Praises Upon Praises (Random. Sorry.)

Hey friends...

Just wanted to share a couple praise reports with you all.  (Thank you for praying!)

I have to say that in the last few weeks I have begun to really enjoy learning the language here.  I had mentioned previously that I was struggling to learn the language, but I'm finally starting to get it.  It's almost as if a light bulb went off in my mind all of the sudden it's starting to click.  Thank you so much for praying. Please continue to pray for this.  The race is far from over.  I've just begun to jog.

Secondly, I had been praying (and asked you to pray) for the three girls in my class.  Their friendships were certainly on the rocks because one of the girls was constantly being left out.  I have to tell you though, that these girls are really becoming good friends to one another.  The three seem to do everything together and generally enjoy hanging out as a group and not just two at a time.  Please continue to lift them up because friendships at this age are so sensitive.  

Sorry that I haven't written recently.  Life has been mostly normal.  One of roommates and I did notice however that the enemy was after our community when the Christmas season came.  As I heard John Piper say in a sermon..."Satan is trying to do everything in his power to eat our faith and joy for breakfast."  He had it for a little, just through various ways in our community, but God is faithful.

It is really fun to celebrate Christmas here. For the most part the Christmas commercialism is absent and the fuss over gifts and "stuff"  hasn't really happened.  I emailed my dad the other day rejoicing over my realization: this time last year I was working in retail!  (Not a terrible job, but not my calling at this time.)  Less than a year later, I am working in a Christian school in a Muslim nation on the other side of the world.  So incredible.  It's crazy how quickly God can change our lives.

I pray that we as believers this Christmas season will rejoice over the King that came down as a baby (diapers and all) to be our Savior.  He came not to be served but to serve.  Let us rejoice that we are free from our bondage of sin and were are captives no longer.  I pray that your heart is flooded with the joy of this truth.

Haiku

This week in Ms. Alex's 5th grade class was poetry week. We learned about limericks, cinquain, free verse, and haiku poems.  I enjoyed teaching it much more than I expected.  You gotta love a kid's expression when you tell them that not all poems rhyme, and you would have loved my face when I asked for descriptive words and my kids came up with the words "awesome, cool, and fun!"  Think kids, think! haha

I personally didn't remember all the rules to writing haiku poems, so I had to do a little reading.  Let me fill you in.  A Haiku is a three lined poem made of 17 syllables- 5 in the first line, 7 in the second line, and 5 also in the last line. These poems are mostly about nature and the seasons.  I loved how a writer began to explain the inspiration behind these poems.  He explained that we experience "haiku moments" throughout our lives. Theses moments are small, almost missed experiences that happen in the hustle and bustle of life.  In a haiku moment you might experience a dragon fly landing on a flower petal or the smell of rain after an afternoon shower.  Whatever the moment is like, it takes your breath away.

I love this!  "haiku moments" are happening around us all the time.  We just have to look for them.  I have heard these moments called God-sightings, and I believe that is exactly what they are.  We read a free verse poem called Miracles, written by Walt Whitman this week.  He described a similar experiences.  The poem explains anything can be a miracle...the glance of a stranger, the grass underfoot, the smell of popcorn.  It just depends on how you see it.

So my prayer for us is this: that we see the "haiku moments" or the 'God-sightings" or the everyday miracles lying around us...They're everywhere, just waiting for us to experience them. Through these miracles God is expressing His character.  He desires to show us His love and compassion.  May we have eyes to see.

I'll finish with my Haiku moment this week....

Lightning crashes down.

The roar of heaven resounds

and all stand amazed.

I pray that you are in awe of the miracles around you.

Just a couple Photos

Ankot rides!  My favorite transportation in Bandung!
Squishing is key!

If you want to come and visit this beautiful place
just come and let me know!

Field Trip to the Observatory!

Found a beautiful spot on a motor bike adventure!

The Good, Bad, and the Funny

Hey Everyone,

     It’s late so that means that it’s time for me to write.  It seems to be the only time that I am inspired to write.  School has kept my bedtime pretty early so sorry for the dry-spell in writing.  Anyway…

     So much has happened since the last time I wrote…many firsts.  I lead my first field trip a couple weeks ago.  I took my kids to an observatory.  It was really neat to discover and learn about God’s great creation with my kids.  Last weekend I rode a motor bike for the first time.  A friend let me borrow hers and it was so fun exploring places that I had never seen.  I played piano during worship for the first time during out morning staff devotions. Pretty nervous but we made it through.   Sent home my first set of report cards and in the last two days I have completed my first set of parent teacher conferences.   God is allowing me to have so many great experiences.  He is so good.

