Rachael, a new teacher at Rift Valley Academy, shares what it's looked like to adjust to her new job, ministry, and home overseas.
The newness of life is slowly wearing off and I'm starting to get into a rhythm. I'm learning what it means to do life here. Monday through Friday I get to teach, grade, lesson plan, and fulfill my various duties at Rift Valley Academy. During the weekends, I try to relax, spend time with friends, head into the local town if need be, and watch the sporting matches. It all hit me one day, it was as if I looked up for the first time in October, and realized that this is actually my life now. Can you relate? As the dust settles, I look around at my new life with joy, and yet also with some doubts, that have come into my mind like uninvited guests.
I've wondered if I truly belong here. Feelings of inadequacy have washed over me as I sized up what I was doing in comparison to those around me. Amidst these deep feelings, I was reminded of truth.
Here are three truths that have grounded me as I walk out this new life overseas.
1.) Cultivating community takes time.
Deep relationships take time to cultivate and it can be hard to adjust to that reality when you've come from a community where you were deeply known. Developing deep friendships and finding my place won't happen as fast as I'd like it to, but I can know God is creating something good and I find rest in that.
“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
While there are less people surrounding me in number here than in Houston I have been encouraged to see so many godly, kind, and wonderful people around me that I can get to know. I will take steps believing I have a place where I belong on this campus. He will guide me and I will trust in His ways.
"If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts." - Timothy Keller
2.) My identity is in Christ, not my work.
It being my first year at RVA I have been so excited to teach, disciple, and serve God on this campus. Comparison, a thief of value, has quickly come to try and steal my sense of worth. It is easy to look around at what other teachers are accomplishing or the deep relationships they have with the students, and judge myself. In this space, I have learned to fight for my identity to come from Christ alone.
"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." -Galatians 3:27
If I am clothed with Christ, His righteousness is where my worth is found. My worth is not found in my work, my goodness, or faithfulness.
“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.”— A.W. Tozer
3.) Bearing fruit may look different than I expected and that's ok.
I came in with the expectation of forming great relationships with students quickly and that has not been the case. If I am abiding in Christ and bearing fruit, what's wrong? Well, God may be doing something else, something new, in me. He will do what He wants in His time among the students. He is not in a rush waiting on me, there isn't necessarily something I am doing wrong.
"As long as I stay tethered to the Life-Giver and walk in obedience to His commands, there will be fruit though it may be spiritual or internal in nature."
A friend gently reminded me that my ministry here is unique and won't look like everyone else's (There's that comparison thief again.) We are called to be open-handed with our ministry, not holding tightly to our own ideas, but walking in obedience to what He gives us to do each day.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23: 1-3
One of my favorite chapters in the Bible has been Psalm 23. What a good God we serve, who personally leads us with the care, tenderness, and intentionality of a Shepherd. He doesn't make mistakes and in Him I have all that I need. I find my identity, my purpose, and life in God. I'm not sure what you're walking through right now but if you're also in a season of questioning or doubt I hope this encourages you.
_______________________________________________________________
Pray.
Pray for Rachael and other teachers at RVA as they teach, build relationships, and aim to be examples for the next generation to see what it looks like to follow Christ. Ask that students would be seeking Christ as they navigate life at RVA. Pray that RVA would finish this semester well and that God would provide all of their staffing needs for the next school year.
Interested in serving?
Explore how you can be a part here!
About the Author: Rachael Kabagabu is a teacher at Rift Valley Academy, a Christian boarding school that serves missionary families by investing in their students, enabling them to serve across the African continent. Rachael's most recent adventure at RVA is figuring out how to navigate monkeys that want to climb into her classroom!