the mosaic

 ...colorful...
                ...beautiful...
                                                 ...unique...
                                                                       ...broken...
                                                                                               ...skillfully crafted...
                                                                                                                                           ...brilliant...


Mosaics are one of the most unique styles of art. The artist has a vision that comes together to create a masterpiece...all out of small pieces of colored glass or other materials. It is amazing that the artist can see the bigger picture when they are working with such unique individual pieces. And yet the finished product is stunning. When you step back, you almost forget that the artist has used hundreds or thousands of individual parts because the whole fits seamlessly together. 

The worldwide body of believers is similar to a mosaic, a diverse arrangement of pieces that all fit together to create a breathtaking masterpiece. I am reminded daily of this mosaic of believers when I enter my fifth grade classroom. My students are unique and varied just like the pieces of glass that make up a mosaic. Some are high ability while others would be in special needs classrooms in an American system. Some speak perfect English, while others struggle to find words for what they are trying to express. 


I could continue to list the differences and unique characteristics that make up my class but the one thing that always reminds me of the diversity  that lies within the four wall of our little German school is our daily prayer for lunch. Each day, a different student volunteers to pray, and the language that is spoken never remains constant for a whole week. I have heard prayers offered up in German, French, Swedish, Russian, and English. To add to that, we recently talked about how many countries each student had been to. Not a single student had been to less than four countries and two of my student had been to over 12 countries...all by the age of 11. I also recently babysat a little girl who has been to over 15 countries and she is only 8 years old.  

As a 21 year old, I have been to nine different countries, which before coming to BFA, I thought was a decent number. By the end of this trip, I'll be up to eleven countries, while although exciting to me, pales in comparison to the experience of these students. These children and their experiences amaze me. I love the creativity of God in the way that He created our world. Instead of being boring and having one universal language, God chose to give us many languages to speak. He even gave some the gift and ability of knowing more than one language. God is astounding and the mosaic of Christ is so beautiful to look at and listen to as I hear the name of Jesus spoken in a variety of languages.


This past week, I went to G5, a German church that I really enjoy attending. I love worshipping in German, partly because I somewhat understand it and partly because it reminds me once again of the universality of my faith in Jesus Christ. As I worshipped with my German brothers and sisters in Christ, I was moved to tears at the majesty of God. I can't imagine my life with Jesus...I don't want to imagine living without hope. We sang a song that said, 

Jede Schuld verliert die Kraft
Der Weg ist frei, es ist vollbracht!


Every sin loses its strength,

The path is free, it is accomplished.

Christ is victorious, the battle has been won. Praise God that He is mighty and majestic. Sin has no power because Christ has already won the fight against Satan. What powerful words that "every sin loses its strength because the cross has been accomplished...it is done." 


I know there are many different people who have been keeping up with my blog while I'm gone and some of you know Jesus and others don't. If you do know the Lord, continue pressing on towards the goal for which we were called. If you don't know Jesus, ask me or someone else about Him because He will change your life. I can't imagine my life without Jesus and I don't want to imagine your life without Him either. I hope you are blessed and encouraged today knowing that the worldwide church is alive and it truly reflects the magnificence of God.

I'm in a Winter Wonderland...

This is one of the most majestic places I have ever been to. Creation screams the name of God. It truly looks like a winter wonderland here and I love going to school because I get to see these beautiful sights on my drive to school and then continuing when I get there. 

In Sitzenkirch

A building in the village of Sitzenkirch.

The field my school overlooks.

the snow is falling

Today we had our first snowfall. Although it was a light dusting, it was very exciting for the kids (and  secretly for me as well).

And for those people that are excited by educational things...we played battleship to learn how to plot a point on a coordinate plane. It was a ton of fun!

The Windows of a Chateau

For some reason, I am fascinated by light. As I walked through a chateau in Switzerland this weekend, I was drawn immediately to the windows that were present on the outer and inner walls. The windows captured different views of the majestic Swiss Alps that immediately grabbed my view. “Wow…that is amazing,” was the common phrase I uttered as I walked through the castle and took in the beauty of God’s creation outside and the ingenuity of men inside the castle. For some reason though, I kept getting drawn to the windows. There is something about light gleaming into a dark room, especially a dark, damp banquet hall of an old, stone fortress. What is it that repeatedly drew me to the light?

