Month at a Glance: January

The end of one year and beginning of the next always calls for a time of reflection - remembering God's faithfulness in the past year and recommitting to follow Him in the coming months.

Thank You, God, for the opportunities I had in 2013 to...

- ring in the new year with thousands of believers at Urbana missions conference.
- plan two panel events for high school girls about identity and intimacy.
- present a seminar with a friend at the International Christian Educator's Conference.
- celebrate 25 years of life!
- fly to America for a whirlwind weekend to attend my brother's college graduation.
- plan a week of hands-on learning activities for the 6th grade students.
- share a week with pre-field TeachBeyond members, making many new friends and leading the middle school program.
- see God provide financially - again and again!
- move into a new apartment in town.
- begin my fourth year of teaching at BFA!
- celebrate GCC's homecoming for the first time as an alum.
- coordinate Operation Christmas Child collection at BFA again this fall.
- host a fourth annual Thanksgiving celebration with friends.
- have Dana Schnitzel as a student teacher for two months.
- spend time with my family in Wheaton, Newtown, and Kandern!

God, I give you 2014!  With excitement, anticipation, and surrender, I offer You the year ahead!

January 1: Start the New Year with fireworks and sparklers with friends
January 7: Teacher inservice meetings
January 8: Classes resume
January 10-11: Home basketball games
January 16: High school drama recital
January 22-23: Middle school exam days
January 24: Teacher inservice day
January 24-25: Home basketball games
January 27: Second semester begins
January 31: Middle school basketball game

Fun in Geography!

Teaching Geography 7 has been an adventure.  While I don't always feel as confident in planning this class since it's new to me, I've really enjoyed trying new things and being creative with this class.  I think this spirit also spread to Miss Schnitzel during her time here.  :)  We had a lot of fun planning these activities over the past few months!

"Euro" Coin Activity

 Mock European Union

Viking Day!

Studying the British Isles = Drinking Tea!

Panel event with people who have lived in different parts of Western Europe

Christmas Around the World: Hungary

Christmas Around the World: Korea

Christmas Around the World: Australia

Miss Schnitzel

It was almost exactly a year ago when my principal approached me with an inquiry: “Would you like to have a student teacher next year?”  I mentally counted my years of teaching at BFA, realizing that I had indeed been there long enough to host a pre-service teacher in my class.  With my own student teaching memories of the not-so-distant past quickly flooding my brain, I exclaimed, “Yes!” 

Fast-forward ten months.  I was still getting the hang of teaching Geography 7 and was in the midst of implementing a totally different approach to teaching English.  Literacy stations and guided reading required significantly more planning, yet I was loving the first glimpses of results with my sixth grade students.  Moreover, I was enjoying the benefits of teaching Bible 6 for a second time, having mapped out the whole year back in August. 

I waited until the end of one school day to tell the students that Miss Schnitzel would be joining us that Friday.  They were full of questions, but mostly wondering if her last name was really Schnitzel.  I encouraged them to get their giggles out before she came – that indeed our student teacher was named Miss Schnitzel!  In my own mind swirled questions more along the lines of How am I going to pass off a literacy program that I’m just beginning to use? and What can I tell someone about teaching geography when I am still figuring it out myself?

But when she arrived, Dana jumped right in to the crazy, fast-paced life that is BFA!  After only one day in class and doing her very best to fight jet lag, Dana donned an alien costume for our middle school fall party.  Within a week, Dana had picked up one of the sixth grade classes, and a few weeks later, she was teaching two big units in English and Geography.   

Beyond the classroom, God blessed me with a good friend in Dana.  Boundaries between “work” and “home” are often blurred here at BFA due to the close-quarters, tight-community atmosphere, so I wasn’t surprised that I was spending a lot of my after school hours with Dana as well.  I wanted Dana to see the whole picture of BFA – dorm life, small groups, Chrysalis (middle school youth group), Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas banquet, local Christmas markets...  We even discovered “Schnitzeltag” (5-euro schnitzel day at a nearby German restaurant), which became a weekly tradition that we will continue in her honor!

