Returning Home

Whether it's from a week long mission's trip or many years of living abroad, returning home is never easy. And for a number of different reasons. "Reverse culture shock" is often one of the culprits; and for me it is always a culture shock to return to culture of American Christianity in relation to the Christianity that I see and experience abroad. No matter how much I try to to prepare myself, it never ceases to catch hold of me. 

Another reason returning home can be so hard is because of the passion that you develop while abroad (I've noticed this can even happen at weekend conferences). You often come back wanting to change the world right away and it's easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged. I am getting better at preparing myself for all the adjusting and knowing that I need to make efforts not to lose that passion. 

But the hardest thing about returning home, to me, is telling people about my time there. Everyone asks about your trip, but for the most part people don't actually want to hear about it. They like hearing that it was great and maybe about the food or an experience or two, but the topic often gets changed after a minute or two. Sometimes though, I find it even harder to talk about my time with the people that genuinely want to know. Where do I start? How much do I share? What is the best way to convey what God was/is teaching me (if I can even put it into words)? What about my experience will best impact them? 

One thing that I have taken from my time in Ethiopia has been a widened perspective of who God is. Genesis 1: 27 says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." We can catch a glimpse of who God is by looking at ourselves and the people around us. But as a young white woman from small town Pennsylvania it is very easy for me to picture the image of God as myself and those I am surrounded by. But each new place I go to and each new culture that I am exposed to widens my image of who God is. I am just not made in God's image, but the man sitting in the corporate office in New York is made in God's image. The young single mom in Nicaragua, washing her clothing in the river is made in God's image. The old drunk man asleep on the side of the road in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is made in God's image. Just as the young malnourished child in an orphanage in Asia is also made in God's image. The more people I meet and learn their stories the more my love for my God has grown-How creative, how wonderful and how loving of a God He is!

Through that God has been teaching me more of his heart. In Ethiopia, it was as if God was saying to me, "See Lauren? See all of the beautiful people, created in my image? I love each and every one of them so much!" I was able to see God's love for ALL of the nations through my experience, and His desire for them to all know and experience His love. More than ever I have seen the importance of have a global mindset and loving ALL people as God has called HIS people to do. Sometimes we don't know a specific call that God has created us for, but God does layout some very clear callings already for us in the bible. Matthew 28: 19-20 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.." That is a call to His people, to Christians. We are called not just to share Jesus and love those right around us-but to do this for all God's people! Even though for each of us, our individual walks look different and we live out that call differently, God has reiterated to me the importance of missions and prayer for ALL of the world.

So as I settled in back home, my heart and mind is overwhelmed with all that I heard and saw. But God is working. He is working in the teachers at the International School, in the children attending the school, in the missionaries serving in Ethiopia, and the missionaries all around the world. God is working in the children and the adults who are being reached by those missionaries. And God wants to continue is work in you and in me! The love that God has for each of us is indescribable! And every single one of us can play a role in the call and purpose that He has given to us. I know for sure that I will never be the same. And as I continue to process everything I cling to Him and what he is going to do next in me and through me!

"I have taken you from the ends of the earth and called you from its most distant places. I said to you, 'You are my servant. I've chosen you; I haven't rejected you. Don't be afraid, because I am with you. Don't be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand...Don't  be afraid; I will help you." Isaiah 41:9-10, 13b  

From the Heart- Written by Alicia Thompson

Zambia...I can't even explain the experiences and emotions that came from this trip but all in all, it was amazing. 

The people, the kids, the culture, everything  completely changed my perspective on life and my future. It's so easy in the first world, especially in America, to get caught up in success and comfort and wealth, but all those things are so empty compared to fulfilling relationships with other people and with God. 

These past few months have been super rough for me, and I'm still trying to find my way back. Life can be hard no matter who you are or where you live. Each day is a battle not to let the darkness win, but to me, if you're still fighting, that's a victory in and of itself. 

In the people of Zambia, there's this renewed hope; that even the smallest things can change a person's life, that in the poorest parts of the world, love and laughter exist, and that even when things are dark, there is still life, there is still beauty, and God is still there. I've seen children and adults who have next to nothing sing at the top of their lungs to a Creator who is so, so worthy of praise. And it's real. They've had ups and downs and everything in between on a far more extreme scale than I ever will, and yet, they have faith and hope that are strong enough to withstand it all and to overflow into the lives of people like me. 

The smallest things and the briefest words have slowly shifted my ever changing perspective - people and food and kids and insanely bumpy dirt roads and bugs and fear and smells and rain and heat and dogs and stories and silence and laughter and kindness and music and everything in between. I have a better idea now of what I want to do and how I can do it, and it feels really good. So much pressure is lifted when you realize what's truly important and what's just not. 

