A week of learning

I just re-read my post from last week and find it very fitting and so God like that this week we had a women, Libby Stephens from Interaction Int., here speaking on transition, leaving well and the process of saying goodbye. Almost all of the kids I work with are TCKs (Third Culture Kids). This is the largest growing people group. Their 3 cultures are that of their citizenship, all other cultures they have lived in, as well as the culture of other kids like them. TCKs are kids of missionaries, international businessmen, immigrants, diplomats, military persons, and refugees. They are often constantly moving and saying goodbye both as they leave and as others leave. It has been a very hectic week, but a very enjoyable week as I listened to and learned from Libby.
Tonight we have the school carnival. It is an annual event that creates something fun for the community to do and raises money for each class. Each class sets up 5-7 booths that people give purchased tickets to be able to participate. The community loves it and the students look forward to it as well. It is supposed to be outside, but has been raining off and on. Hopefully the skies will clear and plans can stay as they are. Tomorrow night is what they call Music Night for the main mission branch here, SIL. I have been invited to perform which I am looking forward to. The chamber choir I sing in with the students is also singing. It will be a good preparation for next weekend. The chamber choir leaves next Thursday to travel to Batouri in eastern Cameroon. I have not been east of Yaounde so that should be a very fun adventure to see more of this country and spend more time with these kids.
I am still enjoying assistant coaching volleyball. I get to practice my own skills with the kids a lot and really enjoy that. I am improving immensely and get very excited when I do something right. A few times I have seen the girls laughing at me because I get so excited about learning something new or accomplishing a hit. I guess I have never been very good at hiding my excitement about things.
My women’s bible study is studying a book on becoming a woman of excellence. Last night we discussed the chapter on obedience; never a ‘fun’ topic to discuss if we are truly honest with ourselves. I realized that I often seek to obey God by doing what I think is right or by what I have always done. In the study she talks about asking God first how he wants us to obey him, then listening for his response, then acting on that. I often skip to the last step. I am working on asking, listening, then acting. Just a recent simple lesson that I wanted to share.

Here are some pictures of my Covenant World Mission retreat at Kribi over break. The first is of our whole group that gathered there. Many came from other parts of Africa and we made quite a unique group. The second is a picture of our group gathering to pray for one another each morning on the beach. It was truly a blessing and encouragement.




You will not hear from me next week until Monday perhaps. I will be traveling with 16 youth and 6 adults an 8-hour van ride away. Please pray for safety as well leave next Thursday and return Sunday. Pray for God to be seen and heard through us as we sing and perform at outreaches for Him.
Thank you for the part you have played in allowing me this experience.
God Bless You,
AMY

Contemplating Goodbye

Let’s see, what new adventures to share….Nothing much new has happened this week. It has gone by very fast. I can’t believe I now only have 7 weeks of teaching here left. I am excited to return home and see all of you and discover what new adventures God may have for me. I am also looking forward to putting into practice the many things I learned this year. I have learned a lot about how to live more simply. It will be harder to do in the American culture as there are more temptations for materialism and more availability to it. But I am determined to not spend God’s money on things I do not need. I have learned to cook from scratch and found I really love it. I rarely eat out here and have found great joy in sharing a meal with friends in their home.
I have students asking me to stay and trying to convince me that I should teach choir (our music director it leaving) and help out with chapel details. I would not want to teach again. But there are some other things that would intrigue me to do. If I am honest I can say that I don’t know what to do next year yet. I think of a great idea and get excited about it, but then become so uncertain. Then I find another idea and get excited about that. This is my biggest prayer request now. That I will be seeking God’s wants and will for me and not my own. I know I will find true joy in what He has for me to do. Please pray for wisdom in decision-making as I look toward what may come next for me.
Also, you can pray that I can finish well here. I have built some great relationships with students and co-workers and it will be hard for me to say goodbye.

This first picture is one of my co-worker and good friend Anna and I. The second is Anna and I with some girls at one of the hostels after a water fight.



I get tired of saying goodbye so many times. It is an emotional thing for me. I get tempted to shut my emotions down and not care because often it is too exhausting to care. I don’t enjoy saying goodbye to new friends and people God has used immensely in my life to challenge me, encourage me and love me. I wonder if it is something in me that needs to move on each year and fears the deeper relationships that would come with staying put. I do enjoy the adventure of moving on, but I hate the pain of leaving. I will leave it at that. I don’t have the time to analyze myself anymore and I am sure you do not care to read it all.
I pray you are blessed today and that you can take some moments to be still and truly know that He is God.
May His peace that passes all understanding guide and guard you this day.
AMY

Fellowship and Sunsets

April. Wow! I cannot believe it is here. This spring break has been wonderful, but is almost over for me. We start school again on Monday. Then I only have 8 weeks left of teaching until I finish this year. I have already finished all of my teaching units for Science 10 and it is now time to review for the IGCSEs, a sort of standardized test for the British school system. So may main teaching for that class is over. I still have to plan review, but basically my main planning and teaching will just be in Business Math now. I still enjoy that class very much and am excited to teach them more.

I had a very nice time at our Covenant retreat on the beach. There were 34 people there at the most. We had missionaries come from Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cameroon, a Nigerian and a Congolese man, as well as CWM staff from the states. It was a great time of fellowship and growth. We had meetings twice a day to learn, discuss and make decisions. Also we had many times of worship and prayer. The highlights for me came in the fellowship with the new friends around me. I was blessed immensely by their love for each other and the Lord and their example of dedicated service to Africa. I am excited and encouraged by the growth and changes the Covenant World Mission is going through and I am honored to be a part of it.



(Pictures of a beautiful sunset, some of my buddies for the week, and an example of fun times and quirky magic)

I have been having conversations that are spurring new ideas for what I can do next year but it is all still unclear. Prayer for guidance for decisions and direction as I search would be greatly appreciated. I want to continue to use the gifts and passions that God has given me of relating to youth, loving them and encouraging them to come alive. But what that will, can or should look like, I am uncertain. I cling to the fact that God knows already where I will be next year and what new adventures He will take me on. I am reminded so clearly of His love and provision for me through these verses I recently read.

“When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.” (Psalm 142:3)

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” (Psalm 143:8)

My life is His. I strive to trust Him. I seek His unfailing love each day. He will show me where to walk.
God’s grace and peace be with each of you this day,
AMY