First Newsletter

I'm posting my first newsletter here--a lot of people have already seen this on Facebook or been e-mailed this. I've been told some people have had trouble leaving comments--I'm trying to get that fixed, but please let me know if you have further problems. Thanks so much for all your support--it means so much to me. What a blessing to belong to the family of God!

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Dear Friends and Family,

It seems hard to believe that just over a year ago I had just graduated from college and just started my two summer jobs. This fall is shaping up to be quite a busy time for me—in mid-August I will change positions at Michael’s from Support Specialist to Front End Supervisor and start working evenings because of student teaching. I also plan to continuing teaching piano from my home as well as joining the music faculty at the Mobberly Baptist Academy of Performing Arts one evening a week. In the midst of all that I will also be finishing up my all level music certification and possibly adding the 4-8 Generalist as well.

As many of you know, I did a lot of soul searching the spring before I graduated about what the Lord had for me—I applied for, auditioned at, and was accepted into Baylor University’s graduate program to study Piano Pedagogy, but it just didn’t feel right. The financial end of things didn’t work out, and it was with some relief that I realized that God had closed that door. The more I thought about what I wanted to do, the more sure I became that I was called to return to Sakeji mission school as a full time teacher. I spent the summer of 2006 serving at Sakeji and at the time I considered returning becoming a full time teacher there, but as I had two more years of school I filed that away as a possible option.

Once I accepted the Lord’s call to return to Sakeji, I began to explore options for getting my teachers certification. LeTourneau University has an accelerated, post- baccalaureate program that allows people already holding degrees to get their certification in as little as one year. I started my coursework last August and now have a few weeks left on my last class before I am done with the actual courses. This June I have passed my music exam, and will taking my PPR exam at the end of this month.

I was very excited to get placed at Trinity Episcopal School for student teaching—I will be working with the lower school students. Once I finish up my certification, the tentative plan is to leave the US around New Years, Lord willing, and hitch a ride to Sakeji with the Ronalds who will be returning from furlough at the same time. I will then have a little while to get settled in and organized before first term starts. As of now it looks like I’ll be teaching music and middle school English classes as well as filling in wherever else I can help.

I would appreciate your prayers for me as I continue to complete the steps in the process of going to Sakeji. Specifically you can pray for strength as I finish my coursework (and the associated tests!), for all the paperwork to go through quickly (both with my teaching certificate and work visa with Zambia), for many details in moving overseas, and for my spiritual and mental readiness as I prepare to embark on this exciting adventure. There is so much to be done that sometimes it is overwhelming, but I serve a mighty God who strengthens His people to fulfill His will. I will do my best to keep you posted as I set dates and reach goals. Thank you so much for all your love and support—I feel so lucky to know so many amazing people! May the Lord bless you richly in the rest of this year, and may we be found faithful wherever we are called to serve.
Yours in Christ,
Lina