Zambia honestly took whatever presuppositions I had about life and needs and other people and turned them upside down, forcing me to look inside myself and figure out who and what I depend on. 

I'm so grateful for the people I've met, the things I've heard and seen, and really the whole experience; I wish it was much longer. I've learned so much about myself and my God, but now I guess it's time to go home. 

Bye for now, Africa. I'll be back very soon. ❤️🌍

This is a little bit of Alicia Thompson's heart- She is a 17 year old senior in high school and just returned from a 2 week trip in Zambia, Africa. She has a heart for missions, loves children, 

and enjoys crafts, music, reading, and playing sports. 

Out of the Hopelessness

 "I always thank God about Compassion's ministry for the needy, oppressed, depressed and hopeless ones like me." 

On my trip to visit Ruzeya I learned so much about Compassion International and how it has helped and is helping so many people. I wanted to share another encouraging story with you. A story of Hope. During my time traveling to visit Ruzeya I got to hear the my translator, John's*, story. John was actually a sponsored child who grew up in Addis. He entered the Compassion program when he was around 8 or 9 years old. 

During his time in the program he had multiple sponsors, but there was one sponsor that he had for over 7 years and he said that she helped him get through the hardest times of his life. During the time that she was sponsoring him, things weren't easy at home and when he felt depressed or as if things weren't going to get better her letters reminded him that he was worth it and that he had a future. There was now hope for him. 

Many times children in developing countries don't even finish secondary school since their families can't afford the school fees. But not only was he able to finish secondary school but he also went through the Compassion leadership development program and went to University. John has now been working for Compassion Ethiopia for 7 years and is also currently taking classes for his MA.

He said, "I don't know where would I be and how I would end up without it. My family had nothing to feed me up, to buy me clothes with or to send me to school. The time Compassion appeared to my life it was a BIG & HUGE surprise. Words will never express my appreciation that I have for Compassion!"

Because of the Compassion program, John also learned about God and became a Christian, growing in relationship with Him. Sponsorship in John's life not only met his physical needs, but also his mental, emotional and spiritual needs. He has two younger siblings, a brother and a sister, who were not enrolled in Compassion's program. Today, neither of them are Christians and John's younger brother spends his time on the streets of Addis addicted to the local hallucinogen and alcohol. It is amazing how the future of a life can be changed when there is hope. Being born into poverty can lead to a mentality that says "I am nothing" and "This is just the way things are". But through encouragement, discipliship and knowing God, John now lives a completely different life than he ever imagined. 

"You know what God did through Compassion? It not only released me from financial or economic poverty but from every aspect, especially from hopelessness and despair and it made me think that there is life beyond the challenges that I was passing through."

*This name has been changed for the privacy of the translator and his family

Off of Paper and Into My heart

I have been sponsoring children for quite a few years now and I really like what Compassion International is doing. But for the most part the children that I sponsored were a picture that I looked at and a letter that I received a few times a year and prayed for sometimes, and then went back to my everyday life. I'm guessing that's the way it is for a lot of people who sponsor a child. 

Recently I have gotten more passionate and involved with Compassion so I jumped at the chance to have the opportunity to meet my child, Ruzeya, from Ethiopia, to see what the Compassion Projects actually looks like, and to see what difference my sponsorship is making. With the current situation in Ethiopia I was not sure if I would have the opportunity to meet her. But by the grace of God, I found myself traveling to meet her on Thursday.

With Ruzeya, her mom, and her two baby sisters

It's honestly hard to put into words what I experienced, but I will do my best. We first arrived to the Compassion Project where Ruzeya attends. Obviously not all projects are the same, but this project is blessed to have a lot of land with offices, the church, the project classrooms, and a school located on the grounds. There was also playground equipment and this project has a school for KG1 and 2 (prek and kindergarten), this is for children who are both Compassion Children and other children who live in the community to get a head start on their education and have better opportunities. 

The playground and schoolhouse at the Compassion Center

I had a tour of the office, the church, and learned more about what the children do at the project and how all Compassion children attend sunday school on Sundays, as well. A fter the tour they took me back to the multi-purpose room where a group of students were gathered to sing to me a Welcome song. Ruzeya was at the front holding some pretty red flowers. At the end of the song she brought them to me and then hugged me. It was hard for me not to cry. 

The children singing their welcome song 

The other children then left and Ruzeya's grandmother arrived to meet me. She hugged me for so long with tears in her eyes and I realized how much I mean to her whole family. The Compassion workers who weren't with the children, the Pastor, and his family joined us for coffee and popcorn. Even though they have so little, I felt like I was treated like royalty. The told me a lot about the project and Ruzeya would sit shyly smiling at me. But she didn't say a word.

