It's been a good week! Now I am trying to get all my grading done on a Sunday afternoon because I have been having fun all weekend!
The puppet group has started and I am so excited! I can't believe how much fun it is to have some girls excited about putting on puppet shows for kids. We have only been meeting for a couple weeks, but I am looking forward to what's in store for the future. We are planning a puppet skit and some songs do perform after Thanksgiving. We hope to perform for the two little kid chapels at school and also for children part of other ministries in the area. Now we just need to make sure we get a stage constructed within the month.
Not only is the puppet ministry going well, but the mentoring program that was started at our school by a couple teachers is also thriving. Each teacher involved is mentoring two or three high school students. Friday night we had an outing with all the girls involved in the Sharpeners program. It was so fun hanging out with the high school students and seeing them outside of the classroom. I think they enjoyed seeing their teachers outside of the classroom too! One student in particular really has a hard time seeing us a real people! It was very entertaining talking to her! We enjoyed going out for pizza even though we were probably the loudest people there! I think one of the teachers with us might have been a bit embarrassed! Oh well, kids will be kids I guess. Even high schoolers! My prayer is that the connections we make with the students would really impact them and how they live their lives. My hope is that they would feel comfortable talking with us and opening up and sharing what's really on their hearts. May God use me well...
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
God is in Control
God is in Control
Why is it so hard to remember that we can do nothing without God? I feel like I should have this down after 20+ years of walking with Jesus. Day after day, minute after minute I try to take hold of the reins and tell God I got this one. I can plan and take care of this math class. I can organize the next Senior meeting. I can even take charge of a Bible class without asking for Your help! I was reminded at church this past Sunday to "be holy." I was also reminded that the only way this is possible is to rely on God, the Holy One, living in me. Even here in Ghana I am trying to live my life according to my own plans. When will I truly put all my trust in the Lord?
Friday, September 10, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Week Four Begins!
School is going well. I am a bit overwhelmed with six classes, but that’s ok. I am still getting used to the new classes and new schedule. This is my first year teaching 6th graders and I had no idea how much work it would be! They are like babies! They don’t know how to do anything! Including traveling from classroom to classroom in a timely manner. They come late to class EVERYDAY. Oh well, we’re learning how to get used to each other…slowly but surely.
I am really enjoying my Bible class with the 7th graders. They ask so many questions and it’s amazing how many times I have been able to present the gospel message. Praise God! Since we are studying the life of Christ, we are memorizing one of the “I Am” verses in John each week. The other day we were talking about the new week’s verse about how Jesus is the only way to God and one student pulled me aside and said that I should be careful how I say things because students who believe in other religions might be offended. I was excited to share with this student that these were God’s words, not mine and sometimes truth can be hard to hear when it goes against what we have been taught. Please keep praying for wisdom as I teach and open hearts for my students.
One of the other teachers and I were really excited to learn that we could start a volleyball club after school twice a week. We were all prepared to start next week, until I went to go find a volleyball…no such luck yet! Soccer balls everywhere, but no volleyballs in sight! Hopefully we can find one at the market this week. Now with tutoring and volleyball after school I am finding it hard to fit in all the activities I want to be a part of!
Yesterday a few of us went to Pram-Pram to help with their church service. We plan on going once a month to visit the kids who have been pulled off the street and are given a good education. With a little adult assistance, the students organize the worship service including prayer, worship, and special music. I was nearly brought to tears listening to the children sing to their Lord. After the singing, a few teachers and I took the younger children and organized a little Sunday school lesson for them. We talked about how God makes us all unique and we are special just because we are His. As I looked into their little faces, I too was reminded of how special we are God. The past few days I have been reading of the majesty of God and how He alone is Lord. It’s amazing how such a mighty God, creator of everything, would care to look on me and say, “You are Mine.”
Saturday, August 21, 2010
New Beginnings...
I have now been back in Ghana for almost two weeks. School started last Monday and we are already in the groove! The kids are already complaining about homework! :)
It's amazing to see how God is working at AIS. Over the summer, a third floor was added to the elementary building. This has been such a blessing already as our high school enrollment is constantly increasing. Now the middle school and high school kids are on the third floor of the main building as well as occupying the high school building.
As a new year starts, I am excited about getting to know the new students and the new teachers at our school. New people always bring a fresh outlook and it has been very encouraging to me! It is also fun to see the old students care for the new students just as the returning teachers try to help the new teachers.
It is so interesting coming to Ghana this year. I am so much more at ease and I am so much more comfortable! I forgot how much I didn't know when I arrived last year! Now I know most of the people I work with, I know many of the students, I know the school schedule, I know where I live, I know where I can get groceries, I know where I like to go to church, etc... The start of this year has been SOOO much easier! I just need to remember that even though I know more this year, God is still in control and I still need to rely on Him.
