TESOL/VOICE 2014

Journey notes: TESOL VOICE 2014

Left Seattle at 7:55am PAC

Saw a Jewish Rabbi with (I'm assuming) his sons in the airport. Had no trouble with security despite not having a passport with me...(haha, love sending my passport through the mail. So foolish!) Bought a white chocolate latte, didn't particularly love it. Currently, southern Washington is overcast with low lying cloud cover. Flying United Air. Got three hours of sleep last night, but feeling alright, probably because of the coffee. Am pretty sure I forgot something important--like my brain perhaps--but I suppose I'll just have to do without it. There are a number of Asians on this plane, shouldn't be surprised, it's Washington after all. 

Am excited to meet my team for the TESOL trip to Taiwan, not sure if I'll meet everyone I'll be living with in OK, but hopefully I'll meet some of my team at least! :) I haven't finished all of my homework for the class tomorrow--bad me--but plan on doing that at some point today. I'm really excited to put all the English Composition and Grammar classes I've taken these past two years to work, seeing as it seems God really did have a reason for me to take those classes! I sure hope everything pays off--it wouldn't have been worth it if I can't use it. Lol. 

Actually, since I'm on the topic of God, let me tell you all how I got to this point in life!

Last year, (about this time of the month too) I went to an ATI (Advanced Training Institute) conference in Sacramento. Unknown to me at that time, it would be the last time I would hear Mr. Gothard speak, which is very sad for me, seeing as I grew up with him as my spiritual hero. (Please don't ask why he's no longer head of ATI, it's a sad and complicated story. I don't agree with most of the reasons why he was removed.) 

Anyway, to a more pleasant subject. 

So just before I went to the conference, my Mum sent me a video about serving as a TESOL teacher in Taiwan. But I had my heart set on going to Romania, and told God in no uncertain terms, that I could care less what He wanted me to do, I was going to Romania. (Course when you tell God something like that, He inevitably sends you in another direction. Lol) 

I continued to resist His guidance until I got to Sacramento. There my resolve broke down when I faced God Himself, and He began to soften my heart. During a prayer meeting on the last day, I vowed to follow God, even if it meant going to a country that has massive spiders. (Lol, HATE spiders.) 

On the way home the next morning, I told my family I wanted to go to Taiwan--and I'm pretty sure they all thought I had lost my mind. Surprised doesn't really explain their reaction. But they all said that if it was God's will, I could go. So I prayed...and prayed...and prayed...and then waited. 

As always with God, patience was in order, and while it took a long while to learn how to wait properly, eventually, I believe I got the hang of things. (Maybe.) After waiting an interminable amount of time, (about six months) my parents gave the ok. Then began the long process of applying to VOICE Missions, the Taiwanese Embassy, and getting a Visa. 

As each application was approved, I got more and more excited, looking forward to when I would get the final ok. Once that came, I rejoiced--possibly more than I should have--that God really wanted me in Taiwan, it wasn't the figment of my imagination after all! 

Now? As you've seen before, I'm on my way to Oklahoma City for training, spiritual encouragement, and a lot of fun! 

Aaaand... In under two months now, I'll be walking the streets of a Taiwanese city,   boom ooooom mono I trying to learn the language, and being a light to those who walk in the darkness. 

I'm going to leave you all with this verse: 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19

Shalom, Yeshua be with you this week!

-Marissa 

Packing

 

 

 

You. Have. No. Idea.

 

I LOVE to travel.

 

I. HATE. PACKING.

 

Don’t get me wrong, there’s something exciting about packing for a trip, but the decisions! Every last thing I take must be evaluated on how much I will use it. If I’ll only use it once or twice, then forget it. I’ll find something better. Or I’ll just do without. I’m normally a light packer—until it comes to books, then it’s a lost cause—but sometimes, I believe I try too hard.

 

I’m leaving in two weeks for training with VOICE missions (for the year I am going to spend in Taiwan. More on that later.), and I’m attempting the feat of taking only a carryon size suitcase, my violin, and a backpack. We’ll see if I make it. (haha) I managed a week-long trip last year with that suitcase, but this time it’s for two-and-a-half weeks…and I love fashion. A LOT.

 

Soooo! Guess who’s learning to live with the smallest amount of baggage? And the smallest amount of fashion while trying to look good too. (I suppose God might be trying to tell me something here, right? haha…) Maybe…I’m putting too much faith in my clothes, caring too much about how I look…but back to packing.

