Things have been a little crazy since my last post and there’s quite a bit that has happened within that time, so here’s a brief recap of recent events:
School finished the first week in June (Hallelujah and hello summer break!). That marked the end of my first 3 years of teaching high school biology, which was a bittersweet moment. It’s hard to believe that I made it through those first years – especially when I remember how hard my first year was – but I finished this year walking in greater confidence, passion and understanding in my role as a teacher. I have loved my kids, my coworkers, and my school, and I am thankful God guided me on a path I told myself I would never do. I don’t know what teaching will look like for me in the future, but I do know that I have truly grown to love the calling of teacher. In the meantime, however, I am above-and-beyond excited and ready to step into the World Race.
The week following the last day of school I was graced with an undeserving week of rest that Jesus knew I needed long before I needed it. I was so exhausted from the school year that my Abba Father gave me time to relax, recharge, and refuel for my nonstop summer. I would not have been able to enter into this summer with the abundant love, grace, joy and endurance it required without that week of rest. He filled my heart with his overflowing goodness simply by spending time with me, but he kept on pouring when he provided the last bit of funds needed for my World Race. His final act of love towards me that week was his full provision for my trip and I found my heart suddenly bursting at its seams. I had wanted him to fully fund me earlier, but I realized in that moment why he had waited; he used it to renew my spirit in a pivotal moment of closing one door and opening another.
The next week initiated full on summer mode starting with our church youth Mission Camp. 3 days of our students serving our city while eating, sleeping, and showering at the church. In between washing the feet of men and women, giving them new shoes, painting walls, cleaning yards and serving food, God showed our youth his heartbeat of love and began stretching me in preparation for the season ahead.
One day after Mission Camp finished, a group of 13 students and 4 leaders left for our Texas Mission Trip. That gave me exactly one day to wash all my clothes, repack my bags and try to catch up on some sleep. We packed all of us and our stuff in two vans for two days as we traveled to Harlingen, Texas for 10 days of work projects, VBS, and community outreach.
We put a new roof on one house, put new siding on and painted a second, and completely painted the exterior of a third. We mowed lawns, pulled weeds and picked up trash. And we were drenched in sweat and dirt. A LOT of sweat and dirt. But those families who lived in each of those houses were immensely overwhelmed with the love of the Father through the labor of love and prayer.
The VBS and community outreach were marked by tons of children, some wearing the same clothes day after day because they didn’t have anything else, running around begging us to pick them up, give them piggy back rides, play games and swing them. Even when we sang the VBS songs, they wanted us to hold them, just to know that they were loved. They craved the affection and attention because many of them rarely received it. They told us with their eyes and hands that they wanted to be loved and adored. And so we did.
God continued to stretch me on this trip and reminded me that lack of sleep is something I signed up for starting in September. He reminded me that the same patience I had for my kids at school is the same patience I needed for these kids on this trip and is the same patience I will need for my teammates on the Race. He reminded me to love people where they are and to give grace on every occasion. He taught me to be brave enough to have tough conversations and to be bold enough to step out with the Holy Spirit when he calls. He showed me more of how to lead well and how to run my race with perseverance and strength. He told me to cherish every minute of my time with people I love here and now because it won’t be the same come fall. It’s hard to believe June is gone and July is here. Training Camp is next week, youth summer camp is after that and before I know it God will have ushered me into a new season.