Of course because nothing stays the same here in Ghana, I have new roommates this year. I still live in "The Pink House," but I am now living with the French teacher, the 4th grade teacher, and the kindergarten teacher. So far we seem to be getting along really well! Pray that continues! Just today one of my roommates made all of us lunch! It was amazing! So much better than the pasta or popcorn meals I make for myself! I also have some new classes this year. I am teaching 6th grade math, 7th grade math, 8th grade math, 8th/9th grade algebra 1, 9th grade literature, and 7th grade Bible. I am excited about the opportunity to teach the 6th graders this year. This will be the first year I have ever taught kids that age! It's fun because a lot of my 6th graders have siblings that are older that I have already taught. It's fun getting to know the families! I am also every excited about teaching a Bible class this year. I know at a Christian school I can talk about Jesus as much as I want in any class, but Jesus come up in conversation WAY more in a Bible class compared to a math class! :) The 7th grade Bible curriculum is on the life of Christ so I am really excited to dive into Jesus' life with my 7th graders! We have already had some really good conversations this week! Keep praying for their hearts! Some know Jesus as Savior, but maybe not as Lord. Some are still seeking. Pray for wisdom and words as we study the Bible together. They ask LOTS of questions!
MORE to come soon! I promise I will be better about blogging this year!
Blessings to you all!
It's amazing to see how God is working at AIS. Over the summer, a third floor was added to the elementary building. This has been such a blessing already as our high school enrollment is constantly increasing. Now the middle school and high school kids are on the third floor of the main building as well as occupying the high school building.
As a new year starts, I am excited about getting to know the new students and the new teachers at our school. New people always bring a fresh outlook and it has been very encouraging to me! It is also fun to see the old students care for the new students just as the returning teachers try to help the new teachers.
It is so interesting coming to Ghana this year. I am so much more at ease and I am so much more comfortable! I forgot how much I didn't know when I arrived last year! Now I know most of the people I work with, I know many of the students, I know the school schedule, I know where I live, I know where I can get groceries, I know where I like to go to church, etc... The start of this year has been SOOO much easier! I just need to remember that even though I know more this year, God is still in control and I still need to rely on Him.
Of course because nothing stays the same here in Ghana, I have new roommates this year. I still live in "The Pink House," but I am now living with the French teacher, the 4th grade teacher, and the kindergarten teacher. So far we seem to be getting along really well! Pray that continues! Just today one of my roommates made all of us lunch! It was amazing! So much better than the pasta or popcorn meals I make for myself! I also have some new classes this year. I am teaching 6th grade math, 7th grade math, 8th grade math, 8th/9th grade algebra 1, 9th grade literature, and 7th grade Bible. I am excited about the opportunity to teach the 6th graders this year. This will be the first year I have ever taught kids that age! It's fun because a lot of my 6th graders have siblings that are older that I have already taught. It's fun getting to know the families! I am also every excited about teaching a Bible class this year. I know at a Christian school I can talk about Jesus as much as I want in any class, but Jesus come up in conversation WAY more in a Bible class compared to a math class! :) The 7th grade Bible curriculum is on the life of Christ so I am really excited to dive into Jesus' life with my 7th graders! We have already had some really good conversations this week! Keep praying for their hearts! Some know Jesus as Savior, but maybe not as Lord. Some are still seeking. Pray for wisdom and words as we study the Bible together. They ask LOTS of questions!
MORE to come soon! I promise I will be better about blogging this year!
Blessings to you all!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Spring Break picture descriptions
1. Egyptian dancers in Cairo
2. A camel on Mt. Sinai
3. The market in Cairo - smells a lot better than the Ghana markets!
4. A "magic" carpet ride!
5. Papyrus painting - "The Final Judgment"
6. Children weaving carpets
7. Red Sea
8. Me and the Red Sea
9. The Sinai Mountains
10. Me and the Sinai Mountains
11. The Mediterranean Sea
12. The River Nile
13. Kissing the Sphinx!
14. Pyramids
15. Me on the largest pyramid - the only remaining original Wonder of the World
2. A camel on Mt. Sinai
3. The market in Cairo - smells a lot better than the Ghana markets!
4. A "magic" carpet ride!
5. Papyrus painting - "The Final Judgment"
6. Children weaving carpets
7. Red Sea
8. Me and the Red Sea
9. The Sinai Mountains
10. Me and the Sinai Mountains
11. The Mediterranean Sea
12. The River Nile
13. Kissing the Sphinx!
14. Pyramids
15. Me on the largest pyramid - the only remaining original Wonder of the World
Spring Break!!!
I think that teachers might look forward to spring break more than the students! One of my roommates (Sara) and I decided to get away and see Egypt in our time off. It was AMAZING!!! It was really neat being able to see so many different things while we were there. We spent the first half of our trip in Cairo and the second half on the Sinai Peninsula (which is actually Asia!). The hotel we stayed at in Cairo overlooked the "River Nile" and we were able to take day trips to see the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria. Then we took a horrible 8 hour bus ride through the desert to Mt. Sinai. We got a few hours sleep and then we hiked up the mountain in the dark so we could see the sun rise on top of the mountain where God talked with Moses. It was humbling actually being in a place mentioned in the Bible. While we were warming up in a Bedouin shack, a group of Korean tourists had a church service on the mountain top. Even though we couldn't understand the words, it was refreshing being in the company of God's family! From the desert mountains of the Sinai, we traveled south to the Red Sea. Who would have thought!? The Red Sea has some of the best scuba diving spots in the world! We didn't get a chance to scuba dive, but we did see some amazing sights snorkeling! We saw stingrays and the most beautiful fish imaginable! The coral was amazing! I have never seen such beautiful colors!
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