Yesterday we had gradation that lasted a really long time. We had to greet everyone who had come to visit from neighboring churches. It was a big celebration of the Holy Given graduates and the Pastors. The stage was filled with garbage bags of presents for them to take home to their family.
We sat through many hours of colorful drum dances, upbeat African worship, and drawn out greetings. My stomach was growling even before the ceremonies started and was only satisfied at 4:00 with a special meal of chicken, salad, and coke.
I’ve officially finished the school part of the Holy Given and now I’m resting for two days before Tuesday when I have my team leaves for two days of traveling to a town called Zimbeze. We have two and a half weeks in their town where we will be doing children’s activities and teaching. We may official a big wedding. Many couples here don’t get married because it is too expensive so doing a service for free is a great example of incarnational love. .
Our last week of school was full of cramming reading into our brains and catching up on missed films. As I write this people are bustling around me packing their belongings and deciding what to leave. I’m heading into town later to do some quick email and then Simon and I most likely will spend the afternoon on the beach resting in the shade and dipping into the ocean when we get too hot.
Last week I checked my email to find one from Don Rogers the international director for ELI. The gist of the email was that I have to raise 80% of my support to begin my full time work with them. They suggested that I still come to Kenya and then they want to send me to Sudan to take pictures of the children there. My jaw dropped to the ground when I read this because it is my dream job. I am realizing that God gives us dreams and then he makes them come true. I’m in a season of intense blessing where dream after dream is being fulfilled.
My prayer requests for this next season of outreach is mostly that I would sense God’s love for those on my on my team and those that we get to meet. I want also to go with an open, teachable heart that receives all that God has.
As of right now I’m not excited about this outreach because my house is full of people who are packing and heading back home to be with families for Christmas. This is my first Christmas away from home. It does help that I don’t feel like it is Christmas. Instead of fleece jackets, Christmas trees, and egg nog I’m surrounded by flipflops, palm trees, and iced cokes. I’ll be celebrating Christmas in the bush of Mozambique.
Simon is going to be traveling through Africa by random African transport and he is unsure of where he is going for the next six months. You could pray for us in this time apart that our relationship would strengthen in this t and that we would grow more in love for Jesus and each other during this time. Also pray for safety in general for both of us as we travel through Africa. Simon is going to set aside a week to pray and fast for direction concerning the next steps with us and with his time in Africa.
Thanks for praying and I really am blessed by your emails. If you need my email address it is meagdiamond@yahoo.com I love to hear about the daily activities of your lives. I love you all!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Hey
I just woke up from a nap/rest from our rock cement porch. My pillow was my journal and the book “There is always enough” that I just finished. Today we had church and a funeral for a baby girl that died yesterday. They had prayed for her to be resurrected but while praying someone had a vision of her in the arms of Jesus. She had begun to get warm which is a sign of resurrection but then she had a choice. Did she want to stay in the arms of Jesus or did she want to come back to earth. In my opinion this is not a difficult choice. Why would you ever want to leave the arms of Jesus especially after your life has been struggle after struggle. She had arrived at the Iris home a couple of months ago. Her parents were both dead and her grandparents brought her. Her arms were covered with witchcraft bracelets.
I went to a little part of church and not to the funeral at all. I am trying to discern what to be involved in and in general have had a desire to rest. It is a struggle in me though because I want to be involved with the nationals and part of their daily life joys and struggles but I don’t feel that this is the focus of this time. Our teachings are deep and our time is intense. I know that God is changing the deep channels of my heart and often I am drained of energy and resort to the tile floor of the back porch. I just have to trust that God will put me where I’m supposed to be and give me the desires that I’m supposed to have.
It is just so different than my time in Kenya. The first day there I was interacting with the children and scrubbing windows with rags. Different seasons and I really feel that this is a season of receiving because I am going to enter into something so different after this.
Earlier this week I realized that I had hit a wall. My tolerance level for grubby hands touching me and pulling me and hitting me became nil. I didn’t want any one to hug me or tug me or pull on my skirt. This touch that I so loved before now is a bother. But, there is something different about it as well. I feel that it has increased. I feel that the children have changed their tactics here. At first it was the angel approach of sitting politely on laps, or playing gently with hair. There were no demands or rude requests, no slaps on the back or punches in the arm. Now the devil tactics have surfaced and it is the endless demands for a football, a pump, a pair of shoes. And it doesn’t end. Last night Meadow and I brought out this lit up Frisbee to play with the children. As we were throwing it the usual fight broke out and one boy went pouting to the stairs and sat watching. One throw ended up in the near by bushes and as I bent to get it an object flew by my head and landed near by. I glanced at it and saw a rock the size of a softball! I picked up the Frisbee and Meadow and I turned to walk back to our compound all the while praying that no more rocks would follow. I feel like this story represents the state of Mozambique. There is no discipline here. The kids aren’t disciplined at their home, school, or anywhere. They run and hit and punch without any consequences.
When I was in America one day driving through the streets of Tacoma I was hit with the revelation that there were in fact a lot of similarities with many nations around the world. I came to this conclusion after thinking about theft in third world countries and how often a purse will be stolen from your body or a house ransacked of all possessions. Then I realized that the same thing is happening in America. It’s called identity theft. People steal your life and they ransack your bank account of all possessions. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?
At the beginning of my time here in Mozambique I shared that I was struggling with the mentality that I didn’t have enough. As I spent time in prayer I realized that this is the same spirit that is over all of this country. This spirit looks like desperateness for the basic essentials. It isn’t uncommon for someone to repay kindness with rudeness or to suddenly turn. Remembering what I learned in Tacoma about same spirits I realized this was like the spirit that causes one to climb the cooperate ladder taking down all of the other competition as you get higher. Friends betray friends to get what they want. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?
All of this to say please pray for us at this school because we are in a place where we want to respond by hiding and withdrawing. This is opposite of what I want to do. I want to have a rock thrown at me and not let it land in my heart. I want to have a kid hit me and call me nasty names and not let it land in my heart. I want to have Latina demand everything from me and not let it land in my heart. I want to choose to love when not loved.
My most consuming prayer the past couple of weeks has been for dove eyes which is in Song of Songs. I learned once that dove’s mate only once in their life and even if their mate dies they won’t mate again. They have eyes that are unfaltering and fixed. I want eyes that lock on to the face of my Beloved Jesus that don’t dart to loud manifestation or to a handsome guy or to the beckoning ocean shores. I’ve been crying out from Psalms 26, 27 and 84 to DWELL in the house of the Lord and to constantly GAZE upon His beauty. I want this so badly that I find it my first thought in the morning the second I wake up and a desperateness is growing inside me that will contend for this because surly I will die if I don’t have intimacy with Jesus. So, you can pray that I would be a dweller in the house of our Lord and that all distractions would fade.
