Running in the Rain

One of my favorite parts of running a race is seeing the photos taken by the race photographers. Usually I look absolutely terrible in these pictures but every once in a while there's a winner. Sometimes I'll even buy a few of the shots when they offer a sale months later. So it makes sense that I just now got around to buying my race photos from the RnR Madrid Half Marathon back in April.

While training for a race in the arid desert climate of Madrid, rain was the last thing I anticipated. (Go ahead with your rain in Spain on the plains jokes, I'll wait.) In my months of training, I hadn't encountered rain once while on a run. So you can imagine my despair when, come race day, the sky was overcast and the rain fell steadily. It let up for the start and I prayed desperately for it to hold off a few more hours. When the heavy rains began pelting me at mile 3, there was no turning back. I was in it for the long haul and I had no choice but to keep moving forward and finish the race. It ended up raining hard for the next ten miles and by the time I crossed the finish line I was completely drenched and rocking the drowned rat look.

I looked something like this.

I've been reflecting on this experience recently as I participate in another race - the race of life. Yes, I know it sounds cheesy but bear with me here. My life as a teacher is divided into four major "races" with visible finish lines. The first race is completing the fall semester and being rewarded with Christmas vacation. The second race is completing the stretch between Christmas and Spring Break, and the third race is like one of those super intense Spartan Sprint 5Ks as we return from Spring Break and barrel towards the biggest finish line of them all: summer vacation. The fourth race is spending the summer raising support to do it all over again the next year. I cross that finish line when I reach 100% of my support for that year.

Sometimes those races go exactly as planned but more often than not, things come up. I trip over surprises like untied shoelaces, and obstacles block my path like potholes in the road. Spiritual attacks strike me from every side like a torrential downpour of rain. Sometimes I have to stop and catch my breath. Sometimes I think about quitting. But every time God gives me the strength to keep moving forward and finish the race.

I've been studying scripture passages about patience and perseverance as I grapple with the latest surprise, Germany's minimum wage law. It is still beyond my understanding how I will raise the rest of my support in the next two weeks. This unexpected spike in support needs has taken me by complete surprise, much in the same way that the rain did on race day.

While reading Romans 5, I was blown away by the Message version.

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5, The Message)

There are so many great images in this passage! Passionate patience. The tempered steel of virtue. Alert expectancy. These are the kinds characteristics that I strive for as I actively wait for God to do a great work in and through and for me. In the meantime I shout my praise to the Lord who is indeed my Everything.



Please join me in praying for this final $565 in monthly support to come in. Pray that it will pour in so fast that I won't be able to "round up enough containers to hold everything" as God generously provides.

If you'd like to participate in God's provision, please visit my personal giving page and sign up to make a monthly gift of any size.

July Newsletter

Today I sent out my July Newsletter. In it, I explain what my role will be as I return to Black Forest Academy this fall. I also share how Germany's new minimum wage mandate affects religious workers such as myself. Check it out by clicking the link below, and join me in praying for God's miraculous provision in the next five weeks!

July Newsletter: Back to the Forest

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step into my classroom: pre-algebra at ECA, quarter one

In attempting to clean out my phone, I found a bunch of pictures of math projects. This made me realize that I never wrote a quarter one update on my Pre-Algebra classes! Better late than never, right?

Our Pre-Algebra course spans two years - seventh graders take Pre-Algebra A and eighth graders take Pre-Algebra B (unless they test out and move up to Algebra 1). This means I am teaching out of the same textbook for two different classes, but seventh graders are starting at the beginning and eighth graders are starting halfway through.

Seventh graders began with the basics: rules of integers, one-step equations, and basic graphing. Within the last week have begun to learn how to work with multi-step equations and will soon move on to multi-step inequalities, too! For their Chapter 1 project, students had to graph a given set of coordinates that, if graphed accurately, formed the outline for a shield. Students then had to design a coat of arms to represent themselves.

I really enjoyed seeing what symbols and colors they chose to represent themselves. Many identified with various countries and cultures by using flags, national colors, and symbols. Some revealed more about their families, their heritage, and some even gave a nod to their hobbies and passions by incorporating their favorite fútbol team colors. 

I asked the students to explain to the class their choice of symbols, and the most touching came from Alex, who told us that he chose gold to represent the cross because of how special Jesus is to him. In case you can't read his shield, it says "Live for Jesus."

