This beautiful story continued to grow, watered by the grace of patience, trust and a sincere faith that God's will would ultimately be done.After deciding that I was going to move forward in the application process, I began to research the International, American, and private schools in Abu Dhabi...and there are many!
Remarkably enough, I learned that expats account for 75% of the 4 million+ population of the United Arab Emirates, so it's certainly not your typical Middle Eastern country. The idea of being surrounded by so many extraordinary international people, many of whom have a Western mentality, was both exciting and comforting.
I sent letters of interest, along with my CV, a photo, and references, to several schools that were appealing. I was also happy when an agent named Bryan from Teach Anywhere contacted me. In fact, in an ironic twist, in his first email he said exactly this:
"Thanks so much for your interest in Teachanywhere. As per our website, we are not actively placing North Americans in Europe and Latin America at this time. There may be limited opportunities for those with European passports - or possibly, we may have some positions later in the year for Portugal that do not require a European passport. We will be happy to notify you as opportunities arise. In the meantime, if you would consider the Middle East or Far East, we would be more than happy to work with you and complete your application. We have some positions in the following countries: Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, S. Korea, and Thailand. Please let us know if you are interested in any of those."
I had to laugh when I read that because that is precisely the new desire that the Lord had placed in my heart! (For the record, think I will always be a Francophile, but I can clearly see that God has closed that door, for now anyway.)
So, over the next few days, Bryan and I exchanged a few emails in an effort to complete the entire application process and be fully prepared to accept a position should one become available. (Would you believe that I even had to do my own FBI criminal background check?) After having my references clear, he said he was pleased to offer me the choice of positions at either one of two schools. How exciting!
However, after reading further, I learned that while both schools offered a very lucrative package, they were located in a remote coastal region 2 hours away from Abu Dhabi. There was then no question in my mind about rejecting the offers as my highest criteria for even moving to this area of the world was the critical imperative to have access to a good local body of Christ-centered, Bible-believing people. If there was no solid church with sound, somewhat (at least) expository teaching, I was not going anywhere. I have that here at Grace Immanuel Bible Church and know that I would be hard-pressed to find it elsewhere. It's a precious grace in my life, one that would certainly be very difficult to leave behind.
At this stage in the process, I knew it was high time to seek out wise, biblical counsel since I was only becoming more and more serious about the idea of moving. I didn't know if anything would actually materialize, but I wanted to be ready if it did.
On Tuesday, July 26, I met with my precious mentor, Peggy Bruce, and we worked through both the practicalities, as well as the heart motivations. As with any life choice, especially such a big one as this, I know it's critical that I look deep within and ask the hard questions:
- What are my motivations for moving?
- Are any sinful motivations lurking beneath? (The heart is deceitful!)
- Does this desire show any hint of discontentment in my heart?
- Am I willing to lay this desire down, fully submit it to the Lord and even abandon it if counsel cautioned me against it?
- Could this be an idol of my heart, something I would sin to get or sin to keep?
After much prayer, heart-probing, and a thorough searching of Scripture, I could honestly say (with a clear conscience) that my heart was pure before the Lord in all of these matters. I was encouraged by the evidence of God's grace in even giving me a submitted and surrendered heart as surely this does not come naturally. As sinful humans, we typically want what we want and will more often than not manipulate the situation in any way to get it! The fact that I could leave it all behind in a minute if the Lord closed the door was a clear indication and confirmation that God was at work. Sure, it would be a disappointment to have it all fall to pieces, but I would know that God had made His will known.
My greatest desire is to glorify God, obey Him in all things, and point others to the saving love of Christ. So, whether I moved or remained in FL, it was a win-win for me, especially because I am so happy here. I'm extremely close to my family. I have a wealth of wonderful friends. I absolutely love my church. I couldn't work at a better school than Palm Beach Public and I had just informally accepted a position teaching as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University. It just didn't make any sense (in the natural) to leave all of this behind...unless God was truly at work, orchestrating every last detail according to His wise plan.
