More Transitions

Well most of you know that I have now graduated from Texas Tech University. It is a weird feeling to first of all be done with student teaching and then to be done with college. At the beginning of this semester it felt like the end would never come. I spent 6 wonderful weeks in 2nd grade having a blast with my kids and teacher then I was so blessed to spend another 6 wonderful weeks in PreK having a blast with my kids and teacher! Student teaching was so much fun and gave me a deeper love for the classroom and for kids here in America. There are so many opportunities to use your position as a teacher to share the gospel not only with your kids, but with the parents and your coworkers.

Graduation weekend was a fun filled weekend that ended with a little sadness. We had a blast hangin out with my wonderful family, my awesome roomies, and my fabulous friends! Here are a few pics of the weekend:

The whole family! I am so blessed to have each of them.

My Beautiful Woman of God Seeester :)

The most Beautiful Daughters of God that I know!(and I have the pleasure of living with them)

And two awesome Men of God!

Like I said, it is weird not having a plan for the spring. I am about to go back to Lubbock and start looking for a part time job and substitute when I can. It is going to be strange not having to turn in papers, or communicate with professors, and the strangest is not getting to walk on campus/run to my next class. I am going to miss my college life. I am going to miss the late night study sessions because thats when you really get to know people. I am going to miss early morning coffee runs and late night burrito runs. I am going to miss that beautiful Jones Stadium. I am going to miss intramurals 3 nights a week. I am going to miss RSC and Foundation. Most of all I am going to miss my friends. Some are still in Lubbock with me, but there are many that have moved off to begin the next chapter of their lives. I am so blessed to have friends literally all over the world (but mostly Texas). They all are being used by God and I love getting to hear how they are so willing to be used by him.

Even though there are these and so many more things to miss about college life, I know this next year is going to hold some intense transitions and I am eager and ready to see what Father has in store for me. These next few months are crucial to the next few years of my life, so be in prayer that God's will for my life is done.

Calm Before the Storm

Well I got my student teaching placement last week, so it is official (unless something crazy happens) that I will be teaching 2nd grade all semester at Cooper North Elementary! I am so excited and so nervous all at the same time. Right now in my life Im not exactly "busy" for the first time in a very long time and Im enjoying it very much! I have painted, read a book, watched movies, taken naps, etc. Its been wonderful. And now with the official placement email the reality of student teaching hit me. Its around the corner. Crazy Busyness is about to happen!

But with that said, I cant wait to get started and meet my little 2nd graders. Im so excited to learn how to do this whole teaching thing full time. I know that all you veteran teachers are reading this and probably rolling your eyes, but Im excited :) But Im so much more excited about loving on these kids. Im so pumped to learn how they learn and talk with them and then try and pass on as much love as possible.

Im getting more and more excited everyday, but for now Im trying to enjoy the calm before the storm! Im trying not to get ahead of myself and enjoy the calm that Father has so wonderfully and graciously given to me.

Good Ole US of A

Wow! I have been back in the states for a week now and Im still kind of trying to adjust. Jet lag is basically over, the only permanent damage it has done to me is get me up around 6 or 7 every morning which isnt really a problem at all. haha.

Saturday my friend Melanie picked me up from the Lubbock airport around 10pm. Kassidy surprised me when we got to the car. I wasnt expecting her to be there. It was a very nice surprise. Except they were both on a massive sugar high and I was about to pass out from jet lag and sleep deprivation! haha. We stayed up for a few more hours talking and telling stories.

The next morning Kass and I headed back to good ole DC for church. It was so good to see everyone. A particular someone decided to announce very loudly to everyone who walked in that I was back......I dont know who can get a hold of that woman but MEGHAN AZAM needs to be tamed a little haha. I spent the day with the fam and headed back to Lubbock the next day with Gammy and Dad. I've been here in the LBK partaking in meals with some wonderful people catching up and staying busy. Its been a very encouraging week. Talking about what Father is doing in all of our lives is one of my favorite things to do and I did alot of that this week! Learning what Father has been doing here in the states and in other parts of the world has been so wonderful! It humbles you so much to remember that Father is at work everywhere. We only see our little bitty life and our little bitty experience and it is SO cool to see that our God is HUGE and he is at work everywhere all at the same time!