The eighth graders spent the first quarter reviewing and learning linear equations: solving, graphing, and writing them. I found an awesome project on TeachersPayTeachers that incorporated all of these skills plus art, and it was a great chance for the students to relax a bit after a hard chapter. For this project, students had to select a country flag with at least two lines and at least one diagonal. Then they drew the flag design on a coordinate plane and used two points on the line to identify the line's slope. From there they were able to calculate an equation for each line on the graph. Some students chose flags that they knew would be very easy, while others went for a challenge. While I am proud of ALL their work, I was particularly impressed with the students who chose Canada and Australia. The more lines a flag contained, the more math a student had to do! 

By now we are almost halfway through the second quarter. Things are getting harder, and in response to that some students are thriving and others are sinking. My eighth grade class has been on my mind constantly. Please be in prayer - that my struggling students would find success in my class, and that I would have the patience and grace to know how best to teach them.

worth it

Last week I asked my 8th grade pre-algebra students to write me a note stating the areas in which they still felt weak in preparation for their retake of our chapter test. I thought if they could pinpoint their own weak spots, it would guide their study sessions. One student wrote the following:

Dear Ms. Bertschi,
First I want to thank you for helping us with a great mood. And we all love you very much. The only problem I have is finding f(x) equations. I would still need some more practice. Thank you for all your work.

* * * * *

I have struggled with this class from the beginning. Over the last several weeks I have agonized over their failed quizzes, taught and retaught over and over again, and desperately prayed that something would stick. I have told them every day that I believe in them. I have wracked my brain for new ways to explain the concepts, scoured Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers for hands-on activities, bribed them with candy, showed them videos, had them teach each other ... and when they took the first chapter test I couldn't help but wonder if the last two months had been in vain. It's hard not to feel like a total failure when only one student scored higher than a C and several scored actual Fs.

Despondent, I asked myself if this struggle was really worth.

So when I read that note scrawled in typical middle school boy font, I was reminded that yes, it's worth it. All the late nights, early mornings, extra planning and brainpower that I have poured into trying to reach these struggling students is totally worth it. If only for one student to recognize his value and know that someone believes in him, for one student to see how much his teacher loves him and the lengths she is willing to go to see him succeed, for one student to build his confidence... absolutely, completely, 100% worth it.

not safe

Moving to Spain is stressing me out.

There. I said it.

I'm supposed to be excited about another adventure but right now all I can think about is how much work is going to need to happen in order for me to get to Madrid by August.

At first, I thought that going to Spain was taking the easy route. I'd just keep doing what I've been doing, teaching MKs in middle school and living in a country that's not my own. I would be able to keep working on support and not have to make things complicated tax-wise with American income. I would be close enough to Germany to return for my small group girls' graduation. It seemed like such a simple transition.

The reality of this situation is that I am making my life more complicated and this is, in fact, the harder path to take. First, I am adding another "home" to my heart. As someone who spent most of her life in the same town, I had a hard time identifying with the nomads who sat in my classroom conflicted about where they called home. After living in Germany for five year things have changed. Germany has become home for me, but I still have my HOME home in America. So when I go to the States and people say "Welcome home!" I become so turned around that I don't know whether to hug them or punch them in the face. Clearly that's not enough confusion for me as I will soon add Spain to my list of "homes" and be even more divided in my loyalties.

Another reason why this move is proving more difficult is because it will require me to continue living off the financial support of my friends and family. While at first this seemed ideal for long term ministry, it also makes things harder because let's face it, support raising is hard work and it's never over. Even when you get all the pledges and gifts you need to be fully funded, you have to maintain personal relationships with every single person who supports you. While I'd like to say otherwise, I have failed miserably at that aspect of the job. The discouraging lack of funding that I'm currently facing doesn't help matters, it just makes the idea of moving to America and getting a "real job" that much more tempting.

Finally, there's the paperwork. Don't even get me started on the paperwork. I have been working on my visa application since February and still don't have all the necessary documents in order for this application. It took over a month to get a letter of good health from my German doctor, and tonight I discovered that it will cost over $100 to translate two documents amounting to approximately four sentences into Spanish for this application. Then there's the trip I will have to make - probably by train - to the nearest Spanish consulate to apply in person and pay the hefty application fee and then face the very real possibility of my application being rejected because one staple is out of place.

