july 2020.

Well, it’s hard to believe that it’s been six months since I made my announcement about my move to Kenya. SO much has happened! COVID for one. I moved from BC to SK for another AND I became an aunt!

Let’s recap the past few months.

March- I went to Mexico with my school on a missions trip as the leader of the grade 11/12 group. It was wonderful! However, it was cut short due to the announcement of borders closing- enter COVID-19.

April & May- The next couple months felt like a blur. I learned how to navigate teaching online (Zoom became an everyday word), established healthy daily habits like working out, eating well, reading my Bible and praying, and lastly, fundraising for my upcoming move.

I did a t-shirt fundraiser and began making & selling clay earrings and jewelry. What I thought would be a fun little side hobby, exceeded my expectations (as God tends to do) and took off! I began making clay creations every evening after a full day of online teaching. This little side hustle of mine turned out to be an amazing fundraiser- I ended up raising $3,000! God is SO faithful.

June- This month I really began to feel the stress of packing, moving, and saying goodbye. In BC, my students and I returned to school to finish the last 2 weeks in person. It was really nice to have closure with the students and be able to finish the year together was such a gift. At the end of June, my parents drove out to help me pack up my belongings and move from BC to SK. It was a weird week of emotions. The excitement of my parents being in BC, saying goodbye to some of my closest friends, and the stress of selling my furniture, packing up my classroom and my house.

July- This month was truly a blessing. An opportunity to rest & reset. This month was filled with family time, lake days, mother/daughter dates, ice cream, packing attempts, seeing friends and grandparents, becoming an auntie and waiting to hear when the country of Kenya would open their borders. About mid-July, I heard from the school that Kenya was set to re-open on August 1st and that all teaching staff were expected to be in the country by August 8th. After that email, everything began moving really quickly. I was able to purchase a car in Kenya from a teacher returning to the States, purchase a plane ticket, and the search for a house and roommates began!

God proved himself faithful, yet again, as he began to pave the way for me.

I found out that, since no other single women had been hired this year, I would have to live in a one bedroom apartment by myself. As an extrovert who loves doing things with people, I immediately felt fear rise up in my heart. I had hoped of having a roommate to journey through life with. I began to ask God,”Is this your plan? Do you want me to spend this year alone, drawing closer to you? It’s just not what I had pictured.” I felt like I needed to have a day to process and change my mindset and then I would be on board. If I’ve learned anything in my walk with Christ, it’s that I can trust Him when plans change. He would still provide community & close relationships apart from a roommate.

The next morning, I kid you not, I awoke to an email saying that I would be getting not one roommate, but three! Three of the female teachers who had been living together this past year, agreed that they wanted to welcome me into this new community and make this transition period as smooth as possible (they know what it’s like) by moving to a four bedroom house to make space for me! I was blown away by the kindness and hospitality of these three women. What a testimony of Jesus, welcoming in the stranger. I immediately felt overwhelmed by God’s goodness and faithfulness. He not only hears me, he KNOWS me. What an amazing God we serve!

That bring us to now! Less than 2 weeks away from my one way flight to Kenya! Here are some things you could be praying for:

-Peace. That my heart would continue to trust in God’s provision and not give in to fear of the unkowns.

-Smooth, safe and healthy travels

-Teaching in the time of COVID

-Saying goodbye to my family

-Packing! How do you fit the next 2 years of your life into 2 suitcases?!

Yours,

Jo.