Did you know it's Caribbean Heritage Month? We will be enjoying a Caribbean Festival after a full day of training for Educators in Atlanta tomorrow. What plans do you have for the weekend? And have you seen the amazing free new classes added to the list below that is happening now and next week!? Now that graduation season has past and it is officially Summer, I would love to encourage you to reflect and consider a few things as you prepare for a dynamic summer.
Some of you may know why I have chosen multiple platforms to encourage, uplift and provide resources that will bring the quality of life you desire and deserve in the season of life you are in.
Simply put, I want to see you soar and live to your full potential while surrounding yourself with beauty and oozing radiance from the inside out.
To operate from a place of fearlessness despite the fear you may feel is liberating! With each and every creation and every endeavor and creation I pray you will be inspired to live radiantly, to be fearless.
That was exactly my hope and desire when I released this video just a year ago for an original song I and my amazing producer were simply instruments to pen and give voice to:
How It All Began
Originally, I was simply the coordinator recruiting host families and matching potential families with students who wish to study in the U.S. for a semester to an entire school year.
This opportunity found me as my mom was approached by a regional director while in the office of the school where she serves as a long time valued educator. As she learned more about the opportunity, she thought it would be so well suited for me and the work I feel so blessed to do as a minister and mentor to students.
My mother then recommended me to the recruiter while we were on an international trip visiting my grandmother and my mother’s side of the family in Canada. The application, interview, paperwork and contract was all signed while on this trip. A true testimony to the power of recommendation and the internet to get things done all while traveling. And so it began, my journey to coordinating and hosting foreign exchange students.
Keep Going Despite The Setbacks
It certainly was not easy, especially within the 1st few months of promoting at local events where my non-profit had established partnerships. I personally followed up with potential host families who signed up at events who later declined to host. What they did not know is that this experience would eventually be one that garnered much benefit. Host families who take the leap of faith would soon realize this.
I can truly say hosting a foreign exchange student turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in this season of our life. Why? Because my husband and I were so engulfed by the daily grind of work and ministry, that we never considered slowing down to see just how beneficial it could be to have someone else in our home to care for. We now have a host daughter to consider when making plans. Someone to think of when deciding how decisions in our home could affect her.
Now, I understand you can’t really compare hosting an international foreign exchange student to having a baby of your own, since she is an almost young adult who can take care of herself for the most part. In this case, we are primarily there to guide, provide shelter and to make sure she does not go to bed hungry. For our current family of two, it was the closest thing at this juncture of our lives to having a child to worry about. It gave us a closer look and insight into further conversations about having our own children.
Maybe your results looked something like this, which means you will have a lot of options since we have a plethora of students from Europe, South America and Asia who desire to study in the U.S. for a semester or for the whole school year.
This particular young lady and student was one of our last students here for the semester and her life changing experience would not have been possible without a beloved family to host her.
Just last night, not even a whole day after her departure her host sister made the statement, "The house seems so empty without them (their now Denmark and Thailand sister) here." Their lives are forever changed. A shy and meek middle schooler now has hopes and dreams to one day embark on a global journey to visit Thailand and Denmark due this life-changing experience. An experience that gave her the exposure of a lifetime, simply through having these International Foreign Exchange students live in her home.
There is a world of possibilities before families and host siblings like this particular one, who shared her story unreservedly. Think of the impact this mom made simply by choosing to open her home to children from different nationalities who wished to see what life in the United States could be like.
As a thank you for all you do <<First Name>>, I have updated the resource library with special treats and a beautiful scriptural art download. Feel free to place this printable in your space as pictured below to remind you how absolutely radiant you are!
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Get Productive and remain focused on the task at hand to celebrate the graduate in your life.
It is my desire to continue adding value to your life and inspire you to live a radiant life as a believer and creator. As a result here is is a direct link to free classes available to you if you ever had an interest in learning a new craft or bettering a craft you already have:
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