things I am learning

Things I learned (or relearned) while building my Support Team for Hungary:
-Always remember whose number you just dialed
-People are busy and they won't call you back right away so don't bother leaving a message
-"I'll have her call you back" doesn't necessarily mean she will
-Give yourself extra time to get to people's houses
-Write down people's addresses somewhere other than the envelope you're sending them or you'll have to keep asking for it (i should have learned that forever ago)
-People surprise me everyday!
-You never know until you ask
-Some people are really skeptical
-Not everyone smiles and nods affirmingly like teachers do
-God is huge and He already knows who He wants to give and who He doesn't
-God has it all under control and He equips those He calls!


If you feel God is leading you to support this ministry to Hungary, you can go here, and if you want to check out the school I'll be working at, you can see it here.

MMMMM, Like the Jelly to My Peanut Butter...

The Lord is so good to me, blessing me with such amazing friends who are just...I can't even describe how much I love and appreciate them. They are exactly what I need:) Thanks for caring and helping and keeping me sane!

Oh and by the way...my class will be Miss Adams' Apples...how clever:) Pick of the crop...apple of my eye...welcome to the orchard....Appealing Apples

Sounds Like Classroom Fun!

So for my classroom theme I'm thinking maybe Miss Adams' Aquarium....then my students can all be animals that live in water? Miss Adams' Apples? Miss Adams' Acorns...eww who wants to be an acorn! Miss Adams' Apostles....hmm. That sounds questionable.....

Hmm, let's unload for a sec

I need more friend interaction...I'm slowly dying on the inside. I will be relieved when all my support is raised. I know God will bring it in and so far it has definitely come in in unexpected ways, which is so exciting. I'm getting tired though, I mean I'm always tired on some level because I live like a crazy intense person and don't sleep enough, but I am getting mentally and emotionally tired in relation to this whole process. PFO (pre-field orientation) training in New York will be a refreshing vacation, haha. It should be nice to meet the other new teachers to next year and I even get to go to Niagra Falls! How lucky I am:) I really crave friends, esp my christian friends. I am starting to feel sadder and sadder now...maybe I should stop thinking about it.

I was just talking to David, which is always nice since that's really the majority of our relationship, and he was telling me about a newly formed Realness Patrol of sorts. Apparently, this group of people really dislikes fakeness. I also dislike fakeness and I actually find it pretty hard to be friends with people who are fake. I consider myself a pretty real person, especially since I am just open and honest with people all the time to the point of just telling them everything that goes on in my life and in my head. Sometimes I have to be careful with that though because 1) not everyone wants to hear my every thought 2) sometimes that isn't appropriate 3)...well actually I think 1 and 2 cover it all. Sometimes my realness leads to people not particularly liking me, but at least it's the real me they are liking or disliking. I think sometimes I am less comfortable around some people so I am less able to be myself. I hate that. Generally though if people are interested in really knowing me and are real with me, I am able to really be myself with them. You know, I really hate insecurity. When I say this I am only referring to my own. It doesn't bother me one bit when someone else is insecure. I really just do my best to assure them as much as I can (trying not to be too excessive though). I am not saying that I just tell them all these great things about them to make them feel better, I am just telling them what is true about themselves so maybe they'll see that they don't really have the right perspective of themselves. I think insecurities sometimes come from wanting to impress people and feeling like you won't be able to, or are not, and then letting it make you feel bad about yourself. I really just wish everyone were more reaffirming of others. There is so much negative sarcasm and tearing down of other people. It just hurts my heart. I mean I am not saying be fake-ly positive about people (see "realness" portion above), I am just saying, let people know what you appreciate about them and just try to find things to legitimately praise. I definitely know some people like this and I really appreciate them. I would definitely say that the approval and love of God should be more than enough to affirm people and give people worth, but sadly humans are kind of dumb and sometimes we just need to hear it audibly spoken to us. I'm sure the fact that God's approval doesn't seem to be enough sometimes makes Him sad, but He's not surprised. I guess what I'm saying is we should love God and love others, find our worth in Christ and not in others opinions of us, and I am also saying sometimes that is hard so it's nice to help each other out.

I love you, you are so precious to me, and I am more than excited about hearing from you:) Let me know how I can pray for you.

Always Faithful.

What an exciting day! I started reading Believing God by Beth Moore, which is soo good. It was the highest grossing support raising day so far. God brought in $6040 today from some fairly unexpected places. It was so encouraging!! I can't even put into words. It was all God and definitely not me at all. I also had an appointment I was really nervous about that went really well and then another appointment that was encouraging where the people actually fed me brownies and we talked for awhile. It's so nice to be loved by your ministry team. Also, I had a great and encouraging conversation on the phone with a possible supporter who is just so great. Whew! Awesome. I need to go to bed now though..early appointment and a long day ahead. Tnanks for all your prayers and keep praying!

This time last year, at my house-warming party.














At the beach. I love this picture.


















Me and my dinosaur friend.
















David and I photo-documenting our impressive visit to a historic place.

A cool drink

The post-graduate school-celebration trip to Myrtle beach was fantastic. I loved almost every minute of it and I think it was good for me. I look much tanner now and I got to relax, read, write letters (or postcards), eat yummy crab, spend hours wandering around Broadway at the Beach, and take a bazillion hilarious and breathtaking pictures (usually one or the other). I am feeling much better in relation to my previous distress and I am trying to rest in Christ and His promises, while trusting Him to get me through every day. Just like He has been for the past 5 years (and before!...but I am in post college reflection mode).The topic of God wooing us and making us fall more in love with Him has been a topic of thought and discussion lately and as I was walking on the beach one night I could feel Him doing it. The way the water hit my feet and chased me around the beach, just felt like God chasing me the way someone in love chases their lover around for fun, laughing all the time. It was endearing. Is that an appropriate word to relate to God? I'm not sure. There are still many things on my heart but I am finding my hope in Christ and turning to Him with my worries (at least trying hard to, with good success). Church today was refreshing, like a drink of cool water for a thirsty soul. That sounds so cheesy but that is exactly how I felt, until I started getting really sleepy and painfully hungry (stupid flesh!) but it was still good even then. God is so amazing. He gives me just what I need when I need it and is so patient with me. I think I verbalize that a lot but it's really true. I'm going to go "rest in Christ" like we say at CWR (ie. take a nap). I'll post more later, just wanted everyone to know I'm doing well! Stay strong friends! Lean on Christ!