I don't tell you all these things so that you can have pity on me, and please hear me: I am NOT complaining. I just need to put this into words: following Jesus is HARD WORK. No one ever said that the roads He calls us to walk will be easy, in fact He told us quite the opposite. We are to expect difficulty without being surprised, and we are called to face it with bravery rather than run away. If I believed that every bump on the road was some sort of warning sign from God then I would have left Germany within a week of arriving and never come back. I am making a conscious choice to take the hard road and do the things that scare me and make me question what in the world God is doing because I know that the rewards of an obedient life far outweigh the alternative. I am not called to live a safe life, and I can't let these difficulties scare me away.

This brings to mind a scene from C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." When the Beavers are explaining Aslan to the Pevensie children Susan inquires, "Is he safe?" Mr. Beaver laughs and retorts, "Safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

God is not calling me to be safe. He is calling me to take risks, be brave, and do hard things. I know I can trust Him to make this possible because He is GOOD.

Do you want to be a part of my unsafe life? Prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter or making a special one-time gift to help get my support account out of the red.

quarter three update and prayer needs

Third quarter: past the halfway point and yet still so far away from the finish line. The stretch of time between Christmas break and Easter break is often the longest and hardest part of the school year for both students and teachers. The days seems to simultaneously crawl and fly by, so full of exciting events yet so exhausting. Weekends are quickly snatched up for retreats, conferences, and birthday getaways, and before you know it the cold, dark days of January have given way to the slightly warmer, ever-lengthening days of spring.

One of the best ways to brighten up a dreary winter day is to have a spirit day! The theme was "Candy."

In late February we attended the high school retreat in Nurnberg, Germany. This was a bittersweet weekend for me because it was the last time I will attend with my small group girls. They are only juniors but since I will not be at BFA next year, this is our last year together. During retreat we were refreshed by the worship times and challenged by the speaker to be rooted in the knowledge of Christ.

attempting selfies!

Seventh graders did their big research projects on the human body and presented on the various systems. The digestive system group had a lot of fun with their project and served us "brownies" which we ate with much enthusiasm!

Our next spirit day was "Books."

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) 

Charlie Brown 

Piglet and Pooh

During the last week of the quarter, sixth graders wrapped up their scientific method unit by presenting their science fair projects. They worked hard to come up with a project idea, plan and execute an experiment, collect and analyze the data, and present their findings to the class. I'm so proud of their hard work on these projects!

And now, I am about to enter the homestretch. We are currently on spring break and classes resume next Wednesday. The two months until graduation honestly terrify me because the end is so near. There is still so much on my list - not only my "to-do" list (the responsibilities I must attend to) but my "bucket list" (the things I want to do before leaving Germany) as well. I am already feeling the temptation to check out but I can't afford to not be 100% present over these next two months. Please join me in praying in the following ways:

1) For financial provision that will enable me to finish this school year. As I wrote a few weeks ago, my support is dangerously low. I honestly do not know where the money will come from to meet the expenses facing me in these last two months, but I do know with certainty that God will meet all my needs.

2) For focus, strength, and good time management as I not only wrap up the school year but pack up and clean my apartment, and work through the "departing staff" checklist for BFA.

3) For positive attitudes and diligence as I work with a team to plan and execute the annual eighth grade class trip. It's hard for me to accept change, and this year involves quite a bit of deviation from "tradition." This will be my fifth year on the trip and I want to see it through fresh eyes this year.

4) For diligence and boldness as I prepare for a summer of support raising so that I may continue to serve in Spain this fall. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of the people who will hear my story, and that I would be able to fully express my vision and heart for the TCKs in my care. Pray that God would provide miraculously through His people.

5) For logistics related to my transition from Germany to Spain. Visa paperwork, housing arrangements, and flight plans are just a few of the things that are causing me a lot of stress right now.

6) For healthy ways to manage my stress levels, which will hopefully keep my blood pressure down. I return to the doctor in June (perhaps the most stressful month of the year) for the final follow-up appointment to determine whether I will need to begin taking medication for hypertension. Pray especially that my blood pressure would remain low and that the doctor would get accurate readings.

