And The World Keeps Spinning

I have now been in Chicago for a little over a week. Meetings and plannings, interviews and schedules...my days weeks and months ahead are quickly filling up. Here's a snapshot of what I'll have on my plate:

• School: I have been accepted into Moody Bible Institute and I am currently enrolled in a program called 1+3. I am doing one year of a full load (16 credit hours) of online classes.
• Work: I just got hired at an auto shop by my house as a secretary. I'll be working full time (40 hrs) starting at minimum wage ($8.50 an hr.) Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays I'll be working 9-6 and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9-2 because...
• Tutoring: La Semilla (the tutoring program at church) is being extended to 3 days from 3-5pm. I tutor a small group of kids and teach all the kids Bible.
• Dance: Thursday nights from 5:30-7:30 While I am still the leader for the Daughters of David our ministry is changing slightly so that I can pull out more and be much more of an overseer as my younger leaders handle more of the teaching.
• Awana: Tuesday nights from 7-8:30pm I am still a teacher in Awana for the 5th-7th grade girls
• Choir: From November-December I will again be leading a Christmas Musical in place of Awana and Dance.

It's a lot but very doable. Both school and work begin tomorrow. Prayers for this year are:

1) That I will learn to rely on the Lord for EVERYTHING

2) That my organizational skills will grow

3) That my perseverance will be stretched

4) For financial wisdom

5) That during Bible time I would be able to depict the accounts with accuracy and power

6) For deeper involvement in the lives of the children I am given

7) For contentment in circumstances and relationships

8) For humility in my ministries

9) For joy in every area of my life

10) For love for everyone I interact with

Goals:

1) I really want the Hayes to come regularly to church

2) Hopefully I can invite 2 other of my kids from tutoring to church, Christian and Joshua's families

It's going to be a VERY full year, but as always, I just have to remember that God is in control. And despite the craziness of my life the world keeps spinning as He holds the entire universe in the palm of His hand.

Forever and Always,

-Sarah

Mañana...

Regreso a mi ciudad mañana. Este viaje ha sido una adventura para los libros :) Me ha aprendiado mucho cerca de familia, español, ministerio y mi relacion con Dios. Hay mucho mas para aprender, pero este es un principio. Un paso que he dado que no he tomado antes. Mañana yo regreso a mi casa, mis amigos y mis ministerios, pero nunca olvidare mi tiempo aqui. Adios Mexico! Gracias para tus lecciones!

Goodbye orphanage

Pictures shall be uploaded soon! My camera got run over but I did save the memory chip! It was wonderful to work with such an amazing ministry! The dance that I taught went beautifully! The girls did an excellent job! They were so excited!

My last day I said goodbye to my friends that I had made and promised to try to keep in touch. For my friend Ara, one of the girls who I had gotten especially close to while working in the kitchen I asked my parents to bring a special gift, the DVD for the movie Newsies. We discovered that we were both fans and she had not seen it in a very long time. She was so happy! It was hard to say goodbye so we just said,"Hasta luego!" See you later.

All the kids were asking if I would come back, I told them to pray and ask God, but that I really wanted to. A prayer request for all of you: Maybe next year I can take a team...perhaps from my church or...the dance ministry girls...we'll see! All in God's timing!