sometimes you just have to laugh...

Aaaaahhh so much has happened since Valentine's Day.  For starters, I turned 25 on February 24. I am now officially in my mid-twenties, half-way to fifty, a quarter of the way to 100 years old. GOSH. I am also noticing the fact that I am slowly gaining more wrinkles (some like to say "crows feet") around my eyes when I smile.  This could be due to high sun exposure my whole life, however, I attribute my crows feet to getting old. 


The actual day was fun.  My kids threw me a "surprise" birthday party, we had a half day of school for Dominican Independence Day, and i got soaked after school (the typical Dominican tradition).  

Then, most of the girls I work with and have Bible study with threw me a surprise birthday party, which included enchiladas and playing games all night. Brian came over for a little bit and sang me a song he wrote with his guitar (which was WONDERFUL!), but then had to go back to work. 


All in all, it was great!

Okay. change of subject. 
BIG NEWS. BIG CHANGE. Everyone listening?




...good. 




God told me something I wasn't expecting. and didn't want to hear at first.  
These last couple months I've been really trying to listen to what God is telling me, and really praying hard about what the future looks like for me.  I finally attempted to look for jobs in Hawaii for next fall, and applied to an elementary position open at a school in Kaneohe.  The second I pressed "send," something didn't feel right.  It was like a dark cloud was over that job and the whole topic of teaching or finding a job in Hawaii.  [sign # 1]


So what did I do? 
prayed. HARD. 


I already said "no" about coming back to JCS for the fall.  New teachers were being hired for next fall already.  But just in case, I went to my boss and asked if they had already rehired for my position for next year.  


He said "no, it's still open."  [sign #2]


Then after school I went on a long walk to talk about it with God, alone.  After thinking and praying a lot about it, i figured, "well, what's another year?"  These kids are so deprived of teachers that stay longer than two years, and they rarely see consistency and care from the same teachers year after year - which results in a lack of motivation to do well in their schooling.  If it seems like their teachers don't care, why should they? [sign #3]


Well, here's the news...
God-willing, I'M STAYING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE SCHOOL YEAR. 


It will be hard. So many changes to JCS are taking place - who knows what it'll look like next year.  But I want to be a part of it. I'm not quite done here yet. 


Financially, it will be difficult.  Plane tickets, classroom supplies, necessary personal items, and so on.... but I know that if God wants me here He will provide, and all I need to do is trust that it'll happen.  


So, that's life right now.  crazy right? Just two blogs ago I wrote about losing the joy in my job and choosing to move back to Hawaii.  Sometimes you just have to laugh.. HAHA!

Prayer is always needed.  Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers - they are greatly appreciated! I couldn't do this without your support :)