On Monday this week we started a new unit in my 5th/6th grade science/health class. I will be gone on Thurs and Fri this week so I was choosing between two units and trying to decide which would be easiest to create a project for students to work on while I am gone.
I decided to jump ahead to the chapter on drugs and alcohol. While I would like to think that these kids won't have to deal with these temptations, I know better. So, we started Monday afternoon with a word association. Fascinating!
We moved on to filling in the first parts of a KWL chart: What do you already know? What do you want to learn? And then once the unit is finished they will fill in: What did you learn? As I listened to the questions they have about drugs and alcohol, I realized I was in over my head.
The following morning as I was praying, God reminded me that there is a Teen Challenge program near Bucharest and I thought perhaps I might be able to find someone to come and share with my students. Later that morning, I realized that there is someone in our community that has come out of that lifestyle. I checked with my director around lunch time and learned that we had a visitor around school this week that also has a background in drugs/alcohol. I ran over to the class where he was sharing and asked if he would consider coming in to talk with my 5th/6th graders. He was thrilled to!
I wasn't sure what to expect since I hadn't planned on having a guest speaker so hadn't prepared the kids (or myself) at all. I sat and listened to him share his story and then to the questions the kids were asking. I watched them listen carefully as our speaker shared directly from God's word and related truth to the temptations of drugs and alcohol. I was blessed to listen. I had been worried that we wouldn't use up all the class time, but there were endless questions.
As he closed our time in prayer, I was reminded of the preciousness of each life in my classroom. I have a renewed desire to pray for God's protection over every area of their lives. And, I was reminded that God is a God of details...the thought during my prayer time, catching our director that same day, and having the visitor who was available during my class time. What a great God we serve. He cares so much about the lives of those kids to orchestrate the time for them to hear truth. Wow!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Wow!
We had our annual spring concert and talent show last Friday. As I listened to the "auditions" (we usually allow everyone to participate), I was amazed at the many ways God has gifted the students at BCA. Not only that though, but at how courageous so many of the elementary students were to step up and participate.
What really blessed me was hearing the stories of these students. One young boy wasn't going to participate. His sister asked me (in his presence) whether there was still time to audition and he once again asserted that he wasn't going to participate. I saw that he had signed up and later heard the story...
He had decided he wasn't going to pray and ask God if he should participate. His class was in the library and he was reading a Power Mark comic. He glanced up and when he looked back down, a quote about using the talents God has given you jumped out. He signed up to audition and asked his mother to sing along with him. Wow! It is so neat to see kids being sensitive and obedient to God and his Holy Spirit!
I was blessed to watch and listen and to dream about how God is going to take these kids and bless the world. I imagine that in a few years they will be the ones leading worship in chapel and perhaps even in the churches they attend. Their hearts for God are precious!
What really blessed me was hearing the stories of these students. One young boy wasn't going to participate. His sister asked me (in his presence) whether there was still time to audition and he once again asserted that he wasn't going to participate. I saw that he had signed up and later heard the story...
He had decided he wasn't going to pray and ask God if he should participate. His class was in the library and he was reading a Power Mark comic. He glanced up and when he looked back down, a quote about using the talents God has given you jumped out. He signed up to audition and asked his mother to sing along with him. Wow! It is so neat to see kids being sensitive and obedient to God and his Holy Spirit!
I was blessed to watch and listen and to dream about how God is going to take these kids and bless the world. I imagine that in a few years they will be the ones leading worship in chapel and perhaps even in the churches they attend. Their hearts for God are precious!
It Would be Perfect
I decided to take a taxi to school today because I had a bunch of things to transport, I was running behind schedule, and my feet hurt. I walked down to the corner where taxis generally sit waiting. After directing the driver to the school's address and assuring him that I knew where the street was, we drove on in silence...for a bit. He asked where I was from and whether I enjoyed the music he had playing. He then commented on how well I was speaking Romanian and asked whether my husband was also living here in Romania or was still in the US. After explaining that I am still single because, well, that's just the way it is, he asked how old I was. He was excited to learn that I am 28 since his son is 27. It's perfect. He is a chef and makes good money. I wouldn't need to pay rent anymore since I could live with them. Wouldn't he (taxi driver) be a good father-in-law? This sort of conversation went on for a bit before it came out that his son doesn't speak English. I tried explaining that there are other things that are a bit more important in considering marriage than the age of two people (especially being able to communicate), but my Romanian just didn't get there in time. Needless to say it was an interesting ride to school :)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hygiene
I never thought I would enjoy teaching about health as much as I have the past two weeks. Who would have thought that conversations about grooming and hygiene could have provided so many opportunities to laugh.
Earlier this week we looked at diagrams of the eye, ear, and teeth. We talked about ways to care for our eyes, ears, and teeth. Little did I know that some of my students had never flossed--or ever heard of floss.
Thanks to the generosity of my mother and grandmother, I had an overflowing stash of floss so I brought some to school today and we flossed as a class. I wish I had brought
my camera because it was pretty cute. Some of my students just couldn't get over the minty taste of the floss. One of my students had her arm wrapped around her head to try and get at her molars a little bit better. What fun memories! I was able to send floss home with some students that didn't have any. I can't say that I am an avid 'flosser' yet, but I'm learning. :)
I am hoping that I will be able to find some cow's eyes to dissect so we can better understand our eyes, but I am finding that a bit harder task than I imagined.
Earlier this week we looked at diagrams of the eye, ear, and teeth. We talked about ways to care for our eyes, ears, and teeth. Little did I know that some of my students had never flossed--or ever heard of floss.