The teachers dressed up as Magic School Bus characters
on Story Book Day!

     I really enjoy teaching.  My kids are so wonderful.  We have come to that point of the year when we all make each other laugh and I can just give them a look and they know that they have gone too far. (Not yet an evil eye I’m sure, but not the crazy eye some of you are thinking of.)  I  love being able to laugh with them as I make up silly examples or as they laugh at me as I dance around the classroom while they diligently work on their math problems.  It’s been really fun. 

       We particularly get a lot of laughs out of the vocabulary challenge that they have every day.  I give the students a new vocabulary word every day.  We talk through it, understand it, and give examples.  Then throughout the day they can score points by using the word in context during classroom discussions.  They try so hard and all the kids are so excited when someone scores a point.  They run up to me after their break time exclaiming “Rio was very generous today during snack time.  He gave me some chips.”  Or they use the word incorrectly and sound silly doing it. 

     Another dynamic of my class that makes things interesting is the boy/girl dynamic.  Oh 5^th grade.  My principal encouraged me to have the boys and girls work together more frequently during the school day to encourage unity rather than division between the genders.  It is hilarious to watch them squirm when they have to mix up at lunch or in line.  (They might not notice how well they actually interact when they all hang out together, but I do!)   

Life here is great but it’s not perfect, that’s for sure. 

     I am struggling to learn Bahasa Indonesia.  Now the term struggling should mean that I am striving with great energy to learn something that is very hard for me.  I believe that would be the correct meaning/use of the word struggling.  What I really mean is: I thought learning a new language would be as easy as getting wet in the rain, but I was WRONG.  (Silly me)  Please pray that I would love the local people well enough to be disciplined to learn the language that they speak. 

     Second, please pray for another 5^th grade girl to join my class.  My class has three girls in it.  Two of those girls are best friends and as you can imagine that leaves one of my girls without a friend.  Please pray that God would move in the hearts of the two “best friends” and that Sung Ha would feel loved and accepted by the other girls.  It breaks my heart to see her ostracized the way that she often is.  Please pray over that situation. 

     Lastly, pray for me please.  Something that I have been asking God over the past year or so, is that nothing would satisfy me except Him.  I had almost forgotten this prayer until I found myself feeling that way a couple weeks ago; nothing was satisfying.  Teaching had become monotonous, life had become monotonous, and I was just going through the motions.  He reminded me in this time that I had prayed for this very thing to happen to me.  We are so often distracted by nice things, a good meal/dessert (if you’re me), good movies, hanging out with friends, ect, that we don’t desire the greatest thing: God.  I am finding that I am only finding my joy when I am satisfied in Jesus.  Please pray that I would desire Christ above all things.  God has entrusted 8 students to me and has placed me in a community to love.  I want to give them everything that I have but I cannot do that unless what I am giving them is Christ.  Please pray that I would wake up every morning desiring Him. 

     Miss you all.  I wish I could visit you right now but I've got school on Monday. J Love you all.   

Always and in Every Circumstance- GOOD

Well it's been about a week since my last post and it seems like millenniums ago.  Time moves very slowly when you are sick.  Yup that's right, my first Indonesian sickness. No, it wasn't a crazy disease or anything...don't jump to any conclusions.  It was just your normal sicknesses that you get when your body is crying out for rest.  Once again the Lord had to physically shut me down to make me stop and seek  His face.

For three days I halfway fought through whatever we want to call this so-called sickness.  My pour students had less than a teacher for about three days.  "Ms. Alex why are you so tired?" they would often ask. They even found me sleeping in our classroom on return from their Computer class.  It was pretty pitiful folks.  I also left school every day as soon as possible with a couple excused early leaves as well, only to immediately crash for hours when I arrived home.  I have also never ridden my bicycle that slowly or in that low of a gear in my entire life.  The last day I even got off my bike and pushed it up the hill.  Talk about wimpy!