Ruzeya and I after she gave me the flowers

Eventually I asked to go outside and they warned me that all of the children would rush over to me; which if you know me at all, you know that is something I would totally be fine with. Hand and hand Ruzeya and I walked outside, and sure enough the majority of the children rushed off the playground and surrounded us (probably 60-80 children). They hugged me, shook my hand, touched my hair, and some of them even fought over me. Not once did they push Ruzeya though, they knew that we belonged together. I was overwhelmed and wished I could take every one of them into my arms. 

After a little while the Compassion workers, Abraham, myself, and Ruzeya and her grandmother headed off towards her home. The area where she lives is not currently being effected by the drought, especially thanks to rainy season and it actually rained the night before I arrived. We took the little taxis that are typical to the area but because of the rain the ground was muddy and we kept getting stuck. We walked part of the way and I learned that Ruzeya made the 25/30 minute walk to the project each day with just the other young children who attend school with her. 

Upon arriving to her home I met her mother, two little sisters, and her grandfather. She lives in a mud hut with her father, mother, and sisters, while her Grandmother and Grandfather live in the hut next door with her four aunts and Uncles who are still in school. They invited me into the little hut which had mud walls covered by newspaper, a grass floor, and two mattresses covered in thin blankets. They told me about how her father works a patch of land and her mother walks in town each day to clean. Ruzeya's grandmother looks after Ruzeya's little sisters and takes care of the family. 

Ruzeya's family minus her dad and the Aunts and. Uncles at school

As I talked to them and saw them interacting together I could feel my love for this family grow as if they were my own blood family. Even though Ruzeya had hardly said a word, her mother told us that the previous day all day long she kept saying, "Do you know who is coming to visit me tomorrow?" I began to see just how important I was to this beautiful little girl and her family. I had the opportunity to bring her gifts and I brought her a backpack with some things including a blanket and a stuffed animal. The happiest moment of my life may be the smile that the little stuffed elephant brought to Ruzeya's face. They even gave ME a gift of a traditional bone spoon with beads on the end!

Ruzeya with her new stuffed elephant 

Ruzeya and I with the goat that they got as a gift.

Before I left they took me outside to show me the two goats that they were able to buy through my sponsorship. There many hugs and kisses and I struggled not to cry as I said goodbye to each one of them. Ruzeya and her little sister held my hands and walked me down to the entrance of their land. As I walked away the tears began to flow and even though I already had loved Ruzeya, she was no longer a picture on a piece of paper, but a piece of my heart. In fact, every single member of her family has now stolen a piece of my heart. 

 

I was really impressed by what I saw through my visit . I am only one person, but the 260 children who are being sponsored in that project each have one person behind them that God is using to change lives. A lot of the families in that community are Muslim (including Ruzeya's), so for some of them, Compassion is the one opportunity they have to learn about God. The opportunity that I had to provide Ruzeya's family with a goat can help to positively impact their financial future not just now, but also in the future. The tutoring, medical care, and other basic needs that Compassion provides on top discipleship aren't just meeting short term needs, but impacting the future and the ETERNITIES of those children. 

I have now seen with my own eyes that Compassion is not an organization that merely gives a child a fish (feed them for a day), but it teaches them how to fish (feed them for a lifetime). What is happening cannot only transform the life of the child in the program, but also of the family, generations, of that family to come, entire communities, and the future of that community. By giving these families and children hope, Compassion is allowing the "least of these" to come into the Kingdom of God. And when that child (Ruzeya and others), is no longer just a picture on a piece of paper, but a part of my or your heart, thats when the possibilities become endless! 

Jesus said, "Let the little Children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -Matthew 19:14

The Heart of Giving

There is always more that I can learn about having a giving heart, but since coming here to Ethiopia, God has especially been speaking to me about giving. From the devotional book I had been reading, to songs I hear, from seeing the selfless giving of others, to having the Pastor speak about giving on Sundays; Giving has been coming up over and over in my life and so naturally it has been in my thoughts and on my heart as well.

There are so many ways that I can give as a person. I can give through my time whether it be teaching Sunday school, going out to coffee with someone, or volunteering with VBS or at a Soup Kitchen. I can give up my money through tithing, sponsorship, missions, or directly to someone in need. I can give of physical belongings such as gifts, extra clothing/toys, food, etc. These are just some of the things that have popped into my head as far as giving, as I try to be more aware as how I can give. And I found myself pondering; How can I give more selflessly of myself? And as I was thinking and praying I was convicted of something.

I am usually pretty quick to offer help whether its with a school assignment, packing or driving someone to run errands, or offering a listening ear. But many times my attitude is not right because I am expecting other people to always help me in return when I need it. And when they do not I often grow upset with them and say something or not want to give of myself the next time. Obviously I know in my head that this kind of attitude is wrong. But in the moment it is so easy to think about myself.

