Wow... what a plain ride it was the last couple of days! I cannot believe that I am here, half way across the world! While the journey was long, it was well worth the wait and stress! I arrived this morning around 5am, came to the house and slept :) Once I arrived in Kuwait... I knew that I was not in Kansas. I was the only white person in the airport and on the last leg of the trip. I am so glad that Kristen gave me the Salwar. When I saw the ladies dressed in a burqua... it was a sight of beauty, grace and pain all at the same time. The way they walked was as if they were floating along the ground. They walked with such poise and strength that it was breath-taking. However, it was painful to know that they are hidden behind a veil among the masses of black and white shadows. At the same time, it is my American perspective. If the veil is all that one knew, the suffocating mask would be nothing more than average. It is difficult for me to understand either way!
This place that I am staying is better than any other place I have stayed overseas! I have a huge room complete with dressers and a bed and even my own bathroom! I don't know what else to say except that I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful housing arrangements! They even gave me clothes that can wear until I buy my own. There is this one outfit that is so pretty, its dark brownish purple with cream and lighter brown down the center with tropical flower print.
For lunch today, the cook made tomato soup and grilled cheese, cha-ching (although the tomato soup tasted kinda like bacon) But none the less, amazing comfort food. Oh and did you know that they had peanut butter here? Yea thats right... who would have thought? I brought two jars with me just in case. I think I will stick with the preserved stuff just cause :) Today, I am going to go to a basket ball game at the school and then to dinner at a British club, should be very exciting. Hopefully I can stay awake past eight to go! Tomorrow, I will go to the school and visit. I am very anxious to meet my class.
I just wanted to let you all know, I arrived safely and I will write again in a few days!
Love
Rachel
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
THANK YOU!
I am writing to thank all of my supporters that joined with me in my endeavor overseas to accomplish the calling upon my life. I am sitting here at the computer thinking of the right words to describe the gratitude that is in my heart. I am astounded at the gifts that the Lord has bestowed upon me. He has blessed me with an amazing support system that care about me and desire that I accomplish the Kingdom work! May you all be richly rewarded for your giving spirits! I want you all to enjoy the experience that I will experience through my writing these blogs. I pray that they will speak to you and encourage you about the work of God all around the world. For He is calling his people to join together to accomplish his goal! For soon He is coming back and we all must be ready to give an account of our actions!
I would also like to give praise to God for providing a way for me. I had four more credits to finish my degree by taking a Contemporary Issues in Science class. However, there is a test that you can take so that you dont have to take the class. The test is called the CLEP test. If I fail the test, I will have to take a summer class and get my diploma at the end of the summer. As many of you know, I have dyslexia, text anxiety and a math learning disability. So to say the least I was nervous about taking the test. I took the test and failed by one point. So I waited and took the test again and failed by two points. This was very disappointing because of who much I studied. My family and friends encouraged me to appeal the CLEP test and see if they would take my scores based on my 'conditions'. I am pleased to announce that Moody has accepted my appeal!!! I can graduate on time, Praise the Lord! Moody has shown me grace through this ordeal. What blessing it is to go to a school who acknowledges that grace needs to be extended sometimes.
I also want to praise God in the fact that I just finished my paper for my philosophy of Christians education today! He provided me with the ability and stamina to finish! I was so overwhelmed with work that I didn't know what to do. But again and again he has proven himself to me! I am so thankful to have a God who knows what he is doing and it is in the best interest of me!
I am now ready to embark on my journey overseas! May God give my traveling mercies as well as mercies for the other students who are student teaching. I have had such a wonderful experience with my friends in the El Ed major. This last three week class has been a challenge but one that has great benefit to us! And thanks to my professors for encouraging and guiding us toward a deeper relationship with Christ and to become the best Christian Teachers we can be!
I will write as soon as I am able to in-country!
Love Always
Rachel
I would also like to give praise to God for providing a way for me. I had four more credits to finish my degree by taking a Contemporary Issues in Science class. However, there is a test that you can take so that you dont have to take the class. The test is called the CLEP test. If I fail the test, I will have to take a summer class and get my diploma at the end of the summer. As many of you know, I have dyslexia, text anxiety and a math learning disability. So to say the least I was nervous about taking the test. I took the test and failed by one point. So I waited and took the test again and failed by two points. This was very disappointing because of who much I studied. My family and friends encouraged me to appeal the CLEP test and see if they would take my scores based on my 'conditions'. I am pleased to announce that Moody has accepted my appeal!!! I can graduate on time, Praise the Lord! Moody has shown me grace through this ordeal. What blessing it is to go to a school who acknowledges that grace needs to be extended sometimes.