The light shone differently depending on the window it was coming in through. Some of the windows were stained with greens and pinks and the light had a certain hue to it. Other windows were foggy and the light had a blurred effect. And yet other openings had no windowpane at all; the light just streamed in uninterrupted by any human creation. The one thing that all of the windows shared in common was the light that they brought into the room. Without those openings, the room would have been without light and there would have been no way for me to see the wonders that the castle held.

Later that night, I was flipping through my Bible and I just happened upon the following verse. Ephesians 5: 8-13 says

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Coincidence…I think not. God spoke to me through Scripture as He reminded me that light reveals truth. If I had been in that castle in complete darkness, my mind very well could have created an image of what it looked like but it would have been very far from accurate. The light beaming in from the windows allowed me to see the accurate depiction of the fortress. In the same way, the light of God reveals truth. We are called to bring light to this darkened world. The light may be revealed in different forms but it always remains light. 

I have to ask myself what kind of light am I? Am I blurred by the things of this world? Do I have bars in the way that block out some of my light? Or am I an uninhibited light for God with nothing blocking the majesty of Jesus Christ. I pray that I become the kind of light that dances across the walls and shines brightly without any of the dimming effects of this world. 

Blessed by others...

Conversations are a wonderful thing. Sometimes they are difficult, other times they are easy but I am thankful that God has given me a mouth that I love to speak with (sometimes too much) and ears that love to listen. Yesterday, I was blessed by several conversations that reminded me of how much I love the people God has given me.


If you are a TU student, you know what I'm talking about when I say we have the most wonderful chief of police. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of talking with Chief, a man who I truly appreciate and look up to. Chief was one of my team leaders for my trip to the Dominican Republic last year. He, along with my awesome children's lit professor (go Q-Daddy), led our team in a very God-focused way. As I spoke to Chief last night, we were both reminded of how God's plans are much bigger than our own. When I went on my trip last spring, I was physically drained and emotionally broken and God brought Chief into my life (along with some other amazing men and women) to love me when I didn't have the strength to love. I remember thinking, "God how can I love these children that I'm working with when I have absolutely no love to give?" I was gently reminded that the love I show is not my own...it is the remarkable love of Jesus Christ flowing through me. God put me in that situation of brokenness to lean on him and He used Chief to help me see that.


Soon after, I got to Skype with two of my best friends, Car and Sam. Wow!!! They are beautiful, in person and in spirit. We laughed a lot and learned that Dearborn, Michigan is not a country (I'm not naming names on who thought that) but rather a place that is north of Indiana and very, very west of China...or east depending on which direction you travel. Thank you for your laughter and I'm very excited for my Christmas gift from you two. 


I then was blessed to speak with my grandfather. My grandfather encouraged me in the way he responded to my voice. He immediately knew that it was me on the phone and I could tell that my phone call made his day. That knowledge brought me joy because I can tell how much he loves me. He was simply joyful at the sound of my voice. What a way to feel loved even though I am across the ocean.


Lastly, as I was about to head to bed, my computer started ringing and I realized my roommate was calling. I stayed up way too late, but it was totally worth it. I am SO BLESSED to live with three amazing women who love the Lord and who live to honor Him. In addition, Mike, the man of our house as we call him, was over for dinner. His presence made me even more excited because it had been such a long time since we had talked. I could literally write pages about my friends and all the reasons I love them but to spare you hours of reading my blog, I will just share a few of my favorite things about these wonderful people I am blessed by.


Becki - We are so different in some ways and yet we are so alike in other ways. I love her passion, which is displayed in so many ways: science, leadership, relationships, ministry, and the list goes on. I love her heart of compassion which she has shown to me countless times. I love her adventurous spirit and that she is flying all the way to Germany to travel with me. And I love her family, who have welcomed me into their home numerous times and made me feel like I belong there.


