purple lighting

Guess what...it is still hot and humid here!!! Yippie! *sarcasim!!* I seriously am looking forward to the end of fall, beginning of winter when I get home!! I am done with sweating! Although, it makes me super happy that my mom sent me apple cider that I can make :) It is kinda fall in my room, if I turn on the air really low...oh, wait my air is broke right now!! lol oh well...mai pen rai (bascially means no worries in Thai)

A few of the funny/fun things I can remember from these past few weeks:
* one of the other 3rd grade classrooms were really good and earned a party. They wanted a snow party...haha, so they ate popsicles, made snow flakes, watched a snow video clip and made snow with a snow machine...just thought it was super funny...
* my kids can now sing 'THIS IS THE DAY' in creole and it makes me really happy!
* the youth pastor from the church I go to...hhahaaha...most of you won't get this...

These past few weeks have been packed full of learning.
Learning how to:
~ manage a classroom full of 8 & 9 year olds who love to talk and talk
~ plan weekly lesson plans
~ teach to EVERY student (super exhausting and trying!!)
~ depend on the Lord for strength and sustainment
~ trust that following the Lord is worth it (even though sacrafice is necessary)

It sure has been a whirlwind. Although, I really have been enjoying it, I am very tired each night. The kids are learning though!! (for the most part) Teaching takes a lot of work, but at least I love doing it. Otherwise, I would probably have given up by now... I have finally experienced some of my "harder" days and man, they were rough, but I sure am thankful for all the love and support I have not only from my friends and family far away, but from people here. They are wonderful! I can't say it enough, but God has truly blessed me. Getting to know everyone has been so much fun and I know I will be sad to leave. God has taught me (even more recently) how it is, again, not about me. It is about what he wants me to do, if he wants me to, I will...period. Although it will be hard, in the end, it is worth it. My cousin is getting married tomorrow...I was suppose to be in the wedding, but God called me to Thailand to pour into these children's lives...it is hard and hard for me to understand at times, but it is worth it to follow where God leads me! (CONGRATS BRIBBY! I LOVE YOU!!!)

I was reading in my devotions this moring this from Oswald Chambers...

"The aim of the missionary is to do God's will, not to be useful, not to win the heathens; he is useful and he does win the heathen, but that is not his aim. His aim is to do the will of his Lord."

This is my 6th week here. I can hardly believe it. I have one month left here. I gotta admit though, I have been getting a little homesick and minnesota-sick. There are certian times when I just miss having reliable internet, air-conditioning, food, etc...There are times when I can hardly believe that I am really in Bangkok, by myself, teaching an entire group of children, by myself...I think back to when I was in 8th grade and people told me that I would never go to college because I wasn't "capable" enough. God sure has done some amazing things with me! Here I am not only in my senior year, student teaching, but doing it overseas! Wow! To God be the glory. Teaching these children is the most amazing feeling in the world. To see them grow and learn...priceless, hard to find words to describe it. That is why when I get frustrated with the little things, it doesn't matter. God wants me here and it is not about me. I think that is why he lets the things happen, to keep me focused on what truly matters. Teaching overseas, at an international school, is waaaay different (more challenging) than teaching in the states. Before I left someone told me that it would be like that...they were right. Mostly, it is because of the language difference. Even though they all speak english (some better than others) more challenges arise...So, this experience is so valuable to me and I am really, REALLY enjoying it...even the challenges! I am not exactly sure why God wants me here. I mean I know one reason is to help these kids...there just needs to be 2 teachers in this classroom, but I am thinking possibly it is also because God wants me to be prepared to teach overseas in the future?!? I don't know, we will see. For now, I just need to focus on graduating! (I am also learning that I can't really look at the big picture...I just take it one step at a time. I can focus on God though and he is pretty big!)

I have extended my Thai vocabulary, which has been fun. I can now say don't worry about it, no spicy (lol, yea..few weeks go..ate a pepper by accident...almost died, not going to lie!), I can count, say hello and good bye, say iced coffee (suuuper important one lol), ask someone how they are and give a response, say coconut (lol) and say thank you. I am learning! It has been fun! Jessica is teaching me...slowly. I have really been able to experience more of who God is. I can see him all around me. Working in not only these children, drawing them to him (they have so many questions), but also in nature all around me. I saw purple lighting for the first time in my life a few nights ago...WOW! AMAZING! God is so much bigger than I even know! He amazes me and it is crazy that he loves me and wants me.

I have one more week of full teaching before I have to start to 'fade out'. Please pray for me in this next week. I am getting sick...I am praying it is just a cold and nothing more. However, it is my last week fully teaching and I want to be able to do it well! I have to admit, being sick in hot weather is very strange...I am not use to it and my air broke a few hours ago...God is in control though. Thank you all, so much for your prayers. God is moving! Pray that the kids keep asking questions and that God will just USE ME (and that I will just keep my eyes focused on that!)

I love you all.

All I am for Him,
Katelyn

one.month.

I can hardly believe that I have been here, in Thailand, for a month now! Time is just flying by! I have really been enjoying life here, a lot. I have been getting out more and been learning how to communicate better with the people. Not only have I been able to connect more with the Thai people, but with the staff at the school and the friends I am making! Leaving will be hard. I still have 5 and 1/2 more weeks here though and look forward to these weeks to come!

