Here it is, my first blog starting out this amazing new year.
This year for me will be a year of adventure and growth, beginning with being able to watch a Cheetah chase on African soil, boating in an estuary filled to the brim with sleepy hippos, getting burnt to a crisp (and loving every second of it) on the warm beaches of St. Lucia, as well as flying off to the country of Laos to live and teach English for a year (whoa!). I'd say I'm off to a pretty good start.
My teaching experience is taking place at ARDA (Anglican Relief and development Agency) Language Center in Vientiane, Laos. I will be teaching 5 days a week to local Lao students most of which will be older than myself. By this time next year I will have taught 2 terms of English in a foreign place on the opposite end of the globe, all for a purpose. For I know that I am meant for so much more than wasting my time "getting ahead" in work, school, & life. Helping the lives of others is what I've been called to do and what we've all been called to do really. And having joy in helping others is where we help ourselves. I strongly believe that once we let go of selfish ambitions and thrive to help others, we will greatly benefit. That said I am stoked for this term of teaching and what is to come. Currently I am listening to "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, and it couldn't be a more perfect way of explaining the feelings I have about me being where I am. "I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, though it's not easy to tell you goodbye, gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change and breakaway" You can't learn how to fly if you don't spread your wings. As corny as this sounds I believe it to be utterly true. How can you reach your full potential if you don't take a risk, take a chance, or make a change in your life? Life is filled with golden opportunities that are often not taken because of fear. This is my golden opportunity and I'm taking it and flying with it and lord-willing it will change me for the better.
As for my first week being in Laos it's been wonderfully busy and full of exciting new things. Whenever I need groceries I walk to the market and find pretty much any and every fresh fruit or vegetable imaginable. Needless to say, I'm in heaven. Even in the grocery stores they have Musli, natural peanut butter, wild Lao honey, whole wheat pasta, brown rice milk, almond milk, fresh eggs, assorted legumes, and "fitness" bread (super dense, and super delicious). Pretty much everything I need, they have. Free-weights are also sold here and interestingly enough come only in 3, 6, 7, & 9lbs. Oddly the 6lb weights that Rebecca got feel significantly lighter than my 5lb-ers that I brought from the states. Even so I still bought the 9lb weights hoping to add a little 'umph' to my morning workouts. Speaking of exercise I have set goals for myself to accomplish throughout this year, not necessarily relating to exercise (though some have entirely to do with it) but goals just the same. My first goal of this new year is something that I won't be able to accomplish until next year but can train for during my time here.
Goal #1: When I get back to the states I hope to compete in and finish a triathlon and maybe a few marathons. And perhaps make this a new hobby. Since having a few close-call experiences, I have realized how fortunate I am to have everything I have, limbs included. Therefore I will no longer take advantage of my feet and intend to use them to their full potential until I wear them to nubs.
Goal #2: Become involved in the children's ministry. There is a skills center here that invites Lao children to learn about the word of G'od, the children meet 3 days a week and since I am able I intend to help out on 2 of the 3 days. I'm definitely charged (I'm running out of adjectives) to see how G'od will use me at the center.
Goal #3: (Relates to Goal #1 but more personal) Get into the best shape of my life! This includes the energy I put in to my body (food/diet) and how I will expend it (exercise). Eating delicious, healthy food is easy to do here given the array of good eats, and since I'm on a budget I'm "forced" to cook for myself. I love it!
Of course working out and eating right is not something I could do by myself. Temptations do set in, and knowing that I have the strength of my almighty father is what keeps me strong. This passage keeps me motivated through tempting situations and pushes me towards becoming successful at accomplishing Goal #3; No temptations has seized you except what is common to man. And G'od is Faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Its my passion; good food and exercise. I could write a whole blog post about how I'm going about achieving this goal and how delighted I am to know that I will soon have it achieved. In fact I just might ;)
More updates to come soon! And looking back on this post I think i'll be needing to update more than once a week...
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