Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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It’s not up to me…my life is not my own. It is the Lord’s. God knows the future so, heck, why do I worry?
 
After the World Race, I felt like God wanted me to move to Houston, TX to live with my aunt and uncle. Even though it was so tempting to move to Nashville or Atlanta with some of my best girlfriends, I jumped in the car and was off to Texas. I felt like Peter stepping out of the boat.

Immediately, God started opening doors. In the first week, God layed in my lap a job at Fort Bend Baptist Academy as a middle school aftercare worker and substitute teacher for elementary and middle school! It gives me experience teaching kids of all ages which is perfect because God has called me to teach to the nations (including America). He also hooked me up with an awesome church, Second Baptist, where I’m finding true community once again. I absolutely love living with my family and God continues to confirm that I am exactly where he wants me. Thanks God!

The most recent event was my final in-person interview for Teach For America (TFA). TFA is an organization dedicated to help children in low-income families reach the same level of academic achievement as their high-income peers and succeed in life. (close the achievement gap)

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Info from Teach For America website:
 
Did you know that???
By the time they reach fourth grade, children living in low-income communities are already two to three grades behind their higher-income peers.
 
Just half of students in low-income communities will graduate high school by age 18.

Those who do graduate will perform on average at an eighth-grade level.

Overall, only 1 in 10 students growing up in poverty will graduate from college.
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Can this be true in America? Yes, it is and I’m going to take action and do something to stop it! God has put a passion in my heart to empower the next generation and my heart breaks for underprivileged children.

I started the application process in December and find out April 4th if I am accepted into the corps. In 2010, they only accepted 12% off all applicants. I know the only way I’ve made it this far is God’s favor. I couldn’t have done it on my own.
 
I won’t tell you how horrible the interview went. I put so much pressure on myself and when everything didn’t go the way I had hoped, I cried in the restroom on a short break. Yes, everyone knew I had cried. Awesome. Can you hear the sarcasm? There was a 3 hr break before my individual interview so I went home and I cried some more. The parts where I messed up I replayed in my head…dumb, dumb, dumb Hope…why did you do that?
 
I cried because it means so much to me. I want to be an excellent, no phenominal teacher and think TFA is the path to get me there. I want to teach because I want all children to have the opportunity to have a high-quality education and succeed in life, but the even greater purpose is to share the love of God. Schools are huge mission fields. I worked so dang hard and I prepared and prepared and at the end of the day I blew it.

But ya know what? It’s not up to me. God is in control. He is good and faithful. His plans are perfect so why should I worry? I kept singing to myself “Our God” by Chris Tomlin “Our God is greater. Our God is stronger…God you are higher than any other…And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us and if our God is with us then what could stand against?” Even if I royally screwed up God’s will will be accomplished. Noone could ever stop the God that raised himself from the dead and healed the blind. God took me around the world for 11 months to 4 continents (not including America) and I can’t trust him with this…really?

So if I get in it will be a miracle and if I don’t it is God’s plan. I surrender it to him. I mean it. Just like the Kim Walker song that I’ve been listening to for the past several months “I surrender.”

“All to you I surrender. Everything, every part of me…All of my dreams, all of me. I surrender cuz I trust you God…cuz your ways are far above mine. No turning back, I’ve made up my mind. I’m giving all of my life this time. Your love makes it worth it. Your love makes it worth it all.”

If I don’t get in, will I cry? Heck yes, but just because I know it’s the best thing for me doesn’t mean I won’t be disappointed. Again, I feel like Peter. For a moment, I panicked, doubted, and sank, but ya know what? Jesus grabbed my hand and said, “I’ve got you and I won’t let go.” He didn’t say, “You’re a shoe in,” but he said, “Trust me, I know what’s best.”

Through this God is re-teaching me humility, surrender, trust, faith, and peace. All I can do now is PRAISE him for his grace, love, and goodness and SEEK after him! God I praise you no matter what happens…