 

You think packing is easy? (Ha!) Try stuffing enough clothes for a city that averages 100 degrees in a tiny suitcase, and then tell me it’s easy. Oh, and don’t forget, it has to be skirts and high heels. (No. Fun. At. All.) And don’t forget the heavy sweaters and tights for ice skating. I’ve never had to pack so many different seasons in one miniscule suitcase before. (see, it keeps getting smaller. :P)

 

But don’t mistake all this complaining for me not looking forward to this trip. (I’m so excited!!!)

 

Alright, I ranted. I’ll talk about the good in all this now. :D

 

1.       I’m learning that fancy clothes aren’t important to make a good impression.

There is so much I would rather do--be fancy, look nice, put on that lovely mask that makes everyone think you have an amazing life—but honestly? What is the good of putting on that ridiculous mask? No one want’s to see it anyway. And they’re all disappointed to find out about it when you slip and fall. (Just get rid of it. Believe me, you’ll feel better.)

 

2.       I’m getting ready to go to Taiwan for a year, this is good for me!

Stuff, is not necessary for me to live my life. It does not define my life, and I can’t let it. What’s the point of keeping a lot of stuff, dragging it around with you, and clinging so hard to it you let it make you fall? There is no point. Get rid of it! This is honestly the hardest thing for most of us. Stuff is so important to us!

 

3.       I’m packing up my ‘stuff’ and putting it away.

(Truthfully? Right now I want to just get rid of all of it. That’s way easier. haha) I am learning that 90% of everything I have I don’t use more than seven times a year. I think I don’t need it if I only keep it for those few times that I want it. That’s foolish. I mean, honestly?? Just. Get. Rid. Of. It! 

 

 

So to wrap this all up, I think what I’m trying to say to you all is:  that regardless of what room you have in your suitcase, whether you can take everything, or just what is just necessary…it all matters who you chose to reflect to the world. God, yourself, the world…etc.

 

Think about this: Your mind is a suitcase. What you put in, eventually you will retrieve and display to the whole world. Every last person you pass, meet, and interact with, will take away an impression of who you believe in, what your values are, and why you are determined to live—or not live for that matter.

 

Just remember, whatever you believe in will be displayed for all to see one day. Why wait? Why not today?

 

Peace be with all of you!

 

-Marissa

God's Love for Me.

Over the past few years, I've been struggling with lies that I'm not good enough, I'm not worth anything and nobody loves me. 
The past week, I was at CYIA Training School. And it provided a time to spend alone with God, and to meet some great Christian friends. Over the past year, instead of focusing on my relationship with God and looking to Him to fill my void, I went to my guy friends. And instead of focusing on the fact that I knew God loved me, I put on more and more makeup. And basically changed who I was in order to get approval from others. 

I know others have gone through something similar, and I just want to share some verses about how much God LOVES you! 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me.

This verse shows that Christ died for me! And for you!! Jesus gave his life for you and for me. One of my favorite verse says.. 

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

How exciting is it that God exults over you with loud singing!

However, I know from personal experience, that hearing that God loves you is different than feeling you are loved. First of all, spend time in God's word and really seek him. And then talk to someone about it. I know, after I told one of my dear friends what was going on I felt immediately better!! 

You are loved! And you are worth something. 
After this week I have made several purposes: 
1. To daily read the bible. 
2. To spend time daily in prayer 
3. To focus on Christ first, in all things. 
4. To live for his purposes. 

AnnaKatherine :) 

Fairytales Continued

'Afternoon from the Great Northwest!

 I asked a friend of mine about the subject of guy's brains, and wasn't surprised to find that I had 'fried things completely'. (haha) So here I am, amending the situation!

 

First of all, I never really explained what I meant by 'waiting' and 'dating'. (That wasn't supposed to rhyme)

Waiting: ...is when you don't know who might be The One, and you aren't 'actively' looking for him/her.

Dating: ...is when you don't know who might be The One, and you don't care, you just want to satisfy your selfish 'needs'.

But there's a third option here, which is much better.

Courting: ...is when you have met someone you think you want to spend the rest of your life with, and instead of attempting to go as far as you can as fast as you can, you utilize waiting, and spend time with your 'significant other' with other people. Like your family.

(I know, that doesn't sound like much fun, but maybe you don't spend enough time with your family as it is. It could be a bonding time with them! [Just kidding. It's hard to bond when your brother is eyeing your new friend a little too closely.] Try it though, your parents will respect you both so much more.)

Some people say that 'dating with purpose' is what young people should do, and they have a good point, but what they often don't get, is that we teens/young adults, get hung up on that simple little word: 'Dating.' It's so easy for people to say, "I'm dating this guy, and we're really going to do it the right way."

You just may want follow God's idea of finding The One. Great. Wonderful. But are you sure that you aren't confusing 'what I want' with 'what God wants'?

