Sabbatical Lessons

 Come and Find Rest

Intentionally resting can be hard especially when one feels lazy when they are doing nothing. However, sometimes taking the time to do nothing is actually doing something. There is a reason God rested on the 7th day. Not that he needed to but because it is something we should do. 

I have been learning how to find rest and renew my desire to hear God's voice and follow him. Often in life we can get so caught up in doing things we forget how to be. To be in the presence of the Lord. To find rest in him and to cast our burdens and our cares. This life, in light of eternity, is a drop in the bucket. 

I have been reading through the book of John and I'm currently meditating on John 10:1-5. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Every time I read scripture something new speaks to me. This time two phrases grabbed me.
To follow and to know His voice. 

Sometimes I long to hear God's audible voice. To hear him speak direction clearly. Go here, do this. I am learning how to hear when God speaks. Sometimes it is the simple things and the little things. I went for a walk along some trails and was talking to the Lord about my life and made a comment about something I loved and then saw this leaf smiling at me.

To hear his voice is more than words, thoughts or feelings. It is to be in his presence, to draw close to him. I left the field dry and weary in a way that reading the word of God was a chore and praying even more so; something on my check list I had to do, rather than desiring to do. 

I have been learning what it means to hear his voice and know the shepherd.

My life currently is in limbo. The door of possibilities is wide open and knowing which way to go seems vast and uncertain. I am learning to take each step slowly and enjoy the journey. Not all answers are needed immediately.

Setting off into Summer

TeachBeyond Orientation 2025

In June, I went to Wheaton College, near Chicago, to attend our new member orientation for TeachBeyond. This was a wonderful opportunity to hear the stories of new team members as they prepared to go to the field. It was an encouraging time to see all that God is doing around the world. To put faces to the names I read in the all emails that I receive. It has been 14 years since my first orientation and it was helpful to learn about all the changes and new procedures.

There were in attendance:

• 29 children of new members 10 staff kids - total of 39 in the TCK (third culture kid) program, 
• 68 Orientation participants (59 of those are CANUSA candidates, 3 are spouses, 2 are associates or seconded partners, the others are somewhere in the application process) who will be serving in 20 countries
• 73 staff including youth volunteers

I got to help with a core group and walk with them through this journey as they prepared to go to different parts of Europe. We played some games and made connections. Praying for this amazing team of people as they prepare for the adventures ahead of them.

TRR - Tax Related Relocation

In order to comply with tax requirements and to keep my Canadian residency I need to return to Canada for a minimum of 6 months every 5 years. Amazing that has already been 5 years since my last 6 month stay in 2020. I will be mostly in BC with a few visits planned to Alberta and the U.S.

Family Time

Came back to Canada in time to celebrate my Dad's 75th birthday and then my nephews 8th birthday. We took a family trip up to northern Alberta to do some fishing and stay with some friends of my brother. Caught some fish and did some fish fry. Got to visit a friend in Grande Prairie on our way through and stopped off at my Uncle's on the way home. Got to see a good part of the beautiful countryside. 

What's Next?

Currently I am on sabbatical for July, August and September. It will be a time to relax, recoup and refocus. I already have a trip planned to Edmonton for most of September. I also am planning a trip down to Oregon and California in October to see some friends. There will be visits to multiple places in B.C. while I am here.

What about your teaching job?

I have turned over my grade one teaching position to another teacher. I will be returning in January and will be continuing as head of the elementary department and filling in the holes where needed. There are a lot of unknowns at this point as to what God has in store. Waiting to see which doors will open next.

Finish School Year 2024-2025

Wrapping up the School Year

It all seems like a whirlwind dream as the weeks rushed by at the end of the school year. 

I decided to end our year as it began with a camping theme.

Camp Learn-A-Lot

My trusty teachers assistant and I made up the classroom into a camp ground. Each student got their own desk tent and camping tool kit, complete with flashlight and colouring tools and clip board. It was such a fun way to create a memorable last teaching day with them. The next week we had field trips so I wanted to finish our last week of learning with something fun and memorable.

It was a lot of work preparing all the centres and activities but it was so much fun.

We loaded up the "bus" to camp and it was delightful to see their faces light up on the discovery of their little campground. We had a pretend campfire as well as a virtual one on the screen. We read stories by flashlight and did numerous camp related activities. We even made s'mores (in the oven as open flames in the classroom are prohibited).  

Activity Week - field trips

At the end of the year we do a series of field trips for the elementary during exam week. This gets the littles out of the building during exams and helps finish out the end of the school year.

This year we took the grades 1-3 to a Candle making place that has farm animals and then Gr 1-5 did a Scavenger hunt in a local park and we wrapped up with our big trip to Mirakulum a park full of activities where kids can climb, swing and jump on trampolines.

It was exhausting fun for everyone!

End of Year

It is hard to believe this school year is over. This was a fun group to teach and I was very sad to say goodbye to them. This year is harder than most as I wrapped things up as I was handing over my grade one class to another teacher. It is sad to let this labour of love go after teaching grade 1/2 for 14 years, but it is time to let someone else enjoy the adventure.

It's Tradition!

I culminated the school year with our elementary traditional paddleboat ride. We took out two boats this year and paddled our way around the river. It is always a relaxing time and a great way to finish out the year with my team. I was blessed with an amazing team of ladies this year and we had so much fun!

 

Dresses for a Walk

Another annual tradition started by one of my friends was taking our dresses out for a walk. It started one year when she had bought a fancy dress for a wedding and wanted an excuse to wear it out again and so she declared we are going to go get all dressed up and take our dresses out for a walk! So a tradition was born. Each year near the end of the school year the ladies get all dressed up and we walk through old town and take dessert at a fancy café.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

It was quite surreal packing up for 6 months. My mom came to help load up my suitcases and shlep one of them home for me. We left for Amsterdam together and parted ways in the airport. She headed back to Canada and I left for Chicago to attend TeachBeyond New Members orientation.

Lots of people have asked how I felt about having to leave for 6 months and really honestly I had compartmentalized everything into little boxes to unpack one at a time. Finish teaching, finish field trips, finish school, finish packing, get on a plane, finish orientation, arrive back to Canada.

Each box has slowly been unpacked. The unknown is ahead and I look forward to unwrapping what God's plan will be next.