Aloha from Hawaii!

Hello everyone!


I have made it to Hawaii and let me tell you these last two days have been exciting and exhausting. I have much to tell already, but I'll save that for the long plane ride tomorrow. For now, here is some pictures from Hawaii!

Waikiki Beach

p.s- Internet is slow so I'll load more later

The Jonah inside of me.

It was in God's plan for me to be a student missionary. I know this with my whole heart. I, like Jonah, tried to get out of it, push it away, and think of more "practical" things I could do. God didn't have to have a fish swallow me. Thank goodness. My Life & Teachings of Jesus class was more of my fish. I was studying about Christ's mission on Earth and I yearned to be a missionary as well. I am thrilled to be used as a tool for God's plan. But, as it gets closer I am realizing that this isn't going to be the easiest, most comforting year I have lived. I don't want it to be either. I truly believe God challenges us to make us stronger and I love that. He loves us enough to change us and in the process I get to be a witness of Christ to others. Somehow I think they will end up being more of a witness of Him to me. 

Anywho, I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. People have been so supportive of me and it means the world to me! I came across the verse below tonight and I had to share it. It's comforting to know God has it figured out and He knows His plans for us WAY before we do. So my being a second grade teacher on the island of Pohnpei was not some random choice that I made. It is where God intended me to be at this time of my life. 

Much love to you all. 

 "For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

I am most certainly uncertain.

I am certain of many things that this next year will bring me. On the other hand, I have so many things that I am uncertain of. Lets get to the list!!

Things I know:

 I know that while my other friends are heading back off to college, I will be teaching on an island. I know that I will be far away from things that make me comfortable. I know that I have many friends where I am going even though I don't even know their names yet. I know that challenges will meet me, but I also know that rewards will too. I know that I will be a second grade teacher. I know that I will fall in love with them. I know that this will change who I am and what my future holds. I know that God is with me always.

Things I don't know:

I don't know how homesick I'll be. I don't know if I am packing the right things. I don't know what challenges I'll be faced with. I don't know if I'll be missing out on anything that my friends are doing at Southern. I don't know what extreme amounts of heat and humidity feel like together. I don't know what God will teach me this year.

I guess all the uncertainties are part of the adventure. I am anxiously counting down the days to my departure, but I am tucking away each special moment that I make with my family and friends right now so that I can pull them out on Pohnpei. 

I hope you are all well and blogs will start getting more interesting beginning on July 29th! I am happy to have you part of the adventure of my year but I also would love to know what happens in your year as well!!

Much love.