grace & mercy

simple sunday school definitions:
grace - getting something good that i didn't earn
mercy - not getting something bad that i did earn

how i've been seeing these words lived out in mongolia in the past few weeks:
GRACE
*an inspiring and fun two weeks of practice teaching
*a friend giving me about 4 kilos of fresh beef from one of her relatives who lives in the countryside
*skipping church this morning at 11 and running into an old friend on the street when i finally left my house around 1
*discovering a new depth in friendships with both foreigners and mongolians alike
*counting down the days until my friend laura comes to visit me (current count 22!)
*finding a great cat sitter for the summer

MERCY
*being connected to a local body here and experiencing the ways the Father uses to make us hunger for holiness
*sticking within my budget last month because so many friends offered me unexpected meals
*warmer weather this spring than most mongolians have experienced for the past several years
*potential conflict at my language school avoided
*needing some plumbing repairs and having the women who work at the elic office take care of everything

GRACE + MERCY
*being given my teaching assignment for next year.....at a college here in the city that is known for having high academic standards (and girls who dress like they are on "fashion tv" hehe)
*being given a choice of where to live next year
*choosing to stay in my current apartment....this will be the first time i haven't moved in 10 years!!!!!!

practice teaching

i have spent the last two weeks doing a teaching practicum of sorts. 20 countryside teachers came to ub during their spring break in order to attend our seminar and improve their speaking and listening skills. i was amazed at their low level of english, and i wonder what exactly they are teaching their own students! it helps me gain perspective on what an amazing privilege and huge responsibility i have here as an english teacher. being able to influence these teachers even for just 2 weeks, means that i will have an impact on all sorts of students way out in the countryside, too. oh how humbling to think that the Father called me to this work!

many of you know that i'm a fan of the tv show, "the office". well, if you know that show, this picture will probably make you laugh. we had our own version of "diversity day". hehehe