{ three days }

Well, my one month teaching stint is all finished, and I am about to head to Africa in three days. I thought I was prepared, but now, at the last minute, I'm thinking of all the things I didn't do, didn't get, didn't remember. I'm grinding my teeth again, biting my nails again, and feeling a little edgy, overall (these macchiato-induced jitters are not helping much, though!).

I am preparing myself to be changed. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will come home different in some way. I can't predict precisely which way I will change, but I know that my time spent seeing the extremes of hardship and joy will be a changing experience, not to mention the time I will spend with this amazing group of 18 over the next four weeks.

There is still so much left to fear, as always. However, there is so much more to be excited for--rides on "big" airplanes, our eight hour tour of London during our layover, squishing over a dozen of us into a tiny van with no air conditioning and windows that won't roll down (I know this sounds miserable, but I think I will enjoy the memories later on), dipping my feet into the ocean on the other side of the world. And then, of course, there is the deeply moving joy that will inevitably come through building an orphanage and a clinic in Zambia, through dancing with the street kids, giving out soccer balls, leading worship, and eating together with new friends. And I'm sure there is so much more that I can't even imagine.

Derek's brother, Patrick, is already up from B.C. as he will be joining us on this trip. We are giving him the local tour, taking him out for his birthday dinner, and getting last minute errands done. Then we will be cashing in the last of our pop bottles at the depot, visiting grandparents before we leave, and having our last official team meeting here in Canada. And then, of course, there is the bridal shower I still have to throw tomorrow evening. I will be a busy girl until Wednesday morning, when we get to the airport for our first of many flights.

So, I will be gone until the end of June. Wish me luck. Pray for us, and for the people that we will bless and be blessed by. See you in June!

{ i'm so tired i can't even think of a title }

Well, I've now officially wrapped up my month of April dive into my past. It was interesting for me to go back through all of my past joys, pains, and issues. With my memory alone, it was hard for me to fully realize and track my growth and change; however, with the history recorded in my journals, I was really able to see how much my perspectives have changed. I have grown up, after all.

Speaking of growing up, I've reached another personal milestone while I've been away from daily updates to this blog--I've been hired as a temporary high school teacher. While the regular teacher is away in surgery recovery, I have been teaching grade 10s, 11s, and 12s. Being only 22, it has been quite strange to be teaching some students who are up to 18 and even 19 years old! I've had to really learn to assert myself and have confidence in my abilities. I've had a few run ins with a couple of guys (they are bigger than me!), and today I had to deal with a plagiarised essay, but it's all in a high school teacher's day's work, I suppose. I went into it more terrified than anything (perhaps even more terrified than going to Africa!), and I started off feeling miserable at the end of every day. Now, however, nearly two weeks into the one month stint, I am feeling like I am finding my groove. I am lesson planning, teaching, disciplining, marking, assigning homework, and all the rest of it. Two more weeks of this, and then I'm off to Africa. I can hardly believe it!

Well, stay tuned for more day in the life of a young high school teacher updates. But for now, I'm totally pooped.