Coming and Going and Giving Thanks

Praise the Lord! I have safely arrived in Germany, and I am settling into my new apartment, town, and area. I am so thankful for the many ways the Lord has provided for me in the last few days. Here are some of His blessings I am giving thanks for:

1. Special times with friends and family
I am so thankful to get to spend special time with Chelsea before I left and for wonderful help from Jasmine to finish up my packing. I am so blessed by their friendships. While "goodbyes" are hard, I know these relationships will continue!

 

I am so thankful for the love and help from my family as well! I will certainly miss you!

2. Smooth and safe travels

Thank you for your prayers for my travels! My flights were great and I arrived in London and then in Basel with no issues. And praise the Lord, all my luggage made it as well!

Beautiful sunrise over the Atlantic

Became friends with these women on the flight! They are on their way to Kenya for a missions trip.
Praying for you!

Arriving in London!



3. A warm reception!

I am thankful for the help of Heather Brown picking me up from the airport, showing me around, and helping with my transition. Thank you for all you are doing and continue to do!

On the way back from the airport we took a quick stop to the elementary school and I got to look around. So excited for the year to come. What a neat place!

The school from the outside!

Me in the 2nd grade classroom at the teacher's desk!

Thank you Lord for friends and family, safe travels, and a warm reception. I am so thankful for the ways you have blessed me and will continue to provide!

I am continuing to settle into my new apartment and to get the furniture and things that I need. I have been able to meet many other staff members from BFA already which has been great. More pictures and updates to come! My training/orientation begins on Monday!

Stories of God's Provision

Throughout this period of sharing with others about the unique mission of Black Forest Academy I have been reminded again and again of God's faithfulness and abundant provision. It isn't always easy to surrender my everything and to trust that God will provide for my every need. However, God has certainly supplied exactly what I needed through the kindness of others.
I wanted to share a few snippets of God's faithfulness over the last few months.

In the beginning:
My financial support started much slower than I was anticipating and the stresses of fundraising were starting to sink in. This was going to be a lot of work. I remember sitting on the wall overlooking lower campus at Grove City College and sharing with my good friend Brittany about what I was stepping into. "I'm only at 1%," I told her with a heavy heart. Brittany wrote to me later that it was in this moment when she decided she wanted to one of my financial partners in ministry. However, her current financial situation wouldn't allow for it. Brittany writes that she didn't know what to do so she, "sat and waited and prayed for a while." By the grace of God her financial situation changed and she was able to support me at an amount that equalled 1% of my future needs.
Brittany's story reminds me that our God answers prayers and is eager to bless His Children.

Sharing at churches:
Throughout the last few months I have been so privileged to share with the congregations of many churches about partnering with me to support the children of missionaries and sharing the love of Christ around the globe. After sharing at a church I typically stand in the lobby with materials and talk to individuals as they leave the sanctuary. On this particular Sunday, a woman came up to me and took my hand. She explained that earlier in the week her daughter had an orthodontist appt. for her retainers and the orthodontist had only charged them for one of the retainers. She told me that when I stood up and shared about my mission in church that morning she knew that the Lord wanted her to give me the money that they would have spent on her daughter's other retainer. What a blessing.
The story of this woman reminds me that God is sovereign and He certainly sees the bigger picture of our lives and will use any situation for His glory.

Not alone:
One of the biggest blessings of my preparations has been the support of my family. My grandfather, Blake Nicholson, otherwise known as Poppy, has been a huge help to me. He has helped to make contacts with family friends as well as make connections at several churches. He has been willing to assist in getting materials printed and making phone calls among other things. It has been so wonderful to have him as my advocate and someone who is passionate about sharing Jesus with others. In addition, my parents have been so helpful as I make many decisions before leaving for Germany and above all else, they continue to express unconditional love.
The love of my family reminds me of the love of God my Father and the importance of staying connected. We need Him above all else and we also need each other.

Thanks for reading some stories of God's amazing faithfulness! I know there will be more to come.

I'm reminded of Psalm 89:1:

"I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."



Kandern, Germany

I'm flying from Philadelphia airport on August 8th and will arrive in Basel, Switzerland on August 9th.

Please pray for safe travels and smooth transitions!

Check back soon for more updates

Also, if you would like to purchase a t-shirt (pictured below in previous posts) please let me know! We have more and they are $15 each!
You can e-mail me at rnicholson@teachbeyond.org and I'd be happy to get one to you!

Party and Packing

This last Saturday I was joined by family and friends to celebrate my graduation and to say a "goodbye" before I leave to serve in Germany for the next 2 years. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life who care so much about me and who I will certainly miss dearly! A big "thank you" to those of you who were able to join me on this special day. We had around 50 people stop by for food and fun! You all mean so much to me and I am so thankful for you!

Friends from Bangor, PA

Grove City Friends (+Brian)

It was so fun to have family and friends from different parts of my life all come together in one place. High School friends, college friends, family from different areas, and church friends all in the same place. It was a great way to spend some of my last days here in America!

Family eating and hanging out on the deck

After spending two weeks at Mont Lawn Camp in Bushkill, PA, planning a Graduation/ Farewell party, and speaking at various churches every Sunday it is hard to believe that I am just a couple weeks away from leaving for Germany! (exact leaving date to be announced...) I am now at the point where I am moving into the packing phase of my preparations to leave. I am beginning to think more about what should stay and what should go and making those final preparations to move to a new country. I have been dreading picking which children's books should stay and go and how to pack, but the time has come! However through it all I am reminded again and again that the Lord has been and is continuing to guide all my preparations. The verse that I repeat and love to share with others as I look towards the future is 1 Corinthians 15:58. It says, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Whether I am packing or serving Jesus miles from home, He has called us to serve enthusiastically and with joy knowing that He is faithful to bless our efforts for His name.

