Overwhelmed...

Now judging on the title of this blog my "theme" could go two different ways. There could be the "I'm so overwhelmed with happiness that I'm bursting at the seems," or there could be the "I'm so overwhelmed with stress that my head is about to pop." Needless to say, this type of "overwhelmed" is about BOTH types.

These past couple of weeks have been, well, overwhelming. With various events that have taken place such as:

Subbing at the middle school dorm for 4 days

Skyping/talking with friends

Celebrating Pi Day (3.14) with my math students

Middle school spring parties (with an olympics theme)

Talking with individual students

Meetings/communication with parents

Festival in town

Having a friend over for dinner

Small group every Wednesday

Celebrating teacher birthdays

Financial stressors

Staff Devotions

Preparing for our missions trip to Belarus

Etc...

My life has been nothing short of packed. Packed full of great and exciting events, yes, but pushing them all together in the same month can be somewhat of a stressor. I can honestly say I have never battled so much with my faith as I did this past month. When things tend to get busy (either good or bad) it is easy to lose sight of what is important -- my relationship with God.

Subbing at the middle school dorm

I am happy to say that I have been able to see God truly shine through the little things in life these past couple of days such as the beautiful sunshine, the students in my life He has blessed me with, and the little kisses that He sends specifically to me in my times of need. No matter what is happening, good or bad, God is looking out for me.

Algebra class making 3.1415 (Pi)

On March 12th this is just part of the prayer that I prayed that night, and I pray that as time goes on that I am able to pray the same thing over and over, knowing that God is in control at all times:

"Lord, if it be your will – take me. Take me instead. There are so many different teachers here that deserve to be here more than me. They are more creative, more intuitive when it comes to the students, and more prepared each day for what that day holds for them and their students. I realize, Lord, that I have talents and abilities – but who am I to say that I should stay here. Who am I to say that I shall be the one to teach the classes that I do. I realize that confidence is part of who we are in you and how this makes us your children, but at the same time I believe in myself enough to know that wherever you put me I will make the most of the situation. You know my heart, you know my desires, and I am willing to listen to the will that you have for my life in order to glorify You in the best way that you see fit."





Basically, I do not know what is going to happen. Whether God has me here for 5 more days or 5 more years -- I am at His will. I will not limit Him to my minuscule thoughts of what He may or may not be able to do. I will not put God in a box so that I am limiting my view of Him, but most of all, I will not direct the path that He has set out for me in one way or another. He has special plans for me -- and I am not about to deny Him or myself that great, great privilege of living them out, for Him and Him alone.

Spring Party:  Olympics

Thank you for your support as I continue to battle the devil in various parts of my life. Please continue to pray as I am in Brest, Belarus right now on a missions trip as a part of BFA with 7 students and another leader. May our time here be eye-opening and glorifying to our God as we serve Him in various ways. (More on this later, but if you want you can check out our blog:  http://www.belarusbound2012.blogspot.com/). Thank you, thank you, thank you again!!

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." 

~ Isaiah 43:2