Life's Detours

To carry over the theme of road construction (see my last post), my detour has certainly taken an interesting turn. One week ago today, I received a call from Peace Lutheran School in Greencastle, Indiana. I completed my student teaching there last semester with first and second graders. Apparantly the school is looking to hire another teacher unexpectedly, and after a talk with the director, we agreed that I would be a good candidate for the job. There were a few other applicants so this wasn't an official job offer, just an inquiry as to my interest in the position. I tried not to put the cart before the horse but I was really excited about the possibility of returning to Peace and my old students. Three excruciating days later, Elaine called me back to inform me that the School Committee had approved my hiring and that my first day would be September 29! Yes, that's one week from today.

How does this affect my journey to the mission field? Great question. As it turns out, Ken, the director at VCS has worked out a plan that allows me to take a year to finish raising support and plan to go in the fall of 2009. I've actually known this for about two weeks now, I've just been trying to figure out the best way to tell everyone at once - I can't afford to print and mail 200 letters anymore! The news that I had to wait a year came as a relief, but of course not without a bit of disappointment as well. Being at only 46%, I kind of knew it just wasn't going to happen, but at the same time I was still holding out for a miracle. But knowing I could plan to be at home for a year meant I needed to find a job, and I started signing up to get involved with some ministries at church. After two weeks of silence from potential employers, I got the call from Elaine, and the rest is history. God answered my prayers, but definitely not in the way I was expecting!

So, this Thursday I will be moving back to Greencastle, Indiana. I will teach third and fourth graders, and I'm especially excited because my third graders were my second graders last semester!! Over the course of the year I will continue to share my vision with and build up my team of supporters. The goal is to be fully funded and ready to move overseas in August 2009, in time for the 2009-2010 school year.

Please keep the following things in prayer over the next few weeks, and thank you so much for your encouragement and support!

• For a smooth transition - school is in full swing so pray that this transition (I'm taking the place of another teacher) comes with minimal disruption and that I can get lesson plans ready in time for my first day
• For my students - change can be stressful for children so please pray that the kids take this well
• For my move - I'm driving myself down to Greencastle, signing apartment papers, and setting up utilities all on my own so pray I don't mess anything up!
• For my support team - Please pray that I can find ministry partners in Greencastle. Pray also that I am diligent in studying German over the next year!!