Ask yourself this: What is it that I really want? Is it really what God wants for me?

Then go to the Bible and see if you can find something to advocate what you are about to do. Not what the Bible says against what you're doing, that won't work, you'll just decide that what you read applies to something else.

Ok. I just covered that subject pretty thoroughly, so on to the next problem.

To be completely honest, I don't believe I fried the subject of 'guy's brains' quite as much as I was thinking I had, but I do have something more to say about the subject.

Saying 'Two reasons, and two reasons only', was a bit exaggerated, because there's a lot of truth in the phrase 'guys are as complicated as girls are'.

When a guy goes on a date, generally he is either going to see how far he can take things, (in a bad way), or he's looking for a relationship of some sort. He's not going to take you on a date to 'make another guy jealous', look 'cool', or to 'get back at someone'. (Usually) The kind of guy who dates generally won't respect your parents...or you for that matter. All he cares about is himself, and what he wants.

This explains things a bit:

"Dating is usually about meeting a selfish 'need'. Courting is about intentionally building a foundation for marriage." (Yes, Pinterest again.)

So really. Why did that guy dump you? (yesterday's post) Because he got bored with not getting what he wanted from you. (Or getting what he wanted, which is definitely worse than getting dumped.)

"Alright, alright, I've gotten the point." You say. "Just don't have anything to do with guys, and I'll be fine." Well, not dating is a good idea, but that's not the final answer. What happens when you meet a guy who is (let's admit it, pretty awesome)? The first question you should ask yourself is: Would I want to marry this guy? If you can honestly answer that with a yes, then it might be time for you to go to your parents about it. Ask them their opinion. They have been around for a lot longer than you have, and they've learned things about people. They *might* be able to see this guy from a different point of view, and let you in on some things that could help you decide about him.

Anyway, that's about as much as I can say on this subject. I might write more on it in the future, who knows?

~Marissa

The Perfect Fairytale

This one's for the girls, but you guys would be wise to pay attention too, cause it might save you some grief one day.

 

Fairytales are enchanting, (pun intended) we read them and daydream about Prince Charming, about that dress the girl wears, the books Bell finds in the Beast's library, (that last is me) but when we close the book, set it aside and walk out into the real world, oh wow are we disenchanted with life!

Your supposed Prince Charming dumps you for the (admittedly not so great) girl in his new class that you don't go to, and it hurts. You thought that this one really loved you, that this time around the dating wheel, he would accept your past mistakes. "What happened??" You scream, as tears run down your face. You wonder what went wrong, was it your fault? Were you simply not pretty enough? Skinny enough? Happy enough?

No, you dated a guy.

 

What?? This writer is off her rocker, you think. She's crazy. Maybe you have read some of my past posts, you think while that girl's got some odd ideas, she's ok, but this time...she's really lost it. What's the point of getting to know a guy if you don't date him? I mean, come on! If you don't date guys, you'll never find The One. (Cause obviously, God needs some help in that area.) "What does she mean then?" You ask.

Well, I'll tell you. It's pretty simple.

"Dating is like going to the store without money. You either come away dissatisfied, or you come away with something that isn't yours." (Thank Pinterest for that one.)

So am I saying that dating is a bad idea?

100% yes.

It's a very bad idea.

But I'm also not saying you can't be friends with guys. By all means, be friends with guys! Guys need girls to balance out their lives, and the same goes for you girls. Without the opposite genders in our lives, things would be terribly confusing. What I am attempting to say, is that while a guy can be your best friend, and you two can feel like there is nothing you can't say to each other, if you take it so far as to date, you've taken over God's job of bringing two people together, and determined that you should do it for Him.

So what happened when you dated that guy? What went so wrong? Let's assume you picked a 'good' guy. He's a Christian, or maybe he's just really nice. (Oh wait,  I forgot. You hate his face now that he dumped you. He's not nice.) Oh well, let's just assume he used to be awesome. What went wrong, is that you went into it determined to have a good time, not to find the one you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Be honest. Think back to when you met, was the first thing that came to mind, that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with the guy? Probably not. It probably ran along this line: "Oh my word, he's HOT! I've got to get a date with him!"

Think about it from the guy's point of view. (Let's hope I get this right, I don't know a guy's brain very well, correct me if I'm wrong.)

A guy goes into the relationship for two reasons, and two reasons only. One: He want's to spend about 50 seconds with you and then go on to the next girl when he's used you up. (Or) Two: He want's to find the girl of his dreams, and he's sick of the way he's been acting around girls lately. He want's to do the right thing.

