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!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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.
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...
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!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
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).
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.
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).
Friday, October 18, 2013
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!
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!
Monday, October 14, 2013
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?!
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?!
Friday, October 11, 2013
"Home Away from Home"coming!
Last weekend, many fellow Grove City College graduates returned to campus for Homecoming Weekend. For some, it was their first year as an "alum," having just graduated in the spring, while others were celebrating milestones, such as 40th or 50th reunions.
Sometimes living thousands of miles away from my hometown and college campus feels like only a few minutes - when I'm on Face Time with my parents, talking on the phone with Grandma, or texting with friends. It's like I'm just around the corner. Other times, the miles seem to multiply and the familiar seems so very far away.
In order to bridge the gap from here to Pennsylvania, I gathered with GCC friends for our own "Home away from home"coming. Of course, we all wore GCC gear...
We also made our own omelets, just like the ones Sherry made us in MAP Cafe! (Okay, ours definitely did NOT turn out as nice as Sherry's, but they tasted good!)
Our long-distance homecoming even made it to the real celebration in PA! We sent a photo for the RA booth, since all four of us were RAs while in college.
Thanks for a great time, Amanda, Rachel, and Hannah! To our fellow Grovers, come join us at BFA! :)
Sometimes living thousands of miles away from my hometown and college campus feels like only a few minutes - when I'm on Face Time with my parents, talking on the phone with Grandma, or texting with friends. It's like I'm just around the corner. Other times, the miles seem to multiply and the familiar seems so very far away.
In order to bridge the gap from here to Pennsylvania, I gathered with GCC friends for our own "Home away from home"coming. Of course, we all wore GCC gear...
We also made our own omelets, just like the ones Sherry made us in MAP Cafe! (Okay, ours definitely did NOT turn out as nice as Sherry's, but they tasted good!)
Our long-distance homecoming even made it to the real celebration in PA! We sent a photo for the RA booth, since all four of us were RAs while in college.
Thanks for a great time, Amanda, Rachel, and Hannah! To our fellow Grovers, come join us at BFA! :)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Month at a Glance: October
Can you believe it's already October! It's cliche, but these days and weeks just seem to fly by. Here is a glimpse at what is ahead in the coming month:
October 3: No school for German Unification Day
October 5-6: Holzen Art Festival (local village festival)
October 7: GCC Homecoming Away from Home (celebrating homecoming with the other Grovers here at BFA)
October 9: Middle School Picture Day
October 11: Operation Christmas Child Kick-Off
October 17: My student teacher arrives in Germany!
October 18: Middle School Fall Party
October 19: Volleyball, tennis, and cross-country teams "home"
October 25-26: Middle Level Teachers Conference in Zurich
October 31: Herbstmesse (fall festival in Basel)
I'm very much looking forward to having a student teacher, Dana Schnitzel, join me in my classes until mid-December! Dana is originally from eastern Pennsylvania like me - and even goes to college less than an hour from my alma mater. Small world! We had the opportunity to meet for coffee this summer, and I'm excited to work alongside Dana. She will gradually take over each of my classes as she eases into life at BFA. I was in Dana's place not too long ago... What a privilege to have this opportunity to invest in a pre-service teacher and share the uniqueness of BFA with her! I'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom for me as I prepare for Dana's arrival and host her for the next two months.
In addition to the special events listed above, I'm settling into some weekly routines. Every Monday night is devoted to small group time. Since my girls are now seniors, we meet on a night different than the other groups and for a longer period of time. We eat dinner together, often sharing lively conversations filled with laughter. Our evening time is sometimes more "chill" (as the girls call it), with time to debrief the day and play games, while other weeks are more structured as we study Scripture, pray for specific requests, or get out and serve our community. There are lots of ideas for what we'll do this year... stories and pictures to come!
October 3: No school for German Unification Day
October 5-6: Holzen Art Festival (local village festival)
October 7: GCC Homecoming Away from Home (celebrating homecoming with the other Grovers here at BFA)
October 9: Middle School Picture Day
October 11: Operation Christmas Child Kick-Off
October 17: My student teacher arrives in Germany!
October 18: Middle School Fall Party
October 19: Volleyball, tennis, and cross-country teams "home"
October 25-26: Middle Level Teachers Conference in Zurich
October 31: Herbstmesse (fall festival in Basel)
I'm very much looking forward to having a student teacher, Dana Schnitzel, join me in my classes until mid-December! Dana is originally from eastern Pennsylvania like me - and even goes to college less than an hour from my alma mater. Small world! We had the opportunity to meet for coffee this summer, and I'm excited to work alongside Dana. She will gradually take over each of my classes as she eases into life at BFA. I was in Dana's place not too long ago... What a privilege to have this opportunity to invest in a pre-service teacher and share the uniqueness of BFA with her! I'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom for me as I prepare for Dana's arrival and host her for the next two months.
In addition to the special events listed above, I'm settling into some weekly routines. Every Monday night is devoted to small group time. Since my girls are now seniors, we meet on a night different than the other groups and for a longer period of time. We eat dinner together, often sharing lively conversations filled with laughter. Our evening time is sometimes more "chill" (as the girls call it), with time to debrief the day and play games, while other weeks are more structured as we study Scripture, pray for specific requests, or get out and serve our community. There are lots of ideas for what we'll do this year... stories and pictures to come!
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