I love you all and am really enjoying the personal emails. These mean so much to me because I still want to be connected with what you are doing on a daily basis. It is my lifeline to you and it is important for me to have it living and active.
I found out that we can receive letters here. The rumor is it takes about a month to get it. So, if you mail it soon I will get it and it would make my day.
I leave for Kenya on the 9th of January so mail them before December.
The address is
Ministerio Arco Iris
Attn: Meag Diamond
Praia de Wimbe
Pemba, Mozambique
Kisses!
I went to a little part of church and not to the funeral at all. I am trying to discern what to be involved in and in general have had a desire to rest. It is a struggle in me though because I want to be involved with the nationals and part of their daily life joys and struggles but I don’t feel that this is the focus of this time. Our teachings are deep and our time is intense. I know that God is changing the deep channels of my heart and often I am drained of energy and resort to the tile floor of the back porch. I just have to trust that God will put me where I’m supposed to be and give me the desires that I’m supposed to have.
It is just so different than my time in Kenya. The first day there I was interacting with the children and scrubbing windows with rags. Different seasons and I really feel that this is a season of receiving because I am going to enter into something so different after this.
Earlier this week I realized that I had hit a wall. My tolerance level for grubby hands touching me and pulling me and hitting me became nil. I didn’t want any one to hug me or tug me or pull on my skirt. This touch that I so loved before now is a bother. But, there is something different about it as well. I feel that it has increased. I feel that the children have changed their tactics here. At first it was the angel approach of sitting politely on laps, or playing gently with hair. There were no demands or rude requests, no slaps on the back or punches in the arm. Now the devil tactics have surfaced and it is the endless demands for a football, a pump, a pair of shoes. And it doesn’t end. Last night Meadow and I brought out this lit up Frisbee to play with the children. As we were throwing it the usual fight broke out and one boy went pouting to the stairs and sat watching. One throw ended up in the near by bushes and as I bent to get it an object flew by my head and landed near by. I glanced at it and saw a rock the size of a softball! I picked up the Frisbee and Meadow and I turned to walk back to our compound all the while praying that no more rocks would follow. I feel like this story represents the state of Mozambique. There is no discipline here. The kids aren’t disciplined at their home, school, or anywhere. They run and hit and punch without any consequences.
When I was in America one day driving through the streets of Tacoma I was hit with the revelation that there were in fact a lot of similarities with many nations around the world. I came to this conclusion after thinking about theft in third world countries and how often a purse will be stolen from your body or a house ransacked of all possessions. Then I realized that the same thing is happening in America. It’s called identity theft. People steal your life and they ransack your bank account of all possessions. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?
At the beginning of my time here in Mozambique I shared that I was struggling with the mentality that I didn’t have enough. As I spent time in prayer I realized that this is the same spirit that is over all of this country. This spirit looks like desperateness for the basic essentials. It isn’t uncommon for someone to repay kindness with rudeness or to suddenly turn. Remembering what I learned in Tacoma about same spirits I realized this was like the spirit that causes one to climb the cooperate ladder taking down all of the other competition as you get higher. Friends betray friends to get what they want. Same spirit, different manifestation. Who is to say which one is worse?
All of this to say please pray for us at this school because we are in a place where we want to respond by hiding and withdrawing. This is opposite of what I want to do. I want to have a rock thrown at me and not let it land in my heart. I want to have a kid hit me and call me nasty names and not let it land in my heart. I want to have Latina demand everything from me and not let it land in my heart. I want to choose to love when not loved.
My most consuming prayer the past couple of weeks has been for dove eyes which is in Song of Songs. I learned once that dove’s mate only once in their life and even if their mate dies they won’t mate again. They have eyes that are unfaltering and fixed. I want eyes that lock on to the face of my Beloved Jesus that don’t dart to loud manifestation or to a handsome guy or to the beckoning ocean shores. I’ve been crying out from Psalms 26, 27 and 84 to DWELL in the house of the Lord and to constantly GAZE upon His beauty. I want this so badly that I find it my first thought in the morning the second I wake up and a desperateness is growing inside me that will contend for this because surly I will die if I don’t have intimacy with Jesus. So, you can pray that I would be a dweller in the house of our Lord and that all distractions would fade.
I love you all and am really enjoying the personal emails. These mean so much to me because I still want to be connected with what you are doing on a daily basis. It is my lifeline to you and it is important for me to have it living and active.
I found out that we can receive letters here. The rumor is it takes about a month to get it. So, if you mail it soon I will get it and it would make my day.
I leave for Kenya on the 9th of January so mail them before December.
The address is
Ministerio Arco Iris
Attn: Meag Diamond
Praia de Wimbe
Pemba, Mozambique
Kisses!
Monday, November 13, 2006
Bummer
On the way to the internet cafe today Meadow, Ky and Jessica and I hitched a ride on the back of a truck. The wind felt fresh and was welcomed against our sticky skin. Summer has crept up on us and it is hard to stay cool. We walked the remaining miles to the cafe and on that walk I realized that my pocket wasn't holding the jumpdrive that held the most recent update from my time here. So, I have to keep you in suspense because there is are lot of meat coming next week. I hope that you are hungry. And sorry, no pictures yet. I try every week to get the best pictures up and it never works. Perhaps God can give you dreams and show you things that are happening here until I get to Kenya. In the mean time I will try again next week.
LOVING YOU!!!!
LOVING YOU!!!!
Monday, November 06, 2006
Loving Life!
A typical day looks like this. I wake up and I lay in bed for a while, mostly because I don’t have to get up. There is nothing crucial that needs to be done. Classes don’t start until 8:30, breakfast until 7:00ish. And the sun has woken me up at 5:00. I lay in bed and catch my bearings. I still haven’t fully adjusted to waking up in a stuffy room that has a view of a slanted metal roof through a blue mosquito net. It takes a couple of seconds to remember where I am. I often grab my Bible or just lay there thinking. I climb down the wood ringed ladder, slip on my black Chaco sandals and meander into the bathroom. There I brush my teeth rinsing with my pure mineral water and swallowing to save every drop of purity. I usually shimmy into my bathing suit and surf shorts wrap a sarong around my waist and join a friend heading down to the beach.
This is my daily bathing place. We take turns dipping into the refreshing waves of the Indian Ocean. One stays on the shore and watches our processions. While I wait I take the white sand and rub it all over my legs, feet, and arms. I have to pay no sauna fee for this luxury.
