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!