Take Me In

My heart has been heavy all day. Good stuff, just weighty.

This past week, I have been studying the Tabernacle with my kids. I've studied the Tabernacle several times throughout highschool and college. In 7th grade at HCA, I had to make a Tabernacle (with the help of my daddy). My junior year of college while studying Hebrews with some girls, I once again did an indepth look at the Tabernacle. I have heard countless talks and songs about the Tabernacle. I can tell you all about the pieces of furniture, exactly where everything was located, what the furnishings were made of, the types of fabrics they used, etc.

But today as I explained the connection between the OT and NT to my precious 8 year old children, it really hit me. What would it have been like to be an Israelite thousands of years ago? To have been slaves in Egypt for 400 years and watch God miraclousy free you. To be caught in a terrible cycle of sin and regret. To sacrifice animals for your sins, yet it never really clear your conscience. To not be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, but to have to send the High Priest in for you. To sit outside the Tabernacle, hoping forgiveness would come. Hoping your offering would be pleasing to God. Hoping it would be enough.

Sacrifice after sacrifice, day after day, year after year...it was never enough. The law required blood, because blood signified death. And death showed that some price had been paid for the sin. I can't imagine the remorse, the guilt, and helplessness they must have felt as they wandered and hoped that a better way would come. A more reliable attonement. A true forgiveness.

I closed out the lesson by playing the song "Take Me In" It is one I have heard over and over again, and often skip when playing my AD album. But today tears were brought to my eyes, as I sang the simple lyrics with my kids:

Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

Take me past all the people, past the altars, even past the priests. I want rightousness. I want God's presence. I stand in awe of a God who provided a better way. A better sacrfice. A better Savior. Hallelujah!

February Update

February was an extremely busy (and somewhat stressful month). Kinda bizarre since it is so short and the 1st week we were on semester break from school. I spent that whole week grading projects, meeting up with friends, and attending 2 teacher inservice days. At the end of it all I felt like I needed a vacation. And the 3 weeks of February that I was in school was craziness...I started these new Reading Centers with my kids, which has been great but means a lot more planning and grading on my part. Plus one of my TAs (a parent) has been out for the whole month, I didn't realize how much I depend on her help. Needless to say my weekends have been very important and at times, my saving grace. It is crucial for me to have time away from school. The best weekend by far was the weekend of Valentines' Day, and it wasn't because I have some love interest :) Friday I went over to some girlfriend's house for a delicious dinner and a movie. I was able to see some girls I hadnt seen in a very long time and it was great to catch up. Saturday evening was the High School Hoedown at my school. I went last year and helped teach a few dances, and was looking forward to going again. Let me just say that it was a blast! You all know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to dance and I dont get many opportunities here (except in my apartment) to dance. And you probably also know that I LOVE to teach people new dances and get them all into it. So I just had to teach the Hannah Montana dance to Hoedown Throwdown. It was simply amazing.

And then on Sunday after church a few friends went over to Chili's for lunch. It was delicious as always, and the manager said, "Well hello again Jules, I see you more than my family!" He is the one from NCSU. I loved all the fun Valentine's decorations around the city!

Disasters

Over the last month the literature unit we have been doing in Language Arts has been titled: Disasters. Our reading stories have included Titanic...Lost and Found, Patrick and the Great Molasses Explosion, and Pompeii, Buried Alive. As well we have been reading about earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis. So we have been talking a lot about disasters and how they impact people and communites. We have talked about how there is always choas in the midst of a disaster and for weeks/months afterwards. As we have read we have noticed that although you can try to prepare yourself for a disaster there is not much you can do to prevent one from happening. I think one of the most interesting things we have observed in the amount of hope (in something) that comes out during or after a disaster. As the Titanic sank, the band began playing hymns. During the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, the people in Pompeii ran to the temples to pray. I remember after 911, churches being packed with people.

In the midst of so much pain and uncertainty, people desperately need hope. They want to believe it is all going to be alright. They want things to return to normal. They want food and they want to survive. But what they really need is hope. And the only true hope we can offer them is found in JC. Yes they need their physical needs met. Yes they need to be loved. Yes they need to know that others care. But above all they need the only stable and true thing in this world…a God who deeply loves them.

This whole thing with Haiti has really caused me to think about life and how hard it can be. I have been so encouraged as I live in another country, to see people from all over the world come together to help the victims. I have gladly purchased over $30 in songs on Itunes in support of Haiti Relief Work – my two favorite being "We Are the World" and "Come Together Now." They are constantly playing on my ipod. I think this is good and so important…for people to come together and help during a tragedy. But my hope is that we are offering them more than love and support, but hope in the Gspl.