My favorite story of the week still continues to be this one.  On one of my early arrivals home I crashed so hard that I was convinced that I had slept through the entire night.  When I woke to the sound of my roommates in the living room I got up and told them "Good Morning."  They excused my mistake until I asked my roommate why she was wearing the same outfit that she had worn the previous day.  Then they kindly informed me that it was indeed still the same day.  Oh wow!

But because of the sickness I was not able to go to our staff retreat this weekend.  It was certainly a bummer but I must say that My God knows what He is doing.  This weekend of rest in Him was needed beyond belief.  He rejuvenated my heart and gave me a refreshed, Holy Spirit filled mindset. He slowed me down and practically forced me to ask for His help and guidance.   Such grace that He bestows on us.  As my school staff learned and discussed about what community within the body looked like, the Father was graciously reminded me to commune with Him.  His love, his plan, and His gifts are perfect.  The world can't understand because they don't know Him but He is Good- always and in every circumstance.

Joy

Awesome moment today with my students...

During math centers today I played some music for my students.  They love music and always want it on.  Over the past two weeks I've been playing Phil Wickham's Response Acoustic CD for them.  If you haven't heard it, please download it and worship...it's Awesome!  Let me stop advertising.  Ha Ha.  

During their math centers the song Joy came on.  About half way through the song I stopped and realized that all of us were worshiping: I, at my desk working on yearlong plans, and all of my students singing as they worked out large digit addition problems and identified addition properties. We were all worshiped at the same time.  It was beautiful!

They had no idea the magnitude of what was going on but the Lord grabbed my attention just in time to see that beauty of it all.  These kids from all over the world, with their American teacher, in a Muslim nation, far from their homes and mine and we were worshiping the One True God.  I wish that this could happen in every school around the world; it barely happens in schools in the "land of the free."  One day we will worship Him all together: all nations, all generations, all races, tribes, and tongues.  Can't wait! 

Here are the lyrics:

You heard my cry for mercy, You heard my cry for help
And You turned Your ear to hear me, to save me from myself
When I think of all You’ve done,
Oh my heart is overcome with

Joy, joy, unending joy, always joy will remain
Joy, joy, I sing for joy, always forever I'll stay in Your joy

The chains have all been broken, the walls have all come down
And here I stand forgiven, in this grace that I have found
When I think of all You’ve done,
Oh my heart is overcome with

Joy, joy, unending joy, always joy will remain
Joy, joy, I sing for joy, always forever I'll stay in Your joy

My heart will sing, my heart will sing for joy
Forever I’ll sing, forever I’ll sing for joy
[x2]

Joy, joy, unending joy, always joy will remain
Joy, joy, I sing for joy, always forever I'll stay in Your joy
[x2]

Forever I'll stay in Your joy

Enter into His Rest

First Day of School

Well, it’s official:  I am a teacher!  The first week of school is officially over and we made it through!  I’ve gotta say….teaching is exhausting.  I think one thing that makes it exhausting for me is that there is so much planning involved in everything and planning does not come natural to me.  (I would rather wing it and see what happens.  Not good for teaching!)  Don’t get me wrong, I know how to plan, but when your job requires you to be the planner and the one driving the boat, it’s tiring.  So if you think about it, lift me up in prayer that planning would become more natural to me and that I would enjoy that portion of my job. 

Along with that exhaustion and weakness though comes a reliance on the Lord that I have enjoyed so much.  On Thursday I was so tired after school that I went home and just slept.  And I guess when I say that I just slept, I really mean that I laid there as my mind ran.  But it was wonderful…God did something to my heart as I laid there.  I think in that time of rest I can me to grips with the facts:  I am weak and He is strong.  In that moment of rest I became joyful about my situation, about the facts about being weak.  When we have the facts straight about who God is and about who we are, I believe that we can finally come into the rest that God promises.  (Hebrews 4:1) 

Bandung Alliance International School

I’m learning that resting is not really about getting sleep or taking it easy, either.  Rest is when you stop fighting.  It’s exhausting to fight a fight you can’t win.  I am not in control, but if I attempt to have control I will never rest.  I know it’s simple but I’m finally living in the reality that God is in control.  I am weak.  It’s just the facts.  Now that I am no longer fighting that I can rest in God’s promises.  I can rest in the fact that God says that He will fulfill our desires with good things. I have lots of dreams and wants and ideas about how my life should look.  I normally don’t tell God what I really want for fear that it’s not a good thing to want or if I ask I won’t get it.  But now I know that I can tell God exactly what I’m thinking and then also tell Him that He knows my desire and I know that it will be fulfilled with something good (Psalm 103).  I could ramble for a long time, but the point is, that God is good.  But we can only dwell in the rest that He gives if we come to grips with this: WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL!   Stop fighting it and give in to HIS goodness and HIS plan and HIS protection.