Erika - She has such a wonderful sense of humor. I love her caring nature...when I was sick with mono, she along with Becki and Brittany, were always so willing to help simply because they wanted to. Erika has a genuine servant's heart and I know that she would do anything for me if I ever needed it. I love that Erika wants to be a middle school teacher because I could never do that. She loves that age group and I am impressed by anyone that can handle middle schoolers every day. Lastly, I love watching her do DDR....she's amazing.


Brittany - Mama, as I affectionately call her, is an amazing woman. She is strong and has such conviction that I am constantly challenged by. Brittany knows how to love me where I am at and she has selflessly loved me through the ups and downs of my past few months. I have so much respect for her and for the Godly woman she is continuously becoming. She is one of the best storytellers because she always adds in comments she wishes she had said, it's just too funny. On top of that, we have a special connection because of her dog...it's a love-hate relationship. (That is with the dog, not with one another.)


Mike - The title "man of the house" really just means he comes and helps us when we need it. Mike has been such a blessing to me over my three and half years at Taylor. He has shown me such brotherly love and he knows me better than many people do. I am thankful for the wisdom he has spoken into my life on countless occasions and for the Godly example he sets. I am thankful for his family who have loved me beyond words and who have shown me so much hospitality. Lastly, I love his humor. He can always make our whole house laugh, especially when he is trying to do manly things like hanging pictures.


To all those who have blessed me that are mentioned above and also not mentioned above, THANK YOU for loving me and teaching me what it means to love like Christ. I appreciate each one of you!

Kids say the darndest things...

Funny stories from this week...


Yesterday, I read the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Great book if you haven't read it). As I was reading, I got to the part of the book that says something to the extent of "And there was kissing on TV, and I hate kissing..." to which one of my fifth grade girls replied, "Yuck! I hate kissing too." Priceless. 


But my favorite of the week so far involved the boys. Rob (my advising teacher) was teaching about bar graphs in math. The students were making a graph representing different countries. They couldn't believe that he was making them write the whole country (oh how difficult) so they asked if they could just abbreviate the countries. "Oh come on Mr. Carey, can't we just abbreviate the countries...like for Brazil we could just write BRA....like bra." (Let me point out that this child had no idea that he had just spelled out a woman's undergarment and to top it off he kept pronouncing it like b-r-a as in brad.) I, at this point, was in the back of the room shaking with laughter as several other boys proceeded to echo the first boy. "Come on Mr. Carey, let us write bra," never realizing what they were saying. For the next hour or so, I laughed spontaneously at the comic relief provided in that moment.


If anymore funny things occur, I will share but for now here are some pictures from the school. They are not the best in terms of photographic skill but they will give you an idea of the beauty of the surroundings.

Over the playground towards the front of the school. 

The view over the playground

The completed product...it took forever.

Letters written in the perspective of a colonial child.

Our colonial quilt bulletin board.

From the teacher's desk

See the castle in the upper middle.

Prayer

Hi family and friends,
I would appreciate your prayer on a few different things.

1) Our neighbor in NJ passed away this past weekend. He was a wonderful man who our family loved very much. Please pray that I can process this from Germany and for my family as they try to love our neighbors.

2) My dad is having surgery on Thursday on his knee. Pray that the surgery would go well! (And if you see him trying to walk around in the week after his surgery, make him sit down.)

3) I am teaching more than half time at this point. Please pray that I would be well-prepared and effective in my teaching.

4) My back is in a lot of pain. Please pray for relief.

Thank you to all those who are faithfully praying for me!

Grace - the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God

We all have things we long to control. Work, education, sports, relationships, food, the way you are perceived, family, friends...the list can go on forever. The irony of control is when you place so much importance on one thing, even the slightest mess-up feels like complete failure. You start out ideally trying to make something better by controlling it and you end up becoming obsessive and way too critical. I am the queen of control. As a PA (or RA for you non-Taylor people), I thrived at floor events where I was in control of planning every little detail. At the same time, I was usually miserable as I worried about every detail I had planned working out perfectly. I would drive myself nuts trying to please everyone else.