During this time of my life, God has been constantly pointing me back to the life of Jesus and reminding me of how I NEED to live as His daughter. Matthew 6:2-3 says, "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," In living like Jesus I need to have an attitude of giving in all circumstances and as this verse states giving (whether time, money, physical gifts or other) should not be flaunted. As this verse speaks of the humility of giving it also makes it very clear to me that my attitude about giving has been prideful and I destroy the whole purpose of giving if I have an attitude that I deserve something in return.

And in reality if I were 'to get what I deserve' it would be punishment of death, because no matter how much I give and try to be like Jesus I still fall short of the holiness and perfection found in God. But because of God's mercy and grace towards me, I have been granted the high position of servitude. In pursuing to live a life like Jesus, my attitude of giving needs to become that of humility, mercy, and love without thoughts of myself. As a broken human I will still fall short, but through God's grace and strength my attitude of giving can be renewed and restored. 

At the heart of giving, there needs to be the foundation of servitude. The mostly lowly position on earth, but a high position in the kingdom of God. And as I allow God to shape my heart around His idea of giving and service I will become more like Christ. 

Student Teaching at Bingham

Living here, it is easy for me to get distracted from student teaching as I am adjusting to a new home, new life, new friends, and an entire new country. In some ways I feel like I have been here forever and in other ways it feels only like a day or two. But even with everything going on I am still learning so much from my student teaching. 

Bingham Academy has grades Junior K through 12th grade and there is one class of each grade. The teachers here range from 22 years to over 60 in age and all of the teachers from kindergarten, to art, to 11th grade Science are missionaries who raise funds to be here. The nice thing about so many of the families and teachers living on campus is that I am getting to know the teachers beyond the school day and am becoming friends with them. Every morning there is an optional devotions for the teachers to attend, Tuesday afternoon are staff meeting times, and there are plenty of other ways to be involved with extra activities. 

As I mentioned previously, my cooperating teacher, Chris Griffin and her husband are from Britain. They took an early retirement to come here to Ethiopia and while Chris is teaching during the day, her husband Phil is the Doctor at the SIM missionary clinic. Chris has so much teaching experience and I had heard so many great things about her. So naturally, I was a bit nervous. But she also happens to be one of the most kind and  encouraging people that I have ever met. She is always challenging me to find ways to make my lessons even better. 

Our class is KG1 (Junior Kindergarten) and there are 15 students in the class. We also have a teaching assistant-TA (each grade up until 5th has one), who is Ethiopian and speaks Amharic. Our classroom is connected to KG2 and the two classrooms share a playground that is only used for our grades. KG1 uses a curriculum that is different than the rest of the school and uses short amounts of whole group learning mixed in with free play, and small group learning.

I love the classroom layout and resources that I have at my disposal. In the center of the room there is an area centered off for whole group learning on the carpet, then using shelves and tables there are other 'centers' set up. The centers include a role play center, construction zone, Maths Area, Literacy Center, arts center, and Science and discovery center. Each day the TA puts out different things to be used in each of these centers and there are different things that are always available such as the computer, music instruments, dress up, books, and rice table. I am writing down so many great ideas! 

A typical day starts with some free play and then the children are gathered for for Weather Chart, and bible and prayer time. Every day there is a Phonics/literacy lesson and Number work lesson (Math). Other subjects including Discovering the World (Science), Art, Phys Ed, Music, and Library are alternated in. Normally each subject begins with an introduction and whole group time that lasts no more than 10-12 minutes. This includes question and answer, thinking time, pictures on powerpoint, songs, and/or videos. Then there is small group application time and the TA and teacher each take one group, while the other two groups play and then they switch. The children also have choosing time where they choose from different activities in and outside, and then have snack and free play. The day ends with a story and some singing and the parents come to pick their students up. 

Every few days I pick up a few more subjects that I am teaching and it has been great having so many resources to work with. I also am excited to teach the special subjects (gym, art, and music) as library is the only subject that KG1 goes to outside of the class. We are also working with KG1 and KG2 to prepare for their Christmas play, so this has been a fun experience to help the children learn their lines and the music. I also had the opportunity to run the Cross Country Race with my class (the whole school did it at different times and distances) and be a part of Parent teacher conferences. 

I feel like I have been doing so much and I am not even teaching the whole time yet! I absolutely love my kids and I know it will be so hard to leave them. I have also been so blessed to have such an amazing team (Including Chris) to work with and am so excited for what else I am going to learn. 