This week we have been taught by Guy from Toronto. His book is called Turnings and he has been turning my theology upside down and then the Holy Spirit gets to shake me. The contents of my pockets fall out in a heap beneath me and I don’t bend to pick it up again. Actually, I am not going to even begin to pretend to know what God is doing. I want to serve dinner to the pastors and He says “No! Sit!” I want to dance prophetically while people are being healed of sickness He says “No! Sit!” I want to sign up for teaching Sunday school to the children and He says, “No! Sit!” So, I sit and part of me dies as I sit. This is good. What is dying is a performance based mindset. I don’t deserve His anointing, I don’t deserve His touch. I don’t deserve His death. I can’t earn His anointing. I can’t earn His touch. I can’t earn His death.
As I sit in silence His presence is coming and it makes me drunk. I can’t talk, walk or sing. I am soaked. There is little jerking, no dancing, no singing. He is stripping any false comforts and any false identity. He is teaching me that when I shake or dance this doesn’t necessarily mean that His anointing is there. As I said before I am not fully understanding what He is doing but my Spirit cries out YES JESUS!!!!
This is my daily bathing place. We take turns dipping into the refreshing waves of the Indian Ocean. One stays on the shore and watches our processions. While I wait I take the white sand and rub it all over my legs, feet, and arms. I have to pay no sauna fee for this luxury.
This week we have been taught by Guy from Toronto. His book is called Turnings and he has been turning my theology upside down and then the Holy Spirit gets to shake me. The contents of my pockets fall out in a heap beneath me and I don’t bend to pick it up again. Actually, I am not going to even begin to pretend to know what God is doing. I want to serve dinner to the pastors and He says “No! Sit!” I want to dance prophetically while people are being healed of sickness He says “No! Sit!” I want to sign up for teaching Sunday school to the children and He says, “No! Sit!” So, I sit and part of me dies as I sit. This is good. What is dying is a performance based mindset. I don’t deserve His anointing, I don’t deserve His touch. I don’t deserve His death. I can’t earn His anointing. I can’t earn His touch. I can’t earn His death.
As I sit in silence His presence is coming and it makes me drunk. I can’t talk, walk or sing. I am soaked. There is little jerking, no dancing, no singing. He is stripping any false comforts and any false identity. He is teaching me that when I shake or dance this doesn’t necessarily mean that His anointing is there. As I said before I am not fully understanding what He is doing but my Spirit cries out YES JESUS!!!!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
I have been here for a couple of days. Honestly I am not even sure. The days just seem to melt together and it is hard to keep track. I don't have my calendar to constantly check every couple of hours. This is very nice.
I'm really enjoying my time here with my new friends. I live in a house with 9 other people. I live on the top bunk of a bed that I share with Linda. There are people at this school from all over the world but for some reason in our house we are all from America or Canada. I can see that living with others has prepared me to live in a small space with this many people.
The weather is warm and I am constantly sweaty, but don't mind. Today I'm wearing the skirt you made me mom. Everyone loves it and joked about looking you up in America to make them ones.
Each day we go to class to hear speakers. We open with some worship that always goes longer than planed, we sit on benches or mats that have been placed on the sand. Often people are on their faces during worship or up dancing. There is a lot of freedom here to be as you are.
We have homework and are excpected to work with the nationals by visiting them and talking with them. The children have a lot of personality and quickly will lay on your lap and put their arms around you before they even ask you your name.
Everyone has a story here of what they have been saved from, of what their life used to be like. It is powerful to talk with them and learn from their experiences. I am surrounded by a library of life and victory. Their stories should be collected and read by everyone in the world. They have been changed and now are changing others.
Yesterday I went for a swim in the Indian ocean. It was so refreshing and beautiful. The ocean is a one minute walk outside of our gates. I am surrounded by beauty of heart and land.
I'm really enjoying my time here with my new friends. I live in a house with 9 other people. I live on the top bunk of a bed that I share with Linda. There are people at this school from all over the world but for some reason in our house we are all from America or Canada. I can see that living with others has prepared me to live in a small space with this many people.
The weather is warm and I am constantly sweaty, but don't mind. Today I'm wearing the skirt you made me mom. Everyone loves it and joked about looking you up in America to make them ones.
Each day we go to class to hear speakers. We open with some worship that always goes longer than planed, we sit on benches or mats that have been placed on the sand. Often people are on their faces during worship or up dancing. There is a lot of freedom here to be as you are.
We have homework and are excpected to work with the nationals by visiting them and talking with them. The children have a lot of personality and quickly will lay on your lap and put their arms around you before they even ask you your name.
Everyone has a story here of what they have been saved from, of what their life used to be like. It is powerful to talk with them and learn from their experiences. I am surrounded by a library of life and victory. Their stories should be collected and read by everyone in the world. They have been changed and now are changing others.
Yesterday I went for a swim in the Indian ocean. It was so refreshing and beautiful. The ocean is a one minute walk outside of our gates. I am surrounded by beauty of heart and land.
Multiplication
I'm in Mozambique and having an amazing time. Today during breakfast I sat next to George. He is one of Mama Idas sons. He and I were talking and he began to tell me stories about having everything stolen from him. Everything he was given something it would be stolen and he told me that if they just asked him he would freely and gladly give it to them. I sat there his words piercing my heart because God has begun to stir in me a new revelation. It started a while ago as I was reading the book "There is always enough" by the Bakers. They have story after story of Gods multiplication of food, money, resources.
Yesterday Mama Ida taught us about the be attitudes and how the mourners are blessed because they shall be comforted. One thing she said was she was always giving away things. One day her son came to her and said "Mama you know, I am not complaining but I just wanted you to know that you have given away all of my clothes again. This t-shirt I'm wearing and one other is all I have." When a new child came to the home she had nothing and Mama Idas daughter had a favorite dress that she willingly surrendered to this girl. These testimonies of giving have pierced my heart.
God is already breaking me of many mindsets that I have, one in particular is the mindset that I need to hoard and keep things for myself. This is a deeper work than before because earlier I would easily give because I knew that I could easily get. It was simple to give over half of my paycheck to missions because I could comfortably live on the rest without luxury. But, right now I have nothing. I am living off of others generosity and literally the clothes I brought are all I have. But, at the same time my mom could easily send a package with anything that I do really need. This is such a humbling place because I can't just return to America and have abundance again. But, God is telling me to give and it is so hard when it is my only pair of flip flops. Please pray for me that I would be broken knowing that He will always provide. I want to truly believe in my heart that there is always going to be enough. That is the type of anointing on this ministry and God has done miracles of provision and multiplying. I am getting desperate for God. I wan to be able to give my best.