I can't express how thankful I am for each and every one of you. Your prayers, your notes of encouragement, your generous financial gifts, and your interest in my students means the world to me and I would not be here today without you! THANK YOU!!

for crying out loud

I'm really bad at asking for help. At some point I got it into my head that I needed to be strong and independent, but somewhere along the line I became a little too independent. It's interesting, then, that I have chosen a lifestyle that relies on my ability to ask for help and live on the generosity of those around me.

It's also interesting that the concept of "crying out for help" has come up several times in my Bible studies over the last few months. It started with a sermon at church about the story of Jesus walking out to the disciples on the water and Peter asking Jesus to call him out of the boat. While a lot of people give Peter flack for his doubt and subsequent sinking, my pastor made a good point that I'd never thought of before: The reason he was even able to sink was because he got out of the boat! Not only that, but he asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. For some reason that struck a chord with me as I compared myself to Peter. Now I've never walked on the Rhein River but once upon a time I asked God to send me into the world, and in faith I stepped out of my comfortable boat into an ocean of foreign languages and cultural adjustments and homesickness and a bunch of crazy teenagers that make my life worth living. And like Peter, when I take my eyes off of Jesus I begin to sink -- not into the ocean but into anxiety, selfishness, and insecurity. Many also speculate on why Jesus let Peter sink. Couldn't he have just let Peter walk on water? Sure, but if he had, would Peter have truly placed his confidence in Jesus? Or would he have taken the credit for this little "miracle"? I think that Peter needed to cry out to Jesus and remember where his strength was coming from. He also needed to see firsthand that Jesus would hear and answer his cries.

In the days following that sermon, I got the unsettling sense that God was getting ready to bring me to a place where I would have no choice but to call out to Him to deliver me.

A few weeks later during my Beth Moore study on the life of David, the idea of crying out to God came up again. One thing I've really enjoyed during this study is the ability to look at the actual events in 1-2 Samuel, then read what was going through David's mind in the psalms that he wrote. David cried out to the Lord multiple times to deliver him from the hand of his enemies, which He did. Beth Moore wrote, "God could rescue us with or without our cry for help." So why, then, must we call on Him before He rescues us? She raises a very interesting question. The more I've thought about it, the more I am convinced that before I can truly appreciate God's hand in my life, I have to first be willing to admit that I need it. As long as I can take care of things on my own then I don't need to ask for help. The very act of asking is admitting that I can't do it on my own. I have to lay down my pride and place myself in God's hand before He can truly help me. Furthermore, when I surrender control and place my life in God's hands I have no choice but to give Him the glory for what happens next.

Over the last several weeks God has given me plenty of opportunities to put this new idea into practice, most notably last week when I received an email from TeachBeyond informing me that due to the balance of my account, my monthly "salary" is being reduced -- by about 20%. Once again I find myself dangerously close to being sent home just a few months before the school year is over.

I'll tell you a secret: raising support is not fun, enjoyable, or easy. In fact, it's the most stressful part of my job. There's so much pressure when your entire life is on display, and it's tempting to turn it into a display of my own strength and abilities. It's hard sometimes to keep the right perspective. But it's the life I have chosen for myself and the only way that I am able to serve my Who. After five years of struggling through the highs and lows of this life, I've come to the conclusion that it's not supposed to be easy. If it were, then I could take credit for it myself and no doubt forget to praise the One who truly deserves the credit. Because of the struggle, I am forced to truly humble myself before Him before He can help me, otherwise I'll continue operating under the delusion that I am enough and that I can take care of myself.

So now that I've cried out to Jesus and accepted that I can't do this without Him, I cry out to you, my friends and supporters. The reality of my current situation is that my support account is about to go into the negative -- or already has, as my month-end statement will probably show up as this posts. I am checking my mailbox every day for my German tax bill, which I was told will be in the neighborhood of about 2,000 Euro. I am in desperate need of new monthly supporters in order to finish this school year and move on to Spain this fall. I am going to have to pay all my bills here in Germany for the month of July while I am in America. My five-year old computer has reached the end of its lifespan and I can't afford to buy a new one. There are a lot more stressors on my mind right now but these are the most pressing. It's hard not to despair. God has brought me to a place of complete and utter dependence on Him, and now I humbly seek His provision through you. Many of you are already giving generously and I can't ask you to do more. However, if you are reading this and are not currently partnering with me financially, would you consider praying about becoming a monthly supporter or one-time gifter?

