serving the King

Hello again everyone!
Life has been busy. No, not the kind of busy as when I was in school, but still busy. I'm now working multiple part-time jobs (janitor/secretary with my grandparent's business, teaching piano, balloon arranger/artist at a balloon shop, and any other jobs that come up!), doing various work/projects for my mom & grandparents, taking care of the garden, and serving in AWANA with both the Jr.High Trek group as well as the Sparks/T&T girls. Every week's schedule is different, which I do not particularly enjoy, but this is where God has me at this time - I'm learning to be even more flexible with time than I already was!
At this point, I am waiting for June to arrive. 'For what?', you ask. Well, if you didn't already know, I have been accepted to be a Choir Tour Chaperone with the African Children's Choir. I am so excited for this opportunity to serve! I have always wanted to work with kids, in ministry, using music (and I love traveling), which makes this practically my dream job! Granted, I will be raising support and not receiving a paycheck. With this opportunity I will be traveling for 15 months, mainly on a coach bus, with about thirty 7-10 year olds and 8 other chaperones. Most of the tour will take place in the United States, but some weeks may be in Canada. Approximately the last 3 months we will be in the United Kingdom, before the kids head back to Africa.
Though I do not know my specific job other than chaperone (every chaperone has a job such as sound tech/head education teacher/music supervisor/etc), I will wear many hats during the tour. From what I have been told so far, my music tours with the Moody Symphonic Band have prepared me well (other than the fact that they were 2 weeks, not 15 months...haha). This is just one thing of many that have come up the past couple months that I have wondered why God had me involved with certain extra activities or learning opportunities - both in life and in the classroom. Many times this month the things that I have learned, even from years ago, have been necessary for me to apply to my life.
Tranisitioning from school life back to home has been a challenge, especially when I'm starting to think about preparing for the next step of my life with the choir. I am still learning so much each day; but God is good and He is gracious to let me fall, stand back up, wipe off my knees, and help me go at it again. So many times we forget that He is there holding us up, desiring that we would take His help - not as wimps, but trusting in the God who IS our Strength! We cannot live life alone. We need the Light to guide us. We need a single set of footprints to remind us that He is carrying us. We are not alone (Romans 8:38-39). WE NEED THE LOVE OF JESUS!