I’m thankful for the ways that God used this experience of hosting a student teacher to grow me and remind me of important truths.  Just to name a few…

1.  He’s not finished with me yet.  I admired the way Dana was completely open to feedback, even asking for it many times.  This is the posture I want to have as I approach God.  Search me, God, and know my heart… (Psalm 139:23)

2.  I enjoy investing in others, both personally and professionally.  It was a joy to be able to share my own teaching mistakes and discoveries with Dana.  I also loved discussing what it’s like to raise financial support, why I’m so passionate about mentorship, what’s different about teaching at an MK school…  I pray that God will continue to grow me in this area and use it for His glory.

3.  I can trust Him with my future.  Just as Dana is wondering how she can serve God after her spring graduation, I am considering options for the 2015-16 school year and beyond.  I’ve committed to BFA for next year, but after that, I will need to leave for at least one year.  While I still feel uncertain about what my next steps will be, I am reminded that Dana and I both trust the same God who holds the future in His hands!

Right now, Dana is on a plane back to Pennsylvania.  After two formative months overseas, she is returning to home in the Philadelphia area and has another semester of classes ahead of her.  Somehow, I know that she is returning a different person than when she arrived in Germany.  BFA has a way of doing that.

Thanks, Miss Schnitzel, for your hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm!  Thanks for your teachable spirit and go-the-extra-mile attitude.  Thanks for loving the middle schoolers of BFA.  Keep shining for Jesus, wherever He leads you!

A Night of Prayer

Over the past three years, I've enjoyed setting up prayer stations for my small group girls from time to time.  The girls have commented on the value of having time to be still during small group, as BFA life is so fast-paced and dorm life is packed full.  We decided to offer some of the girls' favorite prayer stations to the rest of the small groups.

Last Tuesday, I went to school ahead of time to set up the stations.  The room started out looking like this…

With the help of one of my small group girls, we transformed the room into this...

What joy I felt when fifty students filled the room and spent intentional time with Jesus!  Here is an overview of the stations.

In preparing for the prayer night, I was struck by Paul's prayer for the Philippians.  This is my prayer for my students, my small group girls, my friends, my supporters, my family...

"And this is my prayer: that your love my abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).  Amen!

Month at a Glance: December

This weekend has been a full one with our 4th annual friends Thanksgiving celebration on Friday and BFA Christmas Banquet on Saturday.  I'm truly thankful for many memory-making moments with friends!

And December is looking like it will be quite full as well!

December 5: Kandern Christmas Market
December 5-6: Assist with Middle School Musical auditions (Annie!)
December 6: First home basketball game of the year - Go Falcons!
December 8: Middle School/High School Christmas Concert
December 9: Small group Christmas caroling
December 9-13: Geography 7 "Christmas Around the World" activities
December 12-13: English 6 creative writing days
December 12: Kandern Christmas Market
December 13: Miss Schnitzel's last day at BFA
December 13: Middle school Christmas party and chapel with the high school
December 24: Christmas Eve service at Black Forest Christian Fellowship
December 25: Christmas with family and friends
December 31: New Year's Eve in Kandern (read: firecrackers and sparklers!)

I'm also excited to have my family visiting me here for Christmas!  There is a lot to look forward to during the month of December.  Stay tuned for stories and pictures to come!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

From the title of this post, you might think that I'm getting a head start on Christmas cookie baking and setting up the tree.  No... Christmas is coming soon, but it's not here yet!  However, I like to deem early November "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" because of Operation Christmas Child!

If you've been following my blog during my time here in Germany, chances are that you've already read a blog post about Operation Christmas Child.  Two years ago, my fourth grade class led the collection at the elementary school.  With my switch to middle school last year, OCC spread to include participation from students of all ages.  I also wrote about the kick-off to this year's project just a few weeks ago.  Each time OCC rolls around, I am filled with joy to see the enthusiasm of those who participate.

This year, interested middle schoolers joined committees to help me with planning and preparing for Operation Christmas Child collection.  Several students assisted with publicity, including hanging posters and making an announcement in a church service.  Others planned refreshments and decorations for our Second Annual Packing Party.  Still others manned the "Box Checking" stations at the Packing Party to be sure that each box met the official requirements.  Two students even mentioned to me that they were especially thrilled about OCC because they themselves had witnessed the distribution of the boxes.  Two current BFA Middle Schoolers come from areas where the shoeboxes are taken!  Hearing their stories only got me more excited about this year's collection.