My last few days in Africa came to an end so quickly it was hard to process through everything that Father taught me! I think after being back home and getting many great questions about what I learned has helped me process through things better. I would definitely say that the one thing that I walked away learning about the most was desperation for Father. Father brought me to a place where the only form of encouragement was my word and my time with Him. He really taught me first hand that all I need is HIM and He has already given me everything I need. My time in Africa was far from easy and I was pushed to my limit many times, but Father was faithful to refuel me and encourage me.

Then afer I went through this time of desperation for him, He then taught me that he is refueling me and encouraging me all for His glory! Father taught me a lot about how He is working towards His glory among the nations and everything He does is pushing that along, and Him encouraging me and refueling me in Africa was in some form or fashion pushing His mission of His name being made FAMOUS towards reaching its goal.

I am just a girl in this giant world who loves my Savior. THATS ALL. I realize the love He has for me and I realize that His love for me is stemed from Him receiving all the glory. He called us (all of us) to make disciples of ALL NATIONS. The one thing he commanded us to do while on this earth was to make disciples and follow him. THATS ALL. It is so simple but not so easy. Be encouraged by the simplicity of his mandate for us.

I was humbled to be apart of the work Father is doing in Africa this summer. Thank you all for all the prayer and support you gave me! I truely appreciate every single prayer and thought!

leaving Afrique!

Well the time has come. We are leaving on Wednesday to go back to Holland. It has been crazy crazy busy the past week. Father has been teaching me so much. Its hard to even know where to start. Because of my time crunch this will not be a long good bye blog, but when I get back to the states, I while be more thorough (with pictures).

PR for us tomorrow. We have our last meeting with some friends that we have made. They dont speak very good english, so PR that the language barrier does not deter us from being obedient, in whatever way that may be.

PR for safe travel and that these 4 girls soak up every revelation Father is teaching them. PR for integration time. I will be leading a lot of stuff that I am still trying to figure out for myself, so PR that Father has his hand in debriefing these girls on what and how to bring back to the states from their time here.

Thank you so much for all of the PR that has been lifted up. I do appreciate it soo soo much! I love you all and its crazy to say I will be back on American soil in a week. Get excited for some Moroccan tea! I am bringing back a tea pot and some tea so if your with me I will be making some for all of you :)

No Crazy Foods This Time :(

We have been here for a little under a week now and I feel like Im finally getting use to this city. It has been difficult trying to figure it out when everyone speaks Arabic or French, but I like a challenge.

We met a little girl on the beach yesterday. We cant communicate with her but we gave her my number anyways. Luckily we were with a Moroccan friend when she called us back, so she was able to communicate for us. We are meeting her again at the beach this afternoon.

This place is very different from what I expected. It is very westernized. Lots and lots of European influence has come into this country. We eat sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers, and lots of french fries. I have been trying to eat some of the more cultural things, but I cant find any thing other than that for my team to eat.

We are staying at a great little apartment with a kitchen so we have been grocery shopping and have eaten breakfast and most lunches at the apartment. Its fun grocery shopping when everything is in Arabic. The girls have eaten enough Nutella to last a life time already. haha!

Continue to PR that we are sensitive to Fathers leading. We havent really met any english speaking friends, so PR that Father speaks clearly to us on where to go in the city and who to talk to, and hopefully that we make some english speaking friends in the near future.

I miss you all very much! Thank you for all the PRs!

Salaam!

Oh Africa......

Well we are hear and I am back into the world of not being able to communicate. French and Arabaic are not in my realm of languages, so we are having to do a lot of learning. Yesterday we explored the inner city and walked through many many markets. Today we are headed to explore the beach area. I know I know.....the life I live is just horrible :)

This place is very different from any other place Ive ever been. I like it alot but it will take me a little while to get use to many different things. PR that Father guides us in the direction he would have us go. PR for very sensitive spirits to listen to him speaking and also PR that we see what Father sees so urgency is in our hearts for these people.

I dont have very long this time, so this is all I got this time. Love you all very very much!!!

Obedience over Activity

Well, I have been in Europe for a week now and I feel like I've been here for a month. So much training, so much learning, so much disciple, but it has been amazing! Father has been really teaching me the depth of the phrase obedience over activity. As most of you know I am leading 4 wonderful girls and this phrase has become a huge alter for me. It would be easy for me to try and make this an enjoyable experience as best I can for them, but really I need to allow the girls to start using their own discernment (build their discernment muscles, if you will) and allowing Father to lead them instead of me planning some sort of experience for them.

