TeachBeyond Orientation

We gathered on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois (just outside Chicago).  There were about 80 missionary candidates preparing to serve with TeachBeyond all across the globe - Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. 

I specifically want my partners who have made a one-time gift or monthly pledge to know that TeachBeyond is an upstanding agency.  They have 475 members serving in 47 countries. They know what they are doing and provided us new members with so much! This video is less than 2 minutes and shares more about their ministry.  I am so thankful to be a part of TeachBeyond! 

It was wonderful to meet and talk with other people that are on a similar journey. They grouped us with others who will be serving in the same part of the world, so my group was Eastern Europe.  There were people from all over the US and Canada, from all walks of life. Many people have teaching experience but some have been working in other fields. Some are just barely out of college!  All ages and stages were represented: singles, young married couples, families with kids of all ages, and empty nester couples. 

My roommate, Zoe, will be serving at ICSB in the fall as well and I was so happy to connect with her. I could definitely write an entire blog post just about Zoe!  We went from strangers to friends very quickly and had the best time together. Living the dorm/dining hall life, we definitely felt like we were back in college and had a blast goofing off together. We even had the brilliant idea to create a lip sync video (A Whole New World from Aladdin - what else?!)  :) 

We also had the chance to meet two new friends who will be at ICSB, Alina and Anna.  The four of us spent a lot of time and many meals together.  I am so grateful for the chance to get to know them before we all arrive in Budapest!

We started each day with worship and a devotional from a TeachBeyond staff member.  Most of them have served as missionaries themselves so it was wonderful to hear their stories and perspectives.  The TeachBeyond staff led most of our sessions as well.  Just like any challenge or transition you go through in life - the people you gain the most wisdom from are those who "get it" beacuse they have been there and gone through it.  Every day we had sessions on multiple topics.  If it looks overwhelming...it was! :) 

The Organization Structure of TeachBeyond               

Reflections on Calling

Personality’s Impact on Service                              

Cultural Adaptation

Personal Safety                                                         

Country-specific breakout sessions

Faith Integration                                                       

Ministry Partnership

Finance/Insurance/Retirement                              

Third culture kids/Missionary kids

The Transformational Christian Educator             

Cultural Implications in the Classroom

Outreach and Discipleship through Mentoring     

Spiritual Preparedness

Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom 

Transition Training

On Wednesday we had some free time in the afternoon, so Zoe and I ventured out to the Wheaton’s Main Street area.  We browsed in some shops and enjoyed ice cream at Kilwin’s.  I ordered Traverse City Cherry in honor of my great-aunt Helen (no joke, y'all – she has a cherry farm in Traverse City, Michigan!) :) It was delicious! 

My favorite moment of the entire week came at our dedication service on the last day.  Each name and country of service was called individually, and we all stood.  At the end we took communion and were prayed for specifically by our mission coaches.  

We sang the song “In Christ Alone” which often makes me cry anyway but definitely had me emotional at the end of the week. If you don't know it, my favorite version on YouTube is by Christina Grimmie (who I absolutely loved on The Voice. I am so sad about her unexpected death just a few days ago).  The song is very powerful and each time I hear it, I can’t help but think of singing it at several memorial services I have attended in the past few years.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was incredibly strong with so many voices raised to heaven singing the final verse:

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

It seemed that every missionary in the room was singing these words with all of their hearts.  I have seen in my life that the power of Christ is stronger than anything this world can offer and that nothing separates us from His love.  Choosing to serve God in this new way is full of uncertainty but this song describes the truths we stand on.  

I flew home to Houston last Saturday with a heart full of gratitude for such an uplifting week!  It was overwhelming at times but I have the next 7 weeks to soak it all in and prepare for my departure on August 12th!  

Thank you for reading my blog and caring about my life!  I am so honored by your love, support and prayers!

Goin' to Kansas City!

For many years my Mimi’s family has a reunion in Missouri the second weekend of June.  When I was young our family would make a summer trip out of it.  It was great to see all of the extended family and enjoy some time connecting to my dad’s Midwest roots.  We always stayed with my dad’s Uncle John and Aunt Lettie, who were like grandparents to my siblings and me. The past few years I have enjoyed going with my dad and seeing everyone!

We left early on Friday morning and then spent some time shopping on the Plaza before lunch with my Aunt Lettie.  We also went with her to the Liberty Memorial which honors the military 

servicemen of World War I.

 It was really pretty and has a nice view of the city from the top.  

Aunt Lettie has bricks on the Walk of Honor for my Uncle John and her brothers.  My grandfathers and all of my great-uncles served in the military (World War II and the Korean War) so it was special to see the brick with Uncle John’s name on it! These were the only pics I took all weekend, unfortunately!

Saturday was a very full day!  We drove to Sedalia and enjoyed lunch at the family reunion. We stopped in Holden on the way back to visit my sister’s in-laws and had some delicious blackberry cobbler.  That evening we had an early dinner with relatives in Kansas City.  On Sunday morning we attended church with Aunt Lettie and then it was off to the airport. 