The Role Play Center-Set up with Nursery Rhymes 

KG1 getting ready to start the Cross Country Race 

All of the students during story time

 

The Construction center 

Running Water

This week our water supply turned off. That happens sometimes here. I heard from some people who live here that the longest it has been off was five days. This time it lasted less than 24 hours. We had plenty of drinking water stored under the sink (we never drink from the tap). And a 55 gallon plastic drum in the laundry room to use for the toilet and washing up. But still it got me to thinking.

I have so many things in my life that I take for granted. It wasn't too hard living without water for less than a day, but I realized there are so many things that I am able to do that I don't even think about. Like pressing a simple button to flush the toilet, or turning the tap on and immediately cleaning my hands after cooking, painting, or using the bathroom. We even have a filtered tap for drinking water on the campus. Not to mention-hot water whenever I need it to shower or wash my clothing. Even here in Ethiopia I have all those commodities, yet I can look out my window and see one room tin houses with dirt floors that most definitely don't have running water.

Rarely do I think about how blessed I am when I flush the toilet or when I drink a cup of water. However, in reality there are millions of people in this world who do not have this gift. My life is made so much easier and even healthier because of running water. There are so many other countless things that I have that other people only dream of having, even though technically as an almost college graduate I am living below the poverty line in the United States.

I'm not sure why our water was turned off for that time, but I am looking at it as a gift to me. A reminder of how blessed I am. A reminder of how much I really do have. A reminder of what God has provided me with. I don't know why I was born where I was born, or why I have been blessed with everything that God has given me. I just know I'm not meant to live my life taking everything I have for granted. Not having running water for a few hours has renewed my attitude of thankfulness to 

God (an attitude I will constantly need to renew as it becomes more natural to me).

But it has done more than remind me to be thankful and not take things for granted. It has also reminded me that what I am freely given is a gift that I should not selfishly keep to myself. For every gift God has given me there are thousands of people who don't have it. That does not mean that God does desire for others to have what I have, but it is an opportunity for me to remember that everything I have is actually on loan from God and become more aware of how I can bless others in return.

Welcome to Bingham!

It's been a week since I arrived at Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa and I think I have been settling in quite nicely. I arrived last Saturday morning and each day has flown by pretty quickly. I share a second floor apartment at Bingham with two teachers, LauraKay and Kippen. This is Kippen's first year here and LauraKay is approaching 2 years. They both actually taught through CCTECC like I am doing, so it is really nice to have people who were in my position not too long ago.

We are in the middle of the city and our property is surrounded by a wall and there are guards at the entrance to get in and out. The property is a lot bigger than I expected since there many apartments, as well as the school for Pre-K through 12th grade. There is a gym and sports fields and playgrounds as well as many pretty grassy areas on the property. The part of the country that I am in is not being effected by the drought and rainy season just ended, so the compound is really green.

The main building and front office

One flag for each nation represented at Bingham. 

A lot of the teachers and families live on the campus and even more work there; I am continuing to meet new people each day. The school has devotions each morning and also provides lunch to the teachers so I am getting to know a lot of people during these times. I have been invited for dinner at a few homes and take each opportunity I can to do spend time with the people at Bingham. I could write an entire post (I probably will soon) about my student teaching experience so far. I am in KG1 (Pre-K equivalent) and my cooperating teacher, Chris, is from Britian and she has been teaching for over 30 years. She is fantastic and I am so excited about all that I am learning from her.

My first Ethiopian meal (although I was told it was the equivalent to school pizza haha)

I have not been out in to Addis too much and some of the teachers say it is easy to forget what it is like outside of the school if you aren't careful. Addis Ababa is the capitol of Ethiopia and is in the middle of the mountains so it is generally cooler than other parts of the country. Also because it is in the mountains the altitude is a lot different than I am use to, so sometimes I get a little bit dizzy and when I am walking uphill or running I get out of breath more quickly. I have had a few opportunities to get off of the campus and there are people everywhere. There are many little shops nearby and the driving is crazy..The roundabouts are the scariest for me because cars come at al directions and people often walk really close to the cars as you are driving! It is quite the experience.

The neighborhood view from my porch.

My first juice with LauraKay (Banana, Pineapple, Guava, and Mango).

The veggie stand where normally go to.

The first day I was here we had the middle school girls over to watch "Princess Diaries". We also did just dance and painted nails. I had the opportunity to visit a house church and had dinner with everyone; this week I am visiting an international church. On Wednesday I went to a bible study with some of the people on Campus. Getting juice and coffee is also really cheap so people often go out in the afternoons for that. I have spent the evening at a few people's houses and today I will visit the Bazaar for the first time and at some point this weekend we will get to carve pumpkins with some of the kids on campus.

And the Journey Begins...

