Most of you know by now that Ogles and I were able to go home for Christmas and SURPRISE our families. Neither of our families suspected a thing. It was brilliant!! Sometimes I still get excited when I think about it. For the full story you'll have to catch someone from Weimer World in person, because its just that good. Being home was the best thing! The holidays are for celebrating with family. Taking time out of busy chaotic lives and enjoying the blessing that God has given. I can not even express how grateful I am for friends and family who helped raise funds for airfare and travel expenses. Not only was I able to be home to celebrate Christmas, I got to help the beautiful Brittany Steer pick out her wedding dress, get in on a few plans happening for my brothers wedding, and be there (in person!) to find out that my sister is having a baby!! I'm not sure anyone could have kept me from the airport if I had found that out over Skype. Fortunately, my God is big. He knew everything that was happening and provided for all of us in the best possible way! I'm still excited. While it was a crazy couple of weeks and everything happened in, what is now, mostly a big blur I was able to come back refreshed and ready to face the rest of the year.
After some minor (read intense and terrifying) panic and confusion in the airport O and I made it back to Malawi in one piece with a smidgen of sanity between the two of us, and no luggage. Let me just say, trying to figure out luggage in the Malawi airport after two+ days of travel coming off of and wonderfully emotional and exhausting trip home is not fun or easy or anything good really. Thankfully Ben and Blessings showed up to help sort everything out and we eventually (several days later) had all of our luggage.
The next few days were filled with lots and lots and lots of horrible jet lag. Woohoo we did have some fun nights staying up until 2ish doing crazy crazy things.
Once school started things really got crazy. This semester has been, by far, the hardest one yet. It has been easier in some ways, but mostly it's been really really hard. Being a teacher is big business. I think I will always have a lot more respect for teachers now that I have done it. My days are filled with smiling faces, giggles, lots of hugs, and occasionally some tears and I love it (well maybe not the tears). But with all of those things comes the phonics lesson that some kids just don't get, the math lesson that is so simple we've complicated it, and the reading book that's missing two pages and no one knows why. Those things are frustrating and tiring and draining and I really don't enjoy them. If I could sit and play and chat with those kiddos all day long I would probably have the best job in the world, but there is a bigger need and a bigger purpose which makes it the bestmosthorriblejobever. That's the only way to describe it. The good and the bad all rolled into one. It's early in the semester still and there is a lot left to do: difficult decisions to be made, hard conversations to have, unfortunate things like counting books and inventorying craft supplies, but most importantly loving kids and helping them to learn, and to grow up to be great people.
In all of this I'm leaning on my great big God. Throwing all of my anxieties, fears, and worries at His
feet and asking for the strength and courage to get through it one day at a time. It will probably get hard and be ugly at times, but that's life and I am determined to leave this place knowing I did my best and trusted God to get me through.
Until next time...
"Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!" -Psalm 111
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!" -Psalm 111
