Ever since I worked in Estes Park for a summer, Colorado has had a strong tug on my heart. I quickly fell in love with the mountains and all the outdoor activities while I was there, and I remember thinking back then, 6 years ago now, that I could see myself living out there.
Throughout the past few years, Denver kept coming up. I met a bunch of teachers from there at some conferences I attended, and they had amazing things to say about the school district. For whatever reason, I decided to apply for a Colorado teaching license before I left on the World Race, just in case (obviously God was at work in all of this).
I came on the World Race having zero idea where I would end up come this August. When I left, I was still homesick for Morocco, wondering if I would go back there. Then, I began to think about how much sense it would make to just go back to Michigan. I could be near college friends and family. And then, for whatever reason, I got on the Denver Public Schools website while I was in Cambodia in February and saw that they were posting jobs. I hadn’t even planned on applying for teaching positions until I got back, but I couldn’t help but think about the jobs I’d seen posted. I emailed a family member who works in Denver, and he encouraged me to begin applying. I decided I’d really have to pray about whether or not Denver was where the Lord wanted me before I began applying for jobs.
On the bus ride from Cambodia to Thailand I found myself praying, just asking God where He wanted me, asking about Denver. And almost as clearly as I’ve ever heard Him speak to me, He told me to go. And to trust in Him.
So that is what I’ve done and am continuing to do. And it’s been absolutely amazing to start see it coming together, and I know it’s all the Lord.
I began applying for jobs with DPS, and I didn’t really expect to hear back since all I could do was a Skype interview. However, while in Thailand I got a few emails from some different schools and had multiple interviews (over Skype and FaceTime). Coming into Malaysia, I had received an early contract offer from the district in general, but I was still waiting to hear about a couple of the other positions first and the contract kept getting messed up in the emails.
All the while, as this process was ongoing, I found myself beginning to think, why would I go to Denver? My family is spread out in the Midwest, Texas, and Florida, and Denver is not near any of them. I have no one to live with. No one from my squad will definitely be there. I have to move to a new city within a month of being home. I want to see friends in Michigan and don’t know when I will be able to. Flights from Denver can be expensive. New teacher orientation is just a week after I get home.
While I could easily succumb to these thoughts, start worrying about the future and second guessing where I know the Lord is calling me, all I keep hearing is “Trust Me.” And it’s just awesome to see as I continue to trust Him how He provides.
After praying with my teammates the other week, I received a contract in the email the following morning and will officially be the middle school English teacher for linguistically diverse (ESL) students at Lake International School which is located pretty much downtown Denver. This is a school with a large Hispanic student population, and I will be going there right after having spent three months in Central America… In many ways, the classroom will be similar to my classroom in Morocco, with most of the students speaking the same first language- only now, it will be Spanish (a little easier for me than Arabic!)
So here’s to trusting the Lord with my future. I am praying that He provides me with an awesome Christian community (I’m looking for roommates and am excited that there is a big world race alumni community out there) and that travel and transition would go smooth (I think I will be flying out to Denver, but then once I’m out there the search for a car will begin!). I also am praying that opportunities come up in the week I am in the Midwest to catch up and connect with friends and family while I am there (and at least Colorado is an easier place for you all to visit me in than Morocco)! I’m excited to see how He continues to provide and will write a follow up blog when I am back of how it all turns out 🙂
Now… On to Guatemala! (I will post a Malaysia recap soon).
