A Teacher's Heart, Flights, and Funds

I can hardly believe that it is already April, what has happened to this year????  First of all I want to thank you all for the support from my last blog, I had more views than I’ve EVER had! I was blown away! You guys are seriously the best!

Next, some quick updating.  When I last posted in January I was in the process of getting my substitute teaching license.  I did get it in February and started subbing within days of receiving the paperwork.  I’ve been subbing almost everyday since then, bare minimum of four days a week.  I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about being a sub, but honestly I found it kind of fun.  I have now taken a Long-Term Substitute Position, but I’ll explain more about that in a minute.  I loved the freedom I had with being a sub, the freedom to travel and discover all sorts of different schools, to be able to interact with a huge variety of kids, and being able to be a part of their lives, even if for just a day.  One of the other things I liked, was the freedom to not go back to a school or a classroom.  There is so much peace in knowing that things will only last for a set amount of time, for a day or a week.  So even on days when the students scared me, or refused to listen, there was always a hope and a joy for tomorrow, because who knew what tomorrow would be like? I found so much peace and comfort in that, and I’m working at learning to keep that perspective all of the time. 

As I subbed, I found several schools that I thought were pretty special.  The day before spring break one of these incredible schools asked me to be a long term sub for them, starting the week after spring break and through the end of the semester.  I quickly agreed! Spring break turned into a whirlwind of gathering what classroom supplies I had, and buying the critical ones that I needed.  Then last Monday my newest teaching adventure began with 26 fifth graders. 

These past few months subbing and this past week of being full time has shown me that I really did pick the right profession.  I love helping students discover the world around them.  I love seeing their “light-bulb” moments, answering their questions, and being able to be the one that they look to for guidance.  Being a teacher is such a special, and wonderful thing! I feel so blessed to be able to work with students every day and to get to watch them learn and grow.  They captivate my heart so quickly, that even I’m amazed by the depth of love I can have for students after spending a day with them, or how strongly I can feel towards my own students after a week with them. 

I am currently looking for a full time teaching position for the beginning of the school year next August.  But until then, after I make it through May, my focus is my amazing trip this summer. 

As most of you know, I have the wonderful opportunity to teach English in Asia this summer.  It will be a six week trip from June 20^th to August 2^nd, through an organization called ELIC, or the English Language Institute of China.  They are a non-profit organization that sends English teachers to a variety of countries in Asia, the Middle East, and even Northern Africa. But since they are a non-profit they cannot provide the funds to pay for their teachers to make these trips.  This means that I am having to raise funds in order to bless the students I will be teaching overseas.  This is where I need your help.  I have begun to have funds start to slowly trickle in, but I need to have 70% of my funds in by May 1^st.  Oh, May 1^st, that doesn’t sound to bad, you’re thinking.  But guess what, that’s only three weeks away! (Seriously what happened to this year??) I was also asked to be a team leader for our group since they needed a female in a more leadership role to help out as well.  I am so amazed by this request, and I feel so blessed to be able to do as they ask, but that has also created another financial problem.  I need to change my flights in order to be able to get the leadership training ELIC is providing.  If any of you have ever had to change your flights, you know, it’s expensive! It could cost me more than I paid for the flights in the first place.

Please consider helping me and donating to my cause.  I’ve seen so many people using links on Facebook to donate to whatever non-profit someone decides to share. Instead, would you please consider donating to my trip to be able to help students who don’t have access to education the way our students in America do.  Here’s the link to be able to donate: https://give.elic.org/ and then just enter my name in the teacher box. 

Thank you for reading, and for all of the support you have provided from my exciting overseas journeys starting with YWAM in 2013.  I always get so excited to write to all of you and share this crazy adventure. Please drop me a line to ask me any questions you might have, or to share the amazing things happening in your life.