... It has been a really long time since I have posted about life in Memphis. I will try to shed light on all that has happened since August without gettting too detailed to keep this from being excessivly long.
1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:1-8
Life over the past 8 months has been like a rolling, twisting, and never-ending roller coaster. I am so thankful and blessed that my constant and safety bar is Jesus. There is no way that I would have made it this far through the work here in Memphis without the Lord. I will update today about my family, teaching, and myself.
Family is one thing in life that we are blessed with no matter how crazy, dysfunctional, amazing, supportive, or uninvolved they are. Family is always there no matter how crazy, dysfunctional, amazing, supportive, or uninvolved we are. I love my family a lot and that also includes my adopted family of my best friend. Connor, my little brother, has been through a lot these past 8 months beginning with my families return home from moving me to Memphis. I am so ecstatic to say that he is finally doing great. Doctors released him to go back to school in January. He will have to have some more surgeries eventually, but my mom is waiting for the time being. He had two surgeries within 2 weeks of each other in December. I was home for Christmas during one of the surgeries. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and helping Connor get healthier after the two surgeries. My mom returned to work as Connor went back to school as well. I will get to go home for Spring Break and see them then and I cannot say how excited I am to see them.
Teaching is possibly one of the hardest professions in the job force. Teaching in an urban setting is almost impossible if you do not know the Lord. Honestly I do not know how people could ever do this work without the Lord. Everyday that I walk into my classroom I have 26 little people sitting in front of me waiting for my guidance. I wish it was as easy and pleasant as that sounds too. They depend on their teachers to get the information they need for their future lives. The students in urban classes do not get the knowledge and stimulation that students in suburban setting receive. I really never thought the educaiton I received growing up was that great, but in comparison I was so blessed to attend the schools that I did growing up. Students in the urban setting don't usually recognize the importance of an education unless you really inspire them to know they can go to college. We really have to create cultures in our classrooms that are so different than classrooms they have been in before and different from the cultures on the street or in their homes. Teaching is an exhausting career. The students in my class need so much more than just a teacher. I am so blessed to be in that classroom really, but I honestly do not always feel so blessed. The great thing is that the Lord can give me the strength to be there for my students. A huge growing point for me this year was that I cannot be my students savior Jesus has to be their savior. I am in that classroom fighting for a just education for my students. ... I will try to write more often and give more updates about teaching.
I definitely have had a quite a trip over the past 8 months. One of the biggest transitions has been adapting to this new season of life. I have a great community and family here in Memphis, but it is not the family and community that I came to know and love in Norman. I still do not have a home church. That is a mountain that I am climbing but I know that my relationship with the Lord is most important. I have attended many great churches here but none of them are home. That may seem silly but that is truly how I feel. I have had to overcome comparing churches here to Journey and Antioch in Norman because there will never one like another. Church families are kind of like people they all are unique and different from others. I also love to be involved in church and love serving but so far I just cannot make that commitment to any of the churches here. I want to make sure that when I commitment to a church that I am definitely committing for the next few years and season of my life.
During the rollercoaster time I have clung to the Lord and I know that He has a great plan. I know that I am here serving Him in Memphis. I do not always see it that way though. I have rough days and all I want to do is go home, but ultimately I know that I am where I am supposed to be. Memphis is a great city, the people are great, and I believe that public education here can be changed all for the glory of the Lord.
To see a video about what we are doing here in Memphis check out this video....
http://video.pbs.org/video/2194187203/
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