God is the God of multiplication. He doesn't just do the addition. He multiplies. When I don't give the heavens and locked and closed, but when I give out of a grateful heart he will rend those heavens and release blessing upon blessing into my life. I want my choices to rend those heavens unlocking the blessing of knowing my Father as a multiplier.
I need to save the pictures to my jumpdrive and then I can add them to the blog. I will add a lot of pictures next time.
Yesterday Mama Ida taught us about the be attitudes and how the mourners are blessed because they shall be comforted. One thing she said was she was always giving away things. One day her son came to her and said "Mama you know, I am not complaining but I just wanted you to know that you have given away all of my clothes again. This t-shirt I'm wearing and one other is all I have." When a new child came to the home she had nothing and Mama Idas daughter had a favorite dress that she willingly surrendered to this girl. These testimonies of giving have pierced my heart.
God is already breaking me of many mindsets that I have, one in particular is the mindset that I need to hoard and keep things for myself. This is a deeper work than before because earlier I would easily give because I knew that I could easily get. It was simple to give over half of my paycheck to missions because I could comfortably live on the rest without luxury. But, right now I have nothing. I am living off of others generosity and literally the clothes I brought are all I have. But, at the same time my mom could easily send a package with anything that I do really need. This is such a humbling place because I can't just return to America and have abundance again. But, God is telling me to give and it is so hard when it is my only pair of flip flops. Please pray for me that I would be broken knowing that He will always provide. I want to truly believe in my heart that there is always going to be enough. That is the type of anointing on this ministry and God has done miracles of provision and multiplying. I am getting desperate for God. I wan to be able to give my best.
God is the God of multiplication. He doesn't just do the addition. He multiplies. When I don't give the heavens and locked and closed, but when I give out of a grateful heart he will rend those heavens and release blessing upon blessing into my life. I want my choices to rend those heavens unlocking the blessing of knowing my Father as a multiplier.
I need to save the pictures to my jumpdrive and then I can add them to the blog. I will add a lot of pictures next time.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Oliver's
I walked down the alley for the last time to the Oliver household. They live just a couple of houses down and the walk is quick. Angie greeted me at the door with her usually shy grin and deep hug. "There's a boy." She said pointing to Orion who was flat on his belly infront of the dancing flames of electric fire. Soon E'lin joined us with his hair stylishly pushed into a feathery wave by his bedtime pillow. We took pictures as Angie arranged her usual gourmet feast in the kitchen. E'lin brought down pillows from upstairs and we gathered around the trunk spread with the banquet. As we ate we talked about writing letters, how Orion thought meat had seeds, and how they want to eat all organics when they grow up. After breakfast the boys rushed to calm down their hair, gather some last minute parting gifts, and grabed their school gear for the day. "I'm proud of you." Angie whispered in calm voice that I will so deeply miss. We said our goodbyes outside their house before they quickly piled into the maroon Volvo and putted down the road hitting their tail pipe as they zipped over the speed bump. I watched as they passed barely able to make out their smiling faces and waving hands through the foggy windows that Wasington fall mornings so well paint.
Farewell Tacoma
Here is my busy calendar for the past week. I was so grateful to meet one last time with so many of you. Well, this is it. My last day in Tacoma. I have had a crazy busy week filled to the last minute with sentimental partings. It has been really good though. I don't think that our American culture takes enough opportunities to tell someone how we truly feel about them or let them know the impact they have had on our lives. It is so important to let someone know what they mean to you. I have been flooded with encouragement these past three weeks since I found out I was leaving on a jet plane and not knowing when I'll be back again.
Today my mom will drive up and be here by 9:30 to spend the day with me busily finishing the last minute details like washing my car, closing my bank account, and picking up the remaining eight Malaria pills from Costplus. But, before that I get to eat breakfast with the Oliver family before they head off to school and work. In fact I need to go right now, but here in my flight itenerary so you can pray for my travels.
Loving you!
IRIS MINISTRIES MOZAMBIQUE
PO BOX 275
PEMBA CASO DELGADO
BRITISH AIRWAYS From: 23OCT SEATTLE WA To: LONDON Depart: 640P
Arrive: 1145A
BRITISH AIRWAYS From: 24OCT LONDON To: NAIROBI Depart: 835P
Arrive: 725A
LAM MOZAMBIQUE From: 25OCT NAIROBI To: PEMBA Depart: 505P Arrive: 615P
Friday, October 20, 2006
Valhalla pop in
Today I had a great surprise hidden up my sleeve. Earlier I had called to find out when the third graders eat lunch at Valhalla. I wanted to surprise my students at their lunch tables. When 1:00 rolled around there I was and there they were. Like a Where's Waldo book they quickly found me and ran to me like little programmed robots returning to the motherboard.
I wish I could describe the joy their faces held and how they were all interrupting each other to tell Ms. Diamond that they brought their hamster to school yesterday, or that they couldn't bring their birds to school any more, or that now they had a remote control car and truck. They all wanted to show me their latest tricks. Kiana did a million cartwheel splits, Steven and Gavin raced to the yellow fire-hydrant, Damanpreet dominated in the four square court.
They begged me to come into their classrooms and excitedly called me their new teachers name on accident. They all were doing so well and seemed so happy. It was hard to say goodbye especially with Aaliyah and Megan holding me in a death lock. I had a great time seeing these precious children that poured so much life into my heart. Their estatic greeting, their popcorn questions about Africa, and their pleas to stay or at least visit each of them at their individual homes deeply touched my heart. This was one of the most rewarding moments in my teaching career.
I wish I could describe the joy their faces held and how they were all interrupting each other to tell Ms. Diamond that they brought their hamster to school yesterday, or that they couldn't bring their birds to school any more, or that now they had a remote control car and truck. They all wanted to show me their latest tricks. Kiana did a million cartwheel splits, Steven and Gavin raced to the yellow fire-hydrant, Damanpreet dominated in the four square court.
They begged me to come into their classrooms and excitedly called me their new teachers name on accident. They all were doing so well and seemed so happy. It was hard to say goodbye especially with Aaliyah and Megan holding me in a death lock. I had a great time seeing these precious children that poured so much life into my heart. Their estatic greeting, their popcorn questions about Africa, and their pleas to stay or at least visit each of them at their individual homes deeply touched my heart. This was one of the most rewarding moments in my teaching career.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
For your dining pleasure
After my last day of school I quickly drove home to pack my car with all of my belongings that wouldn't fit into my one suitcase and my one backpack headed for Africa. These items were too precious to give away so they will be stored in the convince of my old bedroom that my mom faithfully keeps as mine and has my old stuffed cat ginger guarding my bed and forever waiting for my return. This job of packing my car was easy since I had been really preparing for this school two months ago when I applied. Backs were back and just needed to be jigsawed into my trunk. The tricky part was a desk that couldn't make it's way down the stairs. Just when Ray and I thought it impossible we would remember that it go up this narrow jagged stairwell and what goes up must come down. I worked quick because some of my most favorite people in the whole wide world were driving up from Shelton to visit me. I wanted to be ready to drive south homebound after our dining at East and West Cafe.