I am sitting in the London Heathrow airport reflecting on the journey that has gotten me to this point. Technically I did not begin my trip towards Ethiopia until yesterday evening at 8:15 or rather 4:30 when I left for the airport. But in reality this process has taken me almost an entire year (longer if you consider what God had to do in my heart first). This time last year, I was already working on my application for student teaching and I had just found out about the CCTECC program that would be allowing me to go to Ethiopia. 

Next I need to get the approval of my school to apply for going abroad. After that my application was sent to CCTECC and they began to go through the process of accepting my application. Once they accepted it they sent it to my choice schools and those schools would go through the same process to decide if I would be a good fit to student teach there. All of this took a matter of weeks and happened much more quickly than I thought, but once this happened it was only December. Then in April we had are CCTECC orientation, but honestly it did not feel real. It felt so far away, as if a dream I had and not something that would actually take place. 

However, the fall approached everything came on rather suddenly. I was getting shots, applying for my visa, student teaching, doing homework, and still babysitting. Even as all of this was happening it still didn't feel like reality. But through it all I can see how God's hand was moving and working even down until today. Getting my visa turned out to be the most complicated part of the process. I originally applied for the visa 30 days in advance, but due to some complications my application was sent back and I had to start the whole process over. My visa and passport weren't actually returned to me until yesterday!! About 4 hours before I had to leave for the airport it all arrived in the mail. It was nothing short of a miracle and despite my worries, once again God proved to me how His hand is working in my individual life. 

After my Visa arrived it started to hit me (but not completely) that I was actually going to Ethiopia! My mom took me to the airport and when I arrived at check in, once again I was reminded of God's presence. But this time it wasn't just about His provision, but about Him caring about the little trivial details of my life. Before leaving for the airport I had realized that my layover in London was more than long enough for me to go exploring for awhile. But I also knew that I had to pay for all of my checked-in baggage so I was planning on only checking in one bag and I would have to carry my duffle bag and my backpack everywhere. It made going downtown seem a little unrealistic, but I knew that it was not that important for me to see London (although, of course, I really wanted to). But after I arrived at the airport I learned that for my flight I was actually receiving not one, but two free checked in bags! Now I only needed to worry about my backpack and I was reminded that God also cares about the little things such as having a fun afternoon and a new cultural experience!

Being able to go into London was so distracting to me that I could barely continue processing that I would shortly be heading to Africa. So this morning after arriving at the airport I headed to the underground. With the assistance of some very helpful workers I figured out how to get a day pass and exchange my money and I took the tube down to Green Park. There I spent a few hours walking around two of the royal Gardens, visiting Buckingham Palace, a few memorials, and some shops. I headed back to the airport into time to grab a nap and I still have an hour or so before I board my final flight. After waking up from my nap and talking to a friend on facetime, reality finally hit. I will be spending the next 7 weeks in Ethiopia!! It is finally real..and in the middle of the airport I began to tear up a little. 

I cannot even imagine what I will experience, who I will meet, and how God will change me and use me in Ethiopia. I remember how much my time in Costa Rica impacted me when I was 19 and as I was sitting in the airport I knew that I was leaving someone behind. I won't be the same person when I get back. And that's not a bad thing, but can be a little scary and also exciting. I know that I could easily go through life not being challenged or changed (something that I fell into during college-getting content with complacency). But I want each encounter and experience from a trip into London, to talking to someone on the plane, to my time in Ethiopia to help me become what God desires me to be. As I finish writing, the plane for Ethiopia has just started to board and I am ready to continue this journey!! 

Life Before I leave

Even though it is hard to believe that soon I will be in Africa, at first it was kind of hard to picture what my life and student teaching would be like before leaving for Ethiopia. Especially when I found out that I would need to find a new place to live about 3 weeks before school was starting. When I first knew I needed a new place I completely panicked and it took me a few hours before I calmed down enough to give it over to God. But as usual I had no reason to worry because He always has my back. I had so many loving people praying for me and a few different families that offered for me to stay with them. In the end it worked out for me to stay with the Soniers, a family that I nannied for after school over the last two years and over this past summer as well. 

It was definitely going to be different than living in my own full apartment over the garage, but as I was praying I realized it might be a blessing in disguise. While I loved living on my own I am at a stage in my life where I was feeling lonely a lot of the time and God also knew that I needed an example of a loving family in my life. I have a bedroom in between the boys and share a bathroom with them, I actually really love it! It's like having 2 really little brothers (7 and 9 years old). My favorite is when they come into my room and jump up on the bed to read with me or talk to me. Kathy and Michael have also been so kind and helpful as I prepare to leave for Ethiopia. It has also been really convenient living right behind Eastern and only 20ish minutes from my student teaching placement.