Love you all.  Praying that God is showing himself to you and that you can live in His rest.  Its’ pretty awesome!

Adventures Begin!

Saya nama Peggy.  Saya tenggal di Indonesia.
My name is Peggy.  I live in Indonesia. 

     I wish that my third sentence could be something like “I can speak Indonesian,” but that statement would be marked as false.  This past weekend was one filled with adventures throughout the local culture.  One morning we went to a local pasar (marketplace) to practice our language skills.  The market was one of the richest places I have ever entered.  The people were absolutely beautiful, dressed in their long garments and head coverings, the tables spilled over with mounds of beautiful produce, and little ladies dressed in bright colors, smiling from ear to ear hacked pieces of meat with butcher knives.  The contrast simply wonderful!  We found beautiful batik fabrics and bartered for the best price.  America needs to adopt bartering because it makes shopping much more fun and challenging. 
    Transportation here is much different than in America.  Most people ride a motor bike everywhere they go-weaving in and around cars, buses, and anything else on the roads, including delman.  We took one of these horse-drawn carriages after leaving the pasar.  The city bus used to get to town can be unpredictable.  Sometimes it is quite empty and gets to town fairly quickly, but I’d say about 80% of the time it is packed full of people and moves at about 2km per hour!  Ha-ha  It’s fun though to be among the people.  My favorite type of transportation involves what I love most… Squishing!  The city of Bandung has a travel system in which small vans called ankots drive a certain route all day long.  Whenever you see one you can just flag it down and hop in.  Don’t worry about seats either…as many people as can fit can be in the van.  Then whenever you want to get out you just yell to the driver to pull over, you pay him, and then you’re on your way.  It’s fabulous!
    The food has been great as well.  The fruits here are amazing.  I ate a fruit last night called the “snake fruit.”  Its peal looks exactly like a brown snake skin.  Mangostien is probably one of my favorites.  There is one dish that I have eaten in which the chicken is cooked so long that the bones become very soft and you eat the whole piece of meat including the bones.  Just a nice crunchy addition!  I also ate goat sate.  Sate is basically anything eaten like a kabob, but yes a little goat is running around in my stomach! Haha There are lots of other things that I have yet to try like cobra or squid but I might pass on the intestines I saw rolling around at the pasar.    
    That’s all for now!  I’ll post pictures soon.
                                                                                                               Mari! (bye)
                                                                                                                -Peggy

Hey everyone!

Made it safe to Indonesia!  Travels were great.  I asked so many questions as I flew through all the many airports.  It is crazy but really most everone that works at an airport knows at least a little English.  When we landed in Indonesia I could barely see the ground because of all the smog...but once we landed I got to see how beautiful a place it is...so green and lush!

Our bus travels to Kota Baru were certainly slow.  It took us about four hours to get out of Jakarta, one because we moved about as fast as rush hour on 14 moves and secondly because Jakarta is huge!!! It truly does go on forever.  After leaving Jakarta we stopped at a rest stop and had Indonesian Burger King...which I might add is not too bad.  But of course at a rest stop you've gotta take a bathroom break as well.  Dun, dun, dun...the Squatty Potty!  You can try and guess what that looked like.

When we finally arrived in Kota Baru it was dark so only today am I starting to get a grasp for what the environment is really like.  I think in a couple of days I'll be better able to articulate what Indonesia is like but not right now! Haha Our house is very large (for an Indonesian home) in a nice neighborhood with a guard.  My prinicpal calls Kota Baru "Barbie Town" because it is so nice.

Heard the prayer calls several times since arriving.  The Muslims are in Ramadan which is their month of fasting, but the call to prayer will continue even after the fasting month is over.  So yeah, life is different.  Right now it doesn't feel as if I am going to be calling this place home for an extended amount of time; it really does feel surreal.  But soon I hope that I can soak all of this in.

