Better Days

Yesterday was a pretty rough day. My students chose to be uncooperative and I didn't feel well. That combination is usually a recipe for disaster. I left school discouraged and went to Bible study. It was an interesting Bible study. I stayed pretty quiet but my mind was going a mile a minute. Today was the complete opposite of yesterday. My students were fantastic (that's how they normally are). I don't know what got into them yesterday. I guess they were just having an off day. This morning I woke up skeptical about how the day would go. I went online and a friend shared a verse with me that I needed. Then I read something online that was an encouragement. Then during my students morning recess I was reading my Bible and I came to the exact verses I needed. God is so good! His Word has encouraged my heart yet again. Praise His name!!

Long Days

Today is the one day a week where I have no breaks except for lunch. I have determined to make it a great day. I'm already thinking of fun things we can do so the day doesn't seem so long.

I probably should mention this since I haven't yet but I am traveling home on June 3rd. I arrive in Florida on June 4th at 5:30 p.m. I'm looking forward to seeing family and friends. It doesn't seem like I've been gone for as long as I have.

Balance

These past two weeks I've been learning to balance church responsibilities and work responsibilities. I finally got my students' progress reports finished by lunch today. They were due today so I got them done just in time. I decided that tonight would be a NO WORK night. Some friends and I got together and watched a movie. It was a nice relaxing evening. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get lots of work done because I have three breaks. This happens every two weeks. Sometimes it's a great thing and sometimes I struggle to get everything taught. I may take my hour and fifteen minute break and make a quick trip to the store to buy supplies for Sunday School. My goal is to completely finish all my school work before the weekend comes. We'll see if it happens. I haven't been successful in that goal all year.

Attitude

This entry may be a little personal but it was what was on my heart. Do you notice that attitude is everything? Sometimes things in life happen where you have absolutely no control over it. The outcome of how it affects you is all about your attitude toward it. You can grumble and complain or you can suck it up move on. Bad things are going to happen! It's all part of life. How we react when those bad things come is a whole different story. Not only bad things will happen but unexpected things will as well. Life can change at the drop of hat but that doesn't mean that God is any different or that He's playing a hateful joke on us. He knows best! He sees the big picture when we have tunnel vision. Have things gone perfectly since I've been in Kenya? Absolutely not! Have I gotten discouraged at times? Yes! Does God still guide and direct my path? You betcha! The book of Romans says that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. God always tells the truth. We just have to trust Him and His Word. Our school is suffering right now and things are being said that are hurtful to others. People are behaving in ways that are deceitful. There's a lot of tension around campus. I'm not really a clueless person but I'd rather try to look on the upside of things. God knew what was going to happen with our school before it ever took place. He's knows what the future holds. Prayer is all that will change people and situations. Sometimes I think people need to do a lot less talking to others and a lot more praying to the God of the universe.

In His Hands

Lately, the Lord has really been teaching me that He is in control! I tend to want to know exactly what the day holds and take charge of it. He's saying to me 'Slow down Julie, I know what I'm doing." Some days I wish I knew what my students were thinking. I wish there was something humanly possible I could do for my students to become Christians but I am fully aware that I'm only the messenger. My responsibility is to live a life that edifies and magnifies Christ Jesus and to share His love and sacrifice with them. Last week I felt overwhelmed by my responsibilities. I didn't serve with a cheerful heart as I should have and I definitely didn't put my all into my lessons when it came to my church classes. Ministry is about people. It's not about me picking and choosing what I prefer to do. I need to be available to those that need a listening ear. God is teaching me to put my selfish desires aside to better be used by Him. It's humbling to think that the God of the universe would use even me with all of my flaws and failures. I praise Him that He uses me! I am clay in His hands desiring to be molded into His image each and every day. All things happen for a reason and it's in seeing the blessings even in the difficult times when I hear God's voice the clearest. Just as Elijah heard God in a still small voice I believe He speaks to our hearts in that way even today. The Scriptures have comforted me these last few days as I've missed my parents. Sure, I may not have a mom to call and pour my heart out to or a dad to snuggle up next to on the couch but I have an Abba Father who loves me more than they even did when they were here with me. He will never leave me, He will never fail me, and He knows what's best for me.

