18 November 2004 Prayer Letter

Dear friends and family,
I have been here in Bratislava, Slovakia for two
months now and I wish that I had written sooner, but
it seems when I am really in need of prayer then it is
more urgent for me to send out a letter.  I am
selfish, I am human, forgive me.  For the most part I
am at peace and content and feeling reassured that I
am where I am meant to be.  The first two or three
weeks were the most difficult for a number of reasons
mostly because I miss my parents, and it was a huge
adjustment to be in a new country, at a new school
teaching in the elementary school rather than in the
high school like I had expected, and new students and
teachers to get used to.  Also adjusting to living
with a new person after living the last two years with
my friend Sarah has been slow, I am happy but I miss
my old friend.
Things change day to day, some days are GREAT but
lately I really need prayer for my students and my
relationship with them, for my time in the classroom,
there have been some very hectic stressed days that I
have spent more time yelling than teaching, and it
makes me feel so bad.  I have had wonderful times with
these students so I know that more is possible and I
need more patience at least.  I have not been praying
for students regularly and I really think that has
made a significant negative difference.  Also for my
new roommate and our relationship together, we need
prayer as teammates serving God here together, as
roommates, as possible friends in the future, and
definitely as individuals working out who we are as
Gods children.  I pray that she and I would seek unity
and that we would desire to help eachother grow.
I plan on flying home to be with my family for
Christmas but we only have one week off of school but
I have decided to ask for a few extra days off but I
am really nervous and afraid to even ask my principal,
so please pray that I can have courage, that he would
say yes and that I can find a ticket for these new
possible dates.  And that if it doesnt work out that I
would have peace about it.
Also a situation came up this afternoon, I was in my
office and needed to pay back another teacher, Jayne
from England, and I went to my purse and realized that
my money had been stolen out of my wallet.  The
equivalent of about 30 dollars had been taken and
Jayne and I immediately went and informed the
principal.  It is possible that it was someone we do
not know but the most likely thing was that it was a
student.  This is a very small school and I thought
that I had a pretty positive relationship with most
students, although there are times they frustrate or
annoy me, I am friendly and caring.  This makes me
feel terrible and very attacked.  I have been
discouraged lately in general and it is like things
keep happening to make me feel worse.
So I do need prayer in these specific areas but I
also have many blessings, I have my own room where I
can retreat to read or listen to music, I have a piano
in my room, I have been making some great meals and
dessert creations in the kitchen, there is a chocolate
shop downtown with about 20 different types of hot
chocolate, I walk to and from school everyday 20
minutes each way, I teach some wonderful, kind, sweet
students, I have a phone so my mom can call me about
once a week, I have been going to a good Slovak church
with good translation.  And the best blessing that we
can all personally appreciate is that tomorrow is a
new day.
2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
Love, Priya