I\d like to end this post by sharing with you two songs that have been on repeat over the last few weeks. The first one, Faithful, is a beautiful reminder of how I can trust God with my future because of what He's done with my past. The second, Lift My Life Up, is a response to God's faithfulness. When I acknowledge who God is my only response is complete and total surrender.

who? what? where?

Many times we associate missionaries with specific people groups. They talk of being burdened for specific countries or cultures from a young age, or remember a short term missions trip that sparked a fire in them to serve there. For a long time I’ve tried to figure out who my people group was. In high school I spent a week in Costa Rica and walked away wondering if God was calling me to South America. Then in college I began the application process to teach overseas and couldn’t narrow it down to any specific place. You all know the story that eventually brought me here to BFA but what you don’t know is that I didn’t ever really want to go to Germany. In fact, the idea terrified me. Five years later Germany feels like my home, but I still don't necessarily feel a strong connection to the German people.

Within the last several months I’ve had to do some serious soul-searching as I prepare to leave BFA for the year. I just assumed that I would return to America and get a "real job," though I knew without a doubt that I wanted to come back. Then again, I also wondered if I was selling myself short by not even bothering to consider any other options. I knew the one thing I did not want to do was return to America and forget about the last five years. The struggles, the lessons learned, the richness of my friendships and relationships with students… to quote the musical Wicked, “I have been changed for good.”

When someone first suggested to me the idea of staying in Europe and continuing to teach internationally, I brushed it off. It took me awhile to even entertain the thought, until God reminded me of that little box in the attic of my mind. So I prayed about it, applied, and visited ECA. Since then I have felt complete and total peace about what is to come. Much of this is due to the fact that I've finally figured out WHO my people group is. It's not Americans, it's not Germans, and it's not Spaniards. It's the people who cross the lines and break the rules and don't fit into a box.

It's the third culture kids.

If you've heard me speak about BFA at any point in the last five years, you've heard about TCKs.

In questioning where I should go next, it became clear to me that I am very blessed to have already figured out WHAT God wants me to do with my life: teach middle school. And now I know WHO I'm supposed to be teaching: the TCKs. All that really leaves to figure out is the WHERE. Considering the fact that there are international schools full of TCKs circling the globe, the world truly is my oyster. I've come to the freeing yet terrifying conclusion that God doesn't really care WHERE in the world I go, so long as I keep serving my WHO and doing my WHAT.

I know that is a very bold statement to make and perhaps you disagree with me. Yes, God does care. All I'm trying to say is that I don't think God wants me to spend all my time and energy focusing on where I should go when He has already shown me what to do and who to serve. No, I don't necessarily feel a special burden for the people of Spain, not anymore than I did for the people of Germany. But because He has opened a door for me that aligns with my WHO and WHAT, I am walking through it and will continue to walk through it until He chooses to close that door.

 

Would you consider joining me in walking through this new door?

 

when your body betrays you

Last week I had my first experience with a German doctor, and it was humiliating.

The reason for my visit was because I am a few years overdue for a physical and my residence visa for Spain requires, among other things, a medical certificate stating that I am in good health and free of contagious diseases. For the last two years I have been working overtime to get in shape and make healthy living a habit. I've taken up running, built endurance and muscle, and lost thirty pounds. I figured I was in pretty decent shape. While it has been awhile since my last doctor's visit, I assumed it would be a quick and painless visit and I would be able to walk away with the necessary paperwork.

My dad always warned me not to assume. I really should start listening to him.

As it turned out, my blood pressure readings were very high. I went home and looked them up and it was "Stage 2 Hypertension" high. Because of this, Doctor G scheduled another appointment for me to return for a Stress EKG test and for a 24-hour study, which will involve me being wired up to a portable monitor for 24 hours to take readings throughout the day. This is all to determine whether I actually have high blood pressure or whether it was just a bad reading. The only problem with all this is that the earliest appointment he could give me is March 10. Sure, let's give our brand new patient terrifying news and make her wait a month for any sort of answers.

In the hours following my appointment I began to process the ramifications of this potential diagnosis. My immediate reaction was anger, followed by shame.

I am angry at the idea that I might have high blood pressure despite the fact that I have been making a concerted effort to lead a healthy lifestyle over the last two years. I am angry at God for giving me one more "thing" to worry about right now. I am angry at myself for not choosing a healthy lifestyle sooner. I am angry at my body for betraying me. I am angry that hypertension can't be cured, only managed. I am angry that now, when I am feeling fitter and healthier than I've ever felt in my entire life, I have to face the possibility of taking medication for the rest of my life. I am ashamed that after all the hard work and progress I've made, it still may not be enough.

