God in the Salon

I'm vacationing with my family in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada, visiting the extended family. This past week I had time to go have a manicure. As I sat down, with my IPOD and Dad's book, "What's so Great about Christianity" by Dinesh D'Souza, the girl asked me to place my hands in the water and then said, "Oh, are you Christain!?" I replied, "Yes." She had noticed my two rings and the book that I was reading.

This spurred further conversation. Shelby, my estetician, had come home from a Christian Camp the previous weekend. She asked me about faith, and readily told me about the experiences and what she had learned at the camp. Through further conversation I learned that she wanted a teen study bible, but was not able to find one in the city.

I was able to go to bn.com and order her a NIV Teen Study Bible and the Revolve Magazine Bible. I am honoured to share the gift of Gods word with Shelby! I also learned that she is the only believer in the family. My prayer for Shelby is that she is a light in her family, and they come to know Jesus Christ through Shelby's example. God is good!

Need Food

As I was driving home from an appointment with my esthetician, I noticed a man holding a "Need Food" sign. I was immediately compelled to do something. I thought--I don't have money to give him, nor do I want to give him money. And then it donned on me. I still had my lunch in my lunch box, which I had not ate. (We had a x-mas party at work and I ate other food.) I became quite excited! Opening my lunch bag, I grabbed a Kids clif bar--Z bar, chocolate, my favourite flavour.

Thank God the red light was long, I was able to roll down my window, give the man the clif bar, and converse with him for a short time. He ate the bar immediately and seemed most thankful for the food. His response was different than I expected. As I offered him the clif bar and he accepted, the man said, "Thank you, baby, you're a real sweetheart." Almost like I was a little child. I was glad that I could do something.

Satisfaction

After being back from Africa for a good couple of months, I'm really starting to process more and more. I am truly amazed at how satisfied I was while overseas. I find myself to be just as content here, as I was over there, but when I was there, I did not have all the "stuff" that I have here. I lived out of two carry on sized suitcases. The one thing I missed while I was gone would be my family, although here in the big S.A. my family is around all the time. My Mom is in Guatemala right now, I'm really excited for her, and what God is going to do in and through her. I hope to be the woman my mother is someday. We serve such an amazing God! I am now a member of First Presbyterian Church, and I am happy to serve on their global missions committee, as my heart is in world missions.

One week down...

One week down. God has truly blessed me through this position. I have had an amazing group of students given to me this year! I have also had great support from the different teachers at the high school, as they are quite excited to have me teaching at Jay. I'm telling you, God is good.

Godformations

In high school, one of my best friends names was Amanda Hensley. We had every class together for four years, minus electives. We were tight. We went to college and almost did not speak for five years. Not b/c we had a failed friendship/breakup, rather we just went our separate ways and Godincidence would bring us back together every year or two for a conversation or a season in Amanda's life.

Recently, someone told her at work, expect a miracle today. She was like whatever. And then she's walking out of the building and says goodbye to the Math Dept. head. The Math Dept. head is freaking out b/c schools about to start and she just lost a teacher.

Amanda is driving home and says, Faith, Faith! She calls my cell. I actually heard and answered my cell. Hello, I do not even touch that cellular most of the time. I said yah, I'll email you my resume and you can give that to your people at Jay. My thoughts were whatever, but no, be nice. Amanda was telling me the Math Dept. head (Amanda is in the History Dept) was a strong Christian woman, and desired a new hire with certain traits and qualities, all of which I fulfilled.

So...I go to interview the very next morning. It went very well. In fact before the interview the lady was like I'm so excited... Which starts you off good. I was demanding--I expect a projector and this and that, and I won't do this and that, but I will do this and that...it was kind of funny, anyways, as my Dad says, I'm surprised they wanted you after all you said you would not do and what you said you wanted. LOL! So that went great.

I then waited to interview with the principal for an hour in a half. Miscommunication, and I ended up coming back the next day. I would say it was more formality than anything. Before the interview I was told things like, when you need anything, come by...I'm in room such and such. People do not usually here, when you need/want this come to me if you're not going to be hired. Principal gave the okay for me to be hired.

I was called Thursday night and told to show up Sunday. Amanda was most excited and today told me that this was her miracle from God. So...once again we reconnect, it will dangerous, we are across the hallway from each other, but it's also been amazing to have a friend like her back.

Throughout the week I have had so many people come up to me and say, "I have been praying that you would be hired" or "You are an answer to my prayers"--it's been really cool. And they say God is not at work in the High Schools?

You are reading about Jay High Schools newest senior Math Models and sophomore Geometry teacher. :)

Quote

I read a quote today that I absolutely loved!

My disappointment is Gods divine reappointment!

I continue to search for a job, although, once school begins, numbers come in, schools will be hiring. I am picky. That's not helping me hire quickly.

Coming home and not having to be at work must be Gods divine reappointment; it has allowed me to settle in, move into my new room, and unpack from my 2 1/2 months of traveling.

Yes! More Africa Pics

You know the drill...click on the links.

Africa--Ssala
Africa--Singing with Luke
Africa--JSS Girls
Africa--Kinder Kids
Africa--Playing Outside

Enjoy!

Smug Mug Pics

I uploaded more pictures onto SmugMug.

12 June 2007 Picture Day

Smug Mug Pics

I uploaded more pictures onto SmugMug.

Kids Playing Outside

Aerial View

Dining Hall Floor

Letters

Click on each of the hyperlinks above to view the pictures. I hope to add quite a few more pictures over the next few days.

Joy and Celebration!

This is my favourite picture I took while in Africa. I love this because each child is so incredibly happy in their own individual way. :)

Grandparents

Grandma and Grandpa Thomson (Dad's parents)



Grandma and Grandpa still know how to kiss after 60 years! We even clanged our glasses, like at a wedding reception, to have them kiss. :)



Faith (Me) with my cousin Trevor's daughter, Daphne. She was my little friend!


This past weekend we celebrated my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. We also celebrated a Guadet Family Reunion. This would consist of my Grandmother's family and all of her brothers, sisters, their children, all the way down to the Great-grandchildren.

I learned some neat things in conversation with both of my grandparents.

• As a young child and youth my grandpa remembers going to Church for the Fowl (Fall) Fest. They did not attend church often because they would have to go via horse and buggy and it was too much work, although, they always attended the Fowl Fest.
  
• I also learned that my Grandpa's father died at 46 or 47 years old from heart failure, my Grandpa was 15. They think his Dad was Presbyterian, but nobody knows for sure.
  
• My great grandmother--who died when she was 102, was a widow for 61 years. She was a widow for as long as my grandparents have been married!
  
• My grandmother grew up speaking only French in the home.
  
• My grandmother was a devout Catholic and spoke a prayer in French before mealtime. My family (my Mom's side) also has a grace that we say before every meal. I believe it may have came from the Salvation Army.
  

It's been neat to see how God has blessed my Grandparents, and has used them for His glory. I am fortunate to live in the family I do! :)

Lunch with Smurf

While I was in Oregon, my family had the opportunity to eat lunch with my pediatrician. 25 years ago, Francine gave me Smurf at my Smurfday party. I still sleep with him. I also learned from her that as a baby I would entertain my older sister when we were at the doctors.

Habitat House comes into play

My Uncle Neil is remodeling his home. Upon arriving in Centralia, Washington, I could not wait to help! Because of experiences with the different Habitat Houses, I was more than happy to jump up on his roof frame and nail the plywood down. God is giving me good experiences that I can use to help others--yah!