Hello Friends (both current and future)!
As my first blog EVER that will be posted for the world to read, I will confess I am feeling a little pressure as I begin to write this. Being assigned a topic like "about me" seems easy enough, but trying to convey my identity in one short blog post is more challenging than many may suppose. Let's settle on the consideration that you will learn much more about me in posts to come. Nevertheless, I hope this description gives you a portrait to start with.
My name is Teresa. I am the youngest of four kids. I love spending time with my family, especially my adorable 2 year-old nephew who affectionately calls me "Tia" (aunt in Spanish) and who will be one of the people I miss most while gone. My hobbies include playing volleyball, taking ballroom dance lessons, listening to music, scrapbooking, watching movies, and hanging out with friends and loved ones. I also enjoy playing the piano, and am part of my church's worship team. I love to be challenged both physically and mentally. Whether spending an evening discussing scripture and spiritual disciplines with my small group or having a good conversation over coffee with a close friend, I value relationships that go beneath the surface and search for truth.
As for my current "status", I live in Ohio and am a high school Spanish teacher (at least for a few more months until we depart). I chose to pursue the field of education my freshman year of college at Taylor University (Upland, IN) after becoming involved in a local ministry involved in teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants working in the area. This quickly became my passion as I learned to value cross-cultural interactions and relationships with many wonderful people who needed both help getting over a rather large language barrier as well as an offering of Christ's love in a tangible demonstration. Throughout college I continued seeking opportunities to get involved in ESL, Spanish, and travel every opportunity I could find.
I have now been on 7 international trips that add up to a total of about 11 months (which I just discovered at this moment). Ironic? I've been to Ecuador, Spain, Italy, Portugal, South Korea, El Salvador, Ireland, & France for language study, academics, practicums, mission trips, and just pleasure. I get excited thinking back on all I have learned, all the wonderful people I have met and impacted and who have impacted me, all the experiences I've had, the new foods I've tried, and the ridiculous stories and memories I've collected over these past 7 trips in a period of being abroad 11 months. It is exciting because I know that during this next journey, which will officially double the time I will have spent outside of the U.S., will have as many or more of these new blessings.
So, though I cannot even really fathom what this next year of my life will be like, I am confident it will be a time of growth and of blessing. God reminds me of His good plans often with this verse,
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity."
-Jeremiah 29: 11-14
Blessings and Peace,
Teresa