When Sandra, her daughter Sage who is ten and Allena who is living with them for a year and is from the Ukraine came we all wanted to start crying right then and there. Sage gave me a amoeba hug and as I she pulled away said "No, I'm not done yet and would come in for another tender squeeze only to decide that she needed even more. Don't you love kids because they have this amazing ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the whole world.
We ate a delicious dinner that was sprinkling with deep conversation then a little of funny face squishing, and completely covered with side splitting laughter. I was excited to have my favorite dish Swimming Angel because I had tried to eat it last Wednesday with Bill and Kathy and Le Le but because of the crazy spinach they were serving it. The first time I had this meal that is a yellow sea of peanut sauce surrounding an island of rice and spinach was with my adopted mother Christy Romfo. She took me here when it was just a one roomed house for my twentieth birthday. I've also celebrated a handfuls of other birthdays here as well. Maybe every birthday. . . I'm not sure. Anyways, I loved my time with these people that are so gentle, peaceful, brilliant and compassionate. They are my favorite!
And of course we couldn't say goodbye so we made plans to see each other again next week for our final amoeba hugs and teary smiles because then it will truly be our last, for a while anyways.
After dinner I drove home to Oregon and don't tell anyone especially my parents but I plugged my headphones into my ears and listened to my ipod all the way down. Otherwise I was sure that sleep would have had victory over me. I realize this was a law breaking solution to a detrimental problem and I promise to never do it again.
I got home at 12:30 where my mom greeted me with a half awake hug and smile and then I drifted off into my own slumber fully aware that it was close to the last time in this twin bed beneath my window. Well, last for a while anyways.
When Sandra, her daughter Sage who is ten and Allena who is living with them for a year and is from the Ukraine came we all wanted to start crying right then and there. Sage gave me a amoeba hug and as I she pulled away said "No, I'm not done yet and would come in for another tender squeeze only to decide that she needed even more. Don't you love kids because they have this amazing ability to make you feel like you are the most important person in the whole world.
We ate a delicious dinner that was sprinkling with deep conversation then a little of funny face squishing, and completely covered with side splitting laughter. I was excited to have my favorite dish Swimming Angel because I had tried to eat it last Wednesday with Bill and Kathy and Le Le but because of the crazy spinach they were serving it. The first time I had this meal that is a yellow sea of peanut sauce surrounding an island of rice and spinach was with my adopted mother Christy Romfo. She took me here when it was just a one roomed house for my twentieth birthday. I've also celebrated a handfuls of other birthdays here as well. Maybe every birthday. . . I'm not sure. Anyways, I loved my time with these people that are so gentle, peaceful, brilliant and compassionate. They are my favorite!
And of course we couldn't say goodbye so we made plans to see each other again next week for our final amoeba hugs and teary smiles because then it will truly be our last, for a while anyways.
After dinner I drove home to Oregon and don't tell anyone especially my parents but I plugged my headphones into my ears and listened to my ipod all the way down. Otherwise I was sure that sleep would have had victory over me. I realize this was a law breaking solution to a detrimental problem and I promise to never do it again.
I got home at 12:30 where my mom greeted me with a half awake hug and smile and then I drifted off into my own slumber fully aware that it was close to the last time in this twin bed beneath my window. Well, last for a while anyways.
Last Days of School
So, I have a lot to update you all on.I'm going to break this into bite size chunks so that it is easier to digest.
Thursday I woke up for my last day of "I'm a teacher" mode. I went to the Y at my normal hour and started my day like every other Thursday. But, this day was different. It was my last day at Rainier View and my last day with these children that I had been building community with. Laura the sub that was taking over my position came that morning and spent the day in our class observing our routines. The bell had rung, homework was turned in and children were quietly finishing their Thursday morning work of D.O.L. Then bursting through the door was my lovely housemate Tray, toting in her hands two plastic boxes filled with teeny carrot cake muffins which where mostly frosting and delicious. She had come to surprise me on my last day of teaching. Then one minute later just as I was adjusting from that heart attack in walked Jamie asking "Does anyone know where Ms. Diamonds class is?" and in his arms were brilliant orange tiger lilies beautifully complemented by neon green tissue paper and a hand written note from Tray. They stayed for about 20 minutes. Before the announcements came on James and Tray had all 20 kids minus the slow pokey ones that always need more thinking time, on the couches mezmorized as James read from Aladdin. This happened to be a perfect choice since Aladdin was one of our new vocabulary words that we found during our read aloud two days ago.
This whole last day was filled with joy but at the end of it I was ready to head off into new adventures and am excited to see how my teaching hat will look in Eastern Africa, but I was also really glad that I got to meet some really kind and caring friends at Rainier View. Specifically my friend Dotty who teaches fifth grade and was so nice to approach me on our first inservice and introduce herself. We knew right from that time that this was a friendship that only God could have ordained.
When 4:00 came I wasn't in the least sentimental about handing the classroom keys back to the chatty office manager Kay and head home for the last time past Wild Waves and Native American smoke shops.
Thursday I woke up for my last day of "I'm a teacher" mode. I went to the Y at my normal hour and started my day like every other Thursday. But, this day was different. It was my last day at Rainier View and my last day with these children that I had been building community with. Laura the sub that was taking over my position came that morning and spent the day in our class observing our routines. The bell had rung, homework was turned in and children were quietly finishing their Thursday morning work of D.O.L. Then bursting through the door was my lovely housemate Tray, toting in her hands two plastic boxes filled with teeny carrot cake muffins which where mostly frosting and delicious. She had come to surprise me on my last day of teaching. Then one minute later just as I was adjusting from that heart attack in walked Jamie asking "Does anyone know where Ms. Diamonds class is?" and in his arms were brilliant orange tiger lilies beautifully complemented by neon green tissue paper and a hand written note from Tray. They stayed for about 20 minutes. Before the announcements came on James and Tray had all 20 kids minus the slow pokey ones that always need more thinking time, on the couches mezmorized as James read from Aladdin. This happened to be a perfect choice since Aladdin was one of our new vocabulary words that we found during our read aloud two days ago.
