Ringing in the New Year...in August

For teachers, putting up a new calendar in January isn't the start of a new year. Yes, we recognize its significance, but the new year starts in August when we pull out a new lesson plan book and look over our new class rosters. Our life is measured out in school years and time passes in semesters or quarters.

Setting up our classroom for the new year!

Tomorrow is the official start of my new year - my 3rd year in Bolivia and my 6th year of living and teaching overseas (When did that happen???). Every year has its own stories. For my first two years in Bolivia, my stories were about how God sustains. Year 1: I crash-landed in the country 2 weeks after school started and experienced how God sustained me when I could barely hold myself together. It was a year of renewal and restoration. Year 2 saw God sustaining me for bigger purposes: ministering to others. Emotionally, socially and spiritually, I was in a place where I could bless others when before all I could do was let others to support me. But God showed me that He had bigger plans for me than merely surviving; if I was to thrive, it was because He enabled me to bless and  support those around me.

So what will be my story for Year 3 at Highlands? I'm not sure yet, but if my story arc in Bolivia so far is any indication, then God has exciting things planned. I think our theme verse for the year might give some ideas:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. - 1st Corinthians 2:1-2

I think God's spirit and power will show up in big ways on our campus. When I compound this expectation with the NICS network-wide theme verse, I  get even more excited:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3rd John 1:4

When God's power and Spirit are at work, people come to truth and joy results. That is what I'm praying for this year. Join me in praying that this new school year would be one when our theme verses become real in ways that our students, families and staff have never experienced before.

Love y la paz,
Sam 

Our school at dusk features a stunning view of the mountain Illimani

P.S. Speaking of crash-landing in Bolivia, our new principal and his family were finally granted their visas and landed in La Paz this morning! We are tremendously grateful to have them, but we recognize that they will need extra helpings of grace (and possibly oxygen) as they adjust to what God has for them at 11,000ft. Please pray that Todd, Rebekah and their two daughters would be blessed as they transition into life at Highlands.

Orientation and Directions

Perhaps it's not surprising that an English teacher would use word analysis in her updates. When I started my vacation, the word was "home."

The word that resounded with me throughout  my summer vacation was "orientation" and what it means to be properly "oriented." I had to attend Pre-Field Orientation with my missions organization, so I was thinking about what was to come. Would this time help adjust my bearings? Would it bring me a feeling of familiarity? Would it provide me with direction? Where was this orientation going to point me?

The answers were yes and no. We read 1 Peter 1 several times to cement our foundation in Christian community.  I bonded with people whose attitudes and goals aligned with my own. I learned more about what missionary life can look like. I rejoiced with and prayed over sisters who are going to be spread over 4 different continents. I found people like me with completely different personalities. I learned about my own personality.

But I also found myself with more questions and even fewer answers about my future. How long exactly am I planning to teach overseas? If I continue to teach overseas, where will I go? Will I stay with NICS? When (or is it if?) I go to graduate school, might I consider doing comparative cultural studies instead of something directly within education?

With my future. Right now, I'm teaching and loving.

Talks with family and pastors at church heard that answer from me and their answer was overwhelmingly supportive. Not knowing is okay because it means that I'm in a place where God can do anything and send me anywhere. And that's exciting. It's humbling. It's scary. But it can also be good.

Coming back to La Paz was another time of orientation. When I first arrived on August 21st of last year, it was 3 weeks into the school year and I didn't get a teacher orientation. I could only dive in and figure out my directions with God's grace and help from the people around me. We managed and it was a beautiful and blessed year, but I did feel like I was wandering much of time time.

This year I've had a week of work at school before the students arrived. It was a full time of preparations, meetings and information sessions about our new digital curriculum. Along the way, I've been able to help orient my new roommate to her surroundings. She also did not get an "official" teacher orientation because of visa and flight issues. So the cycle continues.

What is my orientation at the beginning of this year? What am I headed towards? A few of the more concrete items are:

• The high school is going through some MAJOR changes as far as curriculum and schedule. 
• My church is looking for a head pastor. 
• Our small group Bible study continues to meet, but our location changes weekly.
• I'm leading a discipleship group composed of several high school girls.
• I'm updating my home church more often and have our high school ministry students praying for my students by name.

But really, when I consider what direction I'm pointed in, these are my foundational answers I aspire to:

• My heart is set on Christ and my mind on things above. (Colossians 2) .
• I am resolving anxiety with rejoicing, thanksgiving and prayer. (Phillipians 4) 
• The theme verse for our school year, Matthew 28:18-20,  answers my question of orientation:

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'”

Christ himself gives us directions: go make disciples, baptize them with an understanding of who God is, teach them to obey me and know that I am with you. Much though I want a compass, bearing points and a strong place to start from as I try to map out my life, it's really Jesus's ending words that provide the most comfort. We know that as we go, He is with us. An orientation pales in comparison with actually having a guide who goes with you along the way. Right now I don't really have a map, but what I have is better.

I pray that wherever and whenever you are in life, you are aware of Christ being with you and are following His lead.

Please check my updated Top 5 page with information about how to pray for me!

First day of school picture