A Few Thoughts from Today

   This summer was a time that God knew I needed. As I'm sitting here typing this, I can already look back at so many things I learned this summer that are helping me as I adjust to life here in the islands and learn how to teach! :)
   I'm learning to think differently about challenges; I know God uses challenges to help me grow! To change me from the inside out. To present different issues I'm dealing with as He convicts me of each one. To help me trust Him and not myself. To remind me that I cannot make it on my own. To teach me how to surrender each day...no, each moment... to Him. To not ask Him, "Why is this happening to me? It's so hard!" but instead to ask, "God what would you like me to learn from the new adventure?"

   I would like to pause here and say something. I am sorry for my terribly inconsistent blogging that has, so far, told you absolutely nothing about my actual island experience! :/ I will not make any promises at this point, because I know myself. But I will do my best to fill you in quickly and at least give you an idea of what the last 7 weeks have been like here in Ebeye. My blogs will be entirely confusing as I will jump from what is currently happening, to old stories as I remember, and then back again. :) So bear with me if you are so inclined, and would like to know of my adventures!
   Today was my first sick day. I woke up at 4 AM with diarrhea and proceeded to throw up all morning. I was able to get a nice 4 hour nap when my body had no more fluids, and since then I've been getting better. I've had a lot of time to think about my students, school, and why I am here. Interesting thoughts.
  To summarize them: I will just say we are guilty of losing our focus, our calling and the real goal! As a close friend reminded me recently: 

   "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."                                                                                ~Philippians 3:13-14

The prize being eternal life and bringing others with us. Everything else is secondary.

   I've thought a lot about this today. How easy it is to forget this! Everything else is secondary. I am here in Ebeye because God has called me heavenward and I want my students to know; I want them to move heavenward too! I want them to know Jesus. To have a better life. Hope. Peace. Trust. A Father. A Best Friend.
   My strength is from God, and with Him leading my life, I will continue forward and upward. Toward that prize; toward God.