All great things have humble beginnings. We weren't looking to go overseas, just something more, something different, something meaningful.
I was up late one night surfing the web and a site popped up for teaching in International Schools Overseas. So I clicked on it to read....and 4 hours later went to bed. . Then I saw it said they need a Financial Director and a Special Education- exactly what the two of us do. So I started praying, searching, and reading.
I talked to Bob about all of this. He was very open to the idea and committed to pray about it too.
We found 3 schools that seemed to "fit" us and looked over all the info. We contacted all three schools and all 3 were interested.
The first school seemed perfect. It is in Vienna, Austria, where Bob and I have been several times. I thought I love that area and my kids can go to Paris, and see Germany, and ......then God reminded me this is not a vacation.
The second school was in Istanbul, Turkey. Not top spot on my "to visit" list, but ok, we will see.
But we "sensed" that was not the place for us either.
The third school was in China. Of all places!!! Probably last on my "to visit" list. But everything seemed to be put in place for this to happen. May I present the
"Could we be going to China?" list....
1. As we started to pray about this, China seemed to be everywhere....every news cast, every web video, every person.
2. Bob said before we go he wanted to talk to someone who had worked for the school, but no longer did to get the "real story".
Within a week, a friend of mine from high school came over to dinner with others from high school and mentioned that she knew a girl who spent time in China and she would have her contact me through facebook. We got in touch and she taught for the SAME SCHOOLS (only 6 of them in all of China). We went to dinner last week and she was able to share a lot about the schools and the company- said it was the best 2 years of her life so far!!!
3. Madeline is very apprehensive about going. I so want her to see this as an opportunity to grow in her faith, trust the plan for her life.
In two different youth activities last week the college leaders spoke about seeking the will, doing the hard thing, trusting help you through it, and being a light to the NATIONS....yes, they used that word!!! And Brandon was looking RIGHT AT HER as he spoke. And he has no idea we were thinking of doing this.
She is now e-mailing a girl at the school and starting to feel better by the day about this complete change in her life. She even said last night, "We may get over there and I not want to come home after 2 years, but could we come home for the summer?"
4. Our possessions- I have told Bob for years, I would not care if our house burned as long as I got my pictures and family videos out. I do not care about "stuff"- makes me nervous as a matter of fact.
Yesterday an overwhelming sense of "get to it and clean out" came over me. So even though I am sick right now, I started cleaning out my closet and drawers, keeping about 1/3 of my stuff, selling the rest. And a feeling of peace came over me....it felt sooooo good.
(Side note: as I looked over my "professional clothes" to keep to teach in, they all have an oriental look to them- lol)
Then last night the superintendent of schools called us. We talked for almost an hour. At the end, he asked if we had listed our house yet and when we said no, he said Get to it!!! He said it another time and then as we closed the conversation again, but more adamantly...."Get it listed"....just re-enforcing my overwhelming urge yesterday.
So today we are working hard, cleaning out and throwing away. Plan to list the house on March 20th.
Please pray for us that it will sell asap!!!!
So I am off to work....much more to share later!!!
