Caution: Changes Ahead!

Over the past few weeks, the other teachers and I have prayerfully considered the needs of the third and fourth graders and have come to the conclusion that, beginning in January, the classes should be separate for the whole school day.  The current third grade morning teacher will keep the third graders for the whole day, and I will teach just fourth grade.  Splitting the classes will allow us to individualize instruction, tailor the material toward one specific grade level, and challenge the students in new ways.  The split is bittersweet -- I will really miss teaching the third graders, but I am looking forward to having a more flexible schedule, integrating subjects more, and implementing new ideas for reading and writing development.

Another big change... the third and fourth grades will be switching classrooms!  Because I teach a combined class of 17 in the afternoons, I have the larger classroom.  However, it makes a lot more sense to have the larger third grade class in the bigger classroom after break.  I am thankful for my Bible study girls who have offered to help move furniture, supplies, and decorations in early January.  This will be a big change for the teachers and students!

This change will not be simple, but I am convinced that God is at work.  I would appreciate your prayers that the students would adjust well, parents and co-workers would extend grace, and I would be patient and determined.  Thank you, and to God be the glory!

So Abram Went...

The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people, and your father's household to the land I will show you."  (Genesis 12:1)

What is it like to move?  Lots of details to think about, emotional and cultural adjustments, leaving behind friends and family, sacrifices made, uncertainties and unfamiliarities...

My third and fourth graders could have spent far longer than 20 minutes of Bible class discussing their personal experiences with moving!  They have experienced firsthand the challenges of moving to another country, making new friends, and embracing the unknown.  They can identify in a unique way with Abram.

God told Abram to leave the familiar to go somewhere else.  God didn't even tell him where.  Just that he needed to go.  That is scary.

So Abram went... (Genesis 12:4a)

When God calls us to move -- changing locations, accepting new responsibilities, making a change -- I pray that we will listen, obey, and trust.  We can rest assured that He will go with us (Deuteronomy 31:8) and will work out His great plan in our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).

Winter Wonderland!

Words can't describe the landscape of a snowy wonderland... and pictures can't capture the beauty of the trees, hills, streets, fields blanketed with snow... but I'll try. :)

The view from my classroom window!

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."  Psalm 51:7

Glückliches Erntedankfest!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I'll be honest, it's weird working on Thanksgiving.  I've never had school on the actual holiday before... with Christmas decorations all around, snow falling outside, and a full teaching schedule today, it'd be easy to just forget about Thanksgiving.  When I greeted the other teachers this morning with "Happy Thanksgiving," several of them said, "Oh, is it Thanksgiving today?"  I haven't forgotten!

In an effort to keep Thanksgiving "alive" here in Germany, I have brought over one of my family's customs -- the Thanksgiving banner!  Last night my small group girls and I filled a banner with people, places, things, and experiences for which we're thankful.  My roommates and I are working on another one for our apartment... there is SO MUCH for which to be grateful!

"Ich danke Dir, Herr, mein Gott, von ganzem Herzen und ehre deinen Namen ewiglich."  Psalm 86.12

First Snowfall!

Today is a memorable day -- the first snowfall of my first year of teaching!  And I gave in.  I played one Christmas song and gave the students 4 minutes at the windows to watch the snow fall.  What can I say?  I wanted to watch it, too!

Here are some shots from my recess duty, too!  Of course, I didn't have my coat, gloves, scarf, or boots... good thing it was just a dusting! :)

It was his first snow!

And my car, waiting for me in the parking lot at the end of a wonderful day!

It All Comes Down to This...

After a week of studying the familiar story of Noah, I challenged my students to think about characteristics of Noah that we should emulate.  They came up with "patience" and "obedience," which were two that I was hoping they would notice (and maybe demonstrate in the classroom?!).  Two students also offered "bravery" and "perseverance."  We listed seven or eight things to learn from Noah, and I decided to call on one last student...

3rd Grader: "Miss Brown, I think it all comes down to the fact that Noah didn't worry."
Me:  "Wow, that's a good thought!  Can you explain that a little more?"
3rd Grader: "Well, when God told Noah to build the ark, he just built it.  He didn't worry about where he would get all that wood or how the animals would come to him.  He just did it.  And when he was on the boat, he didn't worry about how to take care of all those animals or when the storm would finally be over.  He just kept trusting God."

I was so impressed by his answer -- I hadn't thought of it that way ever before!  Now, I don't know if Noah had doubts or frustrations.  The Biblical account doesn't tell us about all of Noah's emotions or thoughts.  But according to Genesis, Noah did "all that the Lord commanded him to do" -- no questions asked, no excuses made.

What if we didn't obey out of obligation, but rather complete trust?  What if we did "all that God commanded [us] to do" because we really believed that God knows what He's doing?  I think our lives would be filled with a lot less worry and far more purpose.

Not Normal... A Special Place!

The uniqueness of this place hit me again today.  I mean, I know that BFA is a special place, but some days it is just magnified a little more than others...

This afternoon the music teacher was going over a choir song with the third and fourth graders in my classroom.  I often do work at my desk in the room while she teaches, so it's fun to hear what the children are practicing.  One song they are learning is in several different languages.  At a "typical" school, the teacher might give students a pronunciation guide or ask a guest to model the correct pronunciation.

But BFA isn't your typical school.  The third and fourth graders can speak German, French, Swiss German, Bengali, Swahili... that's not normal.

My students amaze me.  They have seen and done so much in their nine or ten years that I haven't in my twenty-two!  Sure, they break the rules and make excuses and get hurt and argue just like other kids.  But their life experiences are certainly not normal.

Life here in Germany isn't normal.  But hey, neither am I!  :)  I praise God for this special place -- a place of diversity in languages, but unity in Christ!

I'm thankful for...

I often find myself beginning my sentences with "I'm thankful for..." these days.  It's not just because American Thanksgiving is coming soon.  I am continually grateful for God's amazing blessings!

This past week was the elementary school celebration of Thanksgiving.  November 9 isn't really anywhere close to Thanksgiving, but it's between the Canadian and American celebrations of the holiday, so it works!  The kids enjoyed numerous activities planned and run by parent volunteers, ending with a catered turkey dinner in the gym.  Yum!  Needless to say, the afternoon activities were purposely planned to be low-key and fun.  Not too much could be accomplished with all that sugar in their veins!

Thank You, Jesus, for providing more than we could ask or imagine!

Christmas in a Shoebox!

For a number of years I have participated in the Operation Christmas Child project to pack shoeboxes for kids in need around the world.  I remember packing boxes with the high school youth ministry back in Newtown, as well as my hall of freshman girls when I was an RA at GCC.  I was really excited to find out that BFAS also packs boxes for Operation Christmas Child!  The students in my class impressed me with their generosity and enthusiasm about packing two boxes.  They're all ready for pick-up now!

"Life" - from a student

One of my students wrote this journal entry during our free writing time today.  I couldn't help but share it with you, hoping that you will be as inspired as I am.

"Life is a gift from God.  God is a god that knows everything.  God is a god that everything you know that's good is God and there is stuff that's good that we don't know that is God.  Life is something spiritual.  You can't imagine what life in a perfect world is.  Life is beautiful when you trust in God.  Life is a creation.  Life is: God, friends, family, and God, God, God, God, God, and God, God, and God... You know why I wrote so many Gods, because God is the bigger than that biggest number you can imagine.  God is a billion, zillion, quadrillion and etcetera more important than anything in this world.  The End."

This nine-year-old has got it right.  Let's keep our focus on the One who is infinitely more important that anything else!  It's all about You, Jesus.