June 2026: I'll Be Back

Hey there everyone, it's so good to be writing to y'all again!! School is done, life is weirdly slow (more on that later), and my schedule has never been this open! 

The end of the year at Christian Academy of Guatemala is always a solemn occasion, as we say goodbye to the teachers and graduating seniors who contributed to making CAG the amazing home that it has been for me. In particular, our valedictorian (we'll call her Eleanor)--who gave me the idea to re-found Debate Club, leading two students to awards back in February--will be matriculating at my own alma mater, Georgia Tech, this fall!!

While Tech is admittedly not a Christian school, that does not mean God is not alive and working on that campus. As many of you may know, I was heavily involved in a campus ministry called Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) during all four of my years at Tech. That place was more of a second home for me than any school or church I had been to previously. Whether it is at CCF or elsewhere, I pray sincerely that Eleanor finds a home like that while at Georgia Tech. 

For those not in the know, Georgia Tech's reputation for difficulty precedes it. Many other schools can say the same, of course, but what sets Tech apart is that this culture has persisted for decades, and some professors at the school seem proud of it, even. Fortunately, those professors nowadays are few and far between, and if I can find a way to thrive in the midst of such a culture, Eleanor can, too!

As for the rest of my job, well, I gave finals a few weeks ago. I'd like to say everybody passed, but then that would make me a liar, and I don't lie on this blog!! Regardless, I received yet again so many kind notes of encouragement that made me feel really good about where I am. Especially given where I'm going next year!!

My gift from Eleanor: whole-bean coffee, which is surprisingly hard to find here!! 

Praises: 

  • Next year, I have some increasing responsibilities, which I'll use a sub-point each to describe below: 
    • Debate Club will return. though now in an after-school extracurricular slot (days TBD). This change will allow me to spend more time per week teaching my students about respect and holding firm to what they believe in. Stay tuned for updates on a possible overseas Model UN conference!
    • I will be co-advising Student Council this year. While I only did Student Council at my middle school in 8th grade (and did not really do anything), this time I will be responsible for developing procedures to help the students mimic the U.S. Congress. Will it work? I don't know, but I'm sure the students will have a blast. 
    • As for courses, I will be teaching Dual Enrollment U.S. History and at least 2 high school English/language arts classes. While working with middle-schoolers this year was a fun challenge, I am beyond excited to delve more fully into more challenging material and guide teenagers on the path to being God-fearing, reasonable adults.

Prayers: 

  • Call it what you will--"homesickness," "cabin fever"--but being without students and on a different schedule has definitely thrown me off. I've had muscle spasms so intense that I thought I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. It's not life-threatening, but it is annoying. Pray that that goes away and that I can relax as much as possible during my time off. 
  • On a more positive note, I'll be co-leading Vacation Bible School with Light for the Future and a visiting team from Augusta, GA from the 15th to the 19th. Pray for lives and hearts to be transformed and for the team to have the best time possible (and travel safely!). 
  • Finally, I will be coming home to spend the summer with my family on Saturday the 20th. The blog will go on a one-month hiatus before returning again in August. 
  • One last update: I've raised about $200-250 of the $500 I'm seeking to raise by August!! Especially with the recent health issues, even a little bit can go a long way. In fact, based on my readership numbers, if everyone reading this clicked here and gave $20-25/month, I would be fully funded for the new year. Please donate as the Lord leads you and remember, all donations are tax-deductible. 

 

And that's all. Thank you all for coming alongside me through thick and thin. I can't wait to see what next year has in store for us!!

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