It was amazing to see the middle schoolers really shine as they took on more responsibility and ownership of this project!  What a neat way to develop the leadership characteristics in these students and instill in them the importance of giving.

 These two girls coordinated delicious snacks for the Packing Party!

Four students took different shifts as "Box Checkers" at our Packing Party.

I loved getting to chat with two of our youngest packers!

Together we packed more than 115 boxes - glory to God!

I'm also very thankful for the partnership of a number of high schoolers, who spent hours collecting empty shoeboxes and wrapping them in preparation for the party.  This was teamwork at its finest!  After the Packing Party, a high school staff member and I drove the boxes to our local collection center - the home of a sweet German family.  They literally have Operation Christmas Child headquarters in their living room!  Gerdi remembered me from last year and was so appreciative of our participation again this year.

So you see, even though it isn't yet Christmas, I'm already celebrating one of the most wonderful times of the year.  The body of Christ joyfully and generously working together to impact those in need... it doesn't get much better than that!

Food, Laughter, and Song!

Food, laughter, and song.  These three are guarantees with our middle school chapel band!

On Tuesday, Brittany and I had the students over to our apartment for a CD Release Party for the recent Hillsong Young & Free album.  Of course, we had the three necessities - food, laughter, and song!

We set out a variety of snacks for the kids, which were devoured within minutes of their arrival at our house!

 We laughed together as we did "Just Dance" to songs from the new CD...

And played charades with worship songs!

We sang along to "Wake" while creating a music video!

On Thursday, we invited members of the high school chapel band to come share tips with our middle school members.

It was fun to hear the voices of middle and high schoolers singing together!

What a joy to worship God and have FUN together!

Month at a Glance: November

Here's what is in the plan for the month of November!

November 1:  No school (All Saints Day)
November 5:  Chapel band party at our house
November 7:  High school chapel band mentors middle school chapel band
November 8:  Operation Christmas Child Packing Party!
November 9:  High school play
November 9-10:  Small group sleepover at my house
November 11:  Begin Geography unit on Western Europe
November 14:  Begin English unit on fantasy literature
November 26:  Prayer stations activity for high school girls
November 29:  Celebrate American Thanksgiving with friends
November 30:  Christmas Banquet

Today I thank God for sustaining me through a busy fall and for all that lies ahead in the coming month!

Autumn in the Black Forest

I love seeing the signs of autumn all around me.  Seasons in the Black Forest are an amazing demonstration of God's glory!  From beautiful blooms to sunny skies (okay, not too often...), brilliant leaves to glistening flakes, God reveals a glimpse of His majesty in His creation.

It's too good not to share.

With my student teacher on the top of the Hochblauen, a nearby mountain

Gorgeous view of the Kander valley

 Praising God for the beautiful view!

It was a little windy up top!

Autumn!

I'm also blessed to witness His goodness in the lives of the students I teach!  Autumn at BFA Middle School necessarily includes the annual Fall Party, a favorite event of the year.  This year's "outer space" theme led several of my teacher friends and me to dress up as Buzz Lightyear and the aliens from Toy Story!

Check out these "out of this world" costumes...

In case you're wondering about the cow, 

it's "the cow jumped over the moon"!

NASA Girls

Playing "Just Dance" in costume

Love this crazy staff!

The Launch

The launch date is tomorrow.

Twenty-four hours from now and four thousand miles away from here, Restoration Church will open its doors to the community, sharing the love of Jesus with the people of Levittown.

I forget exactly when my parents committed to join the launch team for the new church plant from our home church, Grace Point.  Their initial interest has grown into excited anticipation over the past year or so, as church plant pastor, location, name (Restoration Church), and other details have been confirmed.  While in PA this summer, I had the opportunity to see their newly purchased facility.  I assisted with painting a classroom, went bowling with the launch team, and posted flyers in local businesses.  Participating in these preparations gave me a taste of all that the launch team was doing.  Since I've been back in Germany this fall, my parents and others have been deeply involved in the process of getting the church ready for the launch date - from endless hours of painting and cleaning, to essential planning and training to develop the ministries of the new church.

