My One Thousand Gifts #'s 170 - 174

One Thousand Gifts

Each week, I'm highlighting new items I've added to my list of one thousand gifts. These aren't always big things. In fact, sometimes it's the littlest things that stick out the most. 

This week, I've added 5 new things...

#170 - a box of pancake mix

This was a last minute addition to my shopping cart right before coming back to Dakar in January and I'm so glad it made the cut. Thanks to this box of easiness (and a little milk and chocolate chips), I was able to make some tasty pancakes for friends this weekend.

#171 - an encouraging email from a pastor

Getting notes from back "home" are such a nice treat, especially when they're from a supporting pastor, encouraging me and thanking me for letting them be a part of my ministry in Senegal. That's right... He thanked me. ...not the other way around. I definitely don't feel I deserve any thanks. All I do is due to God - most definitely not due to me. But still... It was nice to receive the thanks.

#172 - old SD cards

I was going through some old SD cards the other day and enjoyed going through the pictures I've taken over the past 5 years. I'm thankful for all the memories these cards hold. It was fun looking back.

#173 - improvement shown on test scores

We've been doing ESL testing this week. It's been so great to see the improvement my students have made this year. I love it!

#174 - a dinner invite at the end of a long day

Wednesday is my longest day each week since I leave for school at 6:30 and, due to Kids Club, don't leave until at least 5:30 (...or 6:00 on days like today). So when I finally get home, all I want to do is crash, and definitely not have to cook. So I was definitely very thankful that my neighbors invited me over for dinner last night. What a treat that was!  

And in case you want a recap of the other things on my list, you can find them below...

1-3

4-16

17-24

25-28

29-34

35-40

41-43

44-48

49-55

56-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-84

85-89

90-96

97-105

106-110

111-123

124-129

130-142

143-149

150-156

157-164

165-169

5 on Friday

5 on Friday link up

ONE - I went through some old SD cards this past weekend and found this picture of some fishing boats on the Dakar coast. I'm thankful for what these fishing boats represent. When I come back to Senegal, I'll be working with the Wolof, the largest unreached people group in Senegal. And the #1 job of the Wolof... fishing. I'm looking forward to this new adventure on the road to fulfilling the calling that God has placed on my life. 

TWO - We've been giving ESL tests all week. These tests help the other ESL teacher, and myself, measure the improvement made by our students over the course of this school year. It's been pretty exciting, scoring the tests, and seeing such big improvement in so many of our kids. This is a part of teaching that I love - seeing the academic growth in students. I absolutely love teaching! And ESL is such a rewarding field. I'm so thankful that God's allowed me the chance to be a part of it.

THREE - We have a 3 day weekend this weekend. I'm looking forward to tackling a few projects around my apartment, like packing up some of my things to put in storage, cooking and baking quite a bit to fill my freezer (and help me not have to cook from scratch so much these last few weeks), and calling pastors and scheduling services.

FOUR - I'm going to need a car when I get to the States. But considering my budget for such a purchase is incredibly small, and I'm currently overseas, finding a car is proving to be rather difficult. I keep telling myself I don't need to worry about it right now and that God knows what I need and when I'll need it. But being the natural planner that I am, that's not easy... *Anyone reading this have a good, reliable, inexpensive car they want to sell me ... I'm not picky. :)

Yep. That's what I've been doing.

FIVE - Dakar Academy (where I work) is looking for teachers for the 2014-2015 and the 2015-2016 school years. I have thoroughly loved my time at DA and am definitely going to miss it when I leave in June. Are you reading this and interested in any of the positions below? Want more information? Ask away. I'm happy to help. Or you can contact the school at recruiter@dakar-academy.org to get even more information.

Dakar Academy - Job Openings

The 106th Dear ____ Post

Dear My Aunt Donna, You're who's having a birthday today. I hope your special day is filled with all sorts of awesomeness. See you this summer! :)

Dear Alabama District Council, You happened this week. Thanks to them offering online streaming, I was able to watch almost all of the services live (...except for the ones happening at midnight, that is). What a blessing it was, though, to feel like I was a part of the services even though I was a few thousand miles and an ocean away. And it's exciting to think that I'll be able to be there, in person, next year!

Dear 6 Weeks, You're how long I have left before I fly back to the States. ...which means I have only 6 weeks and 2 days left 'til I see my family again! Where has the time gone?

Dear A Little Over a Month, You're all that's left until my second niece is born. Wow! It doesn't seem real at times... It seems like just yesterday that I got the text saying her big sister was born.