Heshima Disabled Children's School

Today I took my class on a field trip to Heshima Disabled Children's School. I don't remember the name of the slum it is located in. We had such an amazing time! Half of my students played with the disabled students inside and the other half picked up garbage outside. Halfway through our time there the groups switched. After the trip all my students exclaimed that it had been the best trip of the year. I was told that my 5th graders worked harder than the middle and high school groups that had already been there to help. I can't help but be thankful that the Lord placed me as their teacher. I was absolutely smitten with two of the four children. The little girl was glued to me and wouldn't go with any of my students when I tried sharing her. The little boy kept grabbing my hand as we were leaving. Finally one of the other boys grabbed him and he had a death grip on my hand and just as I released my one hand he hooked on to the other. I didn't want to leave! Just this morning I was reading a book that talked about how God is such a creative God. He makes each of us unique and designs us specifically for His purpose. What an amazing God we serve!!!

Sad Times

My friend Tracie is leaving for the States in two days. I'm quite sad about this. We haven't known each other long but she has shown herself to be a true friend. I am now praying that the Lord sends someone to sort of take her place. Finding a good friend outside of school is hard to do but I know the Lord has someone out there for me to be friends with. She will be greatly missed but I have comfort in the fact that she is following the Lord's leading in her life.

Nairobi Park and Lukenya

Today my friend Tracie and I started off our day at Nairobi National Park. We drove around the park for several hours looking at animals and having a good time. After the park we drove out to Lukenya and spent the day with my pastor, his wife, and their son. Tracie and I had a great time! I had never been to our church's camp and I really enjoyed the tour.

Chapel

Yesterday was quite the day! It started off by me finding out that I had an hour and a half meeting after school. My original plan was to check off my long list of errands. Well about the end of the school day I get a text from the person who was scheduled to speak for me for chapel today. He got food poisoning several days ago and said that he wasn't feeling much better. He didn't cancel but checked to see if I had a back up speaker just in case. I couldn't put much thought into it because I had to race off to after school duty then the unexpected meeting. After the meeting I texted the chapel speaker to find out if he thought he might make it. I went to leave school about 5:10 p.m. and realized I had a flat tire. I didn't think much about it because I have a spare. Well the spare was put on and it was flat. I got my front two tires changed about two months ago. The spare was on the left or right side of the front of my vehicle. Apparently when they took it off they gave me my flat tire back for my spare. I was a little frustrated that they would be so dishonest. My roommate and I ended up borrowing the school car. We went to a tire place to get my flat plugged. I could tell the guy was dishonest and wanted to overcharge me. All I could think about was the stack of papers that needed to be graded and errands that weren't getting run. I didn't bother getting it fixed at that place. As we pull into the place where we buy vegetables I get a text saying that my chapel speaker needs to cancel. Mind you by this point it was already 6:00 p.m. and I still wasn't home. By the time I got home I was so flustered I couldn't get anything done. I ate a bit of dinner then went to my room for some quiet time with the Lord. After the attitude I had over all the drama of my day I needed some confessing time. I know that I get that way because I'm selfish and want my day to run the way I want it to run. After I had some good fellowship with the Lord I went to sleep. I got up about 4:50 a.m. and prepared for chapel. This morning went great! Everyone really enjoyed chapel. I even had sixth graders be sure and tell me how much they enjoyed it. I know it's all in the Lord's hands but I really hope they got the point of the story I told them. I know I was entertaining but entertainment without a heart change does nothing. Speakers can be phenomenal but if what they say doesn't stick then they really weren't phenomenal. My prayer was that God would speak through me and I pray that He did and continues to. He's taught me a lot about His will over mine these past few weeks. Sometimes it hurts to be molded into His image because I'm stubborn and not always moldable. Thankfully, He is a God that is patient, loving, and kind!!!

Blessings

One of my students came to know the Lord!! She left me a note last week saying "Miss Pourciaux thank you for helping me get saved". Well Monday I talked to her after school and she was so sincere. Today she wrote me a note asking about Heaven. She wanted to make sure there wouldn't be sin in heaven. When I assured her there wouldn't be the biggest grin spread across her face. How precious! I'm so glad to see God's blessings and confirmation in me coming here.