And now, October 20 is just one day away!

This Restoration Launch team is an inspiration for all of us - that we don't necessarily have to sell everything we have, move thousands of miles away from home, and learn a new language to be missionaries.  Sure, God does call some of us to serve in these ways, but the truth is that we are all called to be His disciple-makers!  Wherever we are, if we are committed followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be loving others unconditionally, intentionally and generously meeting their needs, and seizing every opportunity to serve.  We should be acknowledging our daily need for God's grace and forgiveness.  We Christians should be living authentic lives of faith, exhibiting more and more of the fruits of His Spirit as our hearts are yielded to Him.

It doesn't take joining a church plant launch team or raising support as an overseas missionary to be disciple-makers and world-changers.  It takes love and devotion, humility and boldness.  It means living counter-culturally in the midst of the culture.  It's following Jesus, no matter what the cost.

And if God does call us away from the familiarity of our home churches to serve Him in another town or on another continent, then it takes the courage and commitment to follow Him wherever He leads.  He hasn't called us to comfort, but rather to radical life change and continual transformation.

I'm proud of you, launch team, and I'm beyond excited to see what God has in store for Restoration Church!

And for all of us, this is Christ's commission and promise: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Welcome, Miss Schnitzel!

Today, the students and I welcomed Dana Schnitzel into our classroom!  (Yes, Schnitzel.  And yes, the students enjoyed that name just as much as you are right now.)

Miss Schnitzel is studying Language Arts Education (grades 4-8) at Geneva College in western PA.  We are both from Pennsylvania and even have mutual friends, so having her here feels like a taste of home!  We even got to meet up while I was in PA this summer.

For the next two months, Dana will be observing BFA Middle School classes and gradually taking over my course load.  Today she focused on observing the students' social connections and getting a feel for our school day.  We even ventured over to the high school campus for an hour for chapel.  (On top of connecting with high school staff and hearing an awesome message, I always love getting a chance to see my small group girls leading worship!)

In the coming days, Dana will be planning lessons and units, creating and grading assessments, and refining her classroom management practices.  I'm excited for this opportunity to encourage and coach a preservice teacher, as well as continue to grow in my teaching practices.  You can pray for wisdom, grace, and energy - for Dana and for me - as we collaborate to be the best team we can be.  More pictures and stories to come!

OCC Kick-Off!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" echoed through the halls of BFA middle school on Friday.  Even I might agree that this is a little early for Christmas music were it not for the kick-off to Operation Christmas Child!

I truly feel that OCC time is one of the most wonderful times of the year here at BFA.  It is a joy to share with the staff and students about this project and to work with student leaders and various community members to bring the joy of Jesus to children in need.  This year, about 15 middle school students are on four planning committees (publicity, packing party, box checking, and community liaisons) to help with all aspects of the project.

On Friday, I traveled to the elementary school campus to share in chapel about OCC.  Many of the students recognized me and immediately associated my visit with the project!  (I guess I've established a reputation for myself...)  Before talking about purchasing items and packing shoeboxes, however, I introduced a word of the day: generosity.  We talked about how God wants us to be generous in many ways, not just with our money or stuff.  I proposed that we can't be generous and selfish at the same time.  We might be willing to give while still harboring selfish thoughts, but we can't truly live abundantly generous lives when we are obsessed with ourselves.  (Convicting for me, too!)

Later in the day, I gave a similar message at the middle school, elaborating on the idea of generosity.  Together we attempted to define generosity:

Of course, I also shared about the details of the project, which are quite familiar to some of our students.  As I held up various items, the students had to point to the shoebox (yes, the item can go in the box) or the shopping bag (no, it cannot be packed).  Their excitement about giving to others and caring for children around the world is an inspiration to me!

As I lead this project, I am reminded that Jesus is the ultimate example of generosity: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).  Through His very blood, Jesus gave us what we could not earn: forgiveness and the restoration of relationship with our Heavenly Father with the promise of eternity with Him!  How can we not overflow with generosity to others when we have been given so much?!