A Renewed Desire

Summertime!!!!! It is FINALLY here! I wasn't sure that I'd make it, but I did! 

As I look back on my first year of teaching I am amazed. Amazed by God's goodness. Amazed by the amount of work it takes to be a teacher. Amazed at how expensive this career is. Amazed by all that I accomplished and all that I did not accomplish. Amazed by all of the knowledge that I thought I had but actually gained this year. Amazed that I juggled teaching about 7 subjects each day. Amazed by the wonderful 5th grade team of teachers the Lord gave me. Amazed by how the Father hand-picked 20 precious children for me to shepherd. Amazed at how quickly it went by and at how slowly it drug along. Amazed that I am finished and I live to tell about it. Amazed.

These past 10 months have been a challenge. Of course, all good things take work and sometimes a little heartache. And pretty much every teacher I know says that your first year is always the hardest. (I'm praying they aren't lying!!! ;)  I had moments when I questioned why the Lord had lead me to teaching. There are many reasons why I love being a teacher, but let's not lie, this is a stinkin' hard career! The Lord answered my prayers and re-affirmed His will for my life on the last day of school. 

The story begins about 1 year ago when I returned from Africa. I LOVED my time in Sudan but I wasn't sure how the Lord could really use me and my experiences there. I was expressing this frustration to God one day and I felt Him tell me that my job is to share my heart with the children who would soon be my students. Hmmm. How was this going to make a difference? But, I obeyed the Lord's direction and pretty much talked every day about my love for Africa, missions, and the fact that there are children all over the world who need a home, love, food, and the sweet saving grace of Jesus. I had no idea what impact this would have on the 20 kiddos the Lord let me lead each day, but I knew that this was what I was called to do. My class seemed pretty interested (They even raised about $500 to help feed orphans around the world!!!), but the tediousness of the job began to shake my confidence in my ability to make a difference. 

Fast forward to last Wednesday at our Christian Character Awards where I presented each student with a character quality and Bible verse that I believe describes them. This day was such a blessing for me because it allowed me to focus on each child and how the Lord has uniquely gifted them. What a blessing to be able to encourage these children to use their gifts to further the Kingdom!!! I also asked the students where they see themselves in 10 years. This was SO fun (and sometimes hilarious) and the parents loved hearing these goals! The biggest blessing of the year comes when 7 of my students say that they want to be missionaries. I was blown away! I know that they are only 11, but I believe that I have done what the Lord wanted me to do by planting a seed of awareness in their hearts about missions. I had a few parents come up to me and say that their child had never spoken about an interest in missions until this year. This is when it hit me; the Lord was answering my prayers! He was reminding me why I became a teacher. He was showing me that the desire he put in my heart at the beginning of the year to share my love and His love for the nations with my students had paid off. He was renewing my desire to make a difference through teaching. 

What a mighty and faithful God we serve!!! Never give up on the dreams that the Lord has put in your heart. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."   ~Jeremiah 29:11