Friday, April 26, 2013

Blessings Beyond Measure


Color Poems


 Stephen and Isaac

I had the wonderful privilege of having a delicious Khmer meal prepared by Isaac's sweet mother.  Silly me thought it would just be me enjoying a meal with the immediate family around the dinner table.  Nope...it was a pleasant surprise to share the extravagant meal with other school staff and lots of neighbors.  Isaac has never volunteered to pray in class, but he prayed before we ate and he prayed the sweetest prayer before his parents drove me home.  I was so blessed by this experience.  The visit with his family and neighbors was so encouraging.  

 KL and Sothun eating dirt cups

 In front of the Independence Monument with my dear friend Jennifer

Jennifer's visit was such a blessing to me.  It meant so much to me for her to travel halfway around the world to see me, my school, and Cambodia.  She also brought two suitcases that were filled to the brim with tons of school supplies.  Thank you again for all those from who contributed!  I think our school will have enough stickers to last quite a while. ;)
 
The above picture may be a little difficult to read.  It is part of the "1,000 Gifts" my students have been working on this year.  We just reached over 900 this week!  I love starting each school day by asking my class what they are thankful for.  It has been such a special time to share each day, and it has made my class more aware of the gifts God has given them. 

The days seem to be disappearing they are going so quickly now.  I guess that is how the end of the year is for most teachers with all the testing, "to do" lists, and special activities that seem to all run together during this time of the year.  As most of you know, I am finishing up my last 5 weeks of school and then I will be moving back to N.C.  I vividly remember the day I left N.C. and everything that was so familiar to me.  I arrived in Cambodia and remember thinking..."I don't know if I am cut out for this.  I don't have any training in ESL."  I felt so inadequate.  And actually as I type this, I still have some of those feelings.  Thankfully, I know I am not doing any of this on my own.  God has shown me over and over again that He designed us uniquely to fulfill His purpose and plan.  It doesn't matter what I can do.  What matters is that I allow Him to take me as I am with all my weaknesses, strengths, failures, and triumphs.  After all, He is the One doing the work through me.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I could never travel this journey on my own.  I find He often calls us to do things we don't feel "qualified" or "adequate" for, but I am always reminded that He will enable us to do those very things He calls us to do. 

"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights."  Psalm 18:32-33