Thanks to the generosity of my mother and grandmother, I had an overflowing stash of floss so I brought some to school today and we flossed as a class. I wish I had brought
my camera because it was pretty cute. Some of my students just couldn't get over the minty taste of the floss. One of my students had her arm wrapped around her head to try and get at her molars a little bit better. What fun memories! I was able to send floss home with some students that didn't have any. I can't say that I am an avid 'flosser' yet, but I'm learning. :)
I am hoping that I will be able to find some cow's eyes to dissect so we can better understand our eyes, but I am finding that a bit harder task than I imagined.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Canceled
I've heard of school being canceled for weather (the Halloween blizzard of 1991 or the year the governor all schools in the state of MN because of the wind chill) and even lack of heat. We once had to cancel school because of excessive rain that caused flooding in the basement of one of our buildings and threatened to collapse the roof of another (it hadn't been properly been finished). So, today we dismissed early because the water on the entire street was shut off--for the day. Go figure:)
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Korea
Although Rome has such history, I feel like my time in Seoul was a treasure hunt--I never knew when I was going to walk around the corner and see a temple, palace, wall, or another piece of history. It was a joy to visit my friend Maria and see parts of her life in Ansan (just outside of Seoul). As always though, it is wonderful to be back home!
In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Yes, I'm the little person in the picture. I wasn't able to go inside this palace, but the outside was amazing! This is the main entrance--huge.
In the garden area of Changdeokgung Palace. Signs of spring were just showing up in Seoul.
I walked along the wall in Suwon--it was quite a hike to the top of the 'hill', but it was a beautiful view of the city with a palace in the center surrounded by a modern city.
In front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Yes, I'm the little person in the picture. I wasn't able to go inside this palace, but the outside was amazing! This is the main entrance--huge.
In the garden area of Changdeokgung Palace. Signs of spring were just showing up in Seoul.
I walked along the wall in Suwon--it was quite a hike to the top of the 'hill', but it was a beautiful view of the city with a palace in the center surrounded by a modern city.
Narrow Gate
While I was in Korea, I visited Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul. On the guided tour, we walked down to the gardens behind the palace. There our guide pointed out a set of three gates. The one in the center was taller and wider and the two beside were shorter, skinnier, and slightly obscured by shrubbery. The idea was that the king would walk through the center gate and those accompanying him would need to walk through the others, bowing as they entered as a sign of respect. Everything in the palace was set up so the kind had his own 'walkway', stairs, and even gate.
I've been reading through Matthew recently and this verse jumped out to me after my visit to the palace: Matthew 7:13-"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."
I suppose this is a limited connection, but I once heard someone share on this passage that the speculated that instead of the narrow gate being skinny, perhaps it was short. This would require that those who would desire to enter would need to lower themselves to enter, an act of humility.
How much more likely I am to walk along proudly until I hit the door posts of life so to speak where God teaches me humility than to choose a life of humility. In my life at least, I see how rampant and insidious pride is--it penetrates every area of my life.
Perhaps the king's attendants would have naturally chosen to bow when passing through gates with the king, but the different sizes of gates served as a reminder for them. May we take the opportunity God provides to choose humility and allow God to grow that in our lives instead of continuing to bang our heads on the door posts that come our way.
I've been reading through Matthew recently and this verse jumped out to me after my visit to the palace: Matthew 7:13-"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."
I suppose this is a limited connection, but I once heard someone share on this passage that the speculated that instead of the narrow gate being skinny, perhaps it was short. This would require that those who would desire to enter would need to lower themselves to enter, an act of humility.
How much more likely I am to walk along proudly until I hit the door posts of life so to speak where God teaches me humility than to choose a life of humility. In my life at least, I see how rampant and insidious pride is--it penetrates every area of my life.
Perhaps the king's attendants would have naturally chosen to bow when passing through gates with the king, but the different sizes of gates served as a reminder for them. May we take the opportunity God provides to choose humility and allow God to grow that in our lives instead of continuing to bang our heads on the door posts that come our way.
Every Nation, Tribe, People, and Language
Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
As I stood in line to get on my flight back to Bucharest yesterday, I realized another wonderful thing about 'coming home'--I know that language. It made me smile (in spite of my sinus junk and runny nose) to listen to the Romanians around me carry on conversations. I could understand:) After a week of feeling confused every time I heard Korean, it was amazing to hear a foreign language--and understand!!
We came across this passage in chapel earlier this spring. As I was thinking about language, this came to mind. How cool will it be to be home (heaven) together to worship our King together. I wonder how we will communicate--will we all be able to understand other languages, or will there be a common language, or does God have another way to allow His children to communicate? Are you excited to go home?
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
As I stood in line to get on my flight back to Bucharest yesterday, I realized another wonderful thing about 'coming home'--I know that language. It made me smile (in spite of my sinus junk and runny nose) to listen to the Romanians around me carry on conversations. I could understand:) After a week of feeling confused every time I heard Korean, it was amazing to hear a foreign language--and understand!!
We came across this passage in chapel earlier this spring. As I was thinking about language, this came to mind. How cool will it be to be home (heaven) together to worship our King together. I wonder how we will communicate--will we all be able to understand other languages, or will there be a common language, or does God have another way to allow His children to communicate? Are you excited to go home?
Kids--aren't they the cutest!
No matter what country I am in, kids just capture my eyes! I love their smiles and innocence. I love that they aren't afraid of making mistakes or of sounding silly. I love that they give the greatest hugs!-even to people they just met! I never would have imagined watching a group of Korean kids sing the Hokey-Pokey, but here is a clip so you can see for yourself:) (Sorry the sound isn't very loud...)
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