Orientation- June 20-27

Catching Up...

The last full week of June, I attended TeachBeyond Orientation in Wheaton, IL. It was a very full week of catching up with other TeachBeyond staff and getting to know new members.  I really enjoyed getting to know the new girls/women that I will serve this school year.  These ladies will be teaching at different school all over the world.  Some will teach English in national schools or private schools run by nationals and others will be teaching in Christian schools with missionary kids and other expats. All of these ladies desire to be involved in aiding in the transformation of lives. 

Here are some of the women I will be working with this year...

These ladies are serving in Bolivia, Thailand, Germany, the Dominican Republic, and Tanzania

These ladies are serving in Colombia, Eastern Europe, and the Philippines

The hands and feet of those serving in unnamed countries.

 I would love your prayers as I work with these singles ladies as well as prayers for them as they enter into new cultures, new languages, and new jobs. May they come to understand more fully the power in the name of Jesus!

The Dominican Republic

On May 31st, I landed in the Dominican Republic to serve and encourage two amazing women from TeachBeyond as they work through the ups and downs of starting a school.  In my time with Ellen and Jessica, I learned that they are strong and dedicated women of God.  They have a desire to bring Jesus and a solid education to the people in the community of San Francisco de Macrois.  They have been faced with some difficult situations, but they continue to do what is best for their students.  Their lives glorify God in all they say and do, and I was blessed to experience life with them for two weeks.  

There is one moment in particular that I will never forget which truly speaks volumes about the women they are. On the 2nd or 3rd day of my visit after a long, tiring day of teaching we locked up the school and headed to a student's house.  This student had not been at school for two weeks and they were worried about him.  As we searched for his house, the economic diversity was blatant.  Beautiful two-story houses stood next to one room shacks.  We found the pink house we were looking for.  From the outside, the pink house looked like a shed that most middle class North Americans have in their backyards.  As we parked the car and got out, the student and his father rode up on their motorcycle.  He spotted Ellen quickly and came running to her yelling "Miss K! Miss K!" He loved her and knew he was loved by her.  

This sweet little 3 year-old (almost 4) invited us into his home to see his computer.  It was so precious to watch his face light up with excitement as his teacher and principal saw his computer that sat in the only bedroom of the small pink shack.  They played videos for Ellen and Jessica that they were using while he has been away from school.  After watching the videos, he wanted to show us his swimming pool. A small kiddy pool sat outside filled with water and this sweet boy stripped down to nothing and went "swimming" in circles.  He was overjoyed that his teacher was at his house.  As we said goodbye, Ellen used her Spanish to share with the father her desire to have Samuel back in school no matter if they could pay or not (at least I think that is what she said). 

In the midst of the struggles these two ladies of faced in their short 9 months they continue to love their students, their students' families, and their church family.  Ellen and Jessica have started a campaign to raise money for their school and its students. If you or someone you know would like to support these precious students to gain a better education you can go here to donate to this wonderful effort!

Thank you to those of you who provided the funds for my trip to stand with them in this effort!  It was an eye-opening and wonderful trip!  I enjoyed every moment I had with Ellen and Jessica as well as the precious students they teach.  God is good all the time! Thank you for standing with me as I seek to be a missionary to the missionaries!

Prayers for my Dominican Republic Trip

A week from today I will have landed in the Dominican Republic to serve and work alongside Jessica and Ellen.  I can't thank you enough for supporting me in this endeavor to encourage these ladies.  You have given over $1000 to help me get there and buy items for the school that these ladies are working so hard to keep afloat.  I ask you now for prayers for my travel and the two weeks I will spend with them.  Here are a few requests:

-Pray that I will make all my connecting flights and be safe in the JFK airport overnight. (I leave May 16th and return home May 30th)
-Pray that my time with Jessica and Ellen will be life-giving and uplifting
-Pray that I will be in tune with the Holy Spirit as I seek to understand how I can better serve Jessica, Ellen, San Francisco Christian School, and TeachBeyond
-Pray that these last few weeks of school at San Francisco Christian School will be good and that Jessica and Ellen will be able to get everything done that they need to.
-Pray for the future of San Francisco Christian School, for more teachers, for partnerships with other schools, for the students, and for the church that is connected to the school.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support of my ministry to these and other missionaries!

An Opportunity to Care in the DR

I have been given an opportunity to go, encourage, and build up some single female missionaries with TeachBeyond. During the last two weeks of May, I plan to head to San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic to work alongside Ellen and Jessica at San Francisco Christian School ( http://www.sfcsdr.com/about/ ).

This new school is the only school in that city that provides an English primary education founded in Christian beliefs and values. Ellen and Jessica are the only two teachers at the school. They are acting as director, principal, curriculum support, and counselor along with their teaching duties. Recent events have caused turmoil and magnified their lack of resources causing overwhelming stress. The pastor of the affiliated church and one of the visionaries for the school has gone on leave, and has left these two girls to fend for themselves. Parents are expecting them to carry on and keep the school going.  Thankfully, TeachBeyond is working to connect these ladies with other Christian schools within the DR to gain support in curriculum and structure.