Love you all.  Sorry that this entry is not very well articulated and fun. Short on time but I wanted to let ya'll know that I made it.  Hopefully I'll be able to write and post some pictures soon!

For now...
-Peggy

Ready or Not...Here I Come!

Here's the scene...

In two days I will embark on a three day journey to my new home: Kota Baru-home to the world's largest sun dial (jealous...I know). I have clothes picked out, school supplies precisely chosen, and the world's largest supply of toiletries ready to go.  But the big question from everyone is...."Are you ready?"

The funny part about that question is that I don't have just one answer.  The question is too general!  If you ask me "Are your suitcases ready to go?"  I would say "Absolutely not!"  I have failed again in packing early. (Instead of packing I'm writing this post and watching the Olympics.)  If you asked me if I'm ready to prove to my father that I'm not going to eat chicken beaks at every meal in Indonesia (as he so often teases me about) the answer is "YES!" If you asked me "Are you ready to say goodbye to your family?"  the answer would be "Definitely Not."  If you asked me "Are you ready to see what Indonesia is like?" my answer is an excited "Yes!"

 The list could go on and on, but I think the real question is:  are we really ever ready for the things that God has in store for us?  The answer is "Probably not."  And I think that it is a great thing that we aren't always ready.  If we were always ready we wouldn't rely on Him in tough times because we would have a 10-point strategy for coping.  If we were always ready life would not be filled with the excitement and thrill of God rescuing and surprising us.  If we were always ready we wouldn't get to see the hand of God work and the Holy Spirit move.  God shows us and prepares us for what we need to know.

So sure, at this point there are probably more things that I could know (like how I'm going to contact my parents when I get off the plane haha) but I don't need to know everything.  I am ready to go and I'm ready to go because He is sending me.  So here we go!  Off to a new world...just me and God.  :)

Eight Students....Not Twelve!

My Indonesian team after a redneck skit! (Can you find me? )

Alright, so I just returned from a two-week training extravaganza in South Haven, MS in which all of the new NICS staff prepared to head to our 22 destinations around the globe.  It was a fantastic week of meeting new friends, sitting in seminars all day, eating until we explode, and sleeping in high school classrooms.  I got to meet ten members of my team that are also headed or returning to Indonesia this fall and they are fantastic!

I could go on and on about all the things that I learned during the two weeks, but one small discovery has blown my mind. One of the returning staff informed me that I don't have twelve students; I have eight!  Yes, yes...I know that I told you I had something like twelve students, but I was wrong and the Lord is using that number to show me the gravity of my role.  In a large classroom of 20 students or even 15 students, you get to know your students but there is still a level of distance.  You don't have time for every conversation...you don't get to work with every student one on one... It's just impossible!  But eight students: that's another ballgame!  There are families (lots of families) with eight people in them!  And a family is what we will be.  These children are going to see my life lived out in full fashion.  They will see the good, bad, and the ugly.  Parents of the world, I give you props because your kids see everything and I'm starting to understand that weight.  So, although it is a wonderful privilege, the responsibility has to be taken seriously. 

Luckily, alongside the weight of our roles as believers, we also get to celebrate in God's goodness. I just read the most encouraging letter from my church in Memphis, reminding us of all that God has done in the past couple of years.  The letter reminded me to pray big! God is above all.  Anything is possible for Him!  The Lord uses those who are humble and obedient, doing more than we can possibly think or imagine (Eph 3:20-21)!  Oh how I pray that we will have the honor of seeing Him do more than we could think or imagine in Indonesia and at BAIS and in Miss Alex's Classroom!  I hope you'll pray those big prayers with me!

23 Days until Departure!

It's All About the Word!

Hey gang!
    Today the Lord used John 15 to lift me out of a low place.  Mom and I have been memorizing it and the Lord brought it to my mind at the perfect moment.  
     John 15:1-4 states:  "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bears fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself;  it must remain in the the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."  

