What's Up November

 Happy Wednesday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Shay, and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. 

Every month we answer the same list of questions based on how things are currently going in our lives. 

The questions are...

 

What am I eating?

Tonight some friends and I are getting together for a pre-Thanksgiving get-together, having all sorts of yummy appetizer/finger food type foods. Then, tomorrow I'll join my fellow AGWM-ers for our Thanksgiving get-together. So I have all of that deliciousness to look forward to.

What am I reminiscing about?

I've been thinking a lot about the sweet lady who gave me this travel mug. I'll tell anyone, that I feel like I learned more about teaching Special Education from working with this lady than I did in all of college and my previous years of teaching combined. She was an amazing teacher. When I started my class, she was such a valuable resource. Since she taught a class very similar to mine, she gave me so many ideas and tips and strategies. She gave encouragement. And she prayed for me too. She'd even write and check in on me before she got so sick, and even for a bit after that, being such an incredible encouragement. She passed away a few years ago, but any time I use this cup, I think of her.

 What am I loving?

I'm loving how well my students get along with one another. I love that it's like a big family in our room. My job is difficult. I go home utterly exhausted every single day. And I know I have no choice but to spend time after hours/on the weekend lesson planning. It's a lot. And it's hard. BUT still, I do love my job. And one of the things I absolutely, positively, 100% love the most about my job is seeing how my people are so great together. I love that they have each other, they have this friendship... I love that they look out for one another. I love that they want to help one another. I love that they sometimes argue like brothers and sisters, but in the end, they 100% have each other's backs. They are such an incredible group of kids. And I love it!

What have I been up to?

This past weekend, I spent some time with my fellow AGWM-ers here in Senegal, while we all worked on goal setting for the upcoming year (and beyond) in ministry. In preparation for setting/writing up my new goals, I reviewed the ones I've set the last few years. The "eye-opening" one was from 5 years ago, when I was writing goals in regards to starting my class. This adventure God called me on has been such a great one. And I have been consistently amazed at how He's worked  in the lives of my students (and me). I've been so grateful for the opportunities He's already blessed me with. And I'm looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for the future...

What am I dreading? 

We had a few nice/cool days. Then, bam! The high heat/humidity came back with a vengeance. So yes... I do kind of dread going outside at the moment. It's just so very hot, humid, and uncomfortable. And let's be honest here... I'm honestly, just so grateful to have a job where I work inside. 

What am I working on?

Lesson planning for 487 classes a week. ...or maybe just 16 :)

 What am I excited about?

I know Thanksgiving hasn't arrived yet. But still... At this point, I'm most excited about Christmas. I love being a teacher at Christmas time. I love finding ways to incorporate Christmas fun into as many of my lessons, as possible. Even if it's lame Christmas-themed math problems... And it's even more fun when working at a Christian school, where we're able to talk about the real/true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. Plus, if we're talking about Christmas, I can't not mention my excitement at the thought of Christmas Break coming up, which not only finally gives me a break from work, but along with that comes lots of days with no alarm clocks and also time with my family in Alabama. So yes... I'm definitely, super excited about Christmas!

What am I watching?

I'm considering starting to watch Grey's Anatomy. I've seen clips here or there online. So I know the general premise of the show. But I've never watched a full episode. Anyone a fan? Is it worth it to start from the beginning?

What am I reading?

I've been diving into the world of the "Elephant & Piggie" books by Mo Willems, thanks to one of my people loving them so much. We end up reading at least one a day together. They're super cute little books. And I must admit... Hearing that sweet little voice reading/laughing through the books always bring a smile to my face. I love seeing kids enjoying reading! So fun!

What am I listening to?

I've started listening to Christmas music. It's just such a fun, smile-producing addition to my day when I'm lesson planning or studying or working around the house. I love it!

What am I wearing?

Nothing terribly exciting. But I have started wearing my hair down a bit more. Does that count in this section? :)

 What am I doing this weekend?

My weekend starts tomorrow. We have a long weekend since it's Thanksgiving. School is dismissed at lunchtime today. Then we're out of school the next two days. Yay for a school in a non-American country that still celebrates American holidays :) Anywho... My plan, as of now, is to take it easy most of the weekend. I'll have the Thanksgiving get-togethers I mentioned  earlier. Then, a friend and I are planning to go get pedicures this weekend. And another friend and I are trying to plan out a time to catch up on a show we both like. Past that, I'll do a bit of grad school, a bit of housework, and I'll also have to do my lesson planning for the week after Thanksgiving. And yes, I'm planning to have a bit of relaxing time thrown in the mix as well. 