I clearly remember one event I planned during my junior year...our messy pick a date. We had a  beautiful day and my copa and I had a great day planned. I had put so much time into planning all of the details in an attempt to really enjoy the day. The pick a date had gone without a hitch so far and it seemed that everyone was really enjoying themsleves. We got to our last event of the day, 3-legged kickball (so much fun). The concept is identical to normal kickball, except that one of your legs is tied to your date's leg. You then have to kick together, run together, and field the ball together. Imagine one person diving to field a ball forgetting they're attached to someone...the other person wipes out. Anyways, as we were playing, I stopped and worriedly exclaimed that I hadn't explained the rules of the game. As I was about to stop the game, my date kindly stopped me and told me to relax and just let people play. He gently reminded me that people would probably grasp the game without me explaining it. (Let me remind you the game had already begun so they were obviously getting the hang of it.)  Why did I feel the overwhelming need to explain the game...because I was worried if anything went wrong, it would be my fault and I would get blamed. I was worried I wasn't going to please everyone so I tried to control the situation.


Control often comes back to pride. There is definitely a need for control in situations. Without people taking control of situations, parties and events wouldn't happen. But the difference between being in control and controlling the situation comes down to pride. My pride often makes me strive for perfection, not for God and not for others, but for my own selfish satisfaction. I strive to control things because I don't want to come up wanting or unsatisfactory. I control things out of a desire to please others and ultimately to please myself.


This topic of control has been a pressing one for me lately. Germany has been a challenge for me in some ways, because there are certain areas of my life that I am used to controlling that are difficult to control in a foreign country. Every day is another day for me to say, "I give this area of my day to you God." It's not easy to let go of things when you have been trained to control them. One of the neat things about God is that He is our helper. I have seen God giving me so many little bits of help in this area of control by placing me in a situation where I am really forced to give up control. "Why is he doing that?" I often ask. I believe God is trying to teach me to let go of my control so that I can cling to Christ, not to my desire for control. I believe He is teaching me I need Him more than I need perfection. I believe He is trying to open my eyes to the knowledge that when God sees me he does not see me as wanting but as a fallen child saved by grace. I thank God that He is helping me to let go of chains that are holding me down so I can experience the grace and freedom of Christ.


I don't know what controls you but I do know that God is bigger than our control.  As we sang in church this morning,


My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace.


Rest in God's grace and step into a beautiful journey with God by allowing Him to take hold of the chains that hold you down.

My Kiddos...

Well another week is almost done and it is unbelievable to think that I have been here for 3 full weeks tomorrow. My time has flown by. I really like numbers and I often think in fractions so my thought this week was, "Wow...I am 3/8 of my way done." Next week, I get to jump to 1/2 of my time being done. (Random fact about me: I think in fractions all the times...it's messed up.) Anyways, back to being here for three weeks. Wow...crazy. In one sense, I feel like I just got here. In another sense, I feel like I've been here for a really long time, mainly due to the fact that I have already built relationships. Nonetheless, I am loving my time here in Germany and I am so blessed to have this opportunity.

I realized I haven't shared a ton about the school I am at and being that the school is my main objective here, I thought it might be good to share. For those of you who don't know, I am in fifth grade in the tiny town of Sitzenkirch. Sitzenkirch is only a five minute drive out of Kandern and it is an absolutely breathtaking drive. There are beautiful fields and mountains that are on either side of the road the whole way up to school. When you pull into the driveway, to the back is the most gorgeous mountain that has been colored with the deep red, orange, and yellow of autumn. Those colors are slowly fading but the view is still breathtaking. Out the window of our classroom, there is a castle in the distance. Yes...that's right, a castle. Crazy!!! And on top of that there is a field that literally comes up to our window so at times we will be startled by the loud sound of a cow mooing only a few feet away. Last week, a calf thought it would be fun to distract all of our students by playing a running game. It was somewhat ilke the basketball practice drill we all dreaded in middle school, suicides, where you had to run from one end of the court to the other. Yea, that was pretty much what the calf was doing, except it's court was a field of grass. The students were highly entertained, not by social studies or math, but by the biology outside.