In May, I will spend 2 weeks lending a much needed hand in the classroom as well as lending an ear to two overwhelmed and stressed out young ladies. At this time, I am trying to raise $1200 to pay for airfare, my expenses while I am there, and supplies/gifts for the teachers. Please be in prayer for Ellen and Jessica as well as this opportunity I have to walk with them through this tough time. Pray for wisdom, open doors, guidance, healing, and peace for the school and community. They are also in need of three new teachers (Pre-K, 1st Grade, and PE/Fine Arts). Please praise the Lord with me for the provision He will give in all these situations!

If you would like to donate to my trip as I get to encourage and build up these young ladies, you can go to https://give.teachbeyond.org/support/katies-ministry/.

Guest Post: Hannah in Niger

The following post is from one of the girls I serve through TeachBeyond member care. Hannah teaches at Sahel Academy in Niamey, Niger.  She is doing a great job as a first year teacher in a foreign country!  I am proud of the woman she is and proud to call her friend.

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice." -Proverbs 27:9

I was interested in teaching abroad beginning in high school.  I watched some of my close friends go, and after traveling a bit myself, realized God's call on my life.  After graduating from Grove City College with a degree in Elementary and Special Education, what felt like a dream was finally becoming a reality.  Little did I know of the crazy adventure God and I were about to have.  Over and over, He has proven to me that He is trustworthy.  He has provided for my every need and I can't think of one prayer that He hasn't answered. 

Katie Johnston is an answer to one of those prayers. 

My relationship with Katie began the summer before leaving to teach at Sahel Academy in Niger, West Africa.  I had just graduated from Grove City College in May and was attending TeachBeyond's week-long orientation in Chicago.  I was excited about all I was to learn, especially as a rookie at just about everything - teaching, living abroad, and well, just life in general. 

Before leaving for orientation, a friend of mine who teaches at Black Forest Academy recommended (more like insisted) that I introduce myself to someone named Katie Johnston.  I didn't have any trouble finding her, and as we talked before lunch, I found it so easy to joke with her and laugh like old friends.  The second night of orientation is a reflection of the ease with which we conversed. 

It was there at orientation, when the days are long and full of meetings and everyone is super tired by day two, that Katie stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to talk with me.  I guess I didn't even realize in the moment what was happening, because it felt more like friends having a late night chat.  Katie was mentoring me, helping me to process.  When I asked her about her story, she openly shared, modeling for me how to be honest and vulnerable.  She listened to my story, too.  And rather than telling me all the things I was doing wrong, she simply asked questions, prompting me to find the answers myself (a skill that a rare few people have).  I didn't realize it, but it was so hard for me to be honest and to ask for help.  I didn't want to be a burden to anyone.  Katie gave me the freedom to share and loved me even after knowing my "junk" and never made me feel like a burden.  She read scripture, leading me to God's Word and not her own.  She prayed for me (and I am certain she still does).  It was day two of orientation and late at night when everyone else was too tired to be up when Katie listened to me, helped me process, and ultimately helped me get to a healthier place emotionally, spiritually and mentally before going out "onto the field" as a missionary.

It's been seven months now since I've lived in Niger.  And Katie has consistently provided the same encouragement, advice, guidance, laughter, and prayer that she so easily gave at orientation.  She has helped give advice on how to counsel the high school girls' Bible Study I lead, as well as how to love my students well.  She helps me to see areas in which I have improved and to set goals for the future.  Katie constantly points me to the Word and isn't afraid to ask the hard and uncomfortable questions.  It has been so important for me to have a friend and mentor in the States who can listen to relational conflict and provide a fresh perspective.  She is my ear and outlet for all of the things that I can't process with people here.  What an amazing blessing it has been to learn from someone who has "been there, done that."  Katie has given me encouragement, relating to my struggles as a single woman missionary through her time in Bolivia.  Her lightheartedness and humor compliments her ability to seek the root of the issue and speak truth.  She is comfortable in her own skin and her confidence radiates Christ. 

I look forward to skyping Katie, not only because of the wise woman of God she is, but also because of the incredible friend she is to me. I thank God for the amazing confidant I have found in Katie Johnston. 

I share this with you not to show you how great I am but to offer you a glimpse into the work that I do through member care.  I love it! It is my sweet spot, and I thank God I get to work in my sweet spot! If you desire to support me in my service to others through member care you can donate here as well as pray for the time and ability to glorify God in my interactions with these women! Our God is faithful to provide all we need!

If you would like to follow Hannah's journey teaching in Niger you can follow her blog. (Just click on the word blog.)

Past Faithfulness Reflected in the Present

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

Yesterday I had the pleasure of walking into Midnight Oil, a coffee shop in Searcy, to the joy of seeing a beautiful face from my past...PEYTON JOY MCVEY!!  We were both so stinkin' excited,  I think we hugged 15 times!!  We had no clue that we needed each other in that moment. The Lord knew that I needed to remember the past so that I could be refreshed in the present. 

