Bye-Bye Band Director World!!!

"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." Luke 8:23

It always amazes me how we can vividly remember the most random things. For example, I remember when my brother and his baseball team got in a swimming pool fight after a kid picked on 6 year old me. I remember badly scrapping my leg as a child and thinking it was better to bleed to death than to be taken care of by the crazy neighborhood lady that "saved" me. I distinctly remember hitting my first legitimate over the fence homerun and the 2 month slump that followed it. I also remember a pseudo "random" statement that was made to me my college pastor: If you love at least 80% of your job, you are one of the few lucky people that truly love their job!

There are many things I love about teaching and about teaching middle school students specifically. I love that it is one of the only times in my life that I am the least awkward person in the room. I love how impressionable and forgiving the specific age group tends to be. I love teaching the same student for 3 years and seeing them grow from the innocent "I want to please all my teachers" to the hormone charged 8th grader who's mood can be dependent on a good or bad hair day. Really, the only things I haven't liked are the insanely long hours, the annoying and persistent challenge of keeping up with the logistical stuff (inventory reports, paperwork, etc.), and the occasional conference with an upset parent who either forgets that I'm human or doesn't believe I have kid's best interest in mind. Realistically, I'm blessed to say that I have loved 95% of my job!!! 

I hope and pray it is no secret why I am leaving a job and students that I love. I leave because there is something, or more accurately, SOMEONE that I love more. Someone that is MORE THAN worth giving up of financial security, job security (at least... I hope I had job security! ha!), close proximity to family, great friends, and my "rights" to personal space. I love the one who has not only given me new life, but has also taught me that He is the only one who can fully satisfy my adventurous spirit. Someone who selflessly gave up his life for me and deserves nothing less than for me to give up my life for him. 

C.T. Studd once said "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." Sorry C.T, but I disagree with your choice of words... How can we call these things a sacrifice when we gain so much in return? Phil 3: 8: "I count ALL things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ... for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish..." Not only is Jesus the ONLY way for the eternal life, he is also the only way to live life to the fullest here on this earth.  John 10:11 reads, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly..." Psalm 16:11 "In thy presence is fullness of joy..." 

I feel strongly that God has lead me to this new life stage and feel excited and blessed to continue pursuing it headfirst. While a part of me is definitely sad to say bye to my students, my student's parents, and colleagues this week, I am excited to move on to this next step in my life and pray God uses it to minister to them specifically, encouraging them to take risks (even though I think the bigger risk is to NOT follow in what God is WHATEVER God is calling you to do) and live life to the fullest with and through Him. 

Thank you to all of you who have been asking where I am in the process of raising support. As of today, I have ALL of my departure expenses raised and about half of my monthly financial and prayer support. Lord willing (James 4:13-15), I am planning on departing 09/09/2009! The plan is for this summer to be filled with resting, me spending time with my family and friends, finding ways to enjoy the warm weather, continuing my seminary classes, attending awesome weddings, "dominating" coed softball games, and raising the rest of the financial and prayer support. 

If you are interested in partnering with me on this ministry, I would love for you to join the team! As you can see, I am still in need of financial and prayer partners. This can come in the means of monthly support, prayer support, or a one time financial gift. If you want more information on how to partner with me on this, please email me at katmoy@gmail.com and I'd love to answer any questions you have.

Thanks for always checking in my blog! Till next time... (and I assure you the wait won't be as long as last time....haha!)

-Miss Moy