Future Plans

We had a big visit from the Chancellor of Schools here last week.

This is a high-stress time as we endeavor to make sure that everything looks FABULOUS, that all the children behave PERFECTLY, and that our teaching is FLAWLESS.  So as you can imagine...failure is inevitable.

Additionally excitement surrounded the fact that, for the very first time, the CAO of the corporation who owns the school, was also bringing an entourage (think 20 people) to view the school.  In fact, our beloved Principal rearranged the class schedule to ensure that the visitors would be viewing all the English classes!  So if they didn't like what they saw...it would be easy to blame the foreign teachers!  :)  Of course, no pressure here!

In the balance was truly the very future of our school.  Right now our Elementary School is housed in the "pastel palace"...or the Kindergarten building.  We're in our 3rd year there...we're growing as is the Kindergarten.  Something must give!

But due to lots of volatility, the future of the corporation's ownership, and thus the school's ownership, has been hanging in the balance for the past 10 months.  Much to our delight, the ownership of the corporation has just recently be firmly settled, yet we were still unsure if commitments would be made to build the official Elementary Building.  Furthermore, there were big questions as to if the school would continue on to Middle School, as they are currently licensed.  For the past 10 months, we've heard that it was a "no"...so we've been envisioning what to do with Magpie and The Bug in September of 2012...when they'd be ready to go to Middle School.

Of course, we've committed all these issues of our future to prayer and largely been at peace KNOWING that He has a plan...and that He knows and loves our children more than we do.  Often, while on this journey of living cross-culturally, we've had to refocus our thinking on the central truth that He called us as a FAMILY (not as a couple with kids hanging on for the ride)...and so He has a perfect plan for each of our children during the years we are Here.

We were delighted to hear, that He has answered our prayers!  We were told on Friday that the decision has been made, and announced that the new Elementary/MIDDLE SCHOOL building is scheduled to break ground in March, 2011!  The projection is that the new Elementary building, and the Middle School will open for students in September 2012...exactly when our older girls will be slated to move on to Middle School!

On a recruiting note...we're looking for a few new teachers for our school for the next school year!  If you have a tug on your heart to serve here...and you have a teaching certificate...EMAIL ME...and spread the word to others who might feel stirred to come teach alongside us!

These days He's been reminding me about the SECURITY that life in Him brings. 

While it is true we have no idea what the future will bring...we have total PEACE in knowing that He does.  Even for the highly optimistic (which I am,) the news of the world and the challenges of this life can tempt me to worry about our kids and our family's future.  This adventure of leaving There and living Here has taught me one delightful lesson...I can REST with my future and my CHILDREN'S futures...in His all-powerful and loving hands.

Our future plans?  It remains true that we do not now for certain.  Each day we wait to see what He will do...but our confidence in Him overrides all the uncertainty and brings us joy in this journey. 

All praise and thanks be to Him!