march 2023.

What a month! March marked birthday month for me and has quickly taken first place as the best month of 2023 so far! What a beautiful month filled with blessings. I often play worship music in my home and this song has been a frequently played one this month.

Natalie Grant says this beautiful line amidst the worship session that says, “Do not let your worry be louder than your worship.” Can I get an amen? Far too easily can I take my eyes off Christ, like Peter did when he stepped out of the boat, and get overwhelmed by the worries of the world. Yet, when I take the time to prioritize worship, my heart is recentered on Christ. The Calmer of the storm. I have been reminded this month to continue to praise God on the mountaintops and the valleys. For He is the same God. While our circumstances and situations may change, God never does. That fact alone can bring such peace to my anxious heart. God remains the same. His character, His faithfulness, His goodness, His steadfast love. All of it, never changes. He is worthy of our praise!

I began birthday celebrations by calling my wonderful friends from BC. It was so special to connect and reflect on the past year and see the many ways God was carried us through hardships and to be where we’re standing now. The rest of the day was spent with two of my closest friends and it was so lovely. I went for brunch, to a greenhouse, enjoyed dinner out, and watched my favourite movie.

March was reading month at WNS and I had so much fun coming up with creative ways to read with the students. From reading on a school bus, reading under our desks turned into forts, and reading by the pool, the kids loved exploring different genres of reading this month. It was fun to set reading goals and watch them succeed in meeting them. As a class, we focused on reading and creating poetry. The students had a lot of fun creating alliteration poems and enjoyed hearing Shel Silverstein’s poems. The students also completed a unit in Science on sound waves and enjoyed making telephones to learn how sound travels through vibrations.

This month also included our Spring break. It was really nice taking some time to rest and recharge. I travelled with a friend and got to spend some time at the coast. I enjoyed soaking up the sunshine, swimming in the ocean, and reading books.

Perhaps you’ve heard in the news that Kenya has been having protests due to inflation and issues with the new government. There have been protests for the past 2 weeks and are scheduled to continue on Mondays and Thursdays indefinitely. If you are to read more, you can here: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/kenya-protests-explained-why-are-people-demonstrating–4165664

Please pray for safety and peace for Kenya. It has gotten quite violent and dangerous in these hotspots. As of now, 4 people have died and more than 50 have been injured. Thankfully, my neighborhood is safe, but we have closed school for one of these days, since many of our students receive transport through these areas. The students are quite fearful of what they’ve been hearing on the news and with no timeline of the protests stopping, it has raised anxiety amidst the community.

Consider praying for the protestors, the government, and the nation of Kenya. The Kenyans I know and love are so peaceful and it is sad that this side of corruption is happening and headlining the news. My prayer is that these demonstrations would cease soon and that the world would come to know Kenya for its beautiful landscape, incredible wildlife, and kindhearted people. I know that our God is the God of this city and his love for this nation is unmeasured. His plan is for peace, may that be true for Kenya.

-j.