Follow-up -- Why in the world (of all places in the world) am I heading to Cambodia? :)

My desire to teach goes back further than I can remember, and I would say the same thing about my desire to teach overseas, in places where education is limited.  My mom says I told her when I was in high school that the reason I wanted to become a teacher was because teaching was a career that I could use anywhere in the world. I knew that teaching is all about building relationships with the kids you teach, and it is a unique opportunity to be able to directly impact lives. Because I am a Christian and am living my life for God, I believe this desire (or calling) to teach overseas is something He has placed in me, and it brings me a lot of joy and excitement to finally be pursuing this dream. I can't wait to see how He might use me to show my students how much He loves and values them and it's my prayer that in teaching them and loving them, they might discover His incredible purposes for their lives as well.

Back to the "why Cambodia" of my story...
Four years ago, I heard Angela Harris, a missionary sent out by the Metropolitan Bible Church (my home church), speak about her experiences teaching at Logos International School (affiliated with Asian Hope, www.asianhope.org).  I had recently returned from serving in Uganda and through that experience, my desire had grown for serving overseas long-term in the future, and my heart had been deeply affected. Something about that talk Angela gave drew me in, and I found myself thinking at the end of the presentation, "One day, I would love to teach there, or somewhere with an organization that has a similar focus." I loved that Asian Hope works with Cambodia's vulnerable children, providing education as a preventative measure in a sense, to help protect these children from the dark realities that affect so many in developing countries (i.e. extreme poverty, human trafficking, child labour, etc.). Their desire is that these children will become Cambodia's future leaders, influencing their home communities in a positive and transformative way.  I spoke with Angela after the presentation and added her on Facebook that day.

Throughout the next four years, I never forgot about Asian Hope. When people asked me where I wanted to teach one day, I would tell them that I was interested in teaching overseas, and if they asked me where, I would often say "Maybe somewhere in Africa, or a developing country somewhere", but I never really said, "Cambodia" even though I feel like I knew even then that that's where my heart was drawn. I think I was scared to say Cambodia, because I felt silly saying it... I felt like it was such a random place to want to go, and if people asked "Why Cambodia?", I would have nothing to say in response.  But I couldn't deny that every time I heard a presentation about Cambodia or I found out that someone I knew had gone there, I was so interested to learn more.  It almost confused me because I didn't know why I was so drawn to it!  I had never been there, and the only person I knew who had ever taught there was Angela (and I didn't even know her well!).

I looked into Asian Hope around this time last year, knowing I would be graduating from my teaching program in a few months, but the doors weren't really opening at that time. I still had some debt from school, and I had been accepted onto the Occasional Teachers List with the Ottawa school board. Even though working on the supply list was never what I pictured myself doing when I graduated from school, I knew it was a wise thing to do in order to gain some teaching experience and pay off my debt. I prayed about it and since the door was open, I decided to move back home and work as a supply teacher in Ottawa for the year.  At the time, I had no idea what God had in store.  Two days before the school year started, I received a call asking me if I was interested in taking on a full-time grade 3 French Immersion class at an Ottawa school. I hardly even remembered applying for the position a few weeks earlier, because I never EVER expected I would actually get it!  They had exhausted their French list for long-term occasional positions, so they were starting to look at other options. I have a feeling they were pretty desperate because they didn't even ask me to interview!  I drove right to the school that day, saw the classroom that would soon be mine, was welcomed by the principal, and was told that I had one day (the next day) to set things up before the weekend and that classes started on Tuesday.  I was still in shock and overwhelmed, but I also felt a peace about it and knew that this teaching experience would be valuable and worth it.  It was!  I had 20 students, and even though it was crazy, I am so thankful I had that experience.  I taught them for 3 months, and then their teacher returned (she was finishing up a maternity leave) so I am currently supply teaching and loving the different kind of experience I am gaining through that.

This is getting long... way to go if you've read this far!  (Keep going, I'm almost done, haha!)
Through a series of circumstances, by the beginning of February 2014 I couldn't explain why but knew I was feeling more drawn to moving overseas than I've ever felt.  I decided to "look into opportunities", which ended up meaning applying to one random school in Africa (that seemed cool and had openings) and sending in my cover letter and resume to Asian Hope as I saw they had several openings on their website. Within two days, I had heard from Asian Hope. They were very interested in my application and wanted to interview me a week from then, for a position teaching grade 3/4 at Asian Hope International School!!  I had my Skype interview, and my references sent in their forms within the next few days.  Five days after my interview, I had received my offer through email, and as soon as I received it, I knew I was going to accept it.  I had been praying about it all along, and as I've said to a few people in explaining my story, God had flung open the doors this time.  I feel so much peace about moving to Cambodia and even though to most people it seems like a pretty sudden decision, to me it is something that has been on my heart for years and it just makes sense.

I will be teaching grade 3/4 (and conveniently, the limited teaching experience I have is in grade 3! God knew.)  My students will most likely all be from Cambodian families (from a variety of socio-economic situations) and the school operates a bilingual program of English and Khmer (the central Cambodian language), similarly to the way French Immersion is set up in Canada.  I cannot wait to move to Asia (even though I will dearly miss my family and friends), and I am so excited to meet my students and the other staff. I know that God has some amazing stuff planned and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of it.   A special thanks to you who are reading this and to those who are (and have been) praying for me...  It means a lot to know that you're rooting for me and supporting me in this dream :)   I'm very much looking forward to seeing everything unfold!

Children matter!
--> Matthew 18:1-5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me."

I'm Moving to Cambodia!

It's official!  I have accepted the offer I've received to teach grade 3/4 at Asian Hope International School in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!  I will be moving there in July, as the school year starts at the beginning of August. I still can't believe this is happening... It's a dream that's been in my heart for many years, and God has definitely opened the doors for me to make this dream a reality in only a few months. I cannot wait to see what's in store!

In other news, today I skated on the Rideau Canal for likely the last time this winter season since it is (FINALLY) starting to warm up a bit. As I was skating today, I had a strange thought... not only is this my last chance to skate on the Canal this year, but I won't be on the Canal next year or the year after either, since my contract at Asian Hope is 2 years. So, I made the most of it! :)  To be honest, these freezing cold 6-month-winters are one thing I don't think I'll miss much about living in Canada! But maybe absence will make my heart grow fonder??  I doubt it. 

Thanks for following my journey!  Please feel free to post any comments, and I will do my best to reply!  More information about this new adventure to come!