I also shared this last Sunday at Kochenderfer UMC near Lebanon, PA!
Thank you so much for your love and support!

Thank you everyone for all your prayers!
God has certainly blessed me far beyond what I could imagine or deserve.

If you want to see more pictures from the party check out this Smilebox created by Maureen Brown! I love it!

Continue Sharing

I am less than a month away from the time that I will be in Germany and starting my orientation at Black Forest Academy. I feel like I say it again and again but it is so true: "I'm excited!" I am really looking forward to being able to serve, teach, and love the students at Black Forest Academy. I know there are many new and challenging experiences to come, but I am certainly excited.


Chelsea and Sarah wearing their Germany shirts!
These friends keep me excited and encouraged.

I have had the opportunity to continue to share with others about the work I will be doing teaching 2nd grade to missionary children and local children in Kandern, Germany. I feel so blessed by the many people who are interested in the mission of the school and who have been so encouraging and supportive. I am continuing to share with friends, family and churches to ask for prayer and financial partners. I appreciate the prayers of many faithful believers who know the difference prayer can make. In addition, I appreciate the financial support of so many who are making an investment in the Kingdom by supporting the work of missionaries around the world. Would you be interested in joining me in this mission of serving missionary children? Would you continue to share with others about the work that God is doing through Black Forest Academy and TeachBeyond? I have less than a month to finish raising my support and appreciate your prayer and financial partnerships!
God is so faithful!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5




Sharing with members of the congregation at First Church Lancaster



This woman was speaking in Germany to me! (I understood!)




TeachBeyond Orientation

This last week I had the chance to travel to Minneapolis, MN for orientation with my mission organizationTeachBeyond held at Bethel University. The week was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow missionaries and teachers traveling to Black Forest Academy in Germany and to 17 other countries abroad. I feel so blessed to form so many great relationships with people going out to serve and teach around the world.

In addition to meeting lots of wonderful people I was also really encouraged and challenged by the many sessions we attended. I learned a lot about the amazing vision of my mission organization TeachBeyond and for the transforming power of Christ at work through education. We also learned about topics such as cross-cultural adaptaion and sensitivity, preparing for transitions, working with Third Culture Kids, and so much more. I feel more equipped and prepared for the changes and work ahead.

Finally, I am so excited for the journey ahead of me! It is less than 40 days until I will be beginning my time serving and teaching 2nd grade in Germany at Black Forest Academy. I am really looking forward to the many exciting changes and challenges that are ahead and know that the Lord is certainly preparing me to be used by Him in amazing ways. I am continuing to ask others to join with me through prayer and financial partnerships. If you are interested in joining me please feel free to download a pledge form here and send it to TeachBeyond. Another option is to donate quick and easy online. I am so grateful for the prayers and support of so many and know that the Lord is working in wonderful ways.

More to come!

The Preparations Continue!

The lyrics to the Chris Tomlin song "I will Follow" have been ringing true to me in the last weeks as I continue to prepare to follow God's leading to teach and serve at Black Forest Academy. I am so excited for the journey that God has prepared for me and for His great faithfulness. The words to the song are:

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone

In you there's life everlasting
In you there's freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow

These words echo my prayer to the Lord to follow his leading and to continually place my trust in Him alone.

Click here to hear the song!

The Lord has been faithful to provide opportunities to share about my mission with others. In the last two weeks I have been able to share at 3 different churches during services and Bible Studies. I have been so encouraged by the encouragement and prayers of so many people. Currently, I have over 50% of my support raised. I still have a ways to go and would appreciate your continued prayers and support as I seek to raise the rest of the funds needed to go to Germany. Please consider clicking on the "How to Get Involved" tab at the top of the page to learn how to get involved and become a partner with me in serving and loving missionary kids at Black Forest Academy.

This Sunday I will be leaving for Minneapolis for training with my mission organization TeachBeyond. I am really looking forward to meeting fellow missionaries serving at BFA and various international schools and to prepare our hearts and minds for the mission field before us.

I have also been enjoying looking at some more of my German to keep it fresh and relevant! Of course, true to my elementary education style I created a German word wall right in the kitchen for my continued vocabulary development! Let me know of any of your favorite German words to add to my wall!! I want to learn as much as I can!

Trusting in Him and his GREAT provision!



Equipped by God

This past Monday I had the wonderful opportunity to share about my mission to Germany with some of the ladies at First United Methodist Church in Bangor. I joined them for their Bible Study time and shared about the journey that God has called me to at Black Forest Academy. I am so grateful for these women and for their willingness to pray for me as I serve and teach in Germany. It was so fun to reunite with them and to talk about how God calls each of us to mission no matter where we are.
We discussed the passage in 1 Samuel 16:4-13 when God sends Samuel to appoint the new king. God selects and anoints David as King and from that point on He equips and empowers David to be a great leader. In the same way, I am reminded that God will certainly equip and supply my every need as I travel to Germany and prepare to serve the students at Black Forest Academy. Our God is faithful and enduring and knows just what we need.

Reading scripture together

Sharing about BFA and answering questions

"And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward." 1 Samuel 16:12, 13