new things
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
- Isaiah 43:19
In late April, I wrote about this Scripture that the Lord had laid on my heart. This Scripture was showing up everywhere- blogs I read, devotionals, sermons, etc...I had no idea what it meant, but I kept telling the Lord I wanted to be ready for whatever new thing He was going to be doing in my heart.
As most of you know, I commited to teach for two years at Colegio Binimea. It seems as though at least several times a week, someone asks me "So what are you thinking about for next year?" Well, here's your answer, folks: Athens, GA.
This summer, I went home for about a month's time. This time was so blessed, and I saw so many lovely friends. During this time, I spent a few days in Athens. I love Athens. I truly do. And the Lord is calling me back there. All I can tell you is that He has placed a burden on my heart to be back in the Classic City. My time here in Chihuahua has been so wonderful; the Lord has been so good to me and is teaching me so much. I love my life here. I love my church, my friends, my students, and my little house. But there is a tugging in my heart to go back to Athens. It is almost as though I never finished what I started there four years ago. Like there is something else waiting for me that I did not tap into while I was there.
There are so many things I love about the Classic City. I love that it is a college town. I love that my girls are there and that there are so many beautiful relationships with beautiful people that I have there. I love that there are myriad opportunities for ministry. I love that it is a city with a small-town feel. I love seeing little kids who are dressed up on gameday, already bleeding red and black. I love my church family. I love running through Five Points and eating breakfast at Mama's Boy. I love North Campus and the IM fields trails during the fall. I love Two Story Coffeehouse and Jittery Joe's and The Last Resort. I could go on...
So what, do you ask, might I do once I reach Athens? I don't know. That is up to the Lord. I would absolutely love to find a position in one of the elementary schools as an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher. While at UGA, I earned an endorsement to be able to teach these classes, and now that I am fluent in Spanish, I want to use those skills. The two weeks I spent with ESOL kids during my student teaching were my absolute favorite two weeks out of my entire four years of pursuing an education degree. I fell in love with those kids. When I was with them, what I was doing didn't feel like work. And that is how I know that ESOL kiddos are my passion. Because I just wanted to do everything I could for them to be able to feel comfortable in their own skin, proud of their culture, and confident of their academic abilities.
If nothing is available for the 2011-2012 school year, I will do what pays the bills. Seriously. But preferably with kiddos. I miss my Broadacres kids, and I would love to work at one of the rec centers or a Boys and Girls Club...I'll work two part-times if necessary...whatever pays the bills and keeps me where the Lord wants me! All I know is that right now, I am in position in which the majority of my time is spent being a light in a place flooded with light. The desire of my heart is to be a light in the darkness. And I know that opportunity exists and is waiting for me when I return to Athens in God's good timing...
So friends, that is what is on my heart for this next season. For right now I am loving life here in Chiwas and trying to savor the moments the Lord is giving me here with the awesome community He has provided for me. He is so good. I don't have many specifics about this next season, but I can rest in knowing that He knows everything. A couple weeks ago, I read the following in my Jesus Calling devotional. It was perfect:
"I am perpetually with you, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. When you make that quantum leap into eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in my hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.
I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace."
I love resting in knowing that He is already in the future. My finite mind cannot comprehend that detail about His amazing character, but He is there. And He will provide exactly what I need at the exact time that I need it. He's just good like that.
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
- Isaiah 43:19
In late April, I wrote about this Scripture that the Lord had laid on my heart. This Scripture was showing up everywhere- blogs I read, devotionals, sermons, etc...I had no idea what it meant, but I kept telling the Lord I wanted to be ready for whatever new thing He was going to be doing in my heart.
As most of you know, I commited to teach for two years at Colegio Binimea. It seems as though at least several times a week, someone asks me "So what are you thinking about for next year?" Well, here's your answer, folks: Athens, GA.
This summer, I went home for about a month's time. This time was so blessed, and I saw so many lovely friends. During this time, I spent a few days in Athens. I love Athens. I truly do. And the Lord is calling me back there. All I can tell you is that He has placed a burden on my heart to be back in the Classic City. My time here in Chihuahua has been so wonderful; the Lord has been so good to me and is teaching me so much. I love my life here. I love my church, my friends, my students, and my little house. But there is a tugging in my heart to go back to Athens. It is almost as though I never finished what I started there four years ago. Like there is something else waiting for me that I did not tap into while I was there.
There are so many things I love about the Classic City. I love that it is a college town. I love that my girls are there and that there are so many beautiful relationships with beautiful people that I have there. I love that there are myriad opportunities for ministry. I love that it is a city with a small-town feel. I love seeing little kids who are dressed up on gameday, already bleeding red and black. I love my church family. I love running through Five Points and eating breakfast at Mama's Boy. I love North Campus and the IM fields trails during the fall. I love Two Story Coffeehouse and Jittery Joe's and The Last Resort. I could go on...
So what, do you ask, might I do once I reach Athens? I don't know. That is up to the Lord. I would absolutely love to find a position in one of the elementary schools as an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher. While at UGA, I earned an endorsement to be able to teach these classes, and now that I am fluent in Spanish, I want to use those skills. The two weeks I spent with ESOL kids during my student teaching were my absolute favorite two weeks out of my entire four years of pursuing an education degree. I fell in love with those kids. When I was with them, what I was doing didn't feel like work. And that is how I know that ESOL kiddos are my passion. Because I just wanted to do everything I could for them to be able to feel comfortable in their own skin, proud of their culture, and confident of their academic abilities.
If nothing is available for the 2011-2012 school year, I will do what pays the bills. Seriously. But preferably with kiddos. I miss my Broadacres kids, and I would love to work at one of the rec centers or a Boys and Girls Club...I'll work two part-times if necessary...whatever pays the bills and keeps me where the Lord wants me! All I know is that right now, I am in position in which the majority of my time is spent being a light in a place flooded with light. The desire of my heart is to be a light in the darkness. And I know that opportunity exists and is waiting for me when I return to Athens in God's good timing...
So friends, that is what is on my heart for this next season. For right now I am loving life here in Chiwas and trying to savor the moments the Lord is giving me here with the awesome community He has provided for me. He is so good. I don't have many specifics about this next season, but I can rest in knowing that He knows everything. A couple weeks ago, I read the following in my Jesus Calling devotional. It was perfect:
"I am perpetually with you, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. When you make that quantum leap into eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in my hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.
I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don't be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow's worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace."
I love resting in knowing that He is already in the future. My finite mind cannot comprehend that detail about His amazing character, but He is there. And He will provide exactly what I need at the exact time that I need it. He's just good like that.