New Song

As I was sorting through all my stuff - I found the lyrics to this song by Ginny Owens. My friends Joseph and Stephanie wisely put them in a congratulations letter for my college graduation. The words seem fitting as I move on to a new chapter of life.

New Song by Ginny Owens

I've been grazing in the lush green pastures,
Watching time pass me by,
And I've been wading in the shallow waters,
Where everything is all right-
But today I know that something's different,
Something's disturbing my peace,
Oh, I can feel the changes in the distance,
And hear them calling to me-

The day is here, the time has come
To sing a new song,
It's very clear, I must move on,
And sing a new song,
It will define who I become,
This new song,
So show me how to sing along
To this new song-

I've been looking in the strangest places,
To find the source of my strength,
And even though the outcome never changes,
Still I search endlessly,
But no more wandering around in circles,
It's time that I cross the sea,
Now I'm trading in my cozy corner
For the bigger mystery

Going there means leaving here,
Saying yes means saying no,
Moving on means letting go of what is sure,
For more

Where in the World is Jakarta

The Journey Has Begun

I've finished my Master of Arts in Teaching and I'm off to the see the world. Indonesia is my current destination as I head out from my current home in the beautiful Northwest on July 9th, 2009!

I will be teaching middle school / high school Language Arts in Jakarta at IPEKA International Christian School. God has been so faithful to lead me up to this point, and it must be him leading because I would have never guessed this is where I would end up. I've loved my experiences teaching Spanish and love teaching language. This last year I have been re-learning Spanish grammar and re-discovering a love for Latin Pop, but this year has mostly been about learning how to teach, how to connect with a roomful of kids staring back at me and about accepting God's calling on my life to teach and build relationships with young people. I have so much to learn about teaching and about kids, and I'm excited to continue my journey of becoming a teacher in Jakarta. 

My experiences in Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain have helped shape my love of culture and travel and languages and have prepared me for cross-cultural experiences, but moving to Asia will be a completely new experience - totally out of my comfort zone. But I feel like this is what God has been preparing me for and what he is calling me to. 

I feel like the journey to Indonesia is already started as I pack up my things and prepare for life in a busy, humid city. And as I read about Jakarta's history, big malls, horrendous traffic, kampungs, and as I taste Sambal hot sauce and try to remember how to say hello in Indonesian. I'm sure there will be many exciting new things to learn and challenges up ahead. 

Thanks to everyone for their continued support and love! Stay posted for stories and updates to come!