Hetoimazo

In less than a week I will be arriving at my new home for the next three months in Quito, Ecuador.  As many of you know, I am Student Teaching First Grade at Alliance Academy International.  Recently more and more people have asked more and more questions about this upcoming experience which only makes me realize how little I know about the coming months.  Because of all the uncertainty, my current, repeating prayer is "Lord, prepare me."  The Greek word Hetoimazo (etoimazo) means to make ready, prepare, make the necessary preparations, and get everything ready.  It is used throughout the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:21, 1 Corinthians 2:9) to refer to the preparations God has made for His people. I can rest easily in the truth that the Lord knows every moment in the next three month and will prepare me as well as go before and beside me.  Yet in this rest, I must also be diligent in doing all I can to be ready.  Not only are there the normal traveling preparations - flights, errands, packing - but there are also the emotional preparations - goodbyes, 3 months alone, new culture, new language, new people.  I am trying to balance all of these preparations in the next few days as I leave home, say goodbye to family, visit Wheaton, say goodbye to friends, and begin this new journey.

While I have traveled overseas before - Guatemala and Haiti - this will be my first experience living in another culture for an extended amount of time.  I am excited to be able to build deeper relationships with my students in my class, the high school students in the dorms, the faculty and staff, and all those I meet.  

Many people ask why Student Teach overseas? why Ecuador? why senior year?  Some of these people ask with sincere interest and excitement (which I much appreciate) yet others ask with harsh tones (less appreciated).  So here are my brief answers...

Why Student Teach overseas?  My initial response is: why not?  I am a young, 21 year old, naive, excited college student that just wants to travel and meet new people.  Plus, if not now, then when?  While I do not (at this time) see myself moving overseas post-college and never coming back, I want to still be open to anywhere God so chooses to direct me.  In taking this leap of faith and trusting Him now, I hope it will allow me to continue to trust Him as I accept teaching positions after graduation.

Why Ecuador?  My basic goal in location was somewhere in South America.  However, this turned out to be more challenging than I thought as school after school had some reason to turn me away ... they didn't have room for more student teachers... they weren't accredited with the right places ... they only took national student teachers... so on and so forth.  Bumskies.  Yet, through much patience and trust, I found someplace!  Woo-hoo!  It was a sigh of relief knowing that I had a place to go!  And now I could not be more excited to spend time in the BEAUTIFUL mountains in Quito!

Why senior year? Well... that's my only option for Student Teaching really!  Unlike studying abroad, the timeline for student teaching is a bit more specific.  So here I am, entering my Senior year, heading out to save the world, before returning to Wheaton to finish one last semester.

Well enough for now... after all, I'm not even there yet!
I hope that this blog allows me to share some of my experiences with you!
So as I sign off for now, I would MUCH appreciate any well wishes, prayers, etc. for preparation!

~ laura

P.S. - in case you want to see the school where I will be:
Alliance Academy International - http://www.alliance.k12.ec/