Encouragement (a.k.a. why I love blogging)

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I have been on the receiving end of encouragement lately...

It started this past weekend when I received a surprise in the mail. A real amazing surprise :)

You know that feeling you get when you sort through your mail and it's not junk, bills or something from a mass distribution list? The feeling you get when you you see a hand written address.

When you see a return address from a person, not a company.

When you turn it over and someone's taken the time to write "a note special for you". That's the feel I got this past Saturday when I received a note from Samantha. 

Inside the envelope I found an encouraging note from this sweet blogging friend, a source of encouragement as the preparations for my trip continue. I sat down and soaked up every word of the note, thankful for friends like her. 

I hope one day I can meet this amazing girl in person.

I received quite a similar feeling when I opened my financial management page for my upcoming trip and a new donor's name popped up. Most new donors email me and let me know that they will donate but this name took me by surprise.

It was my dear friend (both via blog and high school) Annie who donated to my trip. This amazing girl who just got back from a trip of her own sacrificially gave to my trip. I was humbled and overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. I can't wait to see her in person (so SOON!), give her a big hug and hear all about Spain.

There are other girls who have done the same who aren't mentioned here but I appreciate just the same. These just happen to be the girls who most recently, in a time of great stress, have blessed me.

I hope as I continue blogging to forge these kinds of relationships with other amazing young women. If you want to know more about my upcoming trip let me know. I would love to share!

*A quick note: I apologize for being so sporadic in my blogging recently. My life has been quite busy with preparations and hasn't left much time for much else. I'll be playing catch up the next couple days :)*


Blessings,

Confirmation

Location: Brighton Park - Chicago, IL

I'm quite a poor communicator.

This isn't a joke...my communication skills leave quite a bit to be desired. My thoughts make sense in my head but when it comes to expressing them to other people it's quite difficult. I attribute this to a couple different reasons:

1. Thoughts flow through my head at an incredibly rapid pace. I'm constantly writing things down on post-its, making lists on my computer and setting reminders in my phone. If I don't record something quick it enough I'll completely forget

2. My brain tends to skip steps when it comes to solving problems. This caused many problems in my math and science classes when it came to showing work. It always made sense to me how I got to the answer but some steps were so automatic to me it didn't seem necessary to write them down.

So when it comes to explain my thoughts to other people I tend to ramble, take multiple tangents and forget to connect my thoughts together. This affects the way I do my lesson planning and the way I write my update letters.

This struggle caused some anxiety in the month of July because I was in the position where I needed to ask for financial support. I prepared a letter and decided to send it out hard copy instead of via email. I agonized over whether or not I had made it clear how God had brought me to this place so quickly and why I was asking for financial support. At the time I was reading an amazing book about the support raising topic and it helped tremendously. However, there was still a small seed of doubt within me, wondering whether or not everything would come together.

Just the other day I was on the phone with my mother (who has been incredible throughout this whole process, I heard some horror stories at orientation about other families) and I was telling her about all of the new financial supporters had given. I was so amazed that in only a couple weeks God had provided all of my one-time financial support needs, a third of my monthly pledges and nearly a quarter of my daily prayer partners. Then my mom said something that really struck me:

"It's quite a confirmation"

This revealed two different things to me. One, God has called me to this work. He wouldn't have placed it on people's hearts to give and He wouldn't have provided the way He has if it wasn't His will. Two, no matter how poor of a communicator I am, I cannot mess up God's plans. It reminded me of the story of Moses, who even though he was old and had a speech impediment, God used him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God works through broken, imperfect people to accomplish His Will. God's shown me this countless times and it still manages to astound me every time :)

P.S. I got to meet a young woman who lives about 45 mins outside of Chicago who's going to be teaching at the same school this fall and she's AMAZING!!!!! We spent a couple hours at Starbucks talking and getting to know each other. I'm so excited!

On My Way {Part 6}

Location: Brighton Park - Chicago, IL

I figured I break my blogging absence (while recuperating from my wisdom teeth removal) with another addition to the On My Way series...

I arrived in Texas on June 12th and I was so excited! I couldn't wait to meet the other candidates and see all of the office staff again. It had been a year since I was at the office and I missed everyone during that year. After picking up some other candidates, short-termers and mobilizers we headed back to the office.

