Hello dear friend who is reading this!
I hope this post finds you well. Update on life as is: I have just started school back up for my final semester of student teaching and words cannot convey to you my excitement! The Christmas break was restfully spent with my family and friends who have encouraged me on this journey in so many ways. Nonetheless, I’m glad to be back in the midst of structure and the anything-but-normal life that I live out here in San Antonio. All things considered, this city has been good to me.
So far this week I have completed two days of pre-teach seminars, I have met my supervisor (who is super great!), purchased school supplies, ran 3 miles and I even washed my dad’s car which has already managed to attract dirt in a time period of less than 24 hours (darn you black cars).
As most of you already know, I am studying to become a teacher and as I’ve endeavored through the certification program at UTSA I have truly learned the value of reflecting and self-assessment. It is somewhat unbelievable to me that I am at the end of my educational career (for now), but definitely ready! I know that the world race is going to be such a life-adding experience. I love loving and telling people about Jesus and I know this trip is the epitome of how I’ve dreamt of doing that for quite some time, but I couldn’t help but ponder today how enriching this experience will be to my profession in the field of education. There is going to be so much I will learn about myself, The Lord, my teammates, and the cultures that we will embrace whilst being embraced ourselves. To me that is where life is at its fullest because when you’re living to be poured out The Lord will not hesitate to make your cup overflow for His Name’s sake.
Countless people have mentored, shaped, and poured so much life into me that I desire such a trip as this. I want to abandon the comfort of a pillow, a soft bed, the late night runs to the gas station for a redbull, and mostly the mirage we live in believing that somehow we’re safe as long as we have all of this comfortable stuff around us. Safety is a mirage. Someone in particular who comes to mind is actually a professor that I had the pleasure of learning from last semester. Her presence alone demanded your respect as soon as she would enter the room and made every effort to not only teach us but desired a transformation in each of us. She pushed us far beyond limits we deemed possible and never lowered her utterly high expectations because of her immense passion for justice and knowledge to be taught within the school system. I desire to be a teacher like that who brings out such a strength and will in her students. Thank you for that refinement.
On a different note, I love some of the little things that happen everyday to inspire me to keep pushing on in raising my support for The World Race. For instance, a good friend of mine who lives in Dallas asked me straight up “How is fundraising going?”, to which my answer was, “Well, the cup is 15% full right now.” Her well-intended response was, “You mean 85% empty!” Haha… I am still not sure why that was so funny or encouraging to me, but it was.
I am graciously able to say that the cup is currently 21% full as of today (or as my friend would say only 79% empty)!!
Also, I’d like to extend an enormous THANK YOU for those who came to Freedom Cup in Boerne a few weeks ago (sorry if you want coffee now). The fundraiser was a huge success as well as an encouragement to me! I had so much fun and loved everyone who supported me at that event! I’m working on some other little fundraisers and things to stay rollin. Anything helps!
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“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
Isn’t the Devil always scheming?
Not that I turn my eyes away from Christ, but I have acknowledged that Satan has always had a very different agenda for me that I have been made fully aware of.
Therefore, I humbly ask you to please keep me in your prayers as I continue to share my story with others, raise support, and prepare to leave the states in several months! Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!! ( : Gratitude aside, I don’t have much to give you in return, however, I would love to know how I can be praying for you or hear about what The Lord has been doing in your life! Glad to be walking this life with you.
Grace and Peace