Peyton, along with, Ana, Caroline, and Laura were girls that were in my trail guide group at North Atlanta Church of Christ.  This was a group of girls I mentored from their freshman year to their senior year in high school.  We went through a lot together!  Walking alongside them we grew in Christ and learned from each other was what helped me take the step of going back to school to get my Masters in School Counseling, and was also a catalyst in my journey to Bolivia! I longed to live a life where I could mentor women as my job, and these girls helped me see that I could (shout out to Justin Bagwell and NASM for creating the trail guide program). These ladies hold a pretty big place in my heart, so catching up with Peyton and Caroline (she popped in to say hi) made my heart soooooooo happy!  

It was great to catch up and giggle with them again.  I praise God for how much Peyton and Caroline have grown and matured.  I don't doubt that the Lord has done the same thing with Ana and Laura (I do see them on social media).  I am proud of the women they are becoming, and so very thankful I got to be part of their lives!!

My relationship with Peyton, Ana, Caroline, and Laura gave me confidence as a mentor.  It allowed me to see that I do have something to offer others. The Lord taught me through my time with them that we are created to live life in community, to sharpen one another, to share our weaknesses with others, and to be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance within relationships! I would not be where I am today without these beautiful young women. As I look back on my time with them, I see how faithful God was in using me in their lives and them in mine, and as I ponder my life since then I see how God was faithful to use me and grow me through relationships both in Bolivia and now with missionary women.  I praise him for allowing me to see His faithfulness in the past reflected in the present, and it gives me hope in His future faithfulness.  

Seeing Peyton and Caroline was just what I needed.  It reminded me that I am right where I need to be, walking alongside some pretty important women all of the world! Praise the Lord for giving us who and what we need when we need it!  

Psalm 71:22 (NIV)
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. 

Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

SOVEREIGN

Last night I set my iTunes to shuffle and then proceeded to skip songs that I didn't necessarily want to listen to.  I eventually came to the song "Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin.  I googled the lyrics thinking I would sing along but instead I just listened and thought about what it truly means for the Lord to be sovereign over all.  The lyrics below took my breath away.

All my hopes

All I need 

Held in your hands

All my life

All of me 

Held in your hands

All my fears

All my dreams

Held in your hands

Why did they take my breath away? Well, the Spirit was convicting me of my distrust or doubt in the Lord.  I didn't have to ask myself if I truly believed that he had all my fears, my dreams, my hopes, and all of me in his hands.  I knew the answer was "No, I am not trusting him with them".  Why? Probably because I am 34 years-old living with my parents waiting on my phone to ring to substitute teach while I wait for financial support to come flooding in for me to do what I long to do, missionary care. "God isn't giving me what I hope and dream, so how can I trust Him," were my subconscious thoughts. In my waiting, I chose to overlook the good that has come from being in this place or how He has been faithful in the past.  I haven't verbally/ prayerfully laid down my fears, dreams, hopes, and every piece of myself before the Lord lately. It is a prayer I have prayed for others, but not for myself.  In the waiting, distrust arose because what I wasn't getting what I wanted... how selfish!

So I opened my Bible app and proceeded to search for the word sovereign.  Did you know that it appears in almost if not every single chapter of Ezekiel?  Ezekiel truly believed that God is Sovereign! I will be diving into that book soon!  However, in my search, I came across Isaiah 61.  I have read this chapter a few times these last two and a half years.  It is a chapter I go to sometimes to remind me why I love counseling and helping people. This time I read it with a different perspective.  I read it with my heart and mind focused on how my God is over all of it, the good and the bad, the pain and joy, the unmet expectations and those that are met!  We go through the despair, darkness and struggle, so that we can become oaks of righteousness that display his splendor, that the nations will praise him, and that our souls can rejoice in our SOVEREIGN GOD forever!

Read it twice outloud and REJOICE in the Redemption and Restoration that He has for His people!!

The Spirit of the SOVEREIGN Lord is on me, 

because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and

the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion--

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, 

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Strangers will shepherd your flocks'

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

And you will be called priests of the Lord,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours!!

"For I, the Lord, love justice;

I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

Their descendants will be known among the nations

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed."

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up

and a garden causes seeds to grow,

so the SOVEREIGN Lord will make righteousness and praise

spring up before all nations.

I mean PRAISE THE LORD that out of death came LIFE and out of our despair and pain we find beauty and joy!!  Can I get an AMEN?!! How GREAT is our God!!  

 He reigns over the shuffling of iTunes and leads my thoughts back to His word where I was reminded of truth.  He shows his love as he reigns and sent His Spirit to convict and remind us of how GREAT He truly is!  Even in my waiting, He is SOVEREIGN!

So as I continue to wait, I pray that I can move forward truly believing...

In your everlasting arms

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you!

Sovereign video with lyrics: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=092EJCNU