What a full, wonderful month! The weather this month was amazing. Most days had a high of 27 degrees. I enjoyed the sunshine and being outside. However, now that March is upon us, it seems so are the rains. I believe that the rainy season is just around the corner. I am looking forward to March as my oldest friend is coming for a visit over spring break. I am looking forward to showing her around this beautiful city. Below you will see some photos of the beauty I saw this month.
February at WNS always marks the Africa Celebration – a day to celebrate this wonderful continent. Students share countries they’ve studied, showcase art they’ve created, sing African songs, wear African attire, and enjoy a performance from a Kenyan dance group. It is my favourite day of the year! I love seeing the students take pride in their culture and celebrate God’s amazing handiwork throughout this incredible continent.
We enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day in our class or as we called it – LOVE DAY! We spent the day reflecting on how to love those around us well. We focused on loving ourselves, others, and God. I loved hearing the student’s ideas and thoughtful responses on how they want to show love in action.
We also had a super fun Science day at school where the students saw science experiments, enjoyed a planetarium experience, and even got to touch a live snake! What incredible experiences.
Lastly, the students were able to go on a field trip to wrap up our unit on bridges, gravity, and forces. The students have been learning about different types of bridges, how they work, the different types, and how they are built. We had an incredible time walking across a suspension bridge. Nairobi is so stunning, that I often think about how blessed these students are to grow up in such a lush and beautiful part of the world. What a childhood!
This month, I also had the opportunity to revisit the Rosslyn campus, the school where I’ll be working next year to work on getting some paperwork sorted, and I’ll be honest, the day brought more emotions within me than I expected. The paperwork part of this process has already been challenging and stressful. There is a lot that needs to be done but is out of my hands. I was also overwhelmed with the amount of newness. I realized that this new role and this new school with all of these new people feels a bit like starting over or starting afresh. There is nothing familiar and that can cause me to worry. Yet, I have been reminded of Isaiah 58 lately and all that God WILL do. God will guide me, God will satisfy my needs, and God will strengthen my frame. What a powerful reminder during a stressful time. I know that God is working in my heart to build my trust in Him. I continue to feel afraid that I will miss being a classroom teacher and the familiarity I have in my current position, but I am stepping out in faith, choosing to believe that what He has called me to, He will see me through. Yes, I’m sure there will be challenges along the way, but I want to step out in obedience to what God is calling me to do. I also want to focus on all of the unknown blessings that are to come along with this transition. As I enter into a season of change, I can stay grounded in the One who never changes. Thank you for your continued prayers during this season of transition. A number of you have sent me emails and I am so grateful for your encouragement!
I can anticipate that this transition will be challenging for me, so I am trying to prepare myself as best I can for all that is to come. I began reading a book titled, “Looming Transitions” by Amy Young (an experienced cross-cultural worker) and it has been extremely helpful. She highlights the fact that right now, I am “living with the tension” of my current role and the role to come. It gets tiring finding the balance between living in the present and preparing for all of the new and unknown that is to come. I am thankful for a resource that seems to understand the mixed emotions I am feeling.
Lastly, I am grateful for new friendships with friends I’ve met at church. We’ve enjoyed playing sports together and having a games night this month.
Thank you again for supporting my journey overseas. I appreciate you all.
-j.
jocelyn's adventures in kenya. 
Thanks for the update, Jocelyn. You truly are in a beautiful setting! Excited to hear about the new position…happy you’ll be able to use your training and gifting. I understand the mixed feelings of moving, so will be praying that God’s presence will sustain you and give you joy. Charlotte
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Thank you so very much Charlotte.
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Hi Jocelyn!!!! Thanks for another commentary of God’s faithfulness and the reflection of His beauty through you❤️ This new journey to Rossland sounds interesting. Can you enlighten me as to what your role will be there. I love your journey! And I like the smiley faces on your students pics, it makes me think there is much vigilance in protection for your littles and that truly blessed me. Take care, I will continue to pray for you as our Father leads❤️ Blessings, Janie Gillis
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Hi Janie,
Yes – my new role will be supporting students with learning disabilities (ie Dyslexia, Down Syndrome, Autism). I will be creating their individualized learning plans and goals, supporting them both in the classroom and one-on-one as well as equipping their classroom teachers. I am looking forward with anticipation for how God is going to use my passion and training in this next season.
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interesting Jocelyn, I worked in the developmental centres in Regina when they first opened up in 1986 I believe maybe 1984. The model was at professional teacher, music teacher, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, and two aids. It was a wonderful experience . That is where I learnt Amerind sign language. For nonverbal students the Amerind sign language was very effective! Please keep me posted I’m very excited for you
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Hi Jocelyn, It is very exciting to read about your adventures with the students and with your friends. You seem so perfectly suited to this challenge. It will be so interested to see what God accomplishes through you being there. There will be a purpose but we may not know it here or now! When Blair and I look back at our past churches we can so clearly see why God had us there and why He moved us along. It’s pretty exciting! This has been such a mild winter (except when it was -40-50). Now that was cold and pretty much everyone stayed home! Things at Trailview have been going better after going through one of the most difficult periods of the church. God has done and is doing an amazing work of healing and challenging us all. We lost some people (especially our young families but Kristin Patzer is in charge now and she is a go-getter) The Sunday School is picking up again. We still need a new lead pastor so are earnestly praying for this. My Missy-Moo (Megan) is in Saskatoon for her 2nd year of business – she’s contemplating about going into corporate law when she’s done this degree. But she also wants to get married and have a family (but so far there are no prospects in site). She does have a standing offer from a fellow she met at Millar when she went there but she’s just not interested. He’s always telling her if she changes her mind, he’s ready, willing and able. LOL We have a whole row of young men at the church who are single. Unfortunately we don’t have any young women to hitch them up to. Believe me, I’ve tried! Isaac is at Millar this year and he’s going on a mission trip with a team from there. They are going to Romania, Rome and somewhere else I can’t remember! He is soooooo excited. Cypress Hills Camp hired him as program director for the camps this summer. He’s pretty pumped about that too. He loves camp and loves kids and really loves Jesus. We are so thankful God has been so gracious and all of the family are following Him. Biggest blessing in our life. We will continue to pray for you with the transitions you need to make. We love you and pray for you! Carol for Blair too
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sorry am very late in my message have had a very stressful winter health wise On the mend Blessed !! looking forward to seeing you this summer The tea was wonderful take care prayerfully Irene
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