Ready or not, here they come!

In less than 10 hours Monterrico Christian School will be in session for the 2012 school year! It's been una locura (craziness) here at MCS the last week and a half. Staff retreat. Painting. Construction. Bulletin boards. New computer program. Teaching seminars. Decorating. New book shelves. Students' supplies. Moving desks. And a lot of planning!

With all these activities and preparing, I still don't feel quite ready for tomorrow! Our school has been required to do a lot of last minute changes because of different regulations, so it's been a bit crazier than usual this year. 

Yet in the midst of this locura I am reminded of a passage that I have been meditating on this week...

     Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. The Lords is near. Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition let your requests be made known to God. And the peace God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

     Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  -Philippians 4:4-9

Therefore, I will Rejoice in the Lord! and Let my request be made known to Him (here's how you can be praying for me & MCS):

- Excellent 1st day of school tomorrow!

- That our school books would arrive soon... we're making do until they arrive. 

- That God would give me grace and wisdom to teach both 5th grade & 8th grade English, this will be a stretch, but My Creator knows me inside and out, and He will sustain me!

- That students' hearts would be open to what God has to teach them this year!

Resting in His peace,

natalie

Nancy, our wonderful principal, giving us directions!

Everyone got an MCS hat to commemorate our fun day!

Games, games, and more games...

and celebrating!!!

Praying to be stronger.

This is probably the 3rd time I've sat down to write another post, but I have been unable to complete my thoughts or hesitant to be honest with the mix of emotions I have experienced this last week. However, I am now very excited to share with you what God has been doing both at MCS and in my personal walk with Him over the past six days. 


The days leading up to leaving the States, my family, many friends, my home, etc. I was excited that I still had another year to serve in Peru, yet I was not anxious to leave the familiar comforts of "home". I was leaving to come back to Peru, to teach, to share my love for Christ with students at school and church, and to minister in a variety of other facets, while soaking up the culture, the language, and the yes a little Peruvian sunshine too! 


The first day here, from the moment I wake-up I am reminded that I am not at in Des Moines anymore, and also reminded of the every growing task set before me. If you were at ECC last Sunday, I shared that in addition to teaching 5th grade, I might also be teaching 8th grade English. Well, this had become a reality, and not only that, but I am to teach 5th grade PE as well. 


As these thoughts mount in my mind, I decide to do my devotions. I need prayer and help from God. I brought with me an old devotional that I had partially done 6 years ago, Experiencing God by Richard Blackaby & Henry Blackaby.


The last 6 days, God had been at work in my heart! He has reminded me of who He is: an all powerful, who loves me and is inviting me to join Him in His work! He speaks to me through His Holy Spirit by His word, circumstance, and prayer! Here are some of the ideas or verses that God is using to transform my attitude and perspective to be in line with His plan:

• He will equip me for every good work.     2 Timothy 3:16-17
• If I call out to God, He will answer and guide me.     Jeremiah 33:3, Luke 11:9-10
• The most beneficial thing I can do is have a personal relationship with God, and the rest will fall into place.     Matthew 6 especially vs. 33
• "Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of you work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle." Phillips Brooks, Twenty Sermons, 330

Granted my teaching load, may not be a giant task compared to what others around the world are facing, God is giving me a new perspective. I have changed my prayer somewhat. I was praying for more teachers to come to our school, so I wouldn't have to teach 5th grade & 8th grade English. While I am still praying for teachers to come to our school, I am also praying for these things:

• Strength & wisdom to teach 5th grade & 8th grade English. 
• The opportunity to learn from these circumstances and see God work in God-sized ways!
• Our school, MCS, to continue to grow in God's direction
• More teachers to come as our school continues to grow

Landed in Lima

Here I am again. Back in Lima, Peru.
After a slow start at the Des Moines airport security, I was thankful to make my first flight to New Jersey, as many around me were missing their flights. Side note: If you're flying out of DSM, get there early!!! There's a new setup at security, and it takes some time.
I made it to Newark, New Jersey, to reunite with my roommate Kari! We enjoyed catching up during our 4 hour layover and 8 hour flight :)

We made it to our apartment building around 11:30, and got our luggage up the the 4th floor to find out that one of our keys didn't work :( Thankfully our principal Nancy only lives a few blocks away now and came to the rescue with working keys :)

Please pray for adjustment back to Peru, and a great start to the school year!