This whole last day was filled with joy but at the end of it I was ready to head off into new adventures and am excited to see how my teaching hat will look in Eastern Africa, but I was also really glad that I got to meet some really kind and caring friends at Rainier View. Specifically my friend Dotty who teaches fifth grade and was so nice to approach me on our first inservice and introduce herself. We knew right from that time that this was a friendship that only God could have ordained.
When 4:00 came I wasn't in the least sentimental about handing the classroom keys back to the chatty office manager Kay and head home for the last time past Wild Waves and Native American smoke shops.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wonderfully Blessed
Thank you to all of you who came to the going away party. It was so great to see so many people at one time. Our house was full to capacity with a steady flow of friends from 5:30 to 10:30. I felt encouraged and supported by the great show of people. I also enjoyed seeing people connect or finding out that they knew each other through a brother or work. I love it when God connects his people. The room was crowded and buzzing with conversation. The doors slamming every couple of minutes letting this kid in and that kid out. Jamie set up my slide show outside to play on our garage. The food table was quickly devoured and replaced with what ever we could find in our kitchen.
I was overwhelmed at times with some of the goodbyes. I didn't expect it to saying goodbye to be such a challenge for me. I find myself covered in tears as I drive to school or as I huge Abby even though I'll see her tomorrow. It is hard but it is so beautiful and I wish that everyone would get the opportunity to feel as loved as I do.
So, here is the progress on the grand departure. I still am working out the details of the tickets. I had a crazy idea of asking my friend Tim who has family in South Africa to come with me on that leg of the trip. I think that Tim and I would have a blast traveling together and he would help in the transition to my new world. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have heard from the travel agent and had finalized the details.
I've sold my car to my housemate Rachel but I need to get the carpets cleaned to get rid of the moldy milk smell that decided to pop up its ugly head this past weekend. It's a mystery smell.
Yesterday I cleaned out most of my possessions from my room and divvied them up to their new owners. Giving away all of your stuff is actually very liberating and I am really enjoying the process. I like the idea of living out of two bags. I don't need that stuff anyways and this makes me feel like I can zip around with a new found freedom.
Now, I'm off to bed so that I can wake up early to welcome the morning with a jab and squat at my kickboxing class.
Thanks for all of your love and support! I'm overflowing with love. It's oozing out of me through every pore.
Loving you!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Surprised! Shocked!
I just checked my email and you know how you check them from most recently sent to the older ones. Well, I had like 7 sent from the same person, Tamara. And I read the last one that she sent and it was something about a travel insurance. And at first I thought it must have been a scam and I was about to delete it when I noticed that it was sent to a group of people and they had addressed us as students. I thought that it could be from Iris ministries so I read the earlier emails and I have been accepted to the school! This is the biggest surprise ever. In my heart I had died to the idea of going and my life would be a lot easier if I didn't. Honestly, I am so excited about going, but I am very confused about what I should do.
When I list the reasons why I should go and shouldn't go the list of the shouldn't is longer. I would have to end my subbing job early. I wouldn't get Christmas with my family. I would have to cancel a trip to see my best friend Roxie in California. I would have to figure out a plan for my graduate classes. BUT, I feel that Gods ways are higher than our ways and this practical mambo jambo, doesn't mean no. I feel that this school is an amazing opportunity and training for my work with ELI. I feel that I need to have the impartation of this ministry that has seen 19 people raised from the dead. I have been begging God to show me more of His glory and this is a Glory Driven school.
So, in many ways I feel it is the practical vs. the spiritual and usually with me the spiritual always wins.
Please pray with me for discernment and direction because this decision is significantly important.
I would be leaving for Africa in 18 days!
WOW! God what are you up to?
When I list the reasons why I should go and shouldn't go the list of the shouldn't is longer. I would have to end my subbing job early. I wouldn't get Christmas with my family. I would have to cancel a trip to see my best friend Roxie in California. I would have to figure out a plan for my graduate classes. BUT, I feel that Gods ways are higher than our ways and this practical mambo jambo, doesn't mean no. I feel that this school is an amazing opportunity and training for my work with ELI. I feel that I need to have the impartation of this ministry that has seen 19 people raised from the dead. I have been begging God to show me more of His glory and this is a Glory Driven school.
So, in many ways I feel it is the practical vs. the spiritual and usually with me the spiritual always wins.
Please pray with me for discernment and direction because this decision is significantly important.
I would be leaving for Africa in 18 days!
WOW! God what are you up to?
Overflowing with opportunities
My step mom Kathy read this article and sent it to me. I really enjoyed the perspective of the people who were interviewed. I agree that there are so many children like Job that are bright and have so much potential. We must reach them by getting them off the streets and showing them that someone notices them. I pray for a resolution to the amount of children per teacher ratio. Even though the situation is difficult it is great to hear about the new opportunities this offers the chidlren. This article also made me really grateful for my class of 26 students even if 19 of them are boys!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003283469_kenyaschool01.html
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The same sun
If you live in Tacoma have you noticed that things have been unusually crazy? I've noticed a lot more graffiti engraved on local store fronts and have been aware of crying sirens that are screaming at greater frequencies. I wonder what is going on?
My own personal experience with this craziness started on Friday morning last week when I was on my way to the Y. I couldn't find my car. At first I thought I must be just not seeing it because this wouldn't really happen. But, after walking up and down the block I was reassured that the spot where I parked was now absent of my car.
My alarm clock on Saturday morning was a phone call from the Tacoma police Department saying they had found my car! Amazing! James and I drove over to the location which was only a couple of blocks away. There we found my car abandoned, but in perfect condition. They had done nothing to it except steal my piggy bank that was waiting to be rolled into money sleeves.
This whole experience showed me how unattached I am to this car. I realized how my prayers to not have attachment to material possessions were starting to take root. God has begun to established a steady faith that allowed me to responded by saying "Great, now I don't have to worry about selling it in a couple of months!" This response was a shock to me. Even though opportunities like this aren't desired it was good to see what rose out of my heart because of it. Other times I wasn't so pleasantly surprised but more disappointed by the darkness that oozed out.
Saturday we had a house concert at our home and so there were lines of cars parked on our skinny street. I came home for the Mission Encounter greeted by comments of my car being hit in a hit and run. I thought they were joking and teasing me since I had just gotten it back that morning. They weren't. The back was dented in the identical spot of a hit in run last February. This time my reaction wasn't as calm. I was mad! Mad that so much insanity could happen within such a short period of time. My friend Marie and I went up stairs and did some warfare prayer because I know that we don't fight against blood and flesh, but against principalities and spiritual forces.
