Hey friends,
I’ve got some news for you. It’s a pretty big change in my life, and definitely a surprise from Jesus, but come November, I’m going to return to Brazil for one year to study Portuguese and teach English.
Well, it wasn’t a total surprise. I think God kind of prepared me ahead of time through Mother Teresa.
Back in March, I was watching this movie called “The Letters” and it was about the life of Mother Teresa. I didn’t know this but before she was a saint, she was a teacher, living and working in a convent in Calcutta. She was faithful in her job for almost 20 years before she ever left her convent to serve the poor. One of the ways she served them was through teaching them, even opening a school. Of course later, with the help of others, she opened hospices for the poor, orphanages, and leper houses and dedicated her entire life to serve the poorest of the poor. There is so much she did in her life, but for some reason, seeing her begin as a teacher inspired me to do the same.
After that movie, I signed up for a TEFL certification program to learn how to teach English in foreign countries. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to complete it because I was preparing to travel to Asia, but God was planting something within my heart.
It was during my time here in Brazil when my desire to live abroad and teach came up again. Out of curiosity, I started researching the rules and regulations for staying in Brazil, the visas, etc. but I thought I was going crazy. I had just started working at this amazing non-profit back in my home town and had recently been invited in January 2018 to join the staff for the creative school I went to a year ago. I had committed to these things, and it’s not a value of mine to go back on my word. What was God doing? Why did I feel such urgency within me to come back to this country when it would completely change the course of my life?
I called my mom.
I needed someone to talk to and to pray with me about this… and tell me if I was going crazy or not. You know what she told me? “You can do this, you know. If God is telling you to do this, you should and you can. He’ll show you what to do and I’ll be there for you no matter what.”
And that’s why I called her. She’s the best. 😉
I went to church a few days later and in one of the rooms I saw a sign that said, “You Are Here.” God spoke to me through this. It’s as though He said to me, “You Belong Here.” I was suddenly so filled with peace. I wasn’t afraid anymore. Also, I saw this sign and thought: God Is Here. You are here Lord, you are here with me.
If this what Jesus wanted me to do, I would trust Him and take His hand. It probably would be the biggest adventure we’ve gone on together, but if this is where He wants us to go next, then okay. I’ll go.
After a lot of fasting, prayer, and having other people fast and pray with me, this is definitely the new plan for my life and I’m going back to Brazil!
I’ve already paid for part of my tuition, and I’m in the process of getting documents ready for my visa interview in a couple of weeks when I return home. (Please pray for this!)
Here’s the plan:
I’ll be studying Portuguese for a year, from this November to November of next year. At the school I’m attending, they will personally train me to teach English for three months. I’ll learn how to teach all levels of English, even how to teach English in business and English for entry exams for jobs, universities, etc. After the three months, I’ll be able to begin teaching a class at the school and the lead teachers at the school will help me along as I go.
The Lord has told me I am in a time of preparation. There will be a lot of hard work, but I know God has a great plan for this coming year. Personally, I want to go to the streets of Brazil, talk to prostitutes, to the homeless, the orphans, and the wealthy, the elite, and all those who are searching for love. I want to share with them about Jesus and what He has done in my life. I want to listen to their stories. I want to write songs in Portuguese. There’s so many things, and yet, I have to put in the hard work and the time to prepare myself because I’m not there yet.
I can still love, I can always love, and I don’t need speak fluently in this language to do this but God is challenging me to meet these people where they are at, to know Portuguese, because I think He can do more in my life if I can communicate in their language and if I can teach. Yet, at the end of the day, only God knows what He has planned for my future!
Can you believe it? Me – shy, little Katya – going on this big adventure? I can’t believe it either. Truth be told, I’m nervous about teaching, it’s a completely new direction for me, but I know I can stand on God’s promises:
“What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 27:1
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
Till the next adventure,
Katya
