Loving on these Kids...

Looking into this year at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany it was evident that there would be some challenges. Many of the children here come from different backgrounds of learning which causes the teaching aspect of things to be somewhat difficult. Going into this year as the middle school Mathematics teacher I prayed for God to give me the strength and the ability to reach out to these children as it may be harder for them to learn. With an open mind and an open heart I started teaching them mathematics. After a couple of days my fear began to grow that they were not understanding the material, even though they were verbalizing that everything was fine. Today my heart dropped when a student came up to me after class and said the following:  "Miss Taylor, for some reason in the past math has always been my hardest subject. I was always confused and had tons of questions...but this year it is actually fun!" My heart smiled! To think that even one student went from dreading math to loving it definitely was a blessing from God. God is at work here at Black Forest Academy and I'm blessed to be a part of it.

God's great creation outside our apartment window

As I approach my first month's end here in Germany I just want to thank all of you for supporting me in prayer. It has truly been a blessing to work with the children here and it's only been a month! I look forward to the GREAT things that God has in store for me as well as these kids and we get to know one another. Just recently it has been laid heavy on my heart to continue in prayer about next year. Realizing that we are not even into that much of this school year I am prayerfully considering, with your help, serving Him another year here in Germany. With plans to come home this summer and work to raise money, I ask you a huge favor:  please pray with me that the Lord makes it evident if I am supposed to stay here. My heart is here with these children of God and I know, now more than ever, that no matter what I will leave part of it here with them. I have truly been changed as a person even within this past month, so to think how much I could change within this next year excites my heart even more.

God, thank you for this opportunity that you have given me to serve your children here in Germany. I pray that as I am here my fellow brothers and sisters are are home doing the same, excited for your love and a passion in their relationship with you. I cannot thank you enough for this great life you have given me where I get to be close to you and talk about you every day. It is a privilege to serve you in this capacity and I pray that, if it is your will, that you would keep me here for more than this year. Please be with my loved ones at home as I miss them dearly and think about them everyday. I pray that you are keeping them safe during these times of trial and that they are seeking you more than ever. Please let them know the love that I have for them and that they will always hold a special place in my heart, just as these children in Germany. Lord, I love you with my heart and my soul, and I long to worship you.

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

~ Matthew 22:37

First Full Week Ahead...

          Just yesterday I had the privilege of getting together with the Parsons (the director of my organization -- CMML; www.cmml.us). It was great to see familiar faces and be able to share some of my journey so far with them. While we were together we travelled to one of the higher mountains here near Kandern called "Hochblauen." "Hoch" meaning "high" and "blau" meaning "blue." While approaching the top we entered into a fog and it was hard to see exactly where we were going; however, we made it to the top. Even though we were unable to see what was below, it did not take away from the experience. Shortly after traveling down the mountain, and I could not help but think about how often as humans we are high like the "Hochblauen." It is easy for us to forget about His plans for us and continue with our own. I am so blessed to have a God that can continually use my surroundings in order to teach me. It is at that point when we are free of the fog that it is clear, and we are able to see what is in store for us below. God works like this. It is not until we surrender to Him and come down off our mountain that we can truly see what great things He has awaiting us.

As I approach the first full week of teaching these teens I cannot help but pray for those who are here for the first time and may not have a lot of friends. I have already noticed in a couple of my classes that this year might serve as somewhat of a challenge due to the wide range of how and what people have previously learned. I pray that God is able to give me the strength and courage to use different methods and think outside the box when it comes to teaching them the material.

As I prepare my lesson plans and think about teaching these teens, I've had the blessing and pleasure of staying in contact with numerous friends and family members, as well as connecting with my roommates. I find myself really appreciative of the contact that I do still have with the states and pray for them often. Even though at times I get antsy to come home and share all of the great things that are happening here at BFA, I know that the time will come when it's meant to. I think the scariest realization I've had so far is that I could honestly see myself here for quite some time, if the Lord allows me. Thank you for your continual prayer and support as I reach out to those here at Black Forest Academy. Especially those on the East Coast, be safe during these times of harsh weather and know that I am praying for you.

