Happy May! I want to write to share a bit about what my first year of teaching has looked like. Also, I have some exciting news and life changes I would like to share, so read to the end to hear the news!

This school year has been a whirlwind. Stepping into the classroom as a first-year teacher and taking on all that comes with that role has been a lot. This year has been filled with great joy as I’ve had the privilege of leading and loving my students. In Ms. Mahony’s class this year, we have gone on field trips, tackled meaningful PBL projects, learned multiplication and fractions, and grown as essay writers. We’ve also spent time learning how to handle big emotions, practice coping skills, and live in community with one another through kindness, patience, and empathy. Watching these students grow academically, emotionally, and socially has been one of the greatest gifts of this year.

This year has also come with significant challenges. I’ve been sick often and frequently overwhelmed, both by the very real responsibilities of teaching and by the pressure I’ve sometimes placed on myself. Yet through it all, God has been faithful. I see him in the hugs and smiles of my 3rd graders, the encouragement of my co-workers, and the love of my friends. He is present even in the seasons that feel dry and in the days that feel heavy with anxiety. Jesus is near to my heart.

As I’ve processed this season with mentors and friends, I’ve been grateful for the wisdom and perspective of those who know me well and genuinely want the best for me.

Now for my big news! As many of you know, I am passionate about the mission of God. Missions is living out the love of Christ by serving others, sharing the Gospel, and joining in the work God is doing in communities around the world. I’ve known since high school that I have been called to the mission field. It has just been a matter of time before God reveals the “when” and the “where” of that call. Through prayer and confirmation, God has made the “when” clear!

This fall, I will launch into a 3-month mission program serving in a handful of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa! The organization I will be going with is World Race.

As I move into this season, I rejoice at the opportunity to trust God, surrender my plans, and let the Holy Spirit lead and provide. Please join me in prayer as I take this leap of faith. Reach out through email or text if you have any questions, want to know how to pray more specifically, or want to know how you can support me in this transitional period.

I am beyond grateful for the communities God has placed me in and gifted me with. Thank YOU for being a part of that.