On an adventure with my boys

I was actually pretty nervous when I first found out I would be teaching fourth grade. I had requested first or second, not because I didn't feel comfortable with that age but more because I am not near as knowledgable on fourth grade topics or cirriculum. But so far it has turned out to be a wonderful experience. My cooperating teacher has great experience and has been such a wonderful encouragement and mentor. The class has 23 students including 10 ELL kids and I have even had thfe opportunity to use some of my Spanish. I love teaching them and working with them and it will be very hard when it is time to leave them.

I have also been teaching Sunday school since June at the church I have been attending and the kids completely have my heart. I taught 6 and up for most of the summer, but just recently some of the older ones have left since we now have a youth leader intern. Now I am teaching just 6-8 year olds and will probably have a hard time saying goodbye to them as well! Each week we share our highs and lows, play a game, read a story about another country and find it on the map, pray for countries around the world, learn about Jesus, and have art and response time. These kids are reminding me what it should be like to be in awe of the world Jesus has created and to have unrelentless faith in our Father. 

The last few months have been such a learning and growing experience...and a reminder that I don't need to leave home for God to do big things in my life. 

Time for School

As my first half of student teaching is about to begin, I wanted to share about the other students that are about to embark on a similiar journey. My student teaching in Ethiopia has been made possible by an organization call Interaction International. This organization is "a voice for today's third culture kids kids and internationally mobile families," A smaller branch of this program, CCTECC partners with Christian Universities across the country to make it possible for students like me to student teach all over the world. In April I had the experience of traveling to Indiana with two girls from Cairn for our Pre-Experience Orientation. I had never met the girls before and was nervous to be driving 10+ hours, but we quickly were able to connect and had a lot to talk about.

I had no idea what to expect for the orientation, however it only took me a few minutes to see that I was in a room surrounded by 40+ other people who have similar passions for children, God, and cultural diversity. There are times when I feel discouraged and as if I am the only person in the world who feels a certain way or has a passion for living out God's calling. But God always sends awake up cacall. When I am surrounded by other passionate people it’s like I hear God saying, “See, silly girl? You aren’t alone. Don’t be so self-centered and prideful to think that you are my only child who desires for the world to change and for my children to be cared for!” (Of course I think of Him saying it in a kind, loving way as he shakes his head at my childlike attitude).

As I spent time praying, sharing, and learning with the other soon-to-be student teachers I began to feel rejuvenated and even more passionate about what I was about to do. Because I wasn’t going to be alone! While I am teaching in Ethiopia there will be others in Panama, Costa Rica, Germany, Thailand, China, New Zealand, Australia, and many other places! I also was encouraged, because sometimes I felt alone at Eastern University, especially being the only Education major going abroad. But at orientation I met others from Messiah, Houghton, Hope College, Biola, and other Christian colleges across the United States.

Talking and spending time with the other students I heard excitement about working with children, sharing the love of Christ, exploring and understanding other cultures, and living out God’s callings through their lives. Even though I have not seen any of the others who are going abroad since orientation I know that God is already working in their lives and going to big things through them! As we begin the school year, please not only be praying for me, but also the other students going out through CCTECC.

Pray for:

-Safety and basic needs being met

-Challenge and growth in our relationships with God

-Increased passion for our calling as Christian’s

-The lives we are around being impacted (students, teachers, others in the country)

-The lives of people at home being impacted through us. 

Let the Little Children Come to Me

Recently God has been putting a lot about His children on my heart. And in past years I have had many opportunities to work with Children's ministry in the inner city and it something that God has always given me a passion for. But over the last year or two it has been a lot harder to get involved with school, and working a lot to be able to finish school. However, I often still feel the longing to be able to work more with the children that God has placed on my heart. So I was so excited to find out that Lighthouse Community Church was doing their VBS this year at a time and week that I was completely available. Lighthouse is located a few blocks away from Urban Hope, which I have attended and worked with in the past, and I have friends who attend this church. So the week of July 22-26, I left straight from work and headed to Kensington for VBS. 

The first day there was a huge storm so not as many kids came out, but sitting there on floor with those kids felt so right. I'm always reminded that this is what I am called to do. . The theme was Cave Quest- Lighthouse did an amazing job decorating for it! The walls were all covered in brown papere and there were stalactites, stalagmites, and other really cool decorations. There was singing and small group time and then the children went to four different centers.Each night was a different theme: Jesus gives us...HOPE, COURAGE, DIRECTION, LOVE, and HIS POWER. Spelunkers sports were group games and relays. During Cavern Cafe, the kids got a snack that went with the night's theme and they watched a video how Jesus give a child hope, courage, etc.. in a situation that they were facing. In Imagination station the kids got to do different experiments. And then in the Deep Bible Quest there was a different story each night. 

