Final Countdown… Each day brings me closer to the
realization that once again, I will be saying “goodbye” (or as I prefer, see
you later) to people that I have come to love very much. The body of Christ
here is portrayed beautifully in that in a very quick amount of time you come
to love and appreciate the people you serve with on staff and the students you
are ministering and doing life with even though you were complete strangers at
first.
God
has blessed my girls and me with lots of special “last” moments to put into our
storehouses of memories. J I am not sure when
it will sink in that I will not have 17 girls living with me but trust that
through God’s grace He will provide new opportunities for me (and them) and help
us to remember our time together with joy.
Coaching…
I really enjoyed the opportunity to coach JV
Volleyball earlier in the term. It was my first coaching experience, but I think
it must run in my genes because it seemed like a perfect fit. J
The girls went 5-1 (a short, but successful
season). I loved the chance to be part of sports and mentoring these young girls
which happen to be two of my favorite things!
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| Sophomore Sunday School retreat.. my small group girls. :) |
Our
Sophomore Sunday School retreat was also a very special time. It was great to
be away with the girls from campus with the sole purpose of learning and worshiping
together. The teaching made a huge impact on the girls (their words) and on me
as well. I was really challenged by the idea that Jesus is not only my Father, Lord,
and Savior, but He is also my Treasure!! In my personal devotions following the
retreat, He has continued to show me the joy I can have when I seek Him as my
all.
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| Attending the "Sophomore Restaurant" with my Bible study group that my girls put on with their class mates |
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| My Buddy Zawadi and me |
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| one of my many Chameleon pets :) |
Answers to prayer..
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| Mercy Getting Baptized on June 30th |
We have been praying for one of my girls
in previous letters and I just wanted to share with you the joy I have had in
seeing the Lord work in her heart to give her a love for Him. I asked Mercy for
permission to share in my letter and she said I could. She came back this 3RD
term a different person! In talking to her, she shared that she trusted in
Jesus Christ as her Savior for the first time in March. (over the break) Mercy
has always been a sweet girl with a beautiful smile, but when she came back she
had a joy that seemed to come from deep within her heart. I’m convinced this
joy can only be seen from the Holy Spirit shining out of our hearts. She also wanted to be baptized! When kids get
baptized here, they go through a 2 week class and they choose someone to read
one of their favorite verses and also someone to pray over them. I was honored
when she asked me to pray for her. It was such a joy to see God’s answering
work in someone I had been praying for these last 2 years! While she will continue to have struggles in
this life, I am thankful that she has finally put her hope and trust in the One
who will always be with her and walk through these with her. What a special
blessing.
Another
special blessing the Lord gave me recently again came through my girls. We had
a school-wide talent show where I got to sing with some of my girls. It was
special to sing with them, but then the surprise came after our performance.
The girls planned such a special “thank you” for me. They had all the dorm
girls come up on stage with roses and a favorite song of mine playing overhead
and then said all the things they were thankful for of what I had done for them
and how they were going to miss me. Well, I can tell you I was crying my eyes
out and will miss them just as much!! I have been incredibly blessed with the
relationships God has given me here and the challenges that have come through
those that have drawn me closer to Him. He is so good isn’t He?
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| Talent Show surprise from my girls!! |
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| group of girls I got to sing with, L-R: Lynn, Mercy, me, Abby, Hekyung, Autumn, and Maisha |
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| Climbed Mt. Longonot for the first time! so beautiful from the rim. |
What is next?
God has given me much peace about going home
at this time. I am not sure what He has next for me and would appreciate your
continual prayers as I wait to see what He has for me. Please pray that my
heart will be willing and I would continue to trust in Him and His timing. He
is faithful!! I think you received a letter or email from AIM explaining that I
will have until December 1st to be on Home Assignment. During that time I will
transition back to the states and rest and renew with my family. I will be looking for a job and/or different
ministries that He might want me to have or be a part of. I know the Lord will
provide for all my needs as He so graciously has in the past. Thank you for
being a part of that provision! I can’t thank you enough for your partnership
in this ministry.
It
has been so neat just to see Him working behind the scenes as I prepare for
traveling home. I have some friends in London that will help me store suitcases
while I take a trip up to see my good friend, Naomi, in Northern Ireland for a
couple days. (She was on staff here at RVA last year)Then those friends will
pick me up and take me back to the airport when I will fly to the states. I
arrive July 20th into Indianapolis and I am SOO looking forward to
seeing my family and connecting with friends. I would love to see you if you
are close by, so let me know!! It will be great to get plugged back into my
home church, Castleview Baptist Church.
Please be praying for me and my girls
as we face the “see you laters” in a little over a week’s time. They are all
anxious to know who will be their dorm parents next year and I keep reminding
them that He knows these things and they don’t have to worry as it will be the
exact person that God knows they need. I found a home for my dog, Zawadi, with
a fellow staff member here. I am glad he will have a good home, but I will miss
him and it will be very hard to say goodbye to him too!
If you could also pray for smooth connections
and good rest on the flights home I would appreciate that.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!! See you
SOON! J