On a lighter note here are some pictures from class on Friday. We created our own erupting volcano. They loved it and it was really fun to do together!

Hello.

Well hello there. So this is my first post during the month of February. It is not that I have nothing to blog about. Infact it has been just the opposite. The month of February has flown by and it has been packed full of stuff. Every week was busy, and the weekends even busier - between school, seeing friends, and being out in the city. I find it hard to believe that March will be here in a few days. Anyways, I just wanted to say hey. I am still here and doing very well. I am quite happy and excited about how He is using me here. It has been a great month. Ill try to post some pictures soon.

Like a kid on Christmas morning.

That is me anytime it snows. Growing up in eastern NC, I rarely saw snow and so you can imagine the excitement it brings me! I can really only remember about 5 times in my life when we have gotten enough snow to go outside and really play in it - make snowmans, go sledding, have snowball fights, make snow cream, etc.

So when I awoke this morning to a winter wonderland, I was ecstatic! The snow was coming down hard and starting to cover the trees and sidewalks. It was such a nice surprise, especially since they werent calling for snow until tomorrow, and there was only a 30% chance of that happening!
My roommates and I made breakfast and then headed to the grocery store to get a few things. It was quite an adventure crossing the street with our grocery carts, in the snow. It was a dry, powdery snow and was glorious to walk in. Actually I don't think I have ever walked around outside while it has been snowing (it seemed to always snow at night in NC). After returning from the grocery store, I sat by the window with a cup of hot chocolate and just watched it fall. Big, beautiful flakes. I did some much needed grading and the Sunni and I bundled up and headed outside to play in it. We had a blast!! Both being from the Carolinas, we had a great time playing around. We ran around, made snow angels, threw snoballs and went sledding down our awesome hill - I am telling you, just like kids on Christmas morning. After about 45 minutes we came in and I made snow cream for everyone - it was delicious and I have some in the freezer for later. Here are some pictures from our very fun Saturday. I am so glad I didnt have any plans today and was just able to enjoy the snow. As I am typing this the snow is still falling - I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring :)

I just love my family!

I have a remarkable family – grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and siblings. This Christmas was extra special, even though I was not in NC and able to see my extended family. But I did get to see Mom, Daddy, Daniel, and Laura Beth. I am very appreciative to them all for coming to see me and their willingness to be away from America for Christmas. I am especially appreciative to my parents who made it all happen! (And I know it wasn’t easy for Daniel and LB to be away from their significant others either :)

It was so great to have my family here. I loved seeing them and showing them around my city. We had a wonderful time together and enjoyed every minute. Paris was fun - a beautiful city and lots of good food. I said goodbye to them in Paris and although it was sad, I think it helped that we left each other there. Instead of them leaving me in Turkey, or me leaving them in America – we both just left each other and went “home.” And I was so exhausted I was ready to be back home.

Here are a few pictures from our time together, we made some fun memories. It was truly a blast and I think the best part was just being together…catching up, hanging out, watching movies, laughing and laughing some more. It was been over a year since Daniel, LB, and I have been together – way too long!!

One Year Ago Today

I really cannot believe it has been a year, since I left my familiar and comfortable life in America. One year ago today, I arrived in this city. I have been here through each season, and celebrated many firsts - my birthday, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day only to name a few. This past year has brought on so many new experiences. For the first time in my life, I've missed a season of NCSU football. I've attempted to learn a foreign language and use it. I've been washing my clothes in a front loader and drying them on a drying rack - a long process during the winter. I've figured out how to cook in a foreign country and have to substitute ingredients. I've gone an entire year without driving a car and yet have no problems getting around this city. I've visited a lot of new places - Egypt, France, Germany, and other places in Turkey. I've learned how to stay in touch with friends and family through skype and email. I've moved three times in one year. I've started my first year as a teacher and learned so much. And I've seen my Father be faithful to a willing, yet feeble servant.

I look back over the last year and I realize how much I have to be grateful for:

- a family who loves me and released me with blessings to come here
- friends in the states that have made the effort to stay in touch with me and sent me notes and packages of love
- a job that I really enjoy and wonderful co-workers
- the kids I teach and their constant acceptance of me
- some dear families here that have looked after me and treated me like one of their own
- new friends here that make me smile
- a kind and gracious Father who has made it possible for me be content here

It's been a good year, and I look forward to the next year and half in this place.