What am I looking forward to next month?

All things Christmas, of course.

Past that - I'm looking forward to being finished with grad school next week. After 25+ years of schooling from kindergarten to now a 2nd Master's degree, I am so so ready to be done!

What else is new?

Schedule changes and all the puzzle solving fun that entails ;)

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month? 

A Decade Ago

Today is a big day. It's my Senegal-iversary.

I stepped foot on Senegalese soil for the very first time on this day, exactly 10 years ago. Y'all... That's a decade! How is that even possible?!

Life has changed so much in that amount of time. I've gotten older. And I'd like to think I've gotten wiser, as well. I know I've become more confident in my abilities as a missionary and a teacher. 

10 years ago, my dad and I loaded my suitcases in the car and headed to the airport in Atlanta, where I said a tearful goodbye to my family. Why'd I do it?

I was going for one reason...

I was going to fulfill the call God had placed on my life.

God had called me to be a Missionary Teacher.

He had graciously allowed me to help further His Kingdom through education. 



I was so young that first year. Honestly, I worried about that first class. I worried that I wouldn't be the teacher they needed. I worried that I would fail them. I worried so much... But you know, it really wasn't that bad. And I am so, over the moon, proud of those students (and yes, proud of me too). I loved watching them grow as the years went by. I loved seeing them shine in sports and musicals, in Drama and academics, in ministry and in life. I loved it!

And not just them.

I've taught 100+ students over the years. The majority of those students being at Dakar Academy, that school I crossed the Atlantic for a decade ago...

And y'all...

I am so, incredibly blessed to call each and every one of them "mine." I'm thankful that God led me to leave the comforts of "home" behind, sacrificing time with family and friends, leaving so much behind, all so I could love on those 100+ kids. 

I'm thankful for each classroom.

I'm thankful for each child.

I'm thankful for each opportunity I've had to learn and grow, to nurture and encourage, to teach and to love. I'm thankful for each opportunity I've had to share the love of our Heavenly Father and the Truth of His Word. 

I'm thankful for the past 10 years.

And I look forward to however many more God has for me.

I love being a part of the Assemblies of God World Missions Department.

I love being a part of Dakar Academy. 

I love being Ms. Nichols, a Missionary Teacher, just following her Savior around the world to her "home away from home," and doing what God has called me to do.

Thanks for the past 10 years Senegal.

It's been awesome!

A Missions Related Favorite

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post, sharing 10 things I wish I'd known before becoming a missionary, which you can read HERE if you missed it. However, I accidentally left one thing off. And it's actually a big one. Want to know one of my most favorite lessons  is that I quickly learned after becoming a missionary?

People are so amazingly generous.

 Different mission organizations handle support raising (fundraising) in different ways. I am with the Assemblies of God. We, missionaries, are given a budget to raise, which includes a certain amount of monthly commitments and a certain amount of cash (one-time) donations to procure, as well. 

It's truly humbling to have to ask people for money.

It's not easy.

But you have to realize that you're not just simply asking for a handout. You're asking the person to prayerfully consider partnering with you for the advancement of the Kingdom - for assisting with fulfilling the Great Commission. 

And y'all... That puts it all into perspective a bit more.

So back to the point of this post...

People are so amazingly generous. 

There are people and churches who, for the past 10 years, have sacrificially/generously given each and every month, in support of my ministry.

There are people who have donated food and school supplies.

There are people who have sent care packages and birthday cards and little notes, all in the mail, as reminders that someone's thinking about me. 

There was a dentist who did a major work on my teeth (for free).

There are people who have bought my textbooks for my classes.

There was a family who let me live with them for 5-ish weeks during the summer while I was finishing my Master's degree. 

And then most recently, there was a couple who, out of the blue, contacted me and paid for my summer flight to/from the US.

Y'all, I've seen it so many times.
And each and every time, it makes me catch my breath and I get a little teary eyed, thinking of the generosity of these men, women, children (and whole church groups, too). These people are giving of their own resources to help me and to help my ministry here in Senegal. It really is humbling. It is.