As for my kiddos, I just love them. There is such a wide variety of students and personalities which makes teaching all the more fun. It's a difficult class in the sense that there is a wide range of strengths and weaknesses but as for behavior, they are wonderful. My teacher, Rob, is a great guy who just loves the students so much. He and his family have been missionaries here for over 10 years and are actually with the EFCA mission (for those of you who dont know, I attend an EFCA church back home). It was fun to find that connection. Rob is an excellent teacher, especially of the Bible, and I love the morning devotion time because he truly knows how to bring Scripture to life with these kids. They literally soak up his words as he reads the Bible with passion and excitement.

One thing I love about our classroom is how much we laugh. Laughter is very frequent and today is just one example of why kids say the darndest things. I was teaching a lesson on colonial America and we were discussing the Puritans and Quakers. We started talking about our faith and witnessing and I asked the students whether it was a good approach to go into a crowd of people that believe differently than you do and just start "shoving" the Bible at them. One girl raised her hand and said, "Yea it's probably not a good idea to go into a crowd and start screaming John 3:16 in people's faces." Good point, I thought. Screaming in people's faces generally doesn't go over so well.

I continued. "How many of you have ever had someone say to you, 'There's just something different about you but I can't put my finger on it?' Has that ever happened to any of you? How about someone you know?" The students looked a bit baffled. We had just been talking about sharing our faith, may I remind you, so the question was relating to Jesus being the defining factor that sets us apart. The kids didn't quite grasp that.

One girl raised her hand and very excitedly answered, "Yea my eyes, they change from brown to blue sometimes and my hair, it changes from brown to blonde. That makes me different." I stifled back laughter and tried to explain that I wasn't talking about physical differences but spiritual differences. Before I had decent time to explain, another little boy raised his hand.

"Well, I have hearing aids and that definitely makes me different." Oh sweet child. Not quite what I was looking for but I'm glad you know it's okay that God made us all unique. Needless to say, I love the kids. There's even a little boy in first grade that I really just want to bring home with me. He has cerebral palsy and he is just the most precious child. The little stinker tricked me though when I thought he only spoke German. (The school is bilingual.) He actually is totally an English speaker but he knew just enough German to fool me. Kids can be tricky.

Pretty much, what I am getting at is I love the school and the blessing of working with these precious children every day. What an amazing gift! Just as God loves each of these children and has designed them with a purpose, He has also created you as a precious and unique creation. What an awesome God we serve that He knows the number of hairs on our head and the number of grains of sand on the seashore. My God is the one and only awesome God, deserving of all glory and praise!

Father-Dorky, Funny, ABSOLUTELY THE BEST

As I walked around Salzburg this weekend, I commented to Brittany and Heather that it was the city of couples. Everywhere I looked there were couples, some with children, others alone, but needless to say there was a lot of hand lacing going on. Now I’m a total romantic, as many of you know, so while some might be disgusted or annoyed by the PDA, I thought it was cute. For those of you who are wondering, I have not met a handsome Hans in Germany. My grandfather suggested I travel to the Netherlands to meet a good-looking Dutch farmer but that’s not in the plan either.  But being in city of couples, I started thinking about what kind of man I hope to end up with. As I started thinking about that, I thought of all of the amazing men in my life who have taught me what love and respect look like.

I don’t even know where to begin thanking those men because there are many that have shown me lots of love over the years. The first one that comes to my mind is one of my favorite people in the world…that would be my dad. If you don’t’ know my dad (and my mom for that matter) you are missing out on some great people. I’m going to brag on him for a minute because I’m missing him and I love thinking about all of his wonderful qualities.

My dad is one of the hardest working people that I know. He runs his business with integrity and he is well respected by those who know him. What an example that has been for my brother Brad and I of what good work ethic looks like. On top of that, he says that his business is the Lord’s and he has just made my dad the manager. He isn’t perfect but I think he does a great job managing. He has worked hard for years to put my brother and I through college and provide a home and safety for our family. For that I will be forever grateful.

