A Little God Story For Your Evening Reading

School starts...TOMORROW! I've prayed, prepared, and planned. I've worked hard, cleaned quite a bit, and sweated more than I care to remember! My classroom is ready and so am I...well, sort of! Every year I get super nervous right before school starts, but I think that's okay. I ignore the pit in my stomach because I know God has called me here. I keep right on teaching and enjoying the kiddos God has put in my care this year instead of wondering how it's going to happen. He's loved, called, prepared and equipped me, His daughter, to do this work that He's set before me. What an honor and privilege! And you know what? He's going to be with me every day, every lesson, every moment of my day. God is working in and through me to accomplish HIS good work. Oh, what a joy it is to serve this loving God!
 So while I was getting my classroom ready and going to meetings and all those good things before the students actually come, I met with the parent of 2 twins that I have in my class. The girls are deaf and have cochlear implants to help them hear and sometimes they might use sign language. The mom was telling me how it all works and sharing with me about her daughters. She then said that I was an answer to prayer. I thanked her for what I thought was a nice compliment. However, it wasn't just a compliment. She told me that last year, around the end of January or so, she started praying for her daughters and about this year. After praying she felt that God told her that a teacher from the states who knew sign language would know someone here in the DR and come teach her girls in 4th grade. People kind of just pushed this feeling aside, thinking it was too specific or just a silly notion or whatnot. I applied about a month later; me, who knew someone in the DR, who knows sign language and who is teaching 4th grade.
 When I heard this, I think my jaw dropped and my eyes got all sparkly; completely in awe of how God works. How wonderful it was to hear God confirm that I am supposed to be here! I think of all the times before I came here where I saw God confirm and confirm again His path for my life at this time. I wasn't expecting to hear another confirmation, thinking that I had had plenty and just to rely on those, but no. God saw fit to confirm His hand at work in my life once again! And you know, I'm sure He was smiling,if not laughing, when this all happened. He knew that mom and I would talk and He couldn't wait to give that gift of confirmation to me.
Now, I'm not saying this is going to happen for everyone in this same way. We might never know why God puts a desire in us, or puts us on a particular path or tells us to talk to a stranger, but He's always at work and it's always an adventure when you follow Him.
Until next time...

The first few days!

So,  I've been in the DR for a little under a week. I've gone snorkeling (saw some fish that God had to have fun designing!) and sea kayaking. I've reunited with some friends and met LOTS of new ones (I've already forgotten some of their names!) I've had my sunglasses "stolen" by a 6-year-old cutie and I've had tickle wars to get them back. I've sweated more than I thought possible and also have woken up chilly (Hurricane Bertha provided a cool breeze this morning!) I've prayed for my friends back home and I've shared the Lord's supper with some pretty neat Dominicans.
 I've done some cool things, but tomorrow the adventure continues! Tomorrow, I get to see MY classroom that I'll get to decorate and prepare for my new class of 4th graders. I know this year will have challenges, but it will also have JOY.  It will have joy because God is in control and He's never once been surprised at how something has turned out, had to ask me for help (good thing!) or failed me! He is God and I can't wait to share that with those kiddos!
So many of you have been praying for me, hashtagging me (helps me know you are praying!), texting me and FaceTiming me. I can't say thank you enough! God has used those very little things to remind me that I'm part of a larger picture, that He's big enough to care for me and man! does He ever love me! What a wonderful God He is!
I had a slight moment of panic the other night, thinking I wasn't up for this, but through my friend, God reminded me that He has me here for a reason and being right where He wants you is the best and safest place to be. My heart became settled once again and even excited at what God is going to do! And as He shows me more and more of His work in the DR, I'll share it with you all so that you can see, in one tiny place in the Caribbean, God is changing lives. May you all remember how great and kind our God is!