This week our schedule has been very rigid. After breakfast we do teaching sessions all morning and then after lunch we head out for our work for the day. Lots of Plowing (PR walking) has happened this week so disciple in endurance has been big for lots of people.

We are headed to North Africa tomorrow and the 5 of us will be splitting off from the rest of the group for the next 3 weeks, so PR that the crazy-ness that is North Africa goes well. PR for my girls that they transition into the culture well and PR that I stay sane as the lone leader. I will be able to use the internet much more from now on, so you can expect more frequent updates from me.

I love you all very very much and I will have another update as soon as I get to Africa!

MAKE HIM FAMOUS!!!

Goin to the Flip Side

The day has come. I am headed out to Base Camp today and will fly out to Africa on Monday. The time went so fast as it normally does. I have been so encouraged with texts and phone calls and family and friends this past couple of days. I truely feel so ovewhelmed with love and encouragement.

There is a 5 hour time difference where I will be. So at 9 am Texas time it will be 2pm where I am. I will update everyone as much as possible while I am there! I will post stories and updates onto my blog and then attached it to facebook so hopefully everyone who wants to can see it!

PR for the 4 girls on my team. PR for unity as a team this weekend while we get to know each other. PR for wisdom for me as a leader to lead how the Lord would have me lead. PR that I set the standard this weekend. PR the the enemy does not get me distracted with worldly things. PR that my focus is totally on Father during the month.

I love you all very much and I will miss you but I will also be lovin Africa so dont feel to special :) haha! But seriously I love you all and I will see you soon!

Transitions

The past month has been a big transition period in my life. I have spent 4 full years in college, so this graduation meant saying good-bye to so many people I love. (even though I graduate in December.) It was very strange to say "Ill see ya when i see ya." to so many people. I didn't realize that this May would be this difficult, BUT Praise the Lord I still have my roommates and a few best friends remaining in Lubbock with me while I finish up college and become an adult. (yikes)

This part of my life is coming to a close and I want so badly to stop time, but I know that I can't. These past 4 years have honestly been a blast and the best of my life thus far. I have made some of the best friends I while ever have. I have laughed, cried, yelled, pranked, sung, talked, etc. my way through these years with these people and I wouldnt trade a moment of it.

Looking solely at what the Lord has taught me in these 4 years is amazing. Coming into college I was so naive to so many truths and in my head I thought I was a "good Christian", I read my Bible every once in a while and prayed for my friends and family. I tried to be a servant to people, but in reality I was doing these things because I was told to all my life not because the love I have for my Savior overflowed in me. Throughout college the Lord has revealed to me His unconditional love in ways I had never known existed. He has romanced me to where I have been weak at the knees for Him. He has shown me truth after truth after truth about his character. He has given me a heart and a massive love for missions and the outer parts of this world.

Of course I am a sinner and I have hit my fair share of rock bottoms, but as I look at those valleys in my life, they do not compare to the mountain tops. Those valleys in fact make the mountain tops that much sweeter. You grow the most in the valleys. I am thankful for every single one. I wasn't at the time, but now I see why I went through them and what growth I received from them. Revelation 3:19 says, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." This is what he has done to me over and over. Discipline has come at full force at times, it has hurt, it has been hard, it has been painful, BUT his kindness leads us to repentance. Looking back, every time he has disciplined me I have seen his kindness and faithfulness so vividly. My all time favorite verse is John 14:18 says, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

As I am writing this I am overwhelmed with the blessings the Lord has given me these 4 years. The friends, the laughs, the lessons, the roommates, the organizations, the Bible studies, the small groups, my church, the answered prayers, and the unanswered prayers, all of them have been a blessing in so many ways. I can not believe how incredibly blessed I truely am! It humbles me so to think about it.

Transitions are not fun at the time, but there is so many exciting things ahead. Right now the negative is looming over my head, but the positive will come soon. Right now all I can feel and see is the loss of close friends and the ending of college, but I know the Lord has many crazy things in store for me in the upcoming years. (even though I have no idea what I will be doing after I graduate.)

The quickest crazy thing is going to be my trip to North Africa this summer. I leave June 19th! I am super super pumped! The Lord is going to do some awesome stuff in this place, in my life, and in the lives of the girls on my team! I can not wait to share wait our awesome Savior is going to do!