My dad’s flight back to Houston was very delayed so he waited with me at my gate to keep me company.  It suddenly hit me that I was going to TeachBeyond Orientation and this whole moving-to-Budapest continues to become more and more real.  I was feeling really anxious about everything and started crying (I cry when I’m nervous…).  I knew I’d be fine once I got there, but I just felt overwhelmed.  I told him, if getting on the plane to Chicago feels like such an ordeal, how on earth am I ever going to get on plane to Budapest?  I am truly excited for this next chapter but as I have shared before, there is always an underlying layer of anxiety surrounding the whole thing!  Nothing upsets me more than the thought of leaving my family behind...

Thankfully my dad is not the type of dad that gets awkward with a gooey show of emotions.  First of all, he can always make me laugh.  He’s so sweet and always understanding.  He reminded me of two things that I needed to hear, that did not feel true at the moment: I am brave and I can do this.  So, I got on the plane, settled my soul and prayed for the week ahead!  More to come in my next post. :) 

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One Hundred Percent!

I am so happy to share that I am now at 100% of my fundraising goal!  Raising financial support for my mission has been such a learning experience.  I never thought I would do something like this but I know God has called me to obedience.  It helped to read and learn about the biblical perpsective of giving, stewardship and support raising.  God gave me this simple verse to hang on to: 

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 

1 Thessalonians 5:24

On March 7th, I took a picture and wrote a note in my Bible next to the verse.  Then I prayed over the stack of support letters, and dropped them in the mail on my way to work. I prayed over each batch of letters I sent out over the next few months. I knew God was in control and that nothing about this endeavor is really up to me.  My prayer was that God would stir hearts to partner with me in sharing His love with little children as a classroom teacher and being a part of the Christian community spreading the gospel across Hungary.     

I prayed to have MANY thank you notes to write and God was faithful - over 100 individuals/families have contributed to my mission! I am so thankful and I have been so encouraged by all of you.  

I am working on a plan to pray for one person/family each week while I serve.  I keep you all in my heart with deep gratitude! 

My greatest need now is PRAYER. See the Prayer Corner tab for specifics! :) And again, thank you for all of the love, prayer and support! 

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Airfare + Life Update!

On June 3rd I received the email from TeachBeyond that airfare for August has been purchased! I am officially leaving Houston for Budapest on Friday August 12th and this whole thing is starting to become very real! 

I am close to being 100% funded for the next 2 years that I plan to serve at ICSB. I have been blessed with 91 individuals/families who have generously given a one-time gift or made a pledge to give monthly while I serve.  Thank you so much! All of my family and friends have been so supportive and I can never thank you enough! 
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The last few weeks have been a whirlwind as I finished up my school year and said some sad goodbyes! I taught at The Regis School for 5 years and it was bittersweet to leave my students and teacher friends behind.  

Yesterday I left apartment #1532 for the last time!  I am definitely not the same person I was when I first moved to Houston in 2008 and I am so grateful for all the lessons God taught me during my time in the city.  

 It has been raining in this part of the country for nearly a month, which has been really fun to deal with while moving.  Thankfully no one in my family has experienced flooding but many people around our city and state are really struggling. On a rare day of sunshine, I went to Galveston with my sister's family, where we enjoyed the beach and an old fashioned ice cream shop on the Strand called LaKing's. 

 For the first time ever, I was able to go to the end of year school programs for my niece (5th grade) and my nephew (1st grade)! Can I just say how lovely it was to be sitting in the audience of a program? I loved every second.  I felt like a mom, right down to being teary eyed through the programs! So proud of their hard work at school but more importantly their character and the people they are becoming.  

I enjoyed their little sister's dance recital, too! You can ask anyone in my family - this girl is a character with so much personality! 

My dad has been so gracious to let me move in for the summer and store so much of my stuff here! He is simply the best and I love him so much! In between helping me move, he spent a week in El Salvador with a group from our church serving with Living Waters (he's on the far right). :) 

It has been great to be back where I grew up in Kingwood. My family moved here in 1986 and it will always feel like home to me.  Last week I was sad thinking about how much I miss my mom and the time we would be sharing together if she were still here.  My parents' 42nd wedding anniversary was June 1st, too.  I struggle with the sense that she is missing out on my life but at the same time, I feel her presence and her love everywhere I go.  The sorrow never goes away but I am striving to choose joy and gratitude...

 It's been great to catch up with my cousins and a few friends.  I am enjoying things like family dinners and going for walks with my dad.  I took this picture from our walk down to Lake Houston last night.  

I'll have another update soon about my TeachBeyond Orientation in Illinois June 12-18th! SO excited to meet fellow missionaries and make some friends! :) 

Thank you for reading about my life and keeping me in your prayers! 

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