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!