First, we had some lunch and I got the opportunity to say hi to everyone from last year. I also got to spend some time getting to know the other candidates and some office staff I hadn't met last year. Then we started the orientation to orientation :) I was practically jumping out of my seat waiting for the opportunity to talk about the teaching opportunity. God was (and still is) teaching me patience. Afterwards, we spent time sharing our testimonies. It was so amazing to hear how God brought all these different people to this place.

Finally After, I got to speak to the woman who sent me the email as well as a couple who is headed to the same school. The more and more I heard about the opportunity the more excited I became. The next day I emailed the principal of the school and got started on the application process.

It was exhausting trying to fill out the application during my free time at orientation. Our days were packed with training, interviews and meeting everyone. However, by God's grace I was able to finish the application during my time in Texas.

Then began the process of checking references, submitting medical forms and HR putting together a final proposal of the principal.

In other words, more waiting...

*This doesn't really have to do with my journey to getting overseas but I did purchase it because I'm going*

A package with my favorite company name on it was waiting for me when I got home from work this morning...

And inside was...

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!! The bookworm inside of me is freaking out. I'm torn between my hard copies and my new toy.

Anyone else have an e-reader? How do you like it?

P.S. 28 days!!!!!!!!!!!

*Anybody interested in receiving my update emails with more specifics about this trip let me know (via comment or email) and I'll put you on my list*

miscellany monday

Location: Brighton Park - Chicago, IL

1. My oral surgeon is amazing. I had my wisdom teeth extracted on Saturday and everyone warned me that I would be in a lot of pain and heavily reliant on the narcotics. It didn't happen. My biggest problem is some jaw stiffness which makes it difficult to open my mouth very wide or talk, probably a good thing for me ;) I have to admit though the food choice leaves a bit to be desired but I'm not going to complain.

2. Annie is back from Spain!!!!!!!!!! This makes me so happy because I've missed her a ton! Also I can't wait to hear all about her time over there and what God did in and through her. 

3. I leave for overseas in 31 days :) That's one whole month. This seems so insane to me, mostly because I don't feel prepared in the least bit. However, God is faithful. He has been providing step by step and guiding me through this process. If you want to know more about this trip send me an email.

4. I'm managing to stay on top of my to-do list every week. I don't know how it's happening with my hectic schedule but God is giving me the wisdom of how to manage my time wisely. As a result my to-do lists are no more than 1 or 2 post-its on my computer. This may sound like a lot but usually my to-do lists are 4 to 5 post-its. Let's hope it stays this way for the rest of the summer.

5. I've got to watch a couple movies this weekend as I was recovering from the anesthetic, What's Your Number?, In Time and This Means War. I liked them all and I'm nervous that my movie addiction will soon be returning.

How was everyone's weekend? Any big summer plans coming up?

On Resting

Location: Old Town - Chicago, IL

I'm naturally a busy body. I have a hard time slowing down, being still and enjoying silence. I like to be out and about and I struggle with taking the appropriate time to rest.

I'm what I've come to describe as an outgoing introvert. There is a common misconception that shy/quiet is synonymous with introvert and outgoing/loud is synonymous with extrovert. In reality the two terms have to deal with from where you get your energy. While I enjoy being around people and being social it takes every ounce of energy I have. For me to be able to recharge and truly relax I need to spend time by myself; even though I still need to be doing something, writing, listening to music or reading a good book.

As a result, I don't rest enough. I go to be too late and I get up to early, attempting to do everything on my own strength. Recently God convicted me with these two verses:

                                                          Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

    Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

(Psalm 127:1-2 ESV)

I have an erroneous belief that if I don't do something it'll never get done, like I'm in control. God is teaching me that I need to surrender my desire for control and trust in His plan. This is lesson is becoming very practical as I prepare to move overseas. Details are changing every day. New problems crop up every time I try to take a step forward. I've learned to leave it in God's hands and wait for the next step He gives me.

What has God been teaching you lately?

On My Way {Part 5}

Location: Brighton Park - Chicago, IL

They're here!!!!!! I have a diploma and a TESOL certificate :)

*Anybody interested in receiving my update emails with more specifics about this trip let me know (via comment or email) and I'll put you on my list*

On My Way {Part 4}

Location: Bronzeville - Chicago, IL

*I can't wait to be back among the date palms and beautiful mountains*

*Anybody interested in receiving my update emails with more specifics about this trip let me know (via comment or email) and I'll put you on my list*