My Students are...GREAT!!

Wednesday, June 5th was my last day student teaching. I had such a wonderful semester in a 4/5 split classroom and in 6th, 7th and 8th grade math classes! I had asked my cooperating teacher a couple of weeks ago if I could tell the students what I was doing this up coming fall/winter. During the last week of school...she said, "yes". I told my students that I would be traveling to Uganda where I would be volunteering my time in an orphanage called Another Hope and if they would like to donate anything to the children I would put a box together. What I did not expect was their overwhelming willingness to donate their school supplies to the children at Another Hope. The students donated two huge boxes of pens, pencils, markers, crayons, notebooks, folders, loose leaf paper and so much more. It is so awesome to see the hearts of middle school students want to help other students halfway around the world. So blessed by these students and their willingness to donate all these school materials to Another Hope!

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 

Until next time,

Nicole

The HEART...where it all begins!

I am a college graduate. I am a college graduate. I am a college....wait, what?! It is crazy to think how fast time flies. To think that I started college four years ago, loving to hike up the bluffs, take trips down to the river with the Pearl ice cream in my hand, or even a run through the marsh. To today, I stand a college graduate, still loving all of those things, but I have changed.

The Lord has captivated my heart within the last four years. He has molded me into the young woman I am today. He has used me for His glory serving at Camp Wapogasset the last three summers. He has broken me, only to build me back up stronger, and with my foundation in Him. He has lead me to awesome places around the world: New Zealand/Australia and Ireland. All trips I loved whole-heartedly, but something was missing. These trips were awesome seeing the museums, hearing about the history, meeting amazing life-long friends and even being able to witness the beauty God created. Even with these amazing memories, I realized that the next time that I traveled  it couldn't be for me, it had to be for the Lord.

That brings me to this last semester of college. I sat and wondered what I was going to do after I graduated. The Lord continued to put Africa and His children on my heart. So, I did what any other college student would do: I Google searched "Christian orphanages in Uganda". After emailing many different orphanages and talking to many different individuals, I am pleased to announce that I will be serving God's children in an orphanage just outside the capital of Kampala, Uganda, called Another Hope Children Ministries. This orphanage supports 127 children in the community and specifically 60 children at the orphanage. the mission of Another Hope Children Ministries is to "glorify God by meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the children in Uganda." I will be leaving in the beginning of November and staying there for four months.

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of the Maker of heaven

I give it all to You God trusting that you'll make something beautiful out of me

There's nothing I hold on to

There's nothing I hold on to

There's nothing I hold on to

There's nothing I hold on to

I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open

I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open

-Nothing I Hold On To by Will Reagan and United Pursuit

I am ecstatic for this next adventure the Lord is taking me on. I am confident this is where He wants me this fall/winter and I am excited to be challenged and used by Him.

Until next time,
~Nicole