Christmas Music

I have taken to listening to Christmas music to think "cool thoughts." Each day it feels like it gets hotter and hotter and each day I feel like I am adjusting to the heat less and less. This week I had air conditioning installed and it fells absolutely incredible! I slept in long pants and a sweatshirt, and it is the little stuff like this that makes me feel more like I am at home. I have a bunch of pictures that I need to hang up, and wall decorations that my friends and family left with me. When it all comes together, I will be so excited.

I miss home, I won't lie to you. I keep seeing all the back to school pictures and I miss the chilly fall mornings. I am missing the expectation of October coming and seeing the leaves change colors.

But here I am loving that I am where God wants me to be. That is what I keep telling myself. I cannot explain to you how I feel being here and I wish that I could. Yes it is hard to be so far from home and loved ones and yes I have had some difficulty adjusting, but for whatever reason at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I just belong here, and that is all I can say.

I was listening to the song Breath of Heaven, which is a Christmas song about Mary. The second verse says "Do you wonder, as you watch my face, if a wiser one, should of had my place" and I really thought about that for a few minutes. I have asked Jesus so many times since I have been down here if He is sure that He meant to send me. And the very next line of that song says, "But I offer, all I am, for the mercy, of your plan, help me be strong, help me be, help me." It was a cool moment for me. Here I am feeling inadequate, and God was gently reminding me, through a Christmas song no less, that this is His plan. And I have surrendered my life and my plans to Him over and over again and asked Him to use me and now He is.

So in conclusion, I will end with how you can be praying for me:
1. My healing- My knees and legs have just been having a terrible time here. It is because of the weather and just the general activity that I am doing. I had so much time to rest them in the US, and here I don't have that same amount of time.

2. My homesick-ness- it is very real.

3. My ability to teach- I want to be the best teacher that I can be and I would ask that you pray that I have wisdom and understanding to grasp being a teacher. I am fortunate in that God has gifted me with an ability to love and care for children. Please pray for myself and the preschool team that we have a great year and that we are able to share Jesus' love with all of our students.

4. My comfort- there are many things here that I am not used to. I knew that this move would obviously be a step out of my comfort zone. I just need prayer that I start to feel more comfortable here.

5. My relationship with Christ- I think that my prayer life has been more active this month than possibly in my entire life. I am so glad  that God has been holding my hand. He has provided wonderful people to help me. He sends me little reminders each day that He is in control and He's got this. I am so thankful for that.

Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement! I wish you all could be here with me!