I've not only seen physical warfare manifesting in Tacoma, but there has also been a lot of disunity. I've been in a season of tension with one of my housemates for over two weeks. It was to the point were we hadn't said more then the surface greeting and I was arranging for another place to live under the pretense of needing to save money before I left for Africa. As I write this it sounds so immature. I was the host of bitterness and personal offense. Once I started to allow bitterness to invade my heart the line of Truth was blurred.
Tuesday night we sat on my small bed and hashed out our emotions and perspectives. After two and a half hours of conversing, reflecting and planning we came to the great conclusion of reconciliation. It was amazing because I went into the conversation thinking that it would be the end of our intimate friendship and that I would be content on having an acquaintance void of any depth. I remember the breaking point of the conversation for me when my heart let go was when they said,"I went to Powells book store and was going to journal all of the reasons why I was so frustrated with you. All I could do was write about all the things you taught me and how much I loved you. I now have pages and pages." This melted me and I actually felt all walls tumble down and it was like my heart went limp again and was embraceable once more. I had convinced myself from the actions of my friend that they didn't love me or want me in their live. Hearing the truth made my heart open up again to the love they had for me.
As I lay in bed reading a book called When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson, I came to this quote that struck my heart with validity. "The anointing of the Holy Spirit forever changed the lives of the humble. But it was also Holy Spirit empowered ministry that caused great offense to the proud and brought about His crucifixion. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay." And ultimately the way we react to the Holy Spirit is due to the condition of our heart.
My ultimate desire to be alive to Holy Spirit and to be melted by His presence. This time with my housemate was one of brokenness and self-reflection and I realized that there I was in part being hardened by conviction but in the end I was melted and undone by love and forgiveness.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Flustered
Well, ARGGGGH. I am letting out a big sigh now as my day was far from perfect. Actually, I was unusually flustered all day today. My students weren't doing anything out of the ordinary but they were hitting all of my buttons labeled annoyed. Ivory kept on singing our songs in his bass opera voice, Richard looked at me blankly as I directed him for literally the 10th time to move closer to his partners for the math game, and Jayshawn continued his obsession with the velcro on his shoes.
But, really my flustered day started at the gym where while gabbing towards the mirror in kickboxing a spunky older Asian woman kept on punching her way into my mirror space, and there was a locker area hog in the locker room.
Why is it that some days everything sees to be elevated? Things that normally would go unnoticed end up being the main themes for the day. When this happens I pray. Today I realized that most of the issues were because I was forgetting that when I became a Christian I was crucified with Christ and now I don't live but He lives in me. This means that those things that I was taking personally should affect me at all because I should be dead to myself. Easy to say, but when a spunky grandma is blocking your view and a pouting 2nd grader is preventing you from your lunch hour, it is different. But, it shouldn't be.
I got to talk to Don Rogers the International Director on the phone today. I really really thougth that this would be THE conversation. THE conversation inviting me to join the team of Empowering Lives International. THE conversation telling me that my dreams had finally been cemented and confirmed. THE conversation that would allow for me to speak with finality about my plans to Africa. But, instead we are waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting for the next month when he is going to sit face to face with the board of directors in Kenya and together they can plan and write my job description so that it can be approved for a NGO pass.
Even though Don was the bearer of undesirable news, he was so encouraging. And I do know that God is working in the midst of this waiting period. I'm still waiting to hear from Iris ministries so I'm waiting to buy my ticket. In the meantime on Saturday I get to share at a Missions Encounter and trust that God will tug on peoples heart because He has a vision and I am just the person who gets to voice it.
Overall, I've learned alot about the African people through this whole process that started eight years ago. Ever since Feburary I was waiting to hear from them a final word and I realize that the Kenyans truly do prefer communication face-to-face and that they value personal communication.
But, really my flustered day started at the gym where while gabbing towards the mirror in kickboxing a spunky older Asian woman kept on punching her way into my mirror space, and there was a locker area hog in the locker room.
Why is it that some days everything sees to be elevated? Things that normally would go unnoticed end up being the main themes for the day. When this happens I pray. Today I realized that most of the issues were because I was forgetting that when I became a Christian I was crucified with Christ and now I don't live but He lives in me. This means that those things that I was taking personally should affect me at all because I should be dead to myself. Easy to say, but when a spunky grandma is blocking your view and a pouting 2nd grader is preventing you from your lunch hour, it is different. But, it shouldn't be.
I got to talk to Don Rogers the International Director on the phone today. I really really thougth that this would be THE conversation. THE conversation inviting me to join the team of Empowering Lives International. THE conversation telling me that my dreams had finally been cemented and confirmed. THE conversation that would allow for me to speak with finality about my plans to Africa. But, instead we are waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting for the next month when he is going to sit face to face with the board of directors in Kenya and together they can plan and write my job description so that it can be approved for a NGO pass.
Even though Don was the bearer of undesirable news, he was so encouraging. And I do know that God is working in the midst of this waiting period. I'm still waiting to hear from Iris ministries so I'm waiting to buy my ticket. In the meantime on Saturday I get to share at a Missions Encounter and trust that God will tug on peoples heart because He has a vision and I am just the person who gets to voice it.
Overall, I've learned alot about the African people through this whole process that started eight years ago. Ever since Feburary I was waiting to hear from them a final word and I realize that the Kenyans truly do prefer communication face-to-face and that they value personal communication.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Splendor: Waiting for the green light
Overload
My brain is on overload. I am feeling like a run down wind-up toy. I just was talking to my housemat and my tounge coudln't keep up with my thoughts. And that is really slow since I'm dead tired. Today I slept in until the late hours of 8:00. I woke up to go to the bathroom. Normally I would sink back into the comfort of my "poof" as my grandma calls them. And I did try that, but then the phone called me out of my almost slumber. And by that time my brain was already awake and thinking about the reading I needed to run my eyes over inorder to do my online assignments. When I signed up for these two graduate courses online with Moody I was excited about the opporunity to learn again and to get some new skills, but now I'm down right overloaded. After studying the morning hours into the early evening I got to get together with Abby.
It's sort of comical because we always plan these grandious adventures of scaling mountains or biking, scrape booking and painting a room all in one day. By the time we hang out it ends up being a walk that ends a couple of blocks away at a friends house and then laying on the couch reading. But, that is something I love about dreaming. It is fun to dream about all of the adventures you would like to do even if they materialize in a much more minature way.