Dear 3 1/2 Days of Classes, You're what we have this coming week at school. Of course, we, teachers, also have an afternoon of meetings, but still... :)

Dear "Lost for Words," You'e the title of a Youtube video I watched last night. You have a powerful message that many in our world, today, really need to hear. Actions often speak louder than words. Even if you can't communicate with someone using words, you can still be a friend. You can still be a nice person.

Dear Pocahontas, You're the movie I watched last night. What can I say? I love kid movies :) And this is my favorite quote from the movie...

Dear Ideas for New Blog Posts, You're what I have planned in the coming weeks. As of now, I have ideas for posts on stepping out of your comfort zone, Rednecks, lessons learned from popular children's books, what I'm going to miss in leaving DA, what I'm looking forward to in the States, being an Aunt, and more.

And speaking of my blog...

Dear Blog Readers, I'm trying to improve my blog, so I'd like some feedback from you. Is there anything you'd like to see on the blog? Now's your chance. ...unless you're going to say something ridiculously crazy like my brother usually does :)

5 on Friday

5 on Friday link up

ONE - We had an Easter sunrise service at church Sunday. Our West Africa A/G director preached an awesome sermon on the Resurrection.  ...which just so happens to be my all-time favorite story in the Bible. I feel so unworthy that Jesus would die on the cross for someone like me. He loved me so much that He did that. Thank you Jesus for loving me that much!

TWO - I was browsing Pinterest this past weekend and this quote by Elisabeth Elliot caught my attention. I have a list of things I'll need to happen during my time in the States. I'll need to raise a much higher missions budget. I'll need a car to drive me around to services. I'll need a teaching job to help me pay back my student loans. I could keep going... But this quote made me remember that God's timing is perfect. He knows exactly what we'll need when we'll need it. So all I'll need to do is give it all to Him.

THREE - The 99th Alabama A/G District Council happened this week. I totally took a nap after school each afternoon/evening so I could stay up late and watch/listen in on the service online. I'm so blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization as the Assemblies of God - and to be a part of the Alabama District too. I'm so excited that I'll be able to actually be there for next year's District Council!

FOUR - One of my high school students made a joke earlier this week, saying I should let them read picture books for a change, so they'd have something easy to do. So I immediately thought of a project for them to do, using these picture books. (...probably not what my student thought they'd be doing when she first made the joke, but still...) Anyways, it got me thinking about my favorite picture/children's books - either from my childhood or books I like using in teaching elementary students. Books like...

FIVE - I used to love playing Super Mario Bros when I was younger. Well, a friend emailed me a link to a website that allows you to play it online. This is now my current unwinding activity at the end of a long day :)

Play Mario online here.

My One Thousand Gifts #'s 165 - 169

One Thousand Gifts

Each week, I'm highlighting new items I've added to my list of one thousand gifts. These aren't always big things. In fact, sometimes it's the littlest things that stick out the most. 

This week, I've added 5 new things...

#165 - an Easter sunrise service

And what a nice service it was! I'm thankful for a great message, communion, a beautiful sunrise, and the chance to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior with co-workers, friends, and fellow believers! 

#166 - people to share an Easter meal with

Being away from family on holidays is always a bit sad. But it's nice to have a family that includes me in their celebrations. I think we ended up with 21 people! I'm so thankful for them inviting me, for all of the delicious food (including turkey!!), and for the great time of fellowship with everyone there. What a blessing it was!

#167 - an online streaming of the Alabama A/G District Council services

I was excited to see a link posted, allowing those of us not at District Council to still get to experience the services. It was such a blessing to feel like I was still "there." 

#168 - a bag of Conversation hearts

Back at Valentine's Day, someone sent me a few bags of my favorite Heart Day treat and I saved one bag of them for later on. When I realized at the last minute that I'd forgotten to make a treat for our Bible Study party, I thought hey - I could take the Valentine's candy. So I'm thankful, not only for the candy and the person who gave it to me, but I'm also thankful that I thought ahead to leave one bag unopened in case of a Conversation Heart "emergency" such as this :)

#169 - a stack of picture books

...because sometimes, you might just be surprise your middle and high schoolers with a project involving them. 

And in case you want a recap of the other things on my list, you can find them below...

1-3

4-16

17-24

25-28

29-34

35-40

41-43

44-48

49-55

56-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-84

85-89

90-96

97-105

106-110

111-123

124-129

130-142

143-149

150-156

157-164