My dad is also one of the funniest people I know. Now I warn you, he might not be as funny to you as he is to me but I just find him hysterical. My friends all love him both in NJ and out at Taylor. My TU friends especially love it when Mr. Wilson comes out to visit and cooks his famous pancakes. In return, my dad shows love to my friends and I am often told how blessed I am to have my dad. Now although this is completely dorky and was slightly embarrassing, my dad pulled a machete out on my prom date in high school and threatened a past boyfriend with a mafia act with a very real looking gun in his shoulder holster. Like I said…dorky, but totally awesome at the same time. How many fathers would go to the trouble of getting the whole mob get up and finding a gun holster just to put the fear of Billy Wilson in some boy.

I know for certain that my dad would do anything in the world for me. He is generous with his time and what God has given him and most importantly he loves Jesus Christ with all of his heart. I see that in the way he loves my mom, Brad and me.  During one incident at Taylor, I called my dad in tears because something really terrible had happened. He lovingly replied, “Amy, if there was anyway I could switch places with you and take all this pain away from you and put it upon myself…I would do it in a second.” I saw Jesus in my dad that day in his selfless love for me and I have continued to see the light of Christ shining very brightly through him.

I could literally write pages about my dad and why he is the greatest dad in the world but you probably have things to do. In closing, thank you to all the men who have impacted my life and shown me how valuable I am. From my grandfathers and uncles down to my brother, to my friends and the faculty members at Taylor that have impacted me, to the many men from my church, both young and old, I thank you for showing love and respect to the women in your life. You have taught me so much and poured out so much love to me and I am very grateful for each one of you. 

Kendra, Kelly, my dad, me, Marybeth

...with the Sound of Music

I can only image what these gardens look like in the spring and summer!

I'm standing in the archway that is below.

Mirabell Gardens

The hills are alive....

This week has been full of adventures. On Wednesday of this week, I was introduced to a mother of one of my students. Almost immediately into our conversation, she generously offered me a room in her home in Munich whenever I wanted to come. My thoughts jumped immediately to December when my beautiful roommate Becki is coming and we are traveling to Munich. She then mentioned that Munich is only a few hour train ride from Salzburg, Austria. So, I thought, should I wait until December to take up her offer…of course not? Why not go to Salzburg this weekend? So that’s what I did…I went to Salzburg.

Thankfully, I had friends along for the ride as we had quite an adventure getting there. We accidentally got on the wrong train, which took us in the completely opposite direction of our intended destination. It was only a short train ride so we only added an hour to our trip. Once we finally arrived, the Martins kindly welcomed us into their beautiful home. Saturday was a full day as we took a 3 hour train ride to Salzburg and then proceeded to walk around for the whole day. We saw many beautiful churches, along with astounding architecture all over the city. I also got a purse!!! That might seem not exciting to you, but as a female to not have a purse can be difficult because there are so many things we need to carry around. I had forgotten to bring one and being that I a good deal, it took me several trips to big cities to finally find a purse that I felt was affordable. We also saw Mozart’s home and birthplace. Best of all, we were in the city of The Sound of Music, one of my all time favorite movies. We may have performed some of our favorite songs from the film and there may even be one or two short video clips of those performances. Such fun!

On Sunday, we went into Munich. I experienced the Glockenspiel, which was really a neat experience. I remember learning about it in German class in high school so it was fun to see something I had learned about. Overall, it was definitely a fun filled weekend packed with lots of sightseeing.

Speaking of sightseeing, I have discovered something about myself while in Germany. When I was growing up, my family would go on vacation and I always wanted to go do things, whereas my parents loved just sitting by the pool or by the ocean and relaxing. I would generally give them a little attitude because I thought it was so uncool to just sit around on vacation. Well Mom and Dad, I’m just as uncool as you apparently because I have realized how much I LOVE relaxing vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Zurich and Basel last weekend and Munich and Salzburg this weekend but I would take a day at the beach over sightseeing. Like I said, I’m loving exploring…so don’t think I’m not enjoying my journeys. But I love relaxing, especially when the people I love are with me. So although as a kid I vowed I would never become like my parents, I am proud to say I see them in me more and more each day. 