Google calls this a blueberry vine...pretty sure it's a bush! haha

      He revealed to me as I spun the verses around in my head that the vine determines the type of branch.  So if Christ is a blueberry vine, then I am a blueberry branch.  Christ knows the twists and curves of my branches and can distinguish me from all the others but to anyone else I am a blueberry branch. They see the vine (Christ) and not me(the measly little branch)!  I don't have to worry about my gifts or what I am talented at.  I am a blueberry branch and that's all that matters.  :)
     Obviously, I cannot express the joy that the Lord gave me in this moment of realization, but the point is... The Word is what we need to fight our battles: not inspirational songs or funny friends.  We need the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6)!" So, whether you look at it written in your Bible or you have it tucked away in your heart...He desires to reveal something new to you and give you a weapon with which to fight the enemy.  


Prayer Requests:
1.  Going to training this coming week
             - pray that I would learn all that I need to know
             - build good relationships with those that I will meet and teach with this coming year
2.  That I would remain in the Word of God...no excuses!

Skype Date with my Future Students

"Are you strict?"
"Do you care if we're late?"
"Are you going to make us food?"
"Do you give homework on Fridays?"

These are the questions the kids asked me after formal introductions were made and sense of comfort set in.  All I've gotta say is: kids are the same everywhere.  I love it!  My twelve students are made up of Indonesian and Korean kids.  The class is mostly boys with only a couple girls.  They seem like a lively bunch with some really fun personalities.  They got really excited when I asked them if they liked to sing songs.  I'm so happy that they like to sing because as most of you know,  I love to sing!  I'm excited to see what the Lord does next year during our time together.  I have a feeling that the kids are going to teach me just as much, if not more, than I teach them. I can't wait to see what He does.  :)

Dreaming of Rulers and Notebooks

You know those times when you can't stop thinking about the future. You consciously try to stop yourself from thinking but it's as if your thoughts are rolling down a hill and there is nothing you can do to stop your brain's momentum. Well that is the condition I have found myself in this past week. I cannot get my classroom out of my head. It's soaking up all my brain space! Luckily, this brain momentum has given me some really great ideas! (Thank goodness!)The Lord,however, interrupted my brain momentum this morning with a little reality check. "Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21. I have so many "great ideas" for what the coming year will be like, but I have no idea what the Lord has planned. I have no idea what my students will need and what work He has decided to do in their lives. So as my brain wonders and wonders and wonders, I realize that only some of it, if any, will come to fruition. Regardless it is fun and exciting to dream of the best ways to motivate my students and challenge them to grow into incredible men and women of God. I do get to meet my students via Skype on Sundy night (Monday morning for them). I am so excited to see their faces and put sreal aces and names to the class I have been thinking about and praying for. Please pray that I will leave the impression that the Lord wants me to leave with them before we meet face to face. I'll hopefully get an idea of things that they enjoy that I can incorporate into my planning this summer. Thanks again for reading. I am so greatful for all the prayers and encouragement!

Heat Wave

Hey everyone! 

Today I finally made it back to my home state of sunny Florida!  I promise that at the exact moment that I crossed the state border (while trying to capture a photo of the the welcome sign on my phone) the humidity and heat in the air hit me like a wave.  The interesting part is that I Loved It!  Can you believe that?!  Along with this heat wave a feeling of freedom overwhelmed me.  Jamming to a new CD with the windows rolled down and every square inch of my car loaded down with junk (including my pink bike tied to the back), I realized where the Lord had brought me from and where He is taking me.

When I made it to Memphis in the fall I was bruised and beaten up, having poor confidence in the power that lies within me. I was being overtaken by many, many lies.  But as the heat wave hit me today, I realized that I am not the same person that left Florida in August.  I return today as one whose knows her position in Christ and one who knows the calling she has on her life.  I am no longer a believer trampled by the lies of the enemy but a fierce warrior standing in the name of the Lord.  Praise God for His mighty work. 

Continue to pray that I would be diligent in my preparation for Indonesia.  He has done a mighty work in me but there is much more work to be done.  I want to be equipped in the Word of God, prepared for my classroom, and prepared to share Christ with those around me. Thank you for being diligent in prayer.  Know that I am also praying for you.  Love you all!

-Peg

Three Month Countdown

Three Month Countdown

Hold Up! Slam on the Breaks! 

The Lord is doing so much to prepare me in my last weeks in DownLine.  I can't wait until my arrival in Indonesia in a three months almost to the day.  But as I plan and prepare for the move the Lord continues to show me the people right in front of me.  I have had some of the best moments, just living in the reality that time is short with the people here in Memphis.  Roommate engaged, corn-hole tournaments, pillow chats with the girls, graduation coming, last couple weeks at work, making dinner with friends, discipleship group is amazing, how I love my church... i could go on!

