Announcement Video

Just as a "teaser trailer" creates interest and excitement with a short preview of a movie, so this video was designed to introduce my Spring 2014 trip to my friends, family, and supporters. 

If the video above has brought you here, I hope you will check out the rest of my blog and consider adding me to your prayer list. I have already begun preparations and I will need many more spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, and mental resources to be prepared to go to Thailand in January 2014. 

In addition, I will not be sending out email updates during this trip. Please click on the blue "follow" button on the left to follow this blog or type your email address in the white box above that to receive email updates. 

If you have not yet seen the video, check it out! It is just a snippet of what I did last summer and what I hope to do next spring. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

With feet on the ground and eyes to the sky,

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler

(Edited 8:30am, March 18)

Stateside Update #3: Early Preparation

Friends and Family,
This post is to let you know that I received an e-mail from my cooperating teacher (who I will be observing and teaching under during student teaching) today. He and his wife have lived in Thailand for many years and they have four children. In his e-mail, he mentioned that I will love it in Thailand and at Grace International. What encouraging words! I am really looking forward to meeting him and his family and I am all too anxiously awaiting my twelve weeks in Southeast Asia.

From Wikimedia Commons

It is so exciting to know that plans for a year from now are already in motion and that God is patiently and precisely working everything out for our good and His glory. I am reminded again of a note my friend Joel wrote to me on the front of an envelope when I left for Hong Kong last year. One line stood out:

May your preparation be worship.

As I write this post tonight, thinking about God's work, I am reminded that even my preparation should be worship. I regularly attend my college's Student Missions Fellowship, a group dedicated to worship, prayer, and sharing about students' study abroad/internship programs across the world. Tonight, the worship leader mentioned in his prayer that God is a "busybody." We laughed, because we have often heard that term in reference to gossip, but I think it carries an interesting meaning in relation to God. He is consistently working and providing and moving, and yet, he is never tired of hearing our voices. He is busy, but he is available; he is patient, but is omnipotent.

What a mighty God we serve.
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler

Stateside Update #2: Thailand!

Dear Friends,
I am writing to let you know that my placement for Spring 2014 has been secured! I have received a notification of acceptance from the placement coordinator, and an official confirmation is on its way.

I will be completing my student teaching at Grace International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand! 

I will be posting more information as I receive it, but for now, I could not wait to share this exciting news!
--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler

Stateside Update #1

Good News!

I received an e-mail this past Thursday from Interaction International, the organization my college works with to place overseas student teachers. The man coordinating the placements let me know that the first school he contacted for me is interested! He went ahead and sent them my application, so we should know sometime after the New Year whether or not I will be accepted there.

Waiting to hear back from the International schools may be a long process, but it is definitely exciting. The plan is for final placements to made before May 2013 so I can began making arrangements with the school.

I'm keeping it a secret for now, but I can't wait to share with you all about the location where I will be serving!

--

"Seek Him. Be Here. Be His."
"‎It is the people who endear the city to our heart." - Chandler