As I began to take the paper off the walls and pack up the hundreds of books I've accumulated in my classroom library this year, the realization that I was not going to return to Fremont Christian School washed over me.
On the last day of school, I signed yearbooks, telling each of my students how much I enjoyed having them in my class, and how much I loved them. They were my first "real" class of students, and they will always have a very special place in my heart.
My first year of full-time teaching was definitely challenging, but incredibly rewarding as well. Having the opportunity to teach and love each of my 26 students this year, and see them grow more into the people that God has made them to be was an experience I would not trade for anything. I feel so blessed to have spent my first year of teaching in a place where other teachers and colleagues lovingly came alongside me to help me hone my practices and become a better teacher.
And now I get to take everything I have learned with me on this exciting new journey! I have always felt a pull on my heart to travel, experience new cultures, and learn new things. I didn't always know what that meant, but it was there. When I received my teaching credential in January of last year, I eagerly applied to dozens of schools around the world...but it was not the right time. Over the past few months, as I was looking at options for this upcoming school year, God planted the seed to explore overseas options again. After making a profile on a mission teaching website, I was introduced to TeachBeyond, and then to Black Forest Academy. I immediately fell in love with the school and their mission to teach the children of missionaries as they serve around the world. God opened the doors, and in April I accepted the invitation to teach a 3rd grade class there!
I am filled with excitement as I prepare and look forward to this next chapter of my life. I am learning to trust and rely on God in entirely new and different ways, as I have never been a missionary before. Every day He shows me His faithfulness, and reminds me that He is able to take care of everything, both large and small. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you through this blog!