"And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." ~ Isaiah 49:11

Almost Two Weeks in the Making...

My desk in the teacher's lounge.

It seems hard to believe that I haven't even been here two weeks yet. So much has happened already that it seems hard to believe that there is so much more to come. Thinking back over this past week and a half I am extremely grateful to have met the people that I have along with accomplishing the work that has needed to get done. I am happy and excited to say that tomorrow, Monday, I get to meet some of my students! It will be a joyful mixture of new students that are checking out the school for the first time, and prior students that are interested in seeing their teachers and classrooms before the first day of school starts on Tuesday (THIS Tuesday!).


It is such a blessing to think back on all of the preparations that have gone into making this school year a great one for the kids. After moving buildings, preparing classrooms, getting a new principal, and orienting the new and prior staff members, it finally feels like the school year is ready to be put into action! Granted there are last minute details here and there, but I am definitely excited to meet those that make all of this work worth it -- the children. What an exciting calling to hang out with children all day long! I'm excited that God has taken my passion and desire to serve Him along with my talents to bring me here to Black Forest Academy!

My room:  the computer lab (without computers) :-)

Praise the Lord for helping me to finish my lesson plans, classroom set-up, and syllabi in time for the students to arrive. As always there are still items on my "to do list" that I need to complete in order to check off, but God continues to be my pillar of strength during these times of trial and error. I cannot express my love for Him enough, knowing that He is with me every step of the way. I am continually grateful to Him throughout my day as He proves to me more and more how He knows me better than I know myself. For instance, He provided to me two roommates who absolutely love Him and, well, now me. :-) They continue to be an encouragement to me as I walk forward into the unknown.

Over the past week and a half my roommates and I have been able to bond over many different things such as movies, relationships, class schedules, but most of all food. I've discovered that there is always time to sit down over a nice meal and catch-up on how our day has been, connecting more and more with one another and Him each time. For the most part Brittany and Heather have been showering me with good food that they have prepared for me, so I was overjoyed the other day when it was my turn to finally cook them something. Below you will find pictures of just SOME of the amazing meals they have presented me with over my time here with them in Germany, and I am happy to say that more are still to come.

 

       

There was one night in particular this week that stands out in my mind. Heather, Brittany, and I had a long day at school and knew that by the time we got home we would need some "down time" just relaxing and being, well, ourselves. After dinner Brittany walked up to the dining room table and proceeded to say, "Guys, I have an idea." Waiting in anticipation I was not sure what to do or say. It was at that moment that Brittany uttered the words, "We should have a campfire." And we did. That night outside on the roof of our apartment garage we proceeded to burn wood, talk, and make smores. It may have been one of the best nights I've had here so far. 

Our campfire :-)

Needless to say my time here so far in Germany has been nothing shy of an adventure. Specifically this past week I have so much to praise Him for. Between baking cookies for our staff lunch, team building activities such as weeding our playground, having various appointments, working on lesson plans, having an all staff BBQ, and meeting with the Athletic Director about my co-coaching Cross Country this fall there is soooooo much to praise Him for! As I look through my calendar of events and opportunities I cannot help but fight this feeling that this year serving Him is going to fly by in the blink of an eye. With that being said I continue to pray for strength in each and every new day, with fresh eyes to see Him more clearly than ever. Continue to pray with me that I am able to seize opportunities to speak His name and share His love with those around me. 

Thank you for your continual support as I pray for us all!

 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
~ Isaiah 40:29-31

Finally to my Destination: Kandern, Germany

After a long flight from the Philadelphia to Basel (France) I am finally to my end destination: Kandern, Germany. The journey to get here has been long and emotional; however, EVERY step of the way God has been blessing me which continues to strengthen my faith. I cannot thank the Lord enough for everything He has done including His amazing and wonderful children He has placed within it. 

The hearts of my friends and family have never been more evident than in this moment. It is when you truly begin to trust in Him and whole-heartedly give everything up to Him that amazing strength and endurance start to throw more logs on your fire of faith for Him. It is my personal hope and desire that I never allow myself to dwindle that fire, especially since our fleshly desires as humans tend to impede on such a mission. 

