Time to Step Out of the Boat?

In response to my very first post...I might soon be stepping out of the boat. I was going to get my ESL Certificate at the U of M, but because of many reasons it probably won't work out. So instead I might take it through LanguageCorps. In Spain. In February for 4ish weeks. I will have to travel by myself and go there not knowing a soul but as of now it seems the way God is leading me. He has closed other doors and seems to be shining his flashlight towards this door I had never noticed before. I have applied, but still need to pray about whether or not I will actually go if I get in. If it is truly where God wants me to go, I will go. It may be scary and my family and I may be nervous...but I would be much safer there than I would be in my own home of that is God's Will.
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Stay tuned to see if I am led to step--or rather jump--out of the boat =)



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God is Just So Funny Sometimes....

Before college started up this semester, I randomly volunteered online for World Relief helping new immigrants. Well awhile later they called me and asked to set up an appointment to see when I was available. This was when school was about to start. I said I would have to wait and see how my homework load and classes went. They have called me back twice since then and I missed the calls...and never called back because sometimes I'm just too selfish with my time. Well today I came home from Chipotle and was telling my roommate Tricia (who went to Guatemala with me) how much I want to get my Spanish back..and how i need to speak it more often or i'll completely lose it. Half hour later...Call from world relief. Ignore the call. Listen to the voicemail..."Hey Kirsten, just trying to still get ahold of you....We just got a family from Mexico and its a very unique case, and we saw you spent 4 months in Guatemala so we assume you speak some Spanish...Give us a call back if your interested!" God...your so funny sometimes. Needless to say...I finally called them back. The mom is recently separated from her husband and evicted from their home...5 little ones...limited English. Whew! Well...at least I know God's behind on this one! More updates to follow I'm sure =).

Where God is Leading Me....

I have been having quite a time deciding on what I want to do after I graduate. However, I think I have decided what I'm going to do! My boyfriend's mom once mentioned that she thought I might make a good ESL (English as a second language) Teacher...which I didn't think too much of because I just thought of teaching kids which I just don't have a passion for doing. So I decided to join this career focus group at Bethel, which includes taking the Strong Interest Inventory. (Thats the test that shows you good potential careers for you, etc.) Well my top three suggestions included education. A teacher?! Me? Well, after talking to my roommate Tricia, she said it just takes a couple of months to get your ESL certificate. She also said there is a need to teach newly immigrated adults English and also just basic cultural skills...Something I think I would LOVE doing!!

Looking back I feel as though God has led me to this place. Studying a foreign language in Guatemala gave me the experience of what its like to be on the "other side". My major--Sociocultural Studies--has prepared me for encountering different cultures and has given me a passion to learn about them. I am now in the process of applying at the U of M for my ESL Certificate, so we will see if God keeps opening the doors in this direction =).