Closing Out.

   Well, it's been a great ride over the last couple of years. I've really enjoyed "journaling" parts of my life, and have appreciated anyone who has taken the time to read my entries and joined along on this journey. Blogging is something that I've come to enjoy, a way I like to process new thoughts, get on my little soapbox, or tell funny stories. 

   I've pondered for a while if I'd continue to keep a blog upon returning from Africa...obviously it couldn't be  about "Life At Sakeji", and obviously it wouldn't have the great stories and quotes from the awesome grade 2's and 3's. I can't tell yet if a girl, returning from the mission field, trying to get a new job, putting her life back together, and preparing for a wedding, could have an interesting life enough to come up with stuff to blog about. I also don't want to assume that my life is that important that you'd actually want to read about it. :) But this is the thing, I really enjoy blogging, and personally would like to give it a try. I can't promise however that I would be a faithful blogger, or that I'd even successfully keep a blog active. This may be a failed attempt, and if I feel that there is nothing worth telling you about, then I have every intention to discontinue. So, if you're interested, here is "The Next Step" - tofollowwithoutfear.blogspot.com 

   I am convinced that this next stage of my life is going to be pretty great, and pretty important, and I hope and aspire to be a good wife, a good mother someday, and a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, whatever, however, and wherever. The journey towards marriage has been a pretty long and difficult one so far (especially the past year and a half), but I think that there have been so many valuable lessons learned, and probably many more valuable lessons still to learn, try as I might to make the next five months speed by. All my life, but especially in the past two years God has abundantly supplied me with opportunities to have wife training, cooking training, teaching training, roommate training, hostess training, and mom training. While not all of these training sessions were my favorite things to do, I am richly blessed to have learned so many things, and thankful to have a God who cares enough about my future to give me the preparation for it.

   Living in Africa for the past two years has been an experience I have loved and will never forget, and transitioning back to the states while anticipating getting married is simply the next part of the adventure. What a great life, what an awesome calling, and I want to continue following my Savior onto the next path without having any fear. 

Last Night in Zambia

  I find it hard to fathom that tonight is my last night being in Zambia...at least for now anyway. Time is a concept I have yet to understand, but somehow two years ago I was staying in this very same guest house on my very first night in Zambia. Many nights (and days) have passed since then, and have led to a really exciting two years that I will never forget, and never regret.

   The first part of the journey has passed pretty smoothly, although I have to say, riding in the back of a covered pickup truck with three other people and all the luggage for five hours was definitely not leaving in style! It felt pretty Zambian though. :)

   Tomorrow afternoon we leave out of Lusaka, and hopefully all will go well and we will make all of our flight connections. Now that the journey's begun, and the goodbyes have been said I'm ready to get home. Lusaka today has been so hot, I'm pretty eager to be back in cold weather...although we'll see how long that lasts. 

   Goodnight everybody! Goodnight Zambia!

A few hundred goodbyes.

     Well, somehow we all made it through the last few days of school. Third term is always so much more full than the other end of terms, but now, unbelievably, it's all over. Yesterday came the time to say goodbye to all the kids, which wasn't easy, but a relief to have it over with. 

     Now I'm working on packing, cleaning up my classroom, and spending time with people here: staff, kids at the orphanage, other friends I've made out here. I hadn't figured just how many goodbyes I'd have to say, and how many relationships I actually really do have. Even working in my classroom I'm finding I'm saying goodbyes.  

     I'm grateful for God's grace over the last few weeks, and I'm definitely feeling the prayers of those who are remembering me this week! Closing out two years of one's life isn't easy, but at the same time, I'm excited for the future!

Pinch and a Punch!

"Pinch and a punch for the rest of the month and no returns" is a common phrase heard at Sakeji on the first of every month, accompanied with a pinch and a punch. The kids love racing each other (and the teachers) with this, and some very clever people started saying back, "And a slap and a kick for being so quick!" It's all done in fun though, and is a cute tradition. 

It occurred to me this morning that we have started yet another month here...and that these two years which have been very full are all too quickly coming to an end. 

This last week of school is very full of Christmas...Christmas dinner on Sunday, children practicing and performing Christmas carols, classrooms all decorated for Christmas, and a Christmas show being presented to the parents on the last day of school. 

I'm so happy and sad at the same time. I don't think that I've ever been this torn before in my life. 

Grade two class picture...although not everyone was cooperating for this one!

The sad faces we are making are because I'm leaving this term.(Their idea!)

A Thankful Heart!

Another Thanksgiving is here, and once again I've been so blessed by the other staff members and children here at Sakeji. 

As I walked into my classroom this morning, I found it all decorated for Thanksgiving by the grade 1 teacher. She's crazy! She came up with this idea over a month ago, and had secretly gotten my kids to help make the decorations and write me little thankful notes. Such a surprise! It just about brought me to tears. 

We also had the second annual Pie Social at Sakeji, several of the ladies brought their favorite pie, and it was a pleasant evening, playing a group game, eating pie, and watching an episode of Duck Dynasty. Go America!

This morning as I was explaining to the grade 2's and 3's what Thanksgiving is all about, one kid raised their hand and said, "So, do we tell you 'Happy Thanksgiving' because it's American?" 

Being away from home on Thanksgiving always leaves one sad, and homesick...but with the friends and family that I have right here at Sakeji my heart is overflowing with thankfulness!

Keeping My Head in the Game

Unbelievably we are winding down to end of term! The next two weeks are pretty big and important, full of the usual end of term deadlines, and this time a whole bunch of goodbyes. Some of my duties done daily or weekly won't be missed too much, but at the same time there are moments when I look around at my class and realize that this last few weeks will be very sentimental, and that I will look back on those moments with fondness and sadness. 

I've begun my last round of report cards, and also started to decorate the classroom for Christmas. The kids are thrilled, and I'm appreciating the homey touch Christmas decorations add to a classroom. 

The count down's begun, and the kids are checking out...a bit earlier than I expected (like usual, my teacher self isn't quite ready to let them turn off their brains just yet!), and I realize the challenge that lies ahead for me is keeping my head in the game for just a few weeks longer!

Inquisitive Minds

"Miss Garcia? Are you on a diet?"

"Ummm, no. Why?"

"Because your multi-vitamin bottle says on it 'dietary supplement'."

This conversation has taken place twice...both times asked by grade 7 boys! :) I'm glad that the world is filled with kids, their inquisitive minds, and their blunt questions.