Nicole Franz graduated from CCS in 1994 and now serves as a teacher at Grace International School. Spending her days with missionary kids (MKs) is something she enjoys immensely. You can learn more about this school and its mission by visiting www.gisthailand.org.
GIS is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Here are few words from Nicole about her life in Chiang Mai.
"In some ways, life in Chiang Mai is not all that different from life in the various places I’ve called ‘home’ in the U.S. However, there are a few differences.
"In Chiang Mai we have three seasons not four (rainy season, cool season with temperatures as low as 70ºF, and hot season where the days can be hotter than 110ºF). In the States, Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream is very common, while here Green Tea ice cream is extremely popular. We don't have 'snow days' for our school, but we do have 'flood days'.
"Of course, some things are just the same wherever I call home. I have great friends, amazing students and I am surrounded by Christian workers of all kinds.
"The last similarity in this list has been 'hitting home' recently. Each Christian is called to be a missionary wherever God places him or her. May we each be faithful and obedient to the calling God has placed on our lives and may Psalm 19:14 be evident in our lives on a daily basis."
Nicole has been asked by her school to serve as Acting Elementary Principal next year when her current principal goes on a short home assignment. This is new role for her, with new challenges. Another challenge is the political situation in Thailand. Recent elections have left the country in an uncertain political position. This situation not only affects Thailand, but could have implications elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
In the midst of these challenges, Nicole seems content in the place where God has planted her. Here is a comment from a recent letter home:
"His love is bestowed upon us in numerous ways each day and I can not praise God enough for who He is nor thank Him enough for all He has done. He has continued to shower His love upon me through the various lessons He has been teaching me. This year at our annual group conference, our theme for this year was 'Staying the Course to the Glory of God' and I was challenged in many ways. The Lord has been reminding me lately that this life He has given me is for His glory, not for my own fame. Just before heading to conference, our elementary students were blessed with a special week-long seminar in which they were challenged to 'make God famous' instead of living to increase their own personal glory. I must admit that this seminar challenged me to the core. I then arrived at our conference and smiled when I saw our theme; 'glorifying God' was present again. May the Lord truly be glorified through who I am and what I do as He enables me to stay the course He has placed in front of me."
You can contact Nicole at: nicole_franz@sil.org
