God is SOO Big!!

Praise God! This last week has been a whirlwind of blessings... Let me tell you about them! As of Thursday of last week, I am officially fully funded. That was one of the biggest worries that I had going into this summer preparations... but God had/has it under control. I also had the distinct privilege of having dinner with a lady last Wednesday that I met at the Missionary Convention in November. She has developed a curriculum for churches to use a ESL curriculum. I purchased "English Anywhere" and now I have a resource that if I needed, could use and apply to the situation in the DR. I am perfectly fine if I never take it out of my suitcase, but it is there if I need. It has been interesting how God has fulfilled these little worries... but He has also given me peace to go into the situation fully expecting for my world to be turned upside down. I also found out this past week that the girl that told me about Orphanage Outreach will actually be down there the same time that I will be. Praise God for an answer to the little bit of anxiousness of traveling by my self. Most likely we will be flying in on the same plane. God cares about the little things, which in my mind makes Him that much bigger!

Serving a big God,
Monica

Check out this weekly devotional written by Dr. John Cash (the pastor of Antioch Christian in Mississippi- one of main contributors to the ministry at Orphanage Outreach):

www.countrypreacherdad.com

Within sight

So I had a realization this week... in less than 2 months, I will be down in the Dominican Republic working with Orphanage Outreach. For so long it has simply been one of those things that is "this summer"... when people would ask me what I'm doing "this summer", I would respond with "working in the Dominican Republic with Orphanage Outreach"... and now "this summer" is a little closer. With that realization, comes excitement, anxiousness and a little bit of an overwhelming feeling. I came home this week for Spring Break and I was able to get my shots that I needed for the 3 months and I am in the process of taking the Typhoid Meds... so I should be well taken care of. It has been good to be able to relax and spend time with friends and family and to catch up on some things that need to be taken care of before I leave for the summer. I would ask that as the 2 months become 2 weeks and 2 days and finally departure day that you would continue to pray for the final preparations. Also, I need to turn in the rest of the money to Orphanage Outreach by April 27th. I am still $570 short, but I am faithful that God will provide. Thank you to all of you who have supported this ministry... I could not have done it without you. Thank you for your support and encouragement. I am blessed to have you in my life.
-Monica

Not alone in a crowded room

So it's been a few weeks since I have updated this... a lot of things have been going on around campus.. keeping me busy. Next week is midterms and with midterms also comes some projects that I need to keep working on, so this weekend promises to hold a lot of homework time... although I would love to be spending that time with the community that I have developed over the years. I have been reminded a lot within the past couple of weeks about the value of community, especially here on campus. Everyone from work supervisors, professors, mailroom workers, cafeteria workers care about me... that's not even to mention close friends in Alive group, Student Council, church and other things I am involved in... I am so blessed by the friendships that I have formed over the years. As I prepare for this summer, I am even more thankful for them because they, along with my family, have shaped me into who I am today. Thank you very much for your love and dedication to challenge and encourage me to seek God's best for my life. Praise God for community.
Blessed,
Monica

The Gumby Principle

So I knew that this would have to come out eventually. God has really been doing a number on me.. I have always thought that I understood the whole concept of "Blessed are the Flexible for they will not be bent out of shape". I have been on several mission trips and that has been a consistent theme... but I feel like that principle is going to be something that will be a huge learning experience for me throughout preparation for this summer. I have a pretty good idea of what I will be doing this summer, but a lot of the preparation (curriculum planning) will happen in the first week that I am there, with all of the other interns. My supervisor said that I should be learning as much as I can about different ways that I can teach an English class. Fortunately for me, I am in ESL Methods and Materials, and we are learning just that (which includes some homework that I should be doing today). This is scary for me, because I want to prepare as much as I can on the front end of things, but God is faithful and He will not give me more than I can handle. As a dear friend reminded me this morning, God is a God of order... He's got this :) Thank you for all your prayers and support.
In His Arms,
Monica

He's got the whole world in His hands

I used to sing that song growing up in Sunday school and VBS and I guess I never really thought about what that really meant for me. My Creator, has the whole world in His hands. He has my hopes, fears, desires, and future plans in His hands. He holds the birds, butterflies, bees and bears in His strong and mighty hands. He has got it under control...
I often say that "I've got it under control" when, someone comes up to me with concerned eyes in the middle of chaos. Most of the time it is me telling them that I've got it under control, to try to fool myself into thinking I've got it under control (if that makes sense), but how much more does God have things under control when we come to him with worried eyes, in the middle of chaos... Our Father is faithful and speaks the truth.
This weekend, I went home to visit my family and I also had the chance to visit a family that I babysat for this past summer. When I babysat for them, the boys where only 4 months (now they are working on taking their first steps... craziness). But I remember when I would watch them and they would start to get fussy. Sometimes all they needed was a bottle, sleep or a changed diaper, but most of the time, all they wanted was just for me to hold them. Somehow being in my hands was comfort enough.
And so, I come to my Father who has the whole world in His hands. Asking Him for continued peace for this summer's plans, motivation to do school work, and patience in relationships. He has got it under control.
In His hands,
Monica

God of the small things

So I have learned a lot about myself over the last several years. It's funny to think that someone can grow so much within such a relatively short amount of time. I have learned that I LOVE teacher juice (aka talking with other teachers or future teachers about teacher things... which wouldn't make any sense to non-teachers)... I have also learned that I like people and I have been so incredibly blessed by all of the friendships that I have formed over the past few years, but I also love spending time with ME, I am an introvert in that I am "filled back up" by being by myself....I have also being reconfirmed that I love details (hence the over-obsession with Post-it notes, so I don't forget about the details in my life). One of those details that has made me the most anxious about this coming summer has been the issue of money. But God is faithful and cares about details... my Alive group studied Psalm 139 last week... How much the psalmist talks about how God cares about every little detail about me... it astounds me. But back to the detail that God reaffirmed to me this week. Praise God, I received $400 in the mail through the blessings of close friends and family over the past week. I know that is just a fraction of what is required for this summer, but to me it was God saying, "Monica, I have called you the DR this summer... I will take care of you.. trust me". And so I am thankful for the blessings of family and friends and I am also thankful that even though God doesn't need Post-its, He is still the God of small things.
In His Love,
Monica

The Journey now has a map

So I am new to this whole blogging thing, so be patient while I learn. :) Ever since I came back from Pachuca, Mexico God has been doing a mighty work inside my heart. Even being able to go to Pachuca with my family was a God thing. I am so blessed to have experienced the things that I have in only the past six years. Even though the passion for teaching, children, the Hispanic community and most of all the Gospel has remained the same, this journey is coming to an exciting peak this coming summer. I have been in prayer for the past year and through a recommendation from a professor, I have been given the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic for a summer working with Orphanage Outreach. There is still so much that needs to be done and still so many uncertainties (which usually doesn't settle well with my detailed personality), but God is faithful and He has given me peace (that only He can supply) about going to the DR. I am excited to see where the next step takes me. Because of His grace, I can enjoy the blessing of peace. God is good.