Because this happened in May...
I'm now able to do this...
So...
I leave Tuesday morning (August 12) with my Honda Fit full
of clothes and crayons for the drive down to Orlando, Florida. I have been
offered and accepted a teaching position for a 4th grade class at Metrowest Elementary School. The offer came less than a week ago and I’ve been scrambling
to sort out my belongings and emotions for this next part of my story.
The principal of Metrowest has surpassed my expectations and
her job requirements in how she has interacted with me and helped me during
this time - even by calling me with extremely useful information on a Saturday
morning. I already respect her and look forward to working in this school.
If you are a praying friend, I would appreciate your prayers
for my trip down south. Driving that long of a distance with a car full of
boxes is slightly daunting. I’ve done road trips, but would appreciate special
prayers for this one. (For those unfamiliar with US geography Grand Rapids,
Michigan and Orlando, Florida are 1,227 miles or 1,974 kilometers.)
Equally as
important, pray for those 4th graders, this 4th grade
teacher, and our first week of school. Having not had even a week to prepare, I’ll
be moving forward on my creativity, education, and memory. I am certainly
excited, but immensely frightened.
It’s taken a number of years, but I’ve made it and I have to
believe I am ready. I’m saddened to leave my Michigan loved ones behind, but I
take their gift of friendship with me. Plus,
I understand Michigan summers are much nicer than Florida ones J
Here's the school's location on the map (below). It's about ten miles west of downtown Orlando and about that far north of Disney World. I love all the lakes around. In a few months, I hope to have explored this area on my bike or in my running shoes. I'll keep you posted.
