Thoughts For The Road: October Reflections and Explorations

I have been avoiding updating here for quite a while now. It’s not that I haven’t thought about it, scheduled days to write, written post-it note reminders, organized photos to be uploaded, because I have done all of that. The issue has been in the fact that I have not had any idea what I wanted to write, or what I should or shouldn’t write about or even how to formulate some sensible and informative update on how life is going here in southern Poland. I just have not been struck with the right words. The answer for the reason behind this lack of inspiration is probably the very same thing that I don’t really actually feel like writing about (but obviously, I’m about to…).

The thing is that the past month or so has been quite difficult…no, honestly, really, really difficult. I moved to Katowice because of a strong desire in my soul to spend more time in Poland and see what more the Lord has for me to do in this chapter in life. I LOVE Poland, really, and fortunately, I also have a great respect for and interest in Montessori education, so combining these two factors and watching as the Lord crushed barrier after barrier in the process of me moving here all seemed like life was turning up roses. It’s not at all that I wasn’t realistic and aware of the struggles of living in a foreign land far away from family and surrounded by a language I still don’t know very well, because I’ve done all that before. I knew what I was in for in that sense. At the same time, there are certain circumstances which I would rather not bore you with which have made life a struggle recently. I’m honestly not trying to complain. There’s not really much that I can do about it and at the end of the day, it is in God’s hands and I can still hold on to the knowledge that for this year, for whatever reason, God has placed me here and He will see me through.

One absolutely beautiful thing that has happened in the past month is that I have finally fallen completely in love with my students. It is a joy to see them each morning and a joy to share life and laughs and new discoveries with them each week. I can see my relationship growing with them whether they’re knocking me over with morning hugs, snatching my slippers from off my feet or just singing with me as we walk to the playground. Lately, I have started to realize more of the absolute privilege and sobering gravity there is with being given the opportunity to work with these little ones. Not to sound cliché, but they quite literally are the future society leaders who will shape the world of tomorrow. If there is anything in which I can play a small part in imparting into their hearts this year, it’s that it is most important to be kind and to be gentle with others. These are huge words in my class right now. Each week may make me weary, but I can rely each day on the Lord’s strength to offer joy, acceptance and support to my little ones.

The weekends have become a great source of mending for me (I know they are for everyone!). Since I’ve found myself more than usually weary the past month or so, though, I have really learned the value in breathing deep at the weekend, exploring and recognizing all over again who I am in Christ and why I am here in Katowice in the first place. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had recently to get out of town for a few days and refresh my perspective before plunging back into another full week. If you think of me throughout this week, please say a prayer or two and for now, please enjoy these photos from recent explorations. God bless whoever may be reading this at the moment.