The Courage to Follow

If you would have asked me two months ago where I saw myself for the next year, I would have said teaching in a suburban school, living in a cute apartment that was furnished by IKEA, and leading a relatively normal life.  I never thought God would call me to Honduras.

I have always loved traveling and have dreamed of teaching overseas, but I never thought that dream would become a reality.  So I moved on, trying to figure out the next dream.  Unfortunately, nothing panned out.  God continued to shut every door with each application I filled out.  Then, through a good friend, I found Academia Los Pinares, a Bilingual Christian School outside Tegucigalpa, Honduras.  I researched the school and was excited by the possibilities.  The only downside: there weren't any jobs that I really wanted.  However, I felt God telling me to apply.  A while back, I gave every part of myself over to God.  I told him I would go anywhere he asked me to go, so when I felt the tug on my heart, I knew I had to comply.  I took my time putting the application together because, quite frankly, I wasn't overly excited about it all.  A month later, I finally had the application, references, and all the other paper work submitted.  That is when everything sped up.  Another job had just come open, a 5th grade position, and they wanted to interview me for it.  Before I knew it, they had offered me the job.

There I am, with the opportunity to live in another country and teach - something that I have always dreamed of - do I take it?  Do I have the courage to live thousands of miles away from my family? To immerse myself in another culture?  To learn a new language?  Do I have the courage to carry out the promise I made and follow the call?  It is only because of Christ in me that I am able to say yes.  So, for the next year, I will be working at Academia Los Pinares (http://www.pinares.org/) as a 5th grade teacher.

The next several weeks will be crazy because I have to be there by August 5.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I work to raise finances and get ready to leave.  I will try to post periodic updates to let you know how I am and what exciting things are happening in my classroom.

One of my professors lists blessings and prayer requests in each of her postings.  This is something that I am going to do because I want to share the wonderful things that are happening as well as ask for continuing prayer.

Blessings:

1. My friends and family.  They have been nothing but supportive through this entire process.  I couldn't do it without them. 
2. My brother and sister-in-law came to visit with their adorable twin daughters.  It was fantastic to have time with them before I leave. 
3. The kitchen in my shared apartment has almost everything I will need in it.  I should only have to buy a few items when I get in the country. 
4. My church has blessed me so much in the past three years.  Not being able to be there each Sunday is going to difficult. 
5. The people I work with.  They heard that I have been craving s'mores like crazy so they went out and bought the items and we made some in the toaster oven. 

Prayer Requests: 

1. Finances.  This opportunity surprised me so I have not had any time to save money.  I need to raise money to cover my transportation, moving expenses, teaching supplies and general expenses for the first month while I am there. 
2. Time.  I leave on August 5 so there is not a lot of time to get everything done.  
3. Safety for travel and time in the country. 
4. Health.  Please pray that I stay healthy.  
5. An easy transition.  Leaving home so quickly and moving to a different country doesn't give me much time to process everything.