Sacrifices

Experiencing a culture that is not your own really is fun! I never would have thought 10 or even 2 years ago I would laying on a bed in a distanct country from my home. So far this experience has been extremely eye-opening to see what it is like on the "other side", to be the one in the foreign country instead of seeing foreigners in my home country. I am trying to really look at things from another's point of view. How do the Thai people really view me and the fact that even though a lot of them can't read english almost all the signs in Bangkok are also in English and many stores have English names. How do they feel when they here English songs playing in the all the stores, but can't really understand them? It is very intersting and I really wish for just a few minutes I could understand how they really feel. I would really love to be able to read there minds. For now I just continue to process and enjoy the smiles as I walk down the street or through the mall!

This week just flew by so fast I can hardly believe it is gone. I have done so much lately in the classroom, picking up with teaching more. I've been enjoying it a lot! Working with Claudia is such a blessing and the kids, the kids are all so precious. Watching them play their little hand games, start to understand and get things in class, and to see them start to grow already, it has all been priceless. I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be here. I would not trade this for the world. I have been teaching the Bible and love it because whenever I teach a Bible story they all have their eyes glued to me and are hungry to listen and learn. It is wonderful to see. My first lesson was kind of crazy because the kids were adjusting to having me teach them, but now they are doing well and from what I have been observing and from what Claudia has told me, they are enjoying my teaching! Which is so nice! Today, I taught them the Bible Book Bop song to help them learn the books of the Bible. It is a blast! I look forward even more to next week as I start to teach cursive, spelling and math. I have been less and less overwhelmed which has been nice. I think it is because I am more adjusted and also God has been really helping me keep my eyes focused on Him! I feel like I fit right in here, not only to the school, but the culture as well. Although there are definitely times when I am frustrated that I cannot communicate well when I am out, I get overwhelmed with everything sometimes and the humdity is insanely gross at times, but I do like it here. I pray every morning for God to open my eyes, teach me and use me. Thank you for your prayers as well. Without you all praying me through I don't know if I would be able to do this. I appreciate you all so much!

Something that I really been processing and taking in is how all the students in my class are bilingual. It blows my mind how they can speak fluently in both Thai and English. I can only speak English fluently and EVERYONE wants to speak my language. What is it about English that makes people all over the world want to learn it? The majority of the students are at ICS for that reason. They help translate for the parents when I need to talk to them. Little 8 and 9 year olds translating from English to Thai!?! It reallly does blow your mind. I am falling in love with these kids. God has really placed them on my heart. It will be hard to leave them, but I look forward to helping them grow and learn in the time I do have with them. It does take a lot of energy each day, but it is so worth it! I am learning how to teach to every student in my class. When they don't understand how I am explaining things I am learning how to re-word things and help them understand. I have already begun to be stretched and look forward to being stretched even more in the weeks to come, although it may be tough at times, I am really learning. That is what I am here for right?! I have so many ideas I am excited to try. I am giving it my all. It is such a safe enviornment I am not scared to try things and fail. Plus, I know that with God, I can do all things! :)

Although I do like it here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else doing my student teaching because I am going to learn so much and impact the lives of these kids, I do miss Minnesota. Everyone is moving back into Crown and I am not. I will be missing all the fun of the beginning of the year and all that it brings. I will miss football and the beginning of fall with the beautiful trees. I am not sad in the fact that I am crying, but part of me really misses everthing and everyone. It is the little things that have been adding up. I miss Hayden a lot!!! He is getting so big and I am not there for his 4th birthday. I miss my friends, laughing with them, their hugs, just being with them. I miss Freshwater and the kids there. I miss the Bristol's, Vaughn's and Steph and Brian. I just miss Minnesota and Crown. I am very much excited for when I get to go back, but my time here is short. I am here and will focus on that. I just needed to get that out of my system. I have made many sacrifices in order to be here right now and that is because God told me to go and I did. He is worth it! He knows, he knows my heart and I will continue to obey and follow him. He will not let me down.

Learning to obey the Lord, even if it means making sacrifices, big or small,
Katelyn