A Sweet Summer at Home

My wonderful sisters - all back together :-)

It was so wonderful getting to be home and see all of my loved ones this summer!  God is good at allowing me this time to spend with family and friends being refreshed and encouraged by your faith and support.  While it was a busy time, I enjoyed getting to have lunch, coffee, or a 5K running time with so many of my wonderful supporters :-)  Thank you for welcoming me back into your lives and taking time to talk, hear stories, and pray with me.  You are amazing!  My heart was deeply encouraged and blessed!!!!!

Blowing bubbles with my precious nephew, Joshua.

            
 


I was absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love that I received. I was blown away by the continued realness of relationships and friendships. I was blown away at the opportunities I had to share about my overseas world. I was blown away at the interest and questions of what I was doing. I was blown away at the ability to process out loud what I was learning. I was blown away at the advice, encouragement, and prayers I received.

So thank you Chicago friends, Orchard friends, EIU friends, Winston Elementary friends, and my dear family for loving me so. Thank you for taking a chance on me and partnering with me on this journey in Colombia. It's a true privilege to be doing this job knowing I have an army of supporters back at home. You are blessing me greatly and I hope you realize that your love for me is having an eternal impact for the Kingdom. I am honored.   Ministry at El Camino could not happen without you.

Philemon 1:4-7 nails it...
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with me in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every GOOD thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me GREAT joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the heart of the saints."

Pastor Collin at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church preached through a wonderful sermon series called Straight From the Heart.  Oh, how I needed to be fed by God's word through this summer!  The series was about checking your spiritual temperature - through depth of praying, proportion of our giving, and the enterprise of our serving.  Check out the series here on the church's website - http://theorchardefc.org/home/sermons-resources/sermons/page/4/.  What a wonderful way to spend my summer reflecting on my heart's temperature toward the Lord Jesus.  Oh, how I would love him even more this next year!  Please check it out!!

Blessing to spend a sunny lunch with my dear friend and sister, Margo

The days leading up to the end of my summer, I started to feel very much a part of life back in Chicago.  It began to be hard as I said good-bye to people.  Oh, how I hate good-byes!!  My heart is certainly still divided.  I questioned how I was feeling and what that meant as far as serving another year away from home.  I can hear Jesus telling me to entrust you all to Him, which brings me a lot of comfort.

Here are some picture from my time at home.  Enjoy!!

Lydia and I at the Hustle for Hungary 5K!

At Randall Oaks Petting Zoo - Joshua is the sheep and I am the pig :-)

Not sure if he wants to fee them...

Pony Ride!!!

Atlantic Ocean!!  Visiting Kendra in Jacksonville, FL.

Taking Dad to TPC Sawgrass - He loves golf!

Visiting Cute Gran in Clearwater, FL

Eating at Island Way with Granny's neighbor, Martha

Happy 4th of July!

Visiting Emily, my roomie from EIU!

Meeting Allyson for the first time while visiting Ashley!

Hanging in the front yard with my precious Casey dog :-)

Choo Choo Restaurant brings your food on the train!!

Last ride before Aunt Carrie returns to Colombia!!

 Prayers/Praises:

God has filled all our positions for this school year!  However, some teachers have been stretched to fill in some holes, so please pray for them as they would be strengthened in the Lord as they serve in extra capacity.

 

ECA is moving forward on their plans to add on a 3rd floor and get rid of the old (and I mean old!) part of the school.  The plans have been approved and they are deciding on when to start construction!!

 

I have been placed in B-2 Spanish class!!! This means that I am growing and learning the language :-)  My desire is to get even better this year so please continue to pray for my Spanish ability.  But, the Lord is good as he is helping me grow in this area!

 

Patience and humility with my new class of students.  It has been a difficult start to the year.  They show a lot of disrespect and they are challenging how I feel about my teaching.  Learning that my identity needs to be found in Him and not how I feel about my teaching.  Please pray that Jesus would help me offer them grace as I daily depend on his grace. 

 

Missing home - Pray that my heart would find rest in Jesus as I am very torn between two places and the people I love.  

 

 

Love you all dearly and deeply and know that I am praying for you often.

Hugs!

Carrie