Counting Down

Well...with each passing day, the distance between me and La Paz shrinks. As of yesterday, I'm at the one month mark. It feels like it's coming fast! Yikes!

Tomorrow I leave for my 2 week Pre-field Orientation in Mississippi. At the orientation we will have several seminar-style classes to teach us about some of the different issues we will face in our schools and the issues we will face as we move abroad. Some of the titles on our schedule include, Safety: At home, at school, Third Culture Kids (referring to students who are expatriates), and Learning to Adapt. Plus, I'll get to meet some of the new teachers I'll be working with next year. I'm really looking forward to that!

As a whole, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about teaching this fall. I'm so excited to be a teacher, but so much of this is new to me! I feel like I'm learning a lot as I go...I've been taking a lot of fears to God in my prayers lately. *

And on that note, I do have a few prayer requests this time around. Please pray for me...
1) to have peace and confidence in the days leading up to the start of the school year (a.k.a. trusting God with the transition)
2) that I will be prepared to teach/that I will have time to prepare
3) that our team of teachers will be ready, will get along well, and will be centered on serving God
4) for safety in traveling and emotional, physical, and spiritual health in all the adjustments


*Based on my fears, I have been thinking on these verses lately:
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

Both of these verses were said to Joshua as he prepared to take over leading the Israelites when Moses died. I'm sure it would have been an intimidating transition. Moses had some big shoes to fill! After all, he had led the Israelites out of Egypt, led them through the Red Sea, and led them through the desert for 40 years. God, of course, was the one who performed the miracles in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and provided food and water for the people throughout that time. Nevertheless, I'm sure Joshua must have felt insufficient for the job. Thankfully, faith in an unfailing, all-powerful God was the requirement for the position. We know from reading the rest of Joshua's story that he faithfully listened to God's directions and God gave the Israelites great victories as he and the people obeyed. Pretty cool.

Another good reminder: "Who of you by worrying can add even a single hour to his life?" -Matthew 6:27

So true. "Cast your anxiety upon him for he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:7

28 days til departure!