So, yes.

This is most definitely a favorite in this career I call my own.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Today, I'm joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup. Click one of their names to and join the fun

Home Assignments

Happy Tuesday, Y'all

Today, I'm joining Ashley and Erika for their monthly Tuesday Talk link-up, where we, bloggers, come together and talk about whatever is on our mind at the moment. I typically try to think of one specific topic to talk about.



In January, I shared an introduction of myself and in February, I shared a random list of little things that had made me smile recently. In March, I talked about being a Special Ed. Teacher. And then in April, I shared details from my super short, but super nice Spring Break trip to the US.

So what's on my mind today?

It's Home Assignments.

For those in the non-missions world, a Home Assignment, or Furlough (or Itineration as it's called in the A/G) is a time when you leave your field/place of missions service for an extended period of time (typically at least 6 months to a year - sometimes more). Now, because I'm a teacher, my missions organization doesn't typically require me to take the year or longer version of Home Assignment. Instead, I typically spend 6-8 weeks in the summer each year in the U.S. Now... If my missions account were to drop significantly, this would change.

A few weeks ago, I read an article about Home Assignments by Krista Horn on The True Purpose of Home Assignment and it caught me by surprise just how much it spoke to me. I'd definitely recommend anyone interacting with missionaries on Home Assignment read this article at some point.

And yes, a few of the details might be slightly different for me since I don't have a husband or children. 

But still... 

This article is so true. 

I love my times at "home." 

But my times at home aren't just for "vacation."

And sure there's some, but my times at home rarely include a lot of rest/relaxation. 

They're busy and full of traveling, making phone calls and attending various appointments/meetings. 

I spend almost every single Sunday and Wednesday on the road, speaking in churches, in Sunday School classes or Youth Groups, or at Bible Studies, and sometimes even over coffee or dinner.

I'm sending and reading and replying to emails, staying in contact with supporters and missions leaders.

And this doesn't count the other responsibilities I have due to the teaching side of my job. I'm planning ahead for the upcoming school year - planning lessons, researching and creating, attending workshops and meetings, prepping IEPs, reading and staying current, and so much more.

Plus, when I'm back in the US in the summer, I have to shop for 6 months to a year at a time, planning every purchase carefully. These school, food, and household supplies come out of my pocket. They're not paid for with mission funds. So those big shopping trips have to be planned very carefully. Plus, it takes time and energy to do that. Not to mention all the time it takes to pack...

And during that time, I still enjoy spending time with my family and friends, packing in all the memory-making time I can, so I can use those memories to hold me over until I'm able to see them again.

And I feel like I need to clarify a bit... 

I don't say these things to complain. I'm just writing this to clarify how things are (for me) and to answer some questions I know others have had.

Home Assignments can be a confusing time for missionaries and non-missionaries alike.

But Home Assignments aren't all bad.

In fact, if you ask most missionaries, we'll tell you the same thing.

Sure, it can be hard. But it's worth it. It's worth it to reconnect with supporters. It's worth it to meet that new niece or nephew who was born while we were on the field. It's worth it to cross so many things off our To Do List. It's worth it to eat Chik-fil-a. Ha! :) Seriously... It's worth it to do all the things we can to connect with the men and women who love and support and encourage us while we're on the field. So yes, Home Assignments are indeed worth it.

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Missionary

Happy Friday Y'all

Last week, I shared a few things I wish I'd known before becoming a teacher. And since I had so much fun making that list, I thought I'd do another one, but on another of my favorite topics of discussion...

Missions 

Almost 10 years ago, I landed in Senegal, West Africa for the first time. And from that moment, my life/perspectives/worldview was forever changed.

And over the past almost 10 years, I've learned a LOT. 



There are so many things I wish I would've known before becoming a missionary. 

Things (in no specific order) like... 

1) Goodbyes are hard.

Oh dear me, this is so true. I had no idea how hard it would be until I held my 4 month old niece in my arms, crying my eyes out because I knew I'd be missing the majority of her little life while living/serving far away.

Or when I said Goodbye to sick family members after a summer of visiting them regularly, not knowing if they'd be alive when I returned again.

Or each and every single time I say goodbye to my mom and my brother and sister-in-law and my nieces (along with all the rest of my extended family members), not knowing when the next time I'll see them will be. 

