It's getting late, and it's been a full week so far, so I don't have much time before I need to go to bed, but I wanted to blog a few things.
It has been a week of ups and downs. Nothing extreme, which is good, but still swinging from optimism to anxiety and back, sometimes within the same day.
I love the way that walking with HIM is a sequence of opportunities he invites us into. I love the way that he gives us promises in his Word and then gives a chance to take him at it. I am eager to discover what Joshua discovered. I am eager to discover that HE will be with me wherever I go. I love the reminders of the promises that I have kept and collected and (in some cases) worn over the years, especially as of late, and being able to know them deeply, and yet there are still more promises to discover, still more depth to the promises already given.
We were doing an exercise in the Mediterranean room (where teachers teaching in that region go to learn things specific to their region) this afternoon and there were books out on the table and shirts and other cultural items tacked on the wall, and I find a penetrating curiosity about them, and one I've felt before as well. I don't know if it's just curiosity or indicative of something more. I'm not dwelling on it or anything, but something I'm noting.
God is good.
(x-posted)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Starting Line
1:30AM Michigan time.
After two flights (one of which involved the flight attendant asking if there was a doctor or person in the medical field on board and paramedics upon arrival), a 2 hour shuttle van ride (because the drivers didn't know where they were going and couldn't read handwriting or understand our English), and 15 minutes dealing with a newbie security guard who couldn't find room keys for me, I am in my room in LA. Training starts tomorrow afternoon.
I'm going to go pray and sleep now. It's been a long past 48 hours...
After two flights (one of which involved the flight attendant asking if there was a doctor or person in the medical field on board and paramedics upon arrival), a 2 hour shuttle van ride (because the drivers didn't know where they were going and couldn't read handwriting or understand our English), and 15 minutes dealing with a newbie security guard who couldn't find room keys for me, I am in my room in LA. Training starts tomorrow afternoon.
I'm going to go pray and sleep now. It's been a long past 48 hours...
Monday, June 13, 2011
Where are the brakes?
Well, I leave for training on Saturday. Yes, THIS Saturday, as in, 4 days from now.
I don't really have anything all that fascinating to say. I just felt that the countdown being this close, I should post something. I will say that I wish I were able to excited about Saturday, as much as my teammates seem to be. I've been too overwhelmed with my apartment situation and fears about my inability to speak Russian and to be extroverted, especially in a new culture, to really remember how excited I was back in November.
But today was a good day. It was sunny and productive. And I found a new journal--I filled up my last one the other day. Perfect timing. Fresh journal for a new adventure. =) I think I'm going to learn a lot about what it takes to love and serve even when I don't feel like I can. I look forward to filling my journal with all of those things.
And now I should get to bed. Sleep is good--especially since I seem to be sick (or developing allergies?). If you could ask Dad about that, that'd be cool. :)
Thanks for joining me in this journey! =) It is almost here!
I don't really have anything all that fascinating to say. I just felt that the countdown being this close, I should post something. I will say that I wish I were able to excited about Saturday, as much as my teammates seem to be. I've been too overwhelmed with my apartment situation and fears about my inability to speak Russian and to be extroverted, especially in a new culture, to really remember how excited I was back in November.
But today was a good day. It was sunny and productive. And I found a new journal--I filled up my last one the other day. Perfect timing. Fresh journal for a new adventure. =) I think I'm going to learn a lot about what it takes to love and serve even when I don't feel like I can. I look forward to filling my journal with all of those things.
And now I should get to bed. Sleep is good--especially since I seem to be sick (or developing allergies?). If you could ask Dad about that, that'd be cool. :)
Thanks for joining me in this journey! =) It is almost here!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Lightbulb!
The countdown is at 29 days! (But I leave for training on Saturday the 18th, so technically for me, it's 28! days.) Meaning it's crunch time. Lots to do to prepare, like finding teaching materials, medical tests to complete, figuring out my wardrobe,... packing everything I need for a summer in one 50lb suitcase. I'm heading out to a state park for a weekend camping trip the first weekend of June for some reflective space. Oh, InterVarsity, thank you for instilling in me the desire for disciplines like ROS's! It's been too long since I've had some serious outdoor face time. I'm looking forward to it. I even bought a tent this week! A tent of my own! My dad should be so proud. :)
But enough stalling. The reason I'm writing is because I finally know where I'm going! For everyone who has asked me, So, where in Russia will you be? I finally have an answer for you! I will be teaching at a youth camp in Cherepovets. Now where in the heck in Cherepovets, you might be asking. Good question! It's here
It looks to be midway between St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novgorod.
It's so nice to have a location to pin my brain on. I even have the school's website! To be able to visualize where I'll be spending 5 weeks of my life is such a relief. People have asked me or otherwise commented on how brave I am for hopping off to a foreign country without knowing exactly where I'll be. And it honestly wasn't a huge deal to me. Now, when my letter was for the Commonwealth of Independent States, that was a little more of a big deal. But once I talked to my director and he said, Russia or Northern Kazakhstan, that was good enough for me. But now I realize how glad I am to know where I'm going. I can look at the world map in the lobby at work now and be able to stare at where I'm going instead of the massive expanse that is Russia. It's good to be able to focus on something.
So I guess my blog title can't be Russia/Northern Kazakhstan anymore, now can it? I'll think of something witty later...
And as far as the title of this post is concerned, it really had nothing to do with this post, except that it's from the movie Despicable Me and the main character has a Russian accent. :)
But enough stalling. The reason I'm writing is because I finally know where I'm going! For everyone who has asked me, So, where in Russia will you be? I finally have an answer for you! I will be teaching at a youth camp in Cherepovets. Now where in the heck in Cherepovets, you might be asking. Good question! It's here
It looks to be midway between St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novgorod.
