Author Archives: jocelyn smart

It is hard to believe that this is my 60th post on this blog since I began posting 5 years ago. What an incredible journey God has taken me on. I am so grateful to serve in Nairobi. As you know, this past year, I moved schools to take on a new role that IContinue reading “may 2025.”

The rainy season has begun in Nairobi and with each passing year here, I get more unsure as to when rainy season is! But alas, it has begun and I am reminded of how much I adore falling asleep to the sound of rain on the roof. I also love seeing all of the greenContinue reading “april 2025.”

My birthday month has come and gone and boy, was it filled with love! I am so grateful to have a community of wonderful people who showered me with love, intentionality, and kindness. My students and colleagues made me cards and decorated my classroom. It was so wonderful walking into work on my birthday! Also,Continue reading “march 2025.”

How do you feel the month of February went by? Do you feel it flew by or that it dragged on? When I’ve asked around, I seem to get a mixed bag of responses. I, personally, am excited to enter into March since it holds my birthday and Spring break! To recap February, the phraseContinue reading “february 2025.”

Our first full month of 2025 has come to an end. I hope that you enjoyed Chapter 1 of 12 so far. I was grateful to have the first week off of work to enjoy spending time reflecting on the past year, setting intentions for the new one, spending time with friends, and exploring Kenya.Continue reading “january 2025.”

December’s blog post is coming to you in mid-January! Oh, what a full December it has been. I thank God for His blessings. It has been a wonderful month, and I am so grateful. This month was filled with fundraisers, Christmas concerts, celebrations, caroling, end-of-year projects, report card writing, farewells to students moving, church servicesContinue reading “december 2024.”

I recently began reading the book, The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg and I’ve been really enjoying it! The book is about the idea that the more we abide in Christ and seek to live a grace-filled, flourishing, and redeemed life, the more ourselves we become – “the person God had inContinue reading “november 2024.”

What a beautiful month of blooming! As we approach the end of the calendar year, the weather has been warming – it is almost summer here. Jacaranda trees are in full bloom! I adore seeing the purple around the city. God’s beautiful handiwork. I am also grateful for the warmth and blue skies. At school,Continue reading “october 2024.”

I’m not sure about you, but for me, the days this month felt long, however the month itself has flown by. This month I read the book Meant for Good by Megan Fate Marshman. It is on the passage of Jeremiah 29:11-14. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses of Scripture, and inContinue reading “september 2024.”

& just like that, august slipped away into a moment in time. I’ve been back in Nairobi for over a month now and SO much has happened. I went through some major transitions from moving across the city to beginning a new role at a new school. When people ask me how I am, myContinue reading “august 2024.”