On my bed is pile of books, big books. Books that you could knock someone over with, like in a cartoon where their arms go like silly putty stretching to the floor. I used them today for an assignment for my biblical studies class. I am starting to get used to piles and stacks of books being permanent figures in the corners of my room. The funny thing, or maybe sad depending on how you see it, is I'm not even sure what I'm in school for. I'm not talking about my purpose, but I mean what the end degree will be. I keep telling people Biblical Studies, but I don't like peoples reactions when I tell them that. I want to get the "Wow, that is so cool!" reaction. Not the, "Oh. . ." reaction.
I've spent a lot of time in my bedroom recently. The other day as I was studying I caught the end of this little furry butt with a long ropy tail bounching past my book shelf. I screamed and jumped up to report to my housemate. I timidly went back into my room, but this time was crouching on my chair as I studyed. Seconds later Ray was the one screaming and I turned to look in her room and saw the same little furry butt sauntering across her floor. Immediatley we both were up on our beds and we watched and screamed. I was giggling though my screams as Ray only stopped screaming briefly to take deep breaths. Inside me was a strange mixture of comidic relief and terror. We called everyone we knew within a three mile block radius of us and no one, literally, no one was home. We left messages of us screaming in panic on our friends voicemails. Eventually James came home and with two boxes and a ruler as he said it "Took care of the problem". There hasn't been a little furry butt sighting since, but every time I enter in the bathroom, my room, or basically into our house I am always looking for a sighting of that unwanted guest. Today as I lay in bed reading I thought I heard the dreaded scampering in the walls, but tried to onvience myself that it was the natural creaks of an old house.
My brain is on overload. I am feeling like a run down wind-up toy. I just was talking to my housemat and my tounge coudln't keep up with my thoughts. And that is really slow since I'm dead tired. Today I slept in until the late hours of 8:00. I woke up to go to the bathroom. Normally I would sink back into the comfort of my "poof" as my grandma calls them. And I did try that, but then the phone called me out of my almost slumber. And by that time my brain was already awake and thinking about the reading I needed to run my eyes over inorder to do my online assignments. When I signed up for these two graduate courses online with Moody I was excited about the opporunity to learn again and to get some new skills, but now I'm down right overloaded. After studying the morning hours into the early evening I got to get together with Abby.
It's sort of comical because we always plan these grandious adventures of scaling mountains or biking, scrape booking and painting a room all in one day. By the time we hang out it ends up being a walk that ends a couple of blocks away at a friends house and then laying on the couch reading. But, that is something I love about dreaming. It is fun to dream about all of the adventures you would like to do even if they materialize in a much more minature way.
On my bed is pile of books, big books. Books that you could knock someone over with, like in a cartoon where their arms go like silly putty stretching to the floor. I used them today for an assignment for my biblical studies class. I am starting to get used to piles and stacks of books being permanent figures in the corners of my room. The funny thing, or maybe sad depending on how you see it, is I'm not even sure what I'm in school for. I'm not talking about my purpose, but I mean what the end degree will be. I keep telling people Biblical Studies, but I don't like peoples reactions when I tell them that. I want to get the "Wow, that is so cool!" reaction. Not the, "Oh. . ." reaction.
I've spent a lot of time in my bedroom recently. The other day as I was studying I caught the end of this little furry butt with a long ropy tail bounching past my book shelf. I screamed and jumped up to report to my housemate. I timidly went back into my room, but this time was crouching on my chair as I studyed. Seconds later Ray was the one screaming and I turned to look in her room and saw the same little furry butt sauntering across her floor. Immediatley we both were up on our beds and we watched and screamed. I was giggling though my screams as Ray only stopped screaming briefly to take deep breaths. Inside me was a strange mixture of comidic relief and terror. We called everyone we knew within a three mile block radius of us and no one, literally, no one was home. We left messages of us screaming in panic on our friends voicemails. Eventually James came home and with two boxes and a ruler as he said it "Took care of the problem". There hasn't been a little furry butt sighting since, but every time I enter in the bathroom, my room, or basically into our house I am always looking for a sighting of that unwanted guest. Today as I lay in bed reading I thought I heard the dreaded scampering in the walls, but tried to onvience myself that it was the natural creaks of an old house.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Waiting for the green light
Well, the past week has been wonderfully interesting. I was all ready to go to an inservice at Valhalla elementary school because I had arranged for a three month long term sub job with one of my collegues. Before school ended I thought I had fully arranged for the details of this to run smoothly. My principal emailed me telling me that since she hadn't heard from, and neither had the other teacher or the sub office they had given the job to someone else. This made my heart sink initally and in many ways I felt like it was sort of a sudden death of someone I knew. Since I thought that I was coming back in the fall I didn't properly say goodbye to the other teachers or to my children. After I got over the momentary shock I realized that God is in control and He has plans that are much bigger than I could ever design. This truth helped my heart to be at peace and even excited for what could happen. The next day I got a phone call from another pricncipal in Federal Way that was looking for a long term sub for two months. I went to visit the school and teacher that day and after an two hours walked out to my car with a new assignment to teach a multiage 1,2 class until November. Then on Thursday I got an email about a school through Iris ministries. The timing would be from the end of October to the beginning of January. I applied for this school and arranged for my pastor and friend to fill out the recommendations. Perhaps this could be the reason why the long term three month position wasn't finalized and instead this two month one was available.
As of right now I'm still in the holding process. I'm waiting to hear from ELI concerning our partnership in Eastern Africa and I'm waiting to hear from Iris concerning this school in Mozambique. Even though I've not had the green light from either group I'm proceceding ahead as if I have the go. It has been liberating and intense as I do another sweep through my stuff and place it into piles or donate, give away, or keep for Africa. It has been freeing because I love simplicity and not having material posessions as a weight. How awesome it would be to move and transition quickly with no material ties. It has been exausting because of the memories and sentiments linked to each item and the whole process of uprooting my life from one home to a new home is emotional.
As of right now I'm still in the holding process. I'm waiting to hear from ELI concerning our partnership in Eastern Africa and I'm waiting to hear from Iris concerning this school in Mozambique. Even though I've not had the green light from either group I'm proceceding ahead as if I have the go. It has been liberating and intense as I do another sweep through my stuff and place it into piles or donate, give away, or keep for Africa. It has been freeing because I love simplicity and not having material posessions as a weight. How awesome it would be to move and transition quickly with no material ties. It has been exausting because of the memories and sentiments linked to each item and the whole process of uprooting my life from one home to a new home is emotional.
Monday, August 21, 2006
I feel as if I'm getting steps and steps closer to Africa. I frequently check others blogs that are currently over there and I get so excited to be part of the life over there even when I'm millions of miles away. I say that I'm resisting technology but how can you when it allows you to see the faces of the children that I love so much? I have to admit that technology can be benifical too.
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