Goodbyes are just so hard, y'all. 

2) Not all missionaries are out there building literal church buildings and preaching from behind a pulpit.

Ok, so I did actually know this. But so many do not...

Missionaries wear all sorts of hats.

* preachers * construction workers * teachers * doctors * coaches * orphanage managers * photographers and videographers * school directors * coffee shop owners * psychologists * 

 Etc. Etc. Etc. 

 3) Sacrifices Made

Missionaries make many sacrifices. 

We miss important family events - births, deaths, weddings, birthday parties, graduations, important family milestones, etc.

Many of us give up the gift of consistent electricity and water.

Many of us give up access to good medical care.

We give up comforts of home. For many of us, that means living in a place with no American foods/restaurants, nothing that reminds us of "home." 

Many of us give up a lot of our independence. We can't drive in our host country. We can't fluently speak the language/communicate with our neighbors. We can't do all the things we used to be able to do so well back "home."

But ask any of us about this and we'll tell you the same thing...

The sacrifices are worth it. 

They're so incredibly worth it for souls won for the Kingdom.

4) You learn to appreciate the seemingly little things.

I still remember the day I found a chocolate cake mix at the store. It's a little sad how happy that made me. And yes, I did pay far too much money for it. And it was worth every single penny. 

Or how about when our American Food Store started carrying kale or Vick's Vapo-rub or my favorite Ivory Body Wash. Y'all have no idea...

Or when you're in the States, fundraising, working to raise your missions budget and people you don't even know stop you in Sunday School or after the church service or even in the aisle at Wal-Mart... They stop you to tell you they've been praying for you or they stop you to give a donation to your missions budget or to give you some school supplies for the class you're starting overseas. 

5) Technology is a great thing.

Plus, in terms of missions, specifically... I can email pastors and supporters and set up speaking engagements and meetings, even before I make it back to the U.S. I can send newsletters and prayer updates. I can share pictures and stories and more, keeping my supporters up-to-date on my ministry here in Senegal. 

And on a more personal side... Y'all, we live in a time when I can be 4,000 miles and an ocean away from my mom but I can call (or video chat with) her and talk 'til my heart's content. Now... It may cost a lot. But it's so worth it.

Also, I can receive adorable videos and pictures of my nieces, allowing me to keep up-to-date on their sweet little lives even though I'm not physically there to experience all the birthday parties and dance recitals and all of that.  

6) Singleness on the field can be hard.

It's hard sometimes to be single on the mission field. This is especially true when you're the only single person on your team. There are a zillion and one reasons as to why this is true. But I'm not going to get into them here.

But know this... It's hard. So if you're on the field and you have a Single on your team, check in on them periodically. Invite them over. Make sure they feel included.

7) Planting/Growing takes a long time.

There are missionaries who have been on the field for decades who have yet to see the fruit of their labor. A co-worker's parents recently FINALLY finished the translation of the Bible in a certain people group's heart language. And y'all... It took 30 years! Yes, 30 years of pouring their heart into this work.

8) Learn the language

For most missionaries, you don't have a choice in this. But come on. Even if your ministry is like mine and you work in English, you can still learn the language of the people around. Speak to the shopkeepers and the artisan vendors. Speak to the guys carting vegetables around your neighborhood and the taxi drivers taking you around town. Speak to the nationals who work in your school/office. Speak to the servers at the restaurants where you eat. Speak in their heart language.
 

9) Flexibility is key.

 It seems simple. But it's so true.

Life is so not the same overseas. But that's good. It's worth it to step out of your comfort zone from time to time. Go with the flow. Be flexible.

10) Dig into the Word.

Seems like a no brainer, right?

Speaking from experience... When you move overseas, you may not have access to a church with preaching and worship like you're used to. And that's not always a bad thing. But I promise you. It can be hard. 

And it's times like that, especially, when you find your soul feeling dry/thirsty, that you need to dig into the Word even more, clinging to The Father, and allowing Him to re-fill your cup. 

So, stay in the Word. Stay praying. Stay close to God. Don't forget to replenish your own soul in your pursuit to filling other's...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And then, because why not...

Here are a few "honorable mentions" I thought I'd add to the list.

Set boundaries.

Know the culture.

Home

And so much more...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Today, I'm joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup. Click one of their names to and join the fun