Pictured Above: Heather, Brittany and ME :-)

After arriving here my schedule quickly picked up and I was blessed to be able to hang out with and get to know my roommates, Heather and Brittany (pictured above). They have been so wonderful to be around and super helpful in the "move in" process. Without them my head would definitely be spinning. The breakdown is as follows:  Tuesday morning I arrived, Brittany picked me up and unfortunately her battery in her car died (and we were able to get help from some nice Black Forest Academy gentlemen), we then waited at the airport for 2 to 3 hours, went home to unpack at my apartment (pictured below!), go to the grocery store, have dinner, and watch a movie with my roomies (This was all Tuesday). Then Wednesday I was able to attend the New Staff Orientation that was occurring all week and met some great people in which I will be serving with this year, went to tour the Elementary school, got picked up by my roommate Heather to visit my school (the Middle School), had lunch, went to an "All Staff Meeting," and went to Basel, Switzerland with my roommates (this is where the picture is taken!). Thursday, finally, we woke up to head to the bank and IKEA to purchase different things we needed for our apartment and classrooms, had lunch in IKEA, ran back and forth delivering materials and such to our apartment and school, went "Sparmuelling" (aka picking up things from the side of the road that people do not want -- this happens 2 times a year), went home to have dinner, and relaxed a little for the evening and got to know one another a little better. All-in-all you could say that I have been go-go-go since I got here which has been great!! 

Our apartment is the middle section of this beautiful German house :-)

Even though my journey ahead is completely unpredictable and somewhat frightening at points, my one constant is what keeps me going:  our Lord Jesus Christ. From here I follow His hands and feet allowing Him to control the paths of my actions, fully and completely giving my heart up to Him in this time of immense faith and growth not only as a person but a child of God. May I never lose sight of Him as I glorify Him in all that I do and say in the presence of His children.

Once again thank you for all of your support and prayers. It is my hope to update my blog a lot more now that I am actually to my destination of serving Him. Within these next couple of days/weeks please keep in prayer the setting up of my classroom, establishing and writing curriculum for my Math/Algebra/Computer classes and that the Lord will be with all of us here at BFA as we seek to glorify Him in all that we do. With that being said please know that I am praying for you and your family as we all support one another in this community of believers. God Bless!!

"...but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." ~Luke 22:32

Moments away from being a Missionary

It is scary to think that ONE WEEK from today I will be embarking on my journey to Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany to be a missionary. Summer has definitely flown by quite rapidly as I have been preparing for this significant event. However, the excitement begins to build as next Monday is right around the corner.

This past month has been such a blessing preparing for my time abroad and being able to catch up with loved ones. God is truly continually blessing me as I prepare for my time in Germany. Some highlights of things that have happened over the past month include:  friends and family visiting me in Maryland, a great outing with my family to a Phillies game, two Best Friends of mine from college getting married, and getting baptized before heading off to the mission field. Overall, I cannot complain about this summer and how God has truly blessed me.

Throughout this whole process my church, Oxford Bible Chapel (oxfordbiblechapel.com), has been completely supportive of me and honestly has blessed me in so many ways. Their humbleness and willingness to serve our Lord has truly spoken volumes to me as I prepare for the mission field. Just recently I was officially commended into my organization, Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML), which officially means that they have set aside a "bank account" for me so that those who desire to can give money. Therefore, I am including the information below so that those who have a desire from the Lord to share His money are able to do so.

**For those interested you can send a check/money order addressed to "CMML, Inc." to the following address. Please add in the memo line: "Megan Nicole Taylor" so that they know which missionary you wish to give towards. Once they receive your donations they will send you back the proper tax forms for your refund. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Address:  CMML, Inc.
                P.O. Box 13
                Spring Lake, NJ 07762-0013

*Note: As of right now I am not on the CMML website so that contributors are able to give online; however, once I find out that I am I will be sure to add that to the Blog. :-)

As stated previously, please let me know if you ever have any questions regarding my work for our Lord and do not hesitate to let me know how I can be in prayer for you and your family. I continue to pray for all of you and your lives as God continues to bless me in mine.

"The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." ~Galatians 5:22