Trials & Blessings

Update:

The past three weeks have presented both blessings and trials, the trials have reminded me to pray and ask God for strength, and the blessings have reminded me to praise Him for his goodness and faithfulness! 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

One of the trials has been a challenging issue that came up with my class about 2 weeks ago. I won't share any details, but it has really brought me to a state of continually prayer for wisdom as a teachers and praying for the hearts of my students! It has been a great learning and growing experience as I have gained knowledge and wisdom from other teachers and especially from our principal, Nancy! She has been very encouraging and also a great example of diligence in prayer! 

God is using these trials to remind me to pray more often, and more specifically. I think I'm getting better at in because on Friday, when I asked for a volunteer to pray towards the end of the day, one of my students said, "Miss Carroll do we have to pray again? We've prayed so much today." I laughed and said, "Good! The Bible says to pray without stopping!" 

"pray continually" I Thessalonians 5:17 

In the midst of this, I got sick which brought on a little bit of homesickness :( Thankfully God answered the prayer as my fever only lasted 24 hours over the weekend, and I didn't have to miss any school! The homesickness was remedied by a large dose of skype chats with my family and a few friends, what a blessing it is to be able to see familiar faces, and hear familiar voices! I LOVE hearing from friends & family back home, e-mail, skype, facebook, letters! It's such an encouragement :)

Although there have been some trials, there have also been many blessings! One of those blessings is that Kari & I have started going to a women's Bible study with some of the moms from school. We're going through the book Experiencing God.  Both the women in the group and the book have been a blessing over the past 2 weeks.

Pray for: 

- Peruvian Presidential Elections today

- Diligence in the Bible study

- God to work in the hearts of my 5th graders! 

Thanks for your continued prayers & support!
~Love, natalie

Teachers and staff takes turns speaking at chapel, this week was my turn. I shared from Matthew 13:24-30, the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Are you a good plant producing fruit, or are you being choked out but the weeds that the enemy has planted? 

There are three chapel sessions each week, one for P3-1st grade, another for 2nd-6th, and 7th-8th have their own. I got to share with the 2nd-6th graders, who were excited to look up the verses and read for the group.