School and Public Speaking

Time is a funny thing, some days I find myself having plenty of time to get the homework done for 6 classes before running off to work, and yet other days I find myself struggling to get just one assignment done before the time rolls around to head to the call center. Well this week there are two classes that are needing more time than usual.

Lately I have been pretty excited about two classes, my Education class (which has placed me at Madison Middle School as an intern for the semester), as well as my Public Speaking class.

Now I know what you are thinking... "she's EXCITED? about public speaking? the class that everyone dreads??" ... To be honest, the whole Act of standing up in front of the class terrifies me but the reason that I am excited is that my first speech this saturday will be about an experience from the Dominican. I'm always excited to have a chance to share about my faith and the work being done in the Dominican so when my professor asked me to share a personal experience from the DR I was jumping for joy on the inside. 

At first I wanted to share the funny story about the car breaking down and being stuck in the rain and the lessons I learned that day.... then as I began to think about my class and the people who are so diverse in age, race, religion and background I felt the need to share a more personal story that would impact the hearts in the room. 

I am excited to be able to share a speech regarding moments from the DR in which I saw God working, in particular on one Sunday when we were all blessed to be able to witness 7 people give their lives to Christ. I am praying for my class and hoping that my "personal experience speech" will be something that touches the heart. I have learned time and time again that God can do the impossible, so if He can use me to speak to the class even through my nervous stuttering and 'Ums' I pray that His words will be heard and not mine.

I am just as much nervous about this as I am excited and I would appreciate your prayers this week!! God bless each of you as you find ways to share your faith and I pray for strength, courage and wisdom for you all!

January and its Blessings

             His Mercies are new every morning! Lamentations 3:23

How Amazing is the God we serve! I am in awe of his greatness and faithfulness. I have been in prayer for my dear friend Euri along with his family and church for several months now after Euri had expressed the desire to help people... he wanted to go to medical school to become a doctor. This dream would appear to be impossible at first glance because his family cannot afford medical school or the amount needed to use the public transportation to the school for six days a week. Euri told me that this dream was something God has placed on his heart for a long time and even though his family had tried to encourage him to take a different route (studying marketing), he believes he is supposed to wait patiently on the Lord.

I am so happy to share with all of you that Euri's prayers have been answered and he is now attending medical school about an hour away from the town of La Romana!! God has blessed him tremendously through a government scholarship that will pay for his entire education and even though his mother worries about transportation, Euri told me last week that "Its ok, God answered the prayer about medical school, I know He will take care of the money too."

Hearing the excitement in Euri's voice was contagious and I began to jump up and down upon hearing this news. I wanted to share this as a means to remind us all that even when We do not see a way, when we do not have the funds, God has the answer, He has the abundance of funds that never run out and the more we trust and believe him, the more we shall see great things happening!

This is written as much for myself as it is for all of you... Do not be discouraged. The situations you find yourself in are only temporary struggles and they cannot compare to the glory you will see in the coming days! 

God Bless each of you and I hope that you will share a prayer of Thanks with me or this great opportunity for our brother in Christ.