Poked...

Today I had a doctor's appointment to try and take care of a nagging health issue as well as do some Zambia prep. So, I got my first Hepatitis A/B shot as well as a Mefloquine (an anti-malarial) prescription to get me started. Getting shots is not my favorite thing to do, but I guess its better than being sick for months. Perhaps...

Here are some more pictures I found while looking for an outline map of Zambia. Here's a cute little map of Africa with Zambia colored in:


From this map which you can't read the legend on (go here here to zoom and scroll around) it looks like I can expect somewhere around 49.2 inches of rain during the year:


This is a similar map of the annual mean temperature (once again, go here for the zoomable version)--looks like its about 70-75 F:


I'm getting deeper into the job of sorting things out in my room. I have so much stuff! I feel so liberated to be throwing stuff out though--its like a physical weight off my shoulders. I hope I remember this lesson about 'things'--they are often more hassle than they are worth!

I've been constantly amazed these last weeks how God is steadily providing for my needs and answering my prayers. Its amazing to see Him work! My family and I went to visit out dear friends in Henderson yesterday, and one of the dear sisters there took my family out to lunch afterwards. As we were leaving the restaurant, she took my hand and told me, "When things you hard you just crawl up in His arms and say, "Here I am Lord." Sage advice indeed from someone who has walked for many, many years be the side of our dear Shepherd. So, here I am in His arms saying, "Here I am Lord." Praise be that they are the same arms that created the universe, stretched wide on the cross for my sin, and have held me every moment of my life. I know I'm safe here.

Praise the Lord!

I got the receipt for my paperwork for my work permit today--one more step in my journey! I'm in the process of getting a police clearance certificate to take with me to prove that I'm not a criminal, and hopefully my paperwork should be mostly taken care of now!.

It occurred to me that it might be a good idea of post some pictures of Zambia so you can have an idea of the corner of the world I'm going to find myself in on January 2nd.

This is a picture of the Zambian flag superimposed over the outline of the country. The bird is the national bird of Zambia, a fish eagle.


Zambia has 9 provinces--I'll be calling the North-West province home.


Getting to Sakeji is quite a trip--it will take me four days from Nashville (where I'm flying out of) to Lusaka.

The first leg of the trip is from the states to London--in this case I'm leaving from Nashville instead of Dallas because of the family reunion this Christmas. I'll have a few hours lay-over in London, and then I'll catch an overnight flight to Lusaka which will have me arriving early in the morning on January 2nd. From there, it is a day's trip to the Copperbelt--we will probably stay in either Kitwe or Chingola, and then another day's trip up to Sakeji.

I'll try to post some pictures of what things will look like this weekend--until then have a blessed week!

November Newsletter

Dear Friends and Family,

A lot has happened in the last few weeks! I completed ten weeks of student teaching, had a great last observation, and started the process of sorting through all the ‘stuff’ I’ve accumulated over the last few years. I have my luggage now (two big Rubbermaid tubs and a rolling bag/backpack combo) and am filling out paperwork for CMML this weekend. However, the most exciting news of all is that I have a plane ticket at long last! I will be leaving Nashville on December 31 and arriving in Lusaka via an overnight flight at 6:35 AM January 2nd. My mom managed to find an itinerary that had me going in and out of Heathrow—what a blessing! The Ronald’s will be arriving in Lusaka on the same flight, so there shouldn’t be an logistics issues. I’m so excited—until now it was a little unreal. This was a big step out in faith—there are many things that I am still waiting on the Lord to provide. Yet, I am confident in His promises that He will provide for my every need. I look forward to seeing how He moves to bring about the things that I can’t!

Even though my load at school will get lighter in some ways, there is still much to do in these last two weeks of my student teaching. I’ll be helping to get ready for the big Christmas concert, La Posada on December 10th as well as getting my Mobberly students ready for their Christmas recital on December 14. One big blessing that the Lord has provided is that my grandparents are coming for Thanksgiving this year—I’m so excited! I haven’t seen them since graduation due to school and work, so it will be a blessing to spend some quality family time as well as gather advice from veteran missionaries! I’m also looking forward to the week right before I leave as my family will be traveling to Nashville to attend the birthday celebration/reunion in honor of my Great Grandpa Baker who will be turning 100 years old on January 6. What a great way to spend my last few days in the states—surrounded by my wonderful family and getting to visit with relatives I haven’t seen (and probably won’t see) for a few years. Truly God has worked things out well!

I will do my best to keep you posted as these last few weeks fly by—as always, check out my blog: http://littleschoolinthebush.blogspot.com as well as e-mailing or calling me—I would love to hear from y’all! I’m still working on my e-mail list—once again I’m amazed at how many friends the Lord has blessed me with! If you would rather get a hard copy of my letters, or get them at a different address, please let me know. This is quite the journey I’m setting out on, yet I’m confident that my Shepherd will supply my every need. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and a Christ filled holiday season!

~Lina Burklin


This will be my address on the field:

Sakeji Mission School
P.O. Box 20 Ikelenge
NWP, ZAMBIA

Here is the address and website for Christian Missions in Many Lands:

CMML
PO Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ 07762-0013

www.cmmlusa.org

Several Things...

First of all, I had my final observation today, and it went really well! My second graders (mostly) behaved, I showed great improvement in my classroom management(thank goodness!), and now all I have to do is make it two more weeks and I'm certified to teach!

