06 January 2011

Continued from last time...

Todd is a student with a speech impediment, limited walking ability, but a big heart.  When I first came to work with him half way through the school year, I remember he looked very withdrawn and frustrated.  Coming off a very discouraging experience with my previous student, I felt like a failure and was a bit depressed as well.  As I started to interact with Todd and pray for him, I began to think about ways in which I could be his mouth and legs, interceding and creating opportunities for him to engage with other students in a meaningful way.  When I would lift him up to climb a rope in gym class or run his wheel chair around the playground at recess, he would get a great big smile on his face and start laughing.  

One morning his mom told me: God sent you to this school to be with my son.  He has opened up so much since you started working with him.  I realize I have forgotten God in my son’s rehabilitation process.  All I could do was give the lady a hug.  Without saying anything, she recognized her need for God through my actions.  In that moment, God showed Himself faithful: that he could reveal Himself to people through my life in spite of my own failings, weakness and inability to mention Him publicly.  Prayer and the Holy Spirit are a powerful combination indeed. 

The mother has since taken Todd to Southern Oregon to be with her family and renew ties with her local church.  Todd has recently received surgery on his legs so that he is able to walk better now.  Praise the Lord!

My experience with God at the public school reminded me that His word, whether spoken or revealed through actions, does not return void, nor is it squelched even in a restricted environment.  If God could get me through public school, what about Peace Corps?  Around six months ago, I decided to put in an application to Peace Corps to see what might happen: where would I go, what would I be doing?  As with most things concerning government, patience is a virtue. 

While I was waiting, I continued to volunteer from the previous year with a local ministry called FOCUS which stands for Friends of Overseas Citizens and University Students.  FOCUS seeks to build friendships with Portland State University International Students with the purpose of asking the Lord for opportunities to share with them about Jesus.  I was able to meet students from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, China, and various other countries. 

One memorable encounter I had was with an Egyptian student.  He was on exchange for one year to PSU from the American University in Egypt and eventually wanted to become an engineer someday.  He is one of many very intelligent students from around the world who attend PSU.  I found my new friend was different than most students I met.  In one of our conversation he told me he had critical questions about Islam, why the Sunni faction fought against Shiites and vise versa.  He also had questions about life after death and the meaninglessness of life on this earth.  I could tell the Holy Spirit was working in his heart. 

During Easter, at the weekly Friday night Coffee house FOCUS hosts, a clear presentation of the gospel was made.  I asked my Egyptian friend why he thought Jesus died on the cross.  He answered, “because of love.”  I was completely shocked, because the Quran does not portray Allah as a loving God.  How could my friend have come to this conclusion?  I told him, “the Holy Spirit has revealed Jesus’ love to you.”  I think I scared him a bit, because he did not want to talk with me very much after our conversation, but God is faithful.  I received an unexpected message from him a couple months ago asking how I was doing.  I believe God is still working through the questions within my friend heart.  What a blessing to see seeds planted.  I trust God will give the increase in his life someday.

Finally, about a month ago, I received my assignment from Peace Corps.   Would I accept?  After six months of praying and processing my experience in Rwanda; seeing God work in a secular environment and in one particular international student’s life, I believe God has communicated what I needed to know to take the next step with Peace Corps. 

I will be flying out of Portland on January 31st for a Peace Corps staging event in Philadelphia, PA where I will meet my fellow nominees.  I will then fly to Zambia February 3rd to start three months of Pre-Service Training, which will include language and culture learning as well as technical training in education and safety.   If I am selected as a volunteer after training, I will start my two-year assignment on April 23rd.  I will be working in a Zambian village as a Community Education Specialist under the auspices of the Zambian Ministry of Education with the Rural Education Development project.  My goal will be to support local teachers by co-planning lessons, co-teaching classes, and co-producing teaching materials.  It should be an adventure!

Thank you so much for your prayer and support in the past.  I will keep you posted on what is coming up.

Happy New Year 2011 to you all,

Andrew

8 comments:

JoySound said...