Also, God has been teaching me so much. I have been learning how to let go of myself, how to die to myself every day. It is not about my desires, my wants...me, but is about GOD! I haven't got to the point yet where I can fully give God everything, but I think I am getting there. I have to admit though, it is definitely hard to die to myself. I feel like I am on a rollercoaster emtionally a lot of the time... I miss Haiti, yes, but I am here in Thailand and these kids that I am teaching need to know God and need to be loved! And I have the amazing opportunity to love on them and teach them about Jesus and the Gospel!!! I know I will be back in Haiti sometime soon, but even if I am not, I will still praise the Lord and know that HE will lead me exactly where he wants me if HE wants me back Haiti, nothing will stop me from getting there! BUT...
...All I am for the Lord...

Today though was my first day fully teaching and managing the class all by myself! It was absolutely wonderful! I loved it, I love teaching so much!!!! The kids are so great and fun to teach. One of the little boys, David, came up to me at the end of the day and said, "Miss Katelyn, it was your first full day teaching everything!" and I said, "Yes, it was!" Then he asked me, "Did you have fun?" I smiled and replied, "Oh yes! I had so much fun teaching you guys today. I love teaching you!" He is so cute! Overall, it was a good first day and I look forward to the weeks to come as I continue to teach on my own. I am learning and if I just stay organized and on top of everything, I think I can keep my "bad days" at a minimum. I know they will come though, but God will help me through them. Thanks for everyone for all the prayer! God is hearing you :)

Well, Jessica and I are going to drink our coconut/banana smoothies and watch Step Up! I'll write again soon!!

All I am for Him,
Katelyn

GOD IS BIGGER

The end of this school day was a rough one. Here is the list:

Ringworm is going around...

Found out one of my students (who has been out sick for 2 days now) is confirmed to be in the hospital with H1N1.

Robin (one of the other 3rd grade teachers) is in the hospital with influenza a..possibly could be H1N1

The fire alarm went off twice today, unexpectedly and unplanned of course. The first one was, whatever, no big deal, BUT the second time the alarm went off was right after the students has just left the room, heading downstairs to wait for their parents and I had to go to the bathroom so bad, but while I was going the fire alarm goes off, yes in the middle of me going to the bathroom. So, I stop and try to get out as soon as I can. While I am coming down the last step outside, the heel of my shoe gets stuck in the crack/indent (don't know why they have them on all the stairs in the school) and I fall on HARD on my knees, scrapping them up badly and starting up my knee issues again. Not to mention that I fell in front of not only elementary students and teachers, but middle school and highschool students and staff as well as all the parents...talk about embarrassment. Now my knees are super sore and beat up.

Yea.

It was rough end of the day, but once I got back to my room, Jessica brought me dinner (such a sweet girl) and we just relaxed and ate. I was then able to get lots accomplished. God is still good. I was getting really overwhelmed with all of this plus lesson planning, but God really came through for me. Please pray for me though.
(Next week, I am begin teaching fully for 3 weeks!!! :D )

Pray for:

-protection from sickness and ringworm!
-wisdom for lesson planning, so I can effectively teach (and help) every student. They all need so much help and I want to do as much as I can, with God's help and strength of course!
-my knees...strength and healing!
-for God to show up even more and continue to touch my student's hearts. There are so many cool stories I could share right now, but I really need to get to bed. Just keep praying because I am seeing the prayers answered!!! God is moving!!!

I miss you all and love you very much!

God is good,
Katelyn

Your hugs
Your kisses
Your smile
Your laugh
i miss you.

Your little arms
how they hugged me tight
I can't stop thinking about you
not with all my might
i miss you.

No matter what I do
i miss you.

Some nights are hard when I dream of you
and wake up to find you not there
reality hits me...
You are there, I am here.
[the tears fall harder] i miss you.

I think of how you are living,
and all that you've been through
It's hard not to worry
when I am thinking of you
I wish I could hold you
again in my arms
to have you fall asleep
and keep you from harm
To feel your little heart beat
and dry all your tears
To tell you, "it's all gonna be okay
you have nothing to fear".

You may not even remember me
with all the people that come and go
I am not just another one of those people
I love you, I want you to know!
i miss you.

It breaks my heart to be so far away
to see pictures of you as you play
I wish to be with you every single day
but here, here I must stay.
i miss you.

I don't understand God
I can't help but ask why
My heart continues to break
tears fall from my eyes
i miss her.

You I will follow Lord
I just don't understand
I need to trust you
Trust in your loving hand
Your timing is perfect
I know this well
but how come it is so hard now
sometimes I just want to yell
i miss her.

WHEN CAN I GO BACK?
i miss her. i miss them!










Then I hear you say, BE STILL and WAIT.























Although I don't know
what the future holds
I know this one thing
Thy Word, oh Lord, I'll uphold
You are always faithful
til the very end of time
I will continue on my journey
I will continue to climb

You see my heart God
You know all that I desire
I am wholly yours
For you, set me on fire

Give me your eyes
your heart
your desires
May I learn to sacrfice all that I am
all that I want
More of you do I inquire

Help me as I work through these feelings
feelings that you allow me to feel
I work through this for a reason
I know this is real

Even though I miss her
and the rest of them
You have control
They are each your gem
you are with them.





I miss anaika.