The LONG journey that has brought me to this place.

Once upon a time I was on a journey to California.  Okay, so it was one year ago, but while there, something changed in me I have never been able to put into words. I'll come back to that in a bit. And I apologize in advance for this long post. Guarantee they will not all be this long! :) Just want to bring everyone up to date!!

As a student at Mount Vernon Nazarene I began my college days as a psychology major and after my freshman year, I decided it was not for me and began in the teaching program the beginning of my sophomore year.  If you know my family, you know that being an educator is something that has always ran through my blood.  I used to spend countless hours playing school in my room as a girl.  My wise boyfriend tells me, that which we loved to do as children is most likely what we are meant to do with our lives.  Now I couldn't agree more.  I started my education classes and I began doing some field work in a 2nd Grade classroom in Mt. Gilead.  During my days there, I battled with the idea that I had chosen the wrong major and felt very frightened.

Mount Vernon does a great job of getting us into the classroom a lot so that we become comfortable with teaching lessons and being with different grades.  I have been in a preschool class, 1st grade, 2nd grade class, 4th grade class, and two kindergarten rooms.  The more and more I was in the classroom, I became comfortable with my decision to switch my major to early childhood education.  It was not until January of 2012 that I felt a deep passion ignite inside me.  I went to San Diego, California for about three weeks with our school to do our cultural diversity semester.  I was in a Kindergarten class there and my teacher allowed me to jump in and get more involved than I had ever been able to in a class.  I miss those kids and think of that time almost every day.  That teaching experience changed me and the confirmed completely my decision was correct.

While in San Diego, I gained new friends, fell in love with California, met beautiful souls on the streets of the city, and learned a lot about who I was.  Thus began a passion for wishing to travel.  Also on this trip, I met someone.  I met someone that has changed my life forever.  He has since become my boyfriend and if it weren't for him, I would probably not be going on this trip to the Dominican.  So Lane, THANK YOU. For always encouraging me and fighting for me to go on this adventure.  See, he made a trip internationally for his student teaching to New Zealand two years ago and it changed him in ways I cannot begin to explain.  So while we were in California, he was very persistent at encouraging myself, and two friends to give the international student teaching thing a try.  So.... We did. We took the encouraging words of Lane and filled out our applications when we got home from the trip.  My heart was anxious and hopeful for a journey I could take.

My application went in with my top five schools I would wish to teach in from a list that the company we work with to place teachers had.  My top five were all in Africa.  I have always wanted to go, but never been able to. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity.  February or March we were interviewed for being able to study off campus by MVNU. I got accepted.  It seemed everything was falling into place.  Then discouragement struck hard.  My top five schools were all unavailable because either the school was not accredited, the staff was not secured for the school year, or there had already been someone placed there and they had no room for me.  Top five shot down. I could handle that.  I chose about five more in Africa.  No go. I sent him a list of about five more schools I would like.  A couple were more hopeful as I waited weeks in between hearing from the man in charge of placements.  At this point summer was almost over and I had no placement.  The hopefuls were in Malaysia and Okinawa, Japan.  I was very excited for those but both came back as negatives.  I remained hopeful believing that my heart's desires were known.  I prayed long and hard hoping for something. I desired to go somewhere. ANYWHERE at this point.  Australia became my next option.  I had received confirmation for a couple schools there but after a bit more investigation, they were not available to have a student teacher.  I had bought an Australia book, Lane and his family were prepared to cook Kangaroo for me, and I was busy searching sites I could see while I was there.  For some reason, the confirmations were cancelled.  And I felt defeated. I felt something was wrong with me and no one wanted me.

I contacted the man in charge of placements and I tried the whole "Hey! Why don't you just place me somewhere that can take me?!" This, out of complete faith, landed me in the Dominican Republic. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel and I am hopeful in knowing I am going there for a reason.  I am so looking forward to meeting the people and my students.  I am not too bummed about the fact it's going to be super warm and sunny all the time! My heart has been humbled because of the long process I went through to get to this place.  I had it all planned out but there was something different planned for me.  I am happy and excited to start the adventure.  I have also been very anxious to just get there and get to know people.  With all that being said, I know that in order to continue learning about myself I need to be outside of my comfort zone.  I forget most of my Spanish, but the school luckily speaks English! It just may be hard for me to ask for food at a restaurant! :)

I have begun packing and I will be flying out January 25th.  I fly home March 15. After I arrive home I begin my student teaching back in Columbus where I did some teaching this fall.  I don't know what the next seven weeks will hold but I know I will be changed.  For those of you that are Hobbit fans, I am comforted knowing Bilbo was afraid to go on his adventure.  But his life was changed because he decided to go.  That's all I am asking of this trip.  And that makes me hopeful.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers. I am grateful for you all.  I will try to blog while I am there to keep you updated but I am not promising how often I will.  As Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there."