I was part of the Teal crew and the crews were divided by mixed age groups and we moved from station to station together. There were children that grew up in the church and children who had never even prayed in their lives. It brought me joy to dance with them, to see their faces light up as they made green slime, and too talk about Jesus and pray with them. As usual, I am sure they had a bigger impact on me than I had on them. While I was there I looked around and thought of the verse, Mark 10:14 "When Jesus saw this he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let all the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,'" This is a verse that we definitely talk about as Christians, but this time I saw it differently.

I realized something, not only has God has given ALL Christians the calling to care for the widows, and the orphans (James 1:27), but He also tells us NOT TO HINDER the children from coming to Him. It hit me that if I individually, or we as the church, are not providing for the orphans and children in need, we are hindering them. This can look differently for what I should be doing; maybe it's my lack of volunteering or financial support right around me, or maybe it's overseas. If a child is not getting their basic needs met, learning about Jesus, or recieving the love and attention they need, then that is hindering them from coming to God. When these things are not happening it is my job and OUR job as the church to make sure that no child is being hindered from being cared for and having the opportunity to enter the kingdom of God. 

So as I looked around at the smiling faces look up at me and the little arms reaching out to hug me, I knew. It doesn't matter how little time or little money I have. I still need to give-just as the woman with the one coin did. Obviously it will look different at different points of my life, but I am called. It was great that I was able to help with Cave Quest, especially since they were short a helper and I know the kids learned so much and I gave them as much love as I could, but I was truly the one who was blessed. After all, living out our callings that God has given us: 'Let all the little children come to me' is the purpose of our lives here on earth. 

Unexpected Roadtrip to Las Vegas

With my trip to Ethiopia, coming up this fall, I did not have any big vacation or traveling plans for this summer-until a few weeks ago. When I found out that one of my dearest friends, Nikki, was planning on moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and driving out by herself I found myself volunteering for the journey! It ended up being a double blessing, because God knew the trip would not only be safer if Nikki had a friend to share the driving and time with, but also because He knew I needed that quality time with her and a bit of adventure to grow closer to Him. :)  

Nikki and I met in my junior year of high school and became part of the same group of friends. After I got back from YWAM, Nikki told me of her interest & I helped her to research some different schools. She ended up doing her DTS in Panama and spent the next 2 and 1/2 years or so working with YWAM. Since then, we have become so close through holiday visits, messaging, and skype. Our trip out West was full of lots of driving, laughter, more serious conversation, beautiful sights, and some fun adventures. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here is a bit of our trip!

Nikki and I left around 11pm on Wednesday night.

We reached Chicago, Illinois by 9am Thursday morning. I don't really have many pictures of PA, Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois, but we did get to stop and have breakfast with my friend from YWAM. Kristina and I haven't seen eachother in  3 years-It was a short but wonderful reunion! 

We traveled through the remainder of Illinois and Iowa and then slept in Omaha, Nebraska for the night.

On Friday we spent the morning driving through rainstorms in Nebraska, but our spirits were brightened when we saw the sign for Colorado. We knew it was going to be beautiful, but we weren't prepared for the breathtaking sights we encountered. The farther we drove the more beautiful it became.

Friday night we stayed in Moab, Utah and it was dark as we drove into the state so we weren't prepared for the view that we would see in the morning. There were also horses behind our hotel :) We were surrounded by redrocks for most of the drive through Utah. 

We arrived at the Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon and spent a few hot, but wonderful hours there before finishing our journey to Vegas.

We finally arrived! 

 This is a view of the Watch Tower overlooking the Grand Canyon, which you can climb up for a view from the top floor!

The ride from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas was supposed to be 4 1/2 hours, but there was an accident so we spent 2 hours not moving on the highway.

We arrived in Las Vegas late Saturday night and most of the family was asleep. In the morning I met the Thompson's and their 5 children. Just in my one day there I was able to see what an amazing, God following, passionate family they all were. I knew right away that it would be hard to leave

Nikki and I spent the afternoon exploring Las Vegas with her spiritual mom, Jen. 

I got to eat at In-And-Out Burger for the 1st time! We saw some of the views on the strip and then headed inside because it was extremely hot. One of the hotels had a conservatory with a Finding Dory theme!

The fountain show we watched before heading back to the house. 

Not the best pictures-but Nikki and I went on a walk in the neighborhood that night. We got a surprise fireworks show AND snuck out into the dessert and climbed the mountain surrounding the neighborhood. The picture just didn't do our view justice. 

Leaving Nikki was extremely hard, but knowing that she is with such an amazing family helped. The adventure went my so quickly, but I was so blessed to be a part of it. Through this trip God allowed me to become even closer with one of my best friends-and to see His love through my relationship with her and interactions with others. Using the amazing places in our country that I had a privelidge to see, God reminded me of how BIG, POWERFUL, and CREATIVE He is. God takes my breathe away.