Hi...

Basel for the second time in three days...

An adorable older woman...I creeped a little to get this picture. : )

Zurich, Switzerland

A beautiful castle in Zurich

A really cute couple and I loved the scenery

Basel, Switzerland

I didn't get Starbucks but I went in one. Look at the prices...outrageous.

Linda and me...she's adorable.

Joy: a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight

I tried looking up the definition of joy and joyful and couldn't find a definition that fully expressed my thoughts on joy. The one in the title was the best I could find. So I then turned to a better source, the Bible, and found some verses that better defined my views on joy.

1 Chronicles 16:27 says, "Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place."

Psalm 28: 7 says, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."

Psalm 30:11 says, "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy."

I am simply overcome with joy right now. Many would probably describe me as a happy person but joy and happiness are very different things. I know I can be happy but I strive to be continuously joyful in my life. This trip has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I've been here only 10 days and i feel as if my heart has changed in some big ways. I am the most joyful I have been in a long time. This weekend on my train ride to Zurich (I'll tell more about that later) I journaled some and I thought I would share what I wrote...

I am happy...so incredibly happy. Joyous might be a better way to describe it. I am so thankful that God's timing is perfect. I am learning that joy is not a giddy feeling. Joy is the knowledge that I have been saved through faith. Joy is forgiveness. Joy is seeing people as they truly are...beautiful fallen people in need of the love of God. Joy is noticing the small things that God puts on my path. Joy is contentment and not complacency. Joy comes in the morning. 

I am at such peace right now. Life is so different here...I'm not stressed or worried and I take one day at a time. I just said to someone yesterday that Taylor University needs to learn how to take a break from leadership because so many students, myself included, are stretched so thin trying to be good leaders, that they miss out on rest. Now I know that wherever I go in life, there will always be things I could stress about or worry about. But what a better way to live...to take one day at a time and rest in the joy that Jesus Christ gives me.


I am smiling right now, alone in my room. I have always said I could be left in a room with blank walls and nothing in it and entertain myself. This is entirely true as my close friends and family can attest to...I think I'm really funny. Not many others do but I certainly humor myself. In class last week, I had to introduce myself to the kids and tell them a little about myself. I made a big mistake in my introduction. I was telling the students that I LOVE to laugh and I said that I find things funny that other people don't. I then proceeded to tell them that if they had any funny jokes they should come share them. BIG MISTAKE...the rest of the day was filled with fifth grade humor that I did indeed laugh at but I don't know if I would say they were the funniest jokes I have ever heard. You've got to love 5th graders.


As for what I have been up to....fun, fun, fun things. Friday night I went to Basel, Switzerland (which is only about 30 minutes away). I went in with the whole BFA high school and walked around with my new friend Linda who is the teaching assistant in my classroom. She has the most adorable Southern accent and she hugs me like I believe people should be hugged...often. We walked around and chaperoned some students and took in the beautiful city of Basel. 


On Saturday, I bravely ventured to Zurich, Switzerland on my own. I quickly realized that I do appreciate time on my own and it was fun walking by myself but I really do like having company to share new things with. The city was beautiful and there was a lot of amazing architecture there. The city has a very old feel to it in the sense that the buildings and streets are old but there is a lot of modernness to it as well. I walked so many miles and had a few touristy American mistakes but besides that it was a great day. 


Yesterday (Sunday) I went to a German church, G5. I think I'm going to continue going there as it was neat to get exposure to German culture in the setting of a church. I am always amazed when I get to worship in another language with the body of believers. How amazing that God has people all over the world praising His Holy Name in so many different languages. 


As for today (Monday), I don't have shcool because it is a national Catholic holiday. I am headed back to Basel in a few hours with some new friends I have made. 


I hope you are blessed today with joy. Know that the God of the Universe lovingly longs for you. 


With lots of love to my friends and family,
Am


Prayer Requests:


My back has been in a lot of pain. Please pray for that I would get relief.
I start teaching part time this week. Pray that I am prepared and do my very best.