(I sure hope I didn't fry that completely)

What a shock, he's not in it for the same type of 'fun' you were thinking about! But if you don't date guys, how are you going to meet the guy of your dreams?

Again. It's simple.

Wait.

"Woah, that's too hard!" You say, disgusted. "In this day and age, you gotta take what you want when you can, or you're going to miss out."

Nope.

You'll just find out how much God loves you when you meet the right one. Finally. Someday in the future.

It's hard, I know. But believe me, it's going to be worth it.

(I'll let you in on a secret about me: I'm totally in love with a guy. Crazy in love. But we haven't dated, we haven't kissed, and we aren't going to for a very long time. We are waiting for when God tells us both that it's time for us to be together. Then we'll [maybe] realize what the phrase "happily ever after" really means. Why? Because we waited.)

That's the perfect fairytale. Waiting is the perfect fairytale. Because everything is so much better if you wait for it.

"The longer you

wait for something,

the more you'll

appreciate it when

you get it.

'Cause anything

worth having is

definitely

worth waiting for."

 

 

~Marissa

 

Learning to Sing in The Rain

We have all heard the phrase, "Dancing in the Rain." But, how you interpret the phrase depends on your point of view. On the best days it seems easy to trust God and to not worry or panic, but on hard days is  that really what we think of?

While your circumstances may change, how you look at them determines the outcome. One wise friend once told me, "If today is the worst day of your life, then tomorrow will be better." For me, this past semester has been absolutely crazy. From tournaments, to school, to outside activities, to training for an upcoming 5K race. This past semester has been a whirlwind. In fact, I haven't been taking time to spend with God. This morning I really was convicted of this. I would encourage you, no matter what to find time to spend time with Him. Because, with Him in you, your life will be very different than if you make your own choices. 

Remember: 

No Matter what you are walking through, Jesus was tempted just as you are. He understands what you are walking though. 

So, no matter how bad the storm, find a way to dance through it! 

-Anna Katherine 

Hey You All!

Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long since I last wrote, life has been really crazy lately. (I don't know about you all, but graduating high-school is a bore. Seriously.)

Today, I am going to talk about the literature that is called 'classic' in this modern age. I have been CLEPing out of English Literature this last semester, and up until the Victorian period, 90% of all literature was based on religion. (The Victorian period is...all right, with an influx of...rather...liberal information based on the idea that men should be their own rulers.) This week though...when I began the Modern period of literature, I was disgusted to find that almost all of the authors that are considered 'worth reading' were either of dubious morals, or overdosed on drugs or liquor.

What. I ask you, are we seeking to teach our children by upholding this...garbage...as literature? (Not that many young people seek to read this material voluntarly, it must be strange to others that I enjoy all this dry stuff! ;P) If this is the standard of what is deemed 'valuable' information that should be taught in colleges, what is being taught in high-schools today? Honestly!

Let me give you some examples:
Dylan Thomas, Irish poet, lived a hard life and drank himself to death at the age of 39.
Aldus Huxly, wrote 'A Brave New World', lived the life of the wealthy, and took drugs in his later life, causing his work to suffer.
James Joyce, Irish author, born Roman Catholic, later renounced his faith, wrote about young men who didn't fit into society and rejected it's conventions.
Willam Butler Yeats, wrote Irish literature, was passionate about his art, and occults.

...And it goes on and on. This is what we Americans say is worth reading? Let me tell you something, if that was all that literature could offer, I would discard my love of books without a second thought. I almost have anyway! But thank goodness that isn't true. There was, and still are, some authors who wished to bring good to this world of evil.

One bright light in this tangled mess, is someone we all know and love for the magic he brought to our everyday lives. Who am I speaking of? Lewis Carroll? Not a chance. This man was the best friend of J.R.R. Tolkien...have you guessed who yet? No?...He wrote about a winter that never ended, a sea that went to the edge of the world, a witch who sought to tunnel to the heart of all that was good, a sandy desert where horses talked, and swarthy skinned slaves who attempted to abduct beautiful women...need I continue?

C.S. Lewis, a man who from his boyhood wrote storys about mythical creatures and fantastical worlds where almost anything could happen, did not write these stories for fun, he had an alterior motive. Every one of his books were allegories of the Christian life, and what he wanted more than anything else, was to point children (and adults) towards the 'Light at the end of the tunnel'. (meaning Jesus)

So in all honesty, there is good in this world...if you look in the right places...but if you aren't careful, all the darkness that is spreading will overwhelm you, and you will lose sight of what is good.

 Don't forget that there is a Light for us to follow, no matter how dark this world gets, or how much pain you see in this world.

 

~Marissa H.