[ Study Study Study! ]

Over the past few months I have been becoming busier and busier here. It is fabulous! God has really been working here at Rosslyn! Every other Thursday night I am able to lead a Bible study for Rosslyn staff. And every other Wednesday I am able to attend a Kenyan Bible study. It has been such a blessing to be part of these ministries that help others and myself grow.

Today, I was able to lead the Kenyan Bible study as well. It was about love in 1John. That is a hard thing to teach, especially at my age! By the grace of God, I was able to lead a successful study tonight. Thank you Jesus. A few of the ladies came up to me and told me that sometimes they can not understand what is being taught, but tonight they could. I really really just thank God for letting me be used during that time. It is quite humbling to speak on a topic that you yourself are not perfect on.

Overall, things are going good. I am still trying to fit in and still trying to figure out how God is going to use the gifts He has given me.... :) I am very excited to see what He does with me. hahaha. It will be a miracle either way! :D

Many blessings to you all!

[ First Year of Teaching and Away ]

I am quite surprised how well my classroom here in Africa is running. It is hard enough teaching, its hard being a first year teacher, then you add on being in a whole different country and whole different continent...it is quite an experience to remember! Overall, the students are amazing, the staff is wonderful, and everything is going well with teaching. I am so very blessed and very glad I have the support that I have here with my other educators. They have really helped me set up my classroom and share with me teaching ideas!

I wanted to share with you a few photos from my classroom. Last week we did stations on Mean, Median, Mode, and Range. The kids went to six different stations. The other photos are of a few spots around campus and of a true African sunset.

It is truly hard to believe it has been two months since I left the States to move to where my heart lies. It has gone by so quickly. I do miss my family, friends, and church very much but I know even more now that this is where I am suppose to be. I can already tell within these two months how much my family, my friends, and my church has changed without me there. It is hard to be here and not to be able to fully support those changes, but I try my best to pray daily and keep contact.It is so great of many of you to be emailing me and sending me letters of waht is going on in Ohio, in the church, and in your own life! It is super fun staying updated and knowing what is going on! Thank you!

God has designed me to teach and preach in east Africa. This is only the beginning...the beginning of a beautiful journey....

[ work times 2 ]

I wanted to write a quite update for those you read this blog. I am doing fairly well. Still much changing and transitions here in Kenya, but overall good. I have been spending long hours working on everything and anything from lesson in the classroom to swahili lessons to driving lessons. I am still learning much about everything. It is quite overwhelming on some days, but at the end of the day I just accept everything I can do and rest. I know that soon all this new stuff will become old and I will be able to do more with my time. Please keep praying for me, my students, my transition here in Kenya! Blessings!

[ work work work! ]

What a busy time it has been for me lately!

I have been working hours upon hours in my classroom with grading, lesson planning, and all the other additional goodies a first year teacher must endure. It is much more work than expected, but so very worth it. After this year I will have so much under my feet with experience!

I recently just went to a children's home called "The Nest" where babies of imprisoned mothers live until their mothers are out of prison. It was so great to spend time with little children once again. I have not been able to see such small children since I left South Africa a few years ago. It was great to spend the time there.

Also, I started up a ladies bible study at Rosslyn Academy. We meet every other Thursday right now. There are about six of us, so its a good group to start with! Please be praying for God to show us missionary teachers what to learn more about! :)

Many blessings to you all! I pray that your days are being numbered upon this earth!

[ Africa ]

Below are just a handful of items that I have learned while in this amazing country. I think you will enjoy this list!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN AFRICA WHEN . . . .

You know you’re from Africa when…

…you can't barter, its not worth buying.

...you don't need to know how to drive to get a driver's license. you just need money.

…you can't believe that America only has one kind of banana.

…you are on time, you are early. when you are late, you are on time.

...your soda comes in a glass bottle.

...you have to turn on each electric socket individually

...to turn on a light switch, up and on and down is off.

…you go back to your mother country and realize the jerky there can not even compare to billtong.

...your choices of sodas is coke, fanta, or novida.

…boiling or filtering water is normal.

…40 degrees is cold.

…the only thing keeping you from speeding down the road are a pack of matatus.

...your impressed if you get robbed just once in a month.

… you can just pay a cop instead of getting a ticket.

... a cop on foot can pull you over for speeding.

…there is always a break for some biscuits and chai.

...you know not to buy white because of the red soil.

…you know that if you are in trouble that you cant go to the police.

...you can run red lights because stopping means you possibly could get robbed.

…it is possible to fit 15 people in a 10 passenger matatu

...your car's vehicle number is on the side or on the roof of your car in bold letters.

…you don't question what you are eating, you just eat it.

…everyone in your country plays soccer.

…the power goes out at least 8 to 10 times a day

…you walk barefoot, and you keep your shoes for sunday church because if you wear them they get dirty too quickly

…every country you drive into has a different currency.

...you can get fruits and vegetables ten times cheaper than your mother country.

...you use a jump rope as a measuring tape.

...soda is cheaper than water.

...you have never heard so many people tell that your beautiful in one day, all because your at an african market

[ My Amazing Students ]

Teaching is quite a challenge, especially overseas. But it helps when your class is just, awesome! Below are a few pictures of my class and their Native American group projects!