So, I need to ask for prayers in a few specific ways.

1. Pray that I would have peace over the next three weeks as I wait for my follow-up tests and the answers they will hopefully bring. I hate the idea of not knowing whether something is actually wrong with me, and of course I know that stressing about it will only contribute to the problem. I just can't see how I could possibly think about anything BUT this for the next three weeks.

2. Pray that this would not affect my visa application for Spain. It can take up to four months for applications to be processed, which is why I was trying to get my application in early. But it's looking like the doctor won't write my letter of good health until I go through his tests on March 10, which means any hopes I had of getting ahead are dashed.

3. Pray that I can find ways to lower my blood pressure naturally if this is truly an issue. Pray especially that I can find ways to reduce stress in my daily life, as I have definitely seen a need for that in recent weeks.

4. Pray that I would be able to truly trust God and rest in Him through this whole thing. Clearly He is trying to teach me a thing or two, but I don't know what that is yet. I know He is in control and that while this is a surprise to me, He knows what's up and how it's going to unfold.

Madrid visit update

My time in Madrid was, in a word, amazing. I had a chance to stay with two staff members, Stephanie and Marie. Interestingly enough they both have BFA connections as Marie's brother attended BFA (he was a senior during my first year here!) and Steph herself is a BFA alum. So, we had a lot to talk about over the course of my visit! These girls were both incredibly welcoming by opening up their home to me, showing me all around Madrid and the surrounding area, and sharing their own stories and advice with me.

Seeing Christmas lights in downtown Madrid with Steph

Since I arrived on a Saturday morning, the first two days of my trip involved lots of touristy things: shopping, sightseeing, etc. I also had a chance to attend a progressive dinner with the ECA middle schoolers on Saturday night, and went to an international church on Sunday morning. I met several ECA staff members during the weekend, too. The rest of Sunday was spent in Madrid with Tour Guide Steph, who helped me finish my Christmas shopping, guided me to the best churros place, and basically showed me a great time.

Oh you know, just a ton of meat at the grocery store...

The city center of Madrid was jam-packed

Churros. That is all.



Meeting Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Monday morning arrived and even though I was on Christmas vacation, I found myself walking to school with Marie for staff devotions! The staff were also very welcoming and I enjoyed chatting and getting to know some of them more throughout the rest of my visit. I sat in on several classes, mostly middle school ones but also a few high school one, too. I was blown away by how similar the students at ECA were to my own students at BFA. Aside from the language differences, they were almost the same kids. If I were to close my eyes and just listen to the conversations, I would have thought I was just sitting in my classroom in Germany. It was really neat for me to see firsthand how another international Christian school operates.

As you might remember from this post, I have been entertaining the thought of teaching at ECA during my totalization year. I asked you to pray for God to guide my thoughts and conversations while in Madrid, and for wisdom in how to respond if a job offer was made. Well, I am excited to share with you that during my visit, I was offered an invitation to teach in the middle school next year! I've spent the weeks since my visit thinking and praying about whether to accept, and within the last week several things have fallen into place that have affirmed for me that I should accept.

So now I begin the process of seeking approval for this transition from my mission, TeachBeyond. There are a lot of bases to cover before I can truly announce anything officially, but it's important for you to know where things stand right now and where they are (hopefully) heading. In other words, I am taking intentional steps toward spending next year teaching in Madrid, but it is not a done deal yet. I am simply continuing to say "Yes" to God until he closes this door.

Right now I'd ask your prayers in these specific ways:
- Official approval from TeachBeyond
- Spanish visa application (must be approved four months in advance and is very detailed!)
- That I can still be fully present and focused on my current role at BFA
- That God would clearly and firmly close this door if he doesn't want me in Madrid

Serving at ECA would be very similar to being at BFA in that it is also not a paid position, and everyone on staff raises support to be there. I'll be sending out more details in the weeks and months to come, but for now I'd like to ask you all to consider how you might join me in this next chapter of serving the kids at ECA. I'll be looking for new monthly supporters to join the team and praying that many of my current supporters will choose to stay on for this next year.