It's so nice to have a location to pin my brain on. I even have the school's website! To be able to visualize where I'll be spending 5 weeks of my life is such a relief. People have asked me or otherwise commented on how brave I am for hopping off to a foreign country without knowing exactly where I'll be. And it honestly wasn't a huge deal to me. Now, when my letter was for the Commonwealth of Independent States, that was a little more of a big deal. But once I talked to my director and he said, Russia or Northern Kazakhstan, that was good enough for me. But now I realize how glad I am to know where I'm going. I can look at the world map in the lobby at work now and be able to stare at where I'm going instead of the massive expanse that is Russia. It's good to be able to focus on something.
So I guess my blog title can't be Russia/Northern Kazakhstan anymore, now can it? I'll think of something witty later...
And as far as the title of this post is concerned, it really had nothing to do with this post, except that it's from the movie Despicable Me and the main character has a Russian accent. :)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tidbits!
50 days!!
I'm so excited. I turned in my questionnaire of self with lots of gory details about who I am so they can pair me with my teammate(s). Working on the visa application. Completed save for the stupid photos. Now if only my landlord would call me back to let me know if I have a place to live once I get back, that'd be great...
April is not even over yet, but HE has made good on his promises to provide! Just as he said he would. I don't want to quote anything until the transactions have come through, but...I am amazed at his faithfulness and his sufficiency. I knew he would come through for me, but this...I never thought it would be like this. Oh man, I'm going to Russia!!
Though I do have to comment: Out of all the places in the world, and out of all the random languages I know, I couldn't be sent to France? I can carry on a decent conversation en francais. en francais, нет росскй. *sigh* It'll be fun though. Another language! Wee!
I'm so excited. I turned in my questionnaire of self with lots of gory details about who I am so they can pair me with my teammate(s). Working on the visa application. Completed save for the stupid photos. Now if only my landlord would call me back to let me know if I have a place to live once I get back, that'd be great...
April is not even over yet, but HE has made good on his promises to provide! Just as he said he would. I don't want to quote anything until the transactions have come through, but...I am amazed at his faithfulness and his sufficiency. I knew he would come through for me, but this...I never thought it would be like this. Oh man, I'm going to Russia!!
Though I do have to comment: Out of all the places in the world, and out of all the random languages I know, I couldn't be sent to France? I can carry on a decent conversation en francais. en francais, нет росскй. *sigh* It'll be fun though. Another language! Wee!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Following
It's been a while. The countdown is at 80 days until I fly to LA for training. A week later, I will be overseas. Thought I'd give an update on how I'm doing...
It has been 7 months since I have left grad school. It has been 4 months since I have accepted the invitation to serve with Teach Overseas. My life in these past few months has been quite possibly the most challenging it has ever been (I've had darker, more trying years, but less challenging, if that makes sense), but I wouldn't trade a minute of it.
In this time, I have put my plans on pause. When I graduated college, I thought that I was going to spend the rest of my life holed away in my lab. I was going to spend my life reading, experimenting, and scribbling. In this time, I am coming to terms with the idea that that might not be my life. I am not concerned so much with leaving chemistry as what I'm leaving it for. I'm considering leaving it for things I had never imagined. Teaching. Advocating for students. Things I have dismissed as possible for little me. And now I find myself volunteering with InterVarsity and preparing to teach overseas. Both of these have been challenging in and of themselves. I have had to exercise my leadership muscles that I have hardly used, and I have had to let go of my pride and ask people to come alongside me for this journey, for both personal and practical support. Despite these challenges, I am certain of my place here and now. I'm just concerned about where it leads. I am concerned about where it leads because it does not lead back to the lab. I have no doubt that it will be a far better road, it's just scary. And I know it wouldn't require trust if it wasn't. It is with trust that I even step on the road to begin with.
Overall, I've been fairly overwhelmed. With hope, with excitement, with fear, with anticipation, with details, with thoughts. But I love my life right now. And I am grateful for every minute.
It has been 7 months since I have left grad school. It has been 4 months since I have accepted the invitation to serve with Teach Overseas. My life in these past few months has been quite possibly the most challenging it has ever been (I've had darker, more trying years, but less challenging, if that makes sense), but I wouldn't trade a minute of it.
In this time, I have put my plans on pause. When I graduated college, I thought that I was going to spend the rest of my life holed away in my lab. I was going to spend my life reading, experimenting, and scribbling. In this time, I am coming to terms with the idea that that might not be my life. I am not concerned so much with leaving chemistry as what I'm leaving it for. I'm considering leaving it for things I had never imagined. Teaching. Advocating for students. Things I have dismissed as possible for little me. And now I find myself volunteering with InterVarsity and preparing to teach overseas. Both of these have been challenging in and of themselves. I have had to exercise my leadership muscles that I have hardly used, and I have had to let go of my pride and ask people to come alongside me for this journey, for both personal and practical support. Despite these challenges, I am certain of my place here and now. I'm just concerned about where it leads. I am concerned about where it leads because it does not lead back to the lab. I have no doubt that it will be a far better road, it's just scary. And I know it wouldn't require trust if it wasn't. It is with trust that I even step on the road to begin with.
Overall, I've been fairly overwhelmed. With hope, with excitement, with fear, with anticipation, with details, with thoughts. But I love my life right now. And I am grateful for every minute.
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