It was very important to for me to meet with my pastor, Jerry Wragg, so I could hear his perspective, insights, and possible cautions, and sound biblical counsel. I was so pleased that he was able to graciously and sacrificially schedule me in on Sunday, July 31. (He was technically still on vacation.)
In the meantime, while carpooling to a Tuesday night bible study with my dear friends, Matt and Melissa Stanchek, I listened carefully to all that Matt offered, since I greatly respect his biblical perspective as well. He raised many thought-provoking questions and was kind enough to later share some great resources, one of which was an excellent, thorough document that Pastor Jerry had written. Thankfully, this guided my thought process even further and help me navigate more critically through the deeper heart issues.
It was also important for me to speak with my dear principal, Sharon Stevens, who has been so good to me over the last 8 years. I wanted to be up front and honest with her about my desire to teach overseas. {Thankfully, she had some indication earlier in the summer when I asked if I could put her down as a reference for the Paris job.}
We had a really great conversation and she made it very easy for me to share my heart. When I told her that I would gladly stay home and teach this school year if she needed me, she graciously responded by saying to the effect of this: "Oh, Laura...have you ever known me to keep someone from doing what they really want? I want you to go where God may be leading." {hand on heart} I just love her. She always puts others' needs before her own. Even when I hung up the phone, I just sat there on the couch and wondered if I could really leave such an amazing principal.
Surprisingly, after dismissing the two job offers earlier in the week, Bryan (from Teach Anywhere), was very quiet. I had received no email in days, which was strange based on the rate of our previous correspondence. I began to wonder if the door was perhaps closing and that I should look into the possibility of a job overseas in the more distant future and not now.
So, I thought I would start looking at when international job fairs might occur. It was there on the Council of International Schools website that I noticed (off to the side) a tab labeled "For Teachers," which I clicked and then I saw another tab labeled "Teacher Vacancies." I happily clicked and then did a search for schools in the UAE and saw a Kindergarten position listed at The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy.
For whatever reason, when I saw the photo of the Principal off to the right side, I immediately thought, "Wow, she looks so kind." Then, after reading her letter listed there, I became even more excited because I resonated so much with all that she had to say, in particular this specific comment: "We believe that great education begins with a leap of faith." I couldn't agree more, especially because I felt like I was in mid-air of my great leap of faith!
Although it was quite late, I read nearly their entire website, then I excitedly wrote a cover letter, attached all the appropriate items, and then determined to find a way to email Dr. Connie directly since the only email that was listed was to a more obscure email (vacancies@zayedacademy.ac.ae) in my estimation, anyway. (I just imagined my email sitting in some HR mailbox for weeks while everyone was off on their holidays.) So, it was relatively easy to determine the email pattern after clicking on the Teacher tab where the correct email pattern was listed for parents to get in touch with their child's teacher.
Finally, it was finished. {Big exhale} After hitting the send button, I knew that was it. I had exhausted every last ounce of energy and attempted every possible option I knew, once again. It was all up to God and way beyond me at this point. Part of me wondered if my application and direct email to the school (as opposed to going through Teach Anywhere) would go unanswered as all my other ones had, but I redirected my worry by saying once more, "Lord, thy will be done."
Again, as I climbed into the comfort of my cool sheets and closed my eyes that night, I had such difficulty sleeping. My body was physically and emotionally spent, but my mind actively wondered if this job would be "the one." I prayed earnestly that my email would: a) be read, b) gain her attention, and c) be graced and blanketed with the sovereign favor of the Lord. After a few minutes of prayer, my mind and heart had perfect peace and I drifted off into a sweet sleep.
I awoke with a heart-pumping excitement, quickly jumped out of bed, scurried downstairs, and checked my email. There before my sleepy eyes was an email from Dr. Connie! (I remember having to rub my eyes to be sure I was seeing the screen correctly!!!) And, sure enough, she had written that she was happy to receive my email and after reviewing my CV, she wanted to schedule an interview for that morning! I was ecstatic and quickly called Julie and my parents to share the good news! Amazingly, they all had been earnestly praying about this job in particular, so they weren't even surprised!