Hi Andrew - Just finished reading your blog updates. Sounds like an exciting time in store for you. Anne and I'll be praying as you enter into the Peace Corps at the end of the month. -Stephen

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I begin on internet with a directory

Anonymous said...

http://btxqrkvajmoj.pbworks.com/adobe-flash-cs4-professional-classroom-in-a-book autodesk maya 2011 mac
http://senflduyamia.pbworks.com/adobe-acrobat-9 autodesk 3ds max 2010 32 And 64 bit
http://acscjirullqc.pbworks.com/acrobat-9 adobe contribute cs4 templates
http://rjiodxgakvbj.pbworks.com/adobe-photoshop-lightroom-27 adobe flash professional cs5 for mac
http://lhjkantheeua.pbworks.com/adobe-indesign-cs4-me adobe after effects cs4 system requirements
http://wxoevggkptme.pbworks.com/Cheap-Apple-Mac-OS-Server-Version-10-5-4-Leopard-Unlimited-Client-License adobe acrobat 9 pro extended patch
http://oloprtjlnexe.pbworks.com/adobe-incopy-cs5-review autodesk maya 20111
http://zglvljkeqdpw.pbworks.com/adobe-dreamweaver-cs4-for-mac adobe incopy cs5 review
http://wxoevggkptme.pbworks.com/acrobat-writer adobe acrobat x pro mac
http://vlfkyhtpmrsf.pbworks.com/adobe-photoshop-cs5-extended-edition autodesk softimage 2011 subscription advantage pack
http://eayuelbpvjve.pbworks.com/adobe-after-effects-cs4-for-mac adobe illustrator cs4 gratis
http://scombmreicnj.pbworks.com/acrobat-writer adobe elearning suite training
http://wsjllipafygh.pbworks.com/Buy-Cheap-Apple-Final-Cut-Server-1-5-for-Mac adobe creative suite 4 design premium mac
http://vvnonjvcztko.pbworks.com/autodesk-autocad-2011 adobe acrobat x professional student teacher edition mac
http://xebhizxqvcvs.pbworks.com/autodesk-autocad-electrical-2011 adobe dreamweaver cs5 for mac
http://xfhtdzanlccf.pbworks.com/adobe-photoshop-lightroom-3-ita adobe illustrator cs4 ita
http://vvnonjvcztko.pbworks.com/adobe-creative-suite-5-design-premium-student-And-teacher-edition adobe fireworks cs4 beta
http://ivajgivqpuog.pbworks.com/adobe-flex-builder-3-professional-eclipse-plug-in adobe dreamweaver cs4 mac
http://dtnnuabvduwr.pbworks.com/adobe-soundbooth-cs5-manual autodesk autocad 2011 mac
http://ktgmybrrnksb.pbworks.com/Cheap-Apple-Remote-Desktop-3-Unlimited-Managed-Systems-edition autodesk autocad architecture 2010 32 And 64 bit
http://rwxiicsptjbr.pbworks.com/autodesk-autocad-electrical-2011 adobe incopy cs5
http://fhtgrwqylnrv.pbworks.com/adobe-soundbooth-cs5-manual autodesk autocad raster design 2010 32 And 64 bit

Joanie said...

HI, Andrew. I enjoyed the details about your process of moving toward Peace Corps and getting the specs of the timeline you're looking at. I'd love to liason with the a.m. prayer group on your behalf. Here's my email address if you will be sending email updates. If not, no problem; I'll follow and report from your blogspot. sdjlart@aol.com Joanie from Central Bible and Prayer Class.

Anonymous said...

I have noticed that over the course of developing a relationship with real estate managers, you’ll be able to come to understand that, in most real estate contract, a commission amount is paid. In the end, FSBO sellers do not “save” the percentage. Rather, they struggle to earn the commission by doing a agent’s occupation. In the process, they devote their money and also time to accomplish, as best they can, the duties of an representative. Those obligations include disclosing the home by way of marketing, showing the home to prospective buyers, creating a sense of buyer urgency in order to prompt an offer, booking home inspections, dealing with qualification check ups with the mortgage lender, supervising maintenance, and assisting the closing of the deal.

[url=http://mini.dha-appraisals.com/]instant payday loans[/url]

pay day loans

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://freeonlinecasinoreviews.co.uk/]roulette[/url] check the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]realcazinoz.com[/url] free no store bonus at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]loose bonus casino
[/url].

Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]uk casino bonus[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino games[/url] unshackled no consign bonus at the best [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]no lay tip
[/url].

Anonymous said...

cstyauxow www.louisvuittonreplicbagsonline.com uiqfdxvlo [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton bags cheap[/url] psuochkdd
hqvggkeui www.louisvuittononsaleshoes.com bitrilsva [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton handbags outlet[/url] tqendvohr
smziwuxii www.newdiscountlouisvuittonhandbag.com fopvliwlx [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]discount louis vuitton handbags[/url] uiosgrqnk
zximjexjl www.louisvuittonluggageonline.com bfmiiyckx [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]cheap louis vuitton handbags[/url] newhljbef
usybkhavl www.louisvuittonhandbagson-sale.com jdxdfjmwr [url=http://www.louisvuittonhandbagsdiscountsale.com]louis vuitton handbag[/url] fajeqpwvu