I also want to praise God in the fact that I just finished my paper for my philosophy of Christians education today! He provided me with the ability and stamina to finish! I was so overwhelmed with work that I didn't know what to do. But again and again he has proven himself to me! I am so thankful to have a God who knows what he is doing and it is in the best interest of me!
I am now ready to embark on my journey overseas! May God give my traveling mercies as well as mercies for the other students who are student teaching. I have had such a wonderful experience with my friends in the El Ed major. This last three week class has been a challenge but one that has great benefit to us! And thanks to my professors for encouraging and guiding us toward a deeper relationship with Christ and to become the best Christian Teachers we can be!
I will write as soon as I am able to in-country!
Love Always
Rachel
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Pressure
"Take a breather." This is what I had to say to myself this afternoon. People keep asking me if I am excited to be going on this mission trip and I have no idea how to respond to them. The only thing that I can think of is, "Once I get on the plane I will be." Life at the moment seems to be going way too fast for its own good! I have to complete my 21 page paper by Friday of which i have five pages to go and all the editing still to be done. I have work, lunch dates, other homework besides the paper, and oh did I mention... IM LEAVING FOR 3 MONTHS TO ANOTHER COUNTRY THAT IS HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD IN WHICH I HAVE TO TEACH ALL DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME? Don't mind me... I'm okay really! :) To say the least, I feel very stressed. I am so stressed that I am giving myself lockjaw and my teeth are hurting because my neck is so tense.
Despite all the stress, I figured that it would be a good day to take an unbelievable hot shower to calm myself down. Then I realize that I can not teach alone. The world of Paul keep roaming in and out of my mind reminding me that he wished not many of us were teachers because we are held to a higher standard than most people because of our calling and office. I don't think I am adequate enough to lead the young lives into wisdom. Not just knowledge but a knowledge that is made applicable to life in a variety of situations. Nor do I want to spur on a dualistic view of life in which God is separate from school life. Or that there are secular and sacred worlds. I want them to know that there is one world of which God created and sin has marred what once was perfect and pure. All truth is God's truth and we should live as such. I feel over burdened for my future students and worried that I am not going to be adequate enough. But during my prayer in pouring out my thoughts and worries John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." The knowledge and wisdom that I have gained is or my benefit but with that knowledge comes specific obligations. From this passage I know that this wisdom and knowledge gives me peace and when trouble or burdens come I can have even further peace in knowing that God has overcome the world.
So as I am getting ready to leave, I basque is the knowledge that God has given me this calling and office so that I may glorify Him in all that I do and say. I should not fear the calling but embrace it because I know he knows me better than I know myself and I trust Him. God remind me of your love and peace. Bring to mind your word to me constantly so that I may rest in you forevermore. Amen!
Despite all the stress, I figured that it would be a good day to take an unbelievable hot shower to calm myself down. Then I realize that I can not teach alone. The world of Paul keep roaming in and out of my mind reminding me that he wished not many of us were teachers because we are held to a higher standard than most people because of our calling and office. I don't think I am adequate enough to lead the young lives into wisdom. Not just knowledge but a knowledge that is made applicable to life in a variety of situations. Nor do I want to spur on a dualistic view of life in which God is separate from school life. Or that there are secular and sacred worlds. I want them to know that there is one world of which God created and sin has marred what once was perfect and pure. All truth is God's truth and we should live as such. I feel over burdened for my future students and worried that I am not going to be adequate enough. But during my prayer in pouring out my thoughts and worries John 16:33: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world." The knowledge and wisdom that I have gained is or my benefit but with that knowledge comes specific obligations. From this passage I know that this wisdom and knowledge gives me peace and when trouble or burdens come I can have even further peace in knowing that God has overcome the world.
So as I am getting ready to leave, I basque is the knowledge that God has given me this calling and office so that I may glorify Him in all that I do and say. I should not fear the calling but embrace it because I know he knows me better than I know myself and I trust Him. God remind me of your love and peace. Bring to mind your word to me constantly so that I may rest in you forevermore. Amen!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Oh so soon!
