Fall Quarter

This season has been different for me, as every season is..but this is my first fall quarter since my very first, that I am not working directly with a school.
So what do my days look like?
I am currently overseeing our accounting department, which consists of 2 other girls. (A change from when I first began to work in there and was the only girl!) Several years ago when our friend Cary passed away we were left without an accounting overseer. Our Administrator sort of took it on, but with all of the other things he had on his plate he really couldn't give as much attention to the department as was needed. Last spring he mentioned this and immediately I knew I needed to step in. I was full trained in the department but because of my constant assisting of schools it had left me unavailable. So, this quarter and next I am focused on this office.
I actually really enjoy the work. Our accountant who comes in once a month or so told me that our books are NOTHING like those of a regular business because of the amount of information we need to track- student finances, staff fund raising, automatic donations, and one time gifts (both online and via check or card), overseas workers information, bills for electricity, garbage, propane, dishwasher maintenance, new bunk beds..you name it. :-) Probably why I love it.
I love to learn, to have projects and also to teach others. One of the girls working with me was partially trained and the other brand new, so it's been fairly easy to resurrect some of the practices we had in the office before.
Currently I have been spending a lot of time going through old documents and bringing them up to date, while taking phone calls and doing all the day to day tasks. I also meet each week with my girls to talk about how things are going, what needs to be changed, how they are doing personally, and sometimes just to drink a good cup of tea and laugh about things not work related!
This last week I have also begun to focus in on ATW prep again- I hadn't given it too much thought for a few weeks as I was reacquainting myself in the office. But with 5 students already accepted to the school I know I need to start giving it some attention.
We just welcomed 3 teams back and graduated them last friday. They were off our summer DTS- An ATW, Haiti & the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines. All teams had an incredible time and saw God do a lot of amazing things.
Our current schools (we have 4- with about 135 students) just ended week 6. The outreach teams are decided. We are sending a large team to Uganda & Kenya, Another large team to Thailand, a team to Mexico & Belize, another big team to Colombia and a team to Costa Rica. Pray for the leaders as they prepare and for the students as many will be going overseas for the first time, and it will be most of their first time away from home for the Christmas season.