I am not sure if you grew up saying this phrase but in my house when something was way too far we would say: “that’s like all the way in Timbuktu.” Let me tell you that today, I am closer to that city than I am to Mexico or the States. It is such a wild thought!!! It is such a silly thing to think about but I seriously cannot get it out of my head. I never, like seriously never, thought I would be so close to Timbuktu. Its funny to even think about it but, here I am. Living in North Africa wrapping my brain around the fact that Timbuktu is really not that far anymore.
Here is another wild thought for y’all. I am teaching English! I know I know! Some of you English teachers are probably thinking, wait what?! Haha Tell me about it, English is not the even my first language. Y’all read my blogs, I haven’t even mastered the language! So definitely another unexpected thing that is going through my brain. The more I think about it the more I’m like wow, wow, wow. I’m only hoping my accent is making it easier for them haha.
Who knew, who knew that I would be close to Timbuktu teaching a language that is not my native language. I don’t even know how to come to terms with it. It’s pretty incredible to think how much farther God will take any of us if we just let Him. Way more than we can imagine! Seriously Y’all, as a kid, Timbuktu seemed impossible to get to. But here we are, living it up! We have been able to connect with people and they want to learn English so why not, let’s do this! It has been so much fun trying to teach a language when you don’t speak their language. Someone told me: “make sure you only speak English, it will help them”. I giggled inside thinking, I don’t speak their language so don’t worry English it is. They are learning though! They got their ABC down and the colors seem to be coming along. We just started but it’s helpful that they are full of motivation and ready to learn. Also, they make sure we don’t leave their house without getting some food in our system so, cheers to that. Oh yeah, let me tell you one last thing!! I got to see a video of them slaughtering a sheep and then guess what, I got to eat that sheep…
So, where is your Timbuktu? Or what is your teaching English out of the comfort zone challenge? Or eating a sheep after you saw it get slaughtered? He will take you to places you never thought possible. He might challenge you in ways you never saw coming. It’s worth it y’all, step out and dream about the places you will go.
