and appreciate you!
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