Third Culture Kids

I've been reading a book that BAIS sent me to read about Third Culture Kids (TCKs)- kids whose parents are citizens of countries that they have not been raised in.  For example a kid whose parents are from England but they have spent most of their childhood in India.  Their mindset is so tough because they don't know which culture to find their identity in.  Their parents identify with their home country (England in this example) but their child grows up another culture (in this example India).  So where is their identity?  Is it with the country they spent the most time in or the country in which their parents grew up in?  I had never thought about this!  It has to be so tough to grow up in that environment.  Luckily it is not all bad news.  The great part about  TCKs' childhood is that it does instill in them an awareness of the world from an early age and they typically live adult lives in such awareness.  So positive and  negative at the time.  My hope in knowing this about some of my student is to help them understand their identity in Christ.  Our identity in Christ breaks through all cultural barriers.  I know for a fact that if I was able to sit down with a believer from Uruguay at this very moment, ignoring the language barrier of course, we could talk for hours about the Lord and what He has done and what He is doing.  I want my students to understand their identity in Christ that will never change or falter regardless of the country that they live.  He can be their constant!

Indonesia Facts

I learned this week from a co-worker that Indonesia is one of the most advanced in natural energy sources.  They have some really advanced methods in the world of "going green."  I also discovered through a game at work in which we tried to find the most unique location where things are manufactured (i.e. not China) that I can decorate my new home right from the island.  Half the stuff at Pier 1 is made in Indonesia. (I wonder if they'll still take my employee discount?)

Provision!

The Lord has provided so much already though.  My need/want list before I leave is an IPod, hammock, and a laptop.  The Lord has already provided for two of them.  Gift numer one comes from  my brother, Kevin,  who told me on the phone the other day that I he wanted to give me his IPod.  Then yesterday my boss asked me what she could get me as a going away present?  I through out the idea of a hammock and after giving me a hard time for a couple minutes she was in.  Gift number two!!  Now I'm just waiting to see how the Lord will provide my laptop.  It may just be the generous gift from the government that I'll be receiving this summer!  Who knows but I am excited to see how he provides!

Alright, time in Memphis is slipping by as I write to all of you so I'll leave you with some prayer requests and head out.

Prayer Requests:
1.  Finish strong in Memphis-Use every second to invest
2.  Trust in the Lord for working out details for this crazy summer
3.  Put someone in my life to disciple/share Christ with this summer
4.  Have awesome time with my sweet family this summer!

Thanks ya'll!  Love ya!

Blog Start

New Place. New Roommates.  New Adventures.

I am so excited that the Lord is taking me to Indonesia!  I cannot wait to be there and be with the people.   I have committed to two years of teaching at the Bandung Alliance International School.  I am going to teach 5th grade and my class will consist of many different nationalities of children. In my classroom I will be able to openly share about Jesus and teach my students the Bible.  Talk about hands on experience in discipleship. I get to be with 15-20 little guys, eight hours a day, five days a week for nine months.

The staff has been sending email after email introducing themselves and welcoming me into the community.  I feel a part of their family already.  I've met the school director (Pete) and the elementary principal (Charity) and they are wonderful!  My current roommate Kara, met one of the teachers that I will be working with while she was in China this past week.  What a small world!

Today I found out that I will be living with three other women in Indonesia.  I was praying that I would have more than one roommate and the Lord blessed me with three!!!  My experience this year with my roommates had made me so excited to share life again with several other women.  It's like a family in that we share life together, we get to pray together, and we just get to love on each other.  My prayer is that the four of us will become a family and that we will love each other and everyone that comes through our door like Christ.

This is just the beginning of my blog.  I plan to keep posting while I finish up in Memphis, throughout my time at home this summer, and of course during my time in Indonesia.  I will often post prayer requests and exciting news about what the Lord is doing.  I love you all and hope that you are blessed by everything that I get to share with you.  Until next time....

Prayer requests:
        -finish strong in Memphis
        -be diligent in planning
        -cherish my relationships before I head out in August
        -keep my eyes fixed on Jesus!