So, at 10:30 AM (6:30 PM her time), she "called" me via Skype and interviewed me for 45 minutes. I have to say that it was a unique experience in that she was extremely easy to speak with...very warm and friendly, open and honest about her specific needs at the school there. God granted such a supernatural peace and I felt confident, yet at the same time, completely inadequate in and of myself. I knew that even with being experienced and well qualified on a human level, it was only God who could cause me to actually be hired.
Finally, at the end of the interview, she removed her glasses and looked at me through the screen. (I must interject that she couldn't even see me, but I could see her! So much for my record-breaking race to get ready that morning with actually doing my hair and all!) She smiled and said that though she normally had a panel for interviews, she felt comfortable offering me a job right there on the spot! Amazing.
The whole thing was a bit surreal in that it felt so abnormally normal, ironically enough. I felt like we had been sitting around in our living rooms (which I was) and just chatting about the joys and challenges of education. After our great conversation, it seemed perfectly natural that I would join her in their endeavor to educate these young minds there.
Before signing the contract, however, I knew it was urgent that I speak to Pastor Jerry, so I gave him a call on his cell phone and he graciously (once again) agreed to talk a little later that afternoon when he had a window of free time.
As expected, his counsel was excellent and helped me in a couple of unexpected ways, one of which was putting me in touch with dear South African friends of theirs who live in Dubai. I was thrilled to have such a precious contact as good, Christ-loving friends will be crucial for me. They are already excited to show me the lay of the land, introduce me to other believers at church, and connect me to the greater body of Christ there. What a huge blessing!
I am so thankful that the Lord provided such encouragement and support through Pastor Jerry's specific ministry to me in my time of need. I will certainly miss him and his loving wife, Louise. I will also greatly miss the whole body of believers at GIBC. Even now, I am saddened by the very thought of being so far away, especially when so many of my dear friends are now pregnant or just had little ones. I could cry. I am comforted, however, in knowing that I can (Lord willing) still hear sermons, see videos, and stay connected even across the miles through facebook, at least. (I hope everyone will stay in touch!)
Well, I'd better move on or I'll never get through this...
Ok, the last phone call I needed to make before things were final was to Palm Beach Atlantic. Though a formal contract had yet to be signed, I had verbally committed myself for the fall semester and wanted to honor Christ by exercising integrity in keeping my word.
Once more, the Lord showed me His grace as Dr. Gene Sale showed nothing but genuine excitement and enthusiasm as I asked him his thoughts about this unique opportunity. He couldn't have been kinder in releasing me and even expressed that the job offer still stands for the future. What a rich blessing that only highlights God's supreme love, kindness, and goodness!
Lastly, I faxed my parents the 2-year contract and terms of employment and after careful review, everything looked good...actually great! The employment package is an absolute dream (especially in light of the current financial and political situation for FL teachers) and while I know it will be challenging in many ways, I am confident that God will be with me each step of the way. My goal in all of this is to glorify Him in all things, above all else, through the unique gifts and talents that He has graciously given to me. I have absolutely no doubt that He will use me to be a Living Epistle and salt and light in a region so incredibly wealthy, yet spiritually bankrupt.
You know, it's funny. The school is owned by the Sheikh Zayed himself and is located directly across the street from his palace. I will literally be teaching the children of royalty, which would be just slightly intimidating if I wasn't the Daughter of the Most High, the Princess of the King. :)
If you made it this far, thank you so much for the time you spent reading all the itty-bitty details (that I love so much). I think God's fingerprints are all over this. :) I sincerely ask that you pray for me as I undertake this new assignment, new adventure, and new life of sorts. I have every hope that, by God's grace, the desert will indeed bloom with the visible, manifold blessings and saving grace of Jesus Christ flowing through me for the future good of those God has already called as His Own.
Humbled by His infinite goodness,
Laura
PS. Here are a few more tidbits that I forgot to mention:
- I'll be teaching second grade. :)
- I will likely leave around Aug. 28. The flight is 17 hours.
- School for new teachers begins Sept. 6.
- I'll be home for 3 weeks at Christmas (Lord willing)!
- I will have a 2-bedroom, fully furnished apartment, so you are welcome to visit! :)