I have 8 days until I fly across the sea to B-desh. There is so much going on here in Chicago that I find, I cannot concentrate or even think about leaving until Friday when I am on the plane traveling. I have so much reading to do that it makes my head spin. I have four books two are applicable books (one with lots of examples) and the other two are history of education books (eh good but not the most exciting thing in the world lol). I also have another portion of my paper due on Monday. Hmmm... do I have a life outside of babysitting and school?? I think not :) I am trying to see all of my friends before I leave but I highly doubt that I will just because of all that is going on! At least I have SKYPE. I think tho that I will be well occupied in my mission to be honest to even think.
I am really excited to arrive at the school! I am anticipating what the people will be like. They are beautiful people who, I am sure, very interesting and have wonderful stories of their lives to share. I find that I like cultures that share every event in a super long story so that the listener gets every detail. After the story you practically feel like family! I am so glad that I have an intense and likable personality, thank God! I know that they have dreams and desires to accomplish and I only hope that I can someway be a part of their edification to do what they have a desire to do. I want them to know that school and life are one world in which God speaks and moves if ones listens to Him. I want the curriculum to be saturated with the knowledge of God and how we fit into His world. I also want my students to be empowered and leaders of their own education. It is part of the teacher's job to provide students with materials and knowledge but it is the student's job to act accordingly and become active participants in their own learning. I am so thankful to have a God who has given these desires to me and I know that he will help me accomplish them.
I ask that those who are reading this blog would pray for guidance, peace, patients and a learners spirit through this process and forevermore. I also ask that you would pray for safe traveling. May I always gain knowledge from Him to guide me. May I never do anything on my own but always asking for help and the wisdom to do what is right, pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Thank you!
More to come!!!
I am really excited to arrive at the school! I am anticipating what the people will be like. They are beautiful people who, I am sure, very interesting and have wonderful stories of their lives to share. I find that I like cultures that share every event in a super long story so that the listener gets every detail. After the story you practically feel like family! I am so glad that I have an intense and likable personality, thank God! I know that they have dreams and desires to accomplish and I only hope that I can someway be a part of their edification to do what they have a desire to do. I want them to know that school and life are one world in which God speaks and moves if ones listens to Him. I want the curriculum to be saturated with the knowledge of God and how we fit into His world. I also want my students to be empowered and leaders of their own education. It is part of the teacher's job to provide students with materials and knowledge but it is the student's job to act accordingly and become active participants in their own learning. I am so thankful to have a God who has given these desires to me and I know that he will help me accomplish them.
I ask that those who are reading this blog would pray for guidance, peace, patients and a learners spirit through this process and forevermore. I also ask that you would pray for safe traveling. May I always gain knowledge from Him to guide me. May I never do anything on my own but always asking for help and the wisdom to do what is right, pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Thank you!
More to come!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Beginning
The Adventures of Me is about my journey through student teaching in another country. I leave here shortly. In about two weeks, I leave for a place that I had never heard of until last school semester. I originally wanted to go somewhere else but that door was closed to me and thus another one was opened, praise God. I have traveled many places before but this time I am traveling alone. It will be scary but wonderful all at the same time! As I am preparing to leave, I find myself thinking about these precious people that I am going to meet in the classroom and all around me. They are young minds that are ready to hear about the world around them and the amazement of its vastness. I can comprehend how or what I have got myself into but I know that with out a doubt, my life is going to be taken care of! It is a blessing to know that I will be with people who will care for me and teach my what they have learned inside and outside the classroom.
On the other side, living in a place unlike my home in North America will be difficult. I know there will be bugs, I mean big bug! And beds that arent comfortable, heat and humidity that will take anyone's head through the roof, but I know that it is going to be the an adventure of a life time. And in doing so, I am just one participant in changing, challenging and training this world's children to be the future leaders, politicians, teachers, social workers and doctors that are to come. I pray that I might have strength to carry out the mission given to be so that this world can become a better tomorrow for children and parents a like until the final day.
More is to come as I prepare to leave and travel halfway around the world!
On the other side, living in a place unlike my home in North America will be difficult. I know there will be bugs, I mean big bug! And beds that arent comfortable, heat and humidity that will take anyone's head through the roof, but I know that it is going to be the an adventure of a life time. And in doing so, I am just one participant in changing, challenging and training this world's children to be the future leaders, politicians, teachers, social workers and doctors that are to come. I pray that I might have strength to carry out the mission given to be so that this world can become a better tomorrow for children and parents a like until the final day.
More is to come as I prepare to leave and travel halfway around the world!
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