Secondly, I bought my plane ticket tonight. This was a big step of faith--I'm still waiting to see how the Lord will provide for everything. While this is a difficult place to be, on the other hand I rejoice that if and when I make it out to Zambia it will be all of the Lord's doing and by His hand and none of mine!

Thirdly, I am in the process of getting an account with CMML, the mission organization I am going out under. CMML is not a traditional sending board, but a service organization. Among other things they provide a central place that people can send money for missionaries to and then issue checks to the missionaries. This will be a great help to me and cut down on a lot of headaches!

Fourthly, I now have my lugage as well. These three 'suitcases' are going to hold my home in just about a month and a half:

I'm starting the sorting/trashing/packing process in my 'spare' time--its a little overwhelming! This is such a big change that I can't even process it, but I'm praying for wisdom and peace as I continue to walk in obedience with my call.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouraging words--they mean the world to me. May God bless you richly wherever you are, and have a wonderful fall!

Its amazing how one's perspective changes when this is the size that home is...

4 More Weeks!

These last two weeks have been crazy--hence the lack of blog updating! I have two more weeks of full teaching responsibility and then two more weeks of gradually pulling out after that. I plan to still hang around after my student teaching officially ends to help Mrs. Stone out with La Posada (the BIG Christmas program the kids are working on) as well as to enjoy this last little bit of time with the kids. After that I have my Mobberly recital and then frantic preparations to leave (I hope!).

There are still a little of details both small and large that need to be taken care of before I can leave. Who knew moving overseas was such a big deal? I need to find a plane fare I can afford, decide for sure what my luggage is going to be, start packing and packing away, and tying up all those little loose ends. Please pray for me as I finish these challenging weeks--that I will stay healthy, have the stamina to finish well, and in all I do glorify my God and Father. This fall has been full of challenges and I have been stretched in many new directions. Yet, I'm looking at this is "faith boot camp." Perhaps one day I will be able to progress to level 2! Thanks for all your prayers and e-mails--they mean a lot.

Have a blessed week!

October Update

This week was a short week (because of Columbus Day), but the rest of the week seemed to be compressed into those three days. I am officially at the halfway point in my student teaching--starting next week I will have full teaching responsibility for four weeks. We are already starting to work really hard on getting ready for the Christmas program--there are a lot of words to be memorized and a lot of preparation to do!

Here is my October update--many of you will have gotten this by e-mail, but just in case I don't have your e-mail address yet or my e-mail got lost in cyber space here's my letter.

****************************************
Dear Friends and Family,

I have been so encouraged as I have talked to many of you—knowing that your prayers are with me means so much. As I continue to prepare for leaving for Sakeji, it is good to know that I have your loving support. I am constantly amazed at the love the family of God showers on me and others. What a foretaste of the glories of heaven!

I just finished my sixth week of student teaching, and so far all has gone well. I can hardly believe I’ve reached the halfway point already! Next week I will assume full teaching responsibility for four full weeks. Being responsible for children ranging in age from 2 to 3rd grade is a challenge, but one that is preparing me and confirming my desire to be a teaching. I was placed with a wonderful mentor teacher who is very encouraging and full of wise advice as well as becoming a good friend. I am learning so much from Mrs. Stone, and we both marvel at how clear it is that Lord’s placed me in her classroom this semester. I have come to love my precious students at Trinity and will be sad to leave them come December even though I know I will love the students at Sakeji as well.

A few weeks ago I found out that I passed my PPR (pedagogy and professional responsibilities) exam with flying colors—all that now remains in the certification process is finishing up my student teaching and getting fingerprinted. Unfortunately because of the testing schedule I will not be able to add the 4-8 Generalist certification to my teaching certificate, but that might be something I could do on a furlough or at some later date. I will have the chance to attend a Charlotte Mason workshop later this month that should be both informative and very applicable to what I will be doing at Sakeji.

As of now it looks like shipping my books and other large items over via container are not going to be feasible options, so I am researching and praying about the best way to accomplish this overseas move. Its amazing how much stuff you realize you can do without when you are faced with the prospect of dragging it across a few continents! In the next few weeks I’m going to be trying to fix a departure date and buy a plane ticket. Your prayers for finding an affordable airfare, researching extra baggage allowances, and wisdom as to setting a departure date and my travel itinerary would be much appreciated!

I’ll do my best to keep you posted as the fall progresses and I get closer and closer to leaving for Zambia. I can hardly believe it is just short of three months! Keep checking my blog, http://littleschoolinthebush.blogspot.com for updates, and of course I would love to hear from each and every one of you! May God bless you richly this fall and as you enter the holiday season.

Yours in Christ,

Lina

Week 5--DONE!

I can hardly believe that next week marks the halfway point in my student teaching experience. This was a good week--I added the first grade classes which are quite challenging, but I need all the practice with classroom management I can get! Who knew I needed to find my inner 'mean teacher?'

I've started to research airline tickets, and it appears that getting a round trip ticket will actually work out a little cheaper in the long run. Of course I won't use the second ticket--perhaps I can get some kind of credit or refund...

Next week I have Monday off (thank you Columbus!) and Tuesday is my first inservice day. Mrs. Stone and I decided that the proper way to celebrate Columbus day involved sleeping in! I'm a little nervous because my first formal observation is the day the kids get back--lets hope the first graders aren't too hyper and energetic that day! I hope I will be able to show that I've improved since that first visit...