It Happens in a Blink...

"Teach me to number my days and count every moment before it slips away, take in all the colors before they fade to gray..."  -- Revive

Just like that, another year is over.  Will 2010 be just another year in my memory?  Will the struggles and triumphs of this year be quickly forgotten?  Will I race through 2011 without purpose?  No, I reflect on all that I have learned, experienced, and celebrated this year... and I look forward with great anticipation to another year of pursuing Christ.

"I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time.  What is it I've done with my life?  It happens in a blink."  

Highlights from 2010:
-- Rang in the New Year at Urbana Missions Conference in St. Louis, MO

-- Student taught in London, England, for two weeks

-- Traveled to New York City for a Senior Trip with GCC friends

-- Accepted the position at BFA and attended the ACSI conference in Germany

-- Graduated from Grove City College!

-- Beheld God's majesty on a family vacation to Washington and Alaska

-- Attended TeachBeyond training week in Minneapolis, MN

-- Began teaching fourth grade at Black Forest Academy!

-- Established a new "life" in my new "home" in Germany

 -- Celebrated God's faithfulness with friends at Crista and Jon's wedding

Lord, Reign in Me

This morning I had the opportunity to share with my home church family as a part of their Christmas sermon series on making Jesus our highest priority.  I shared my story of taking small steps of obedience in pursuing the position at BFA, not fully knowing whether it was what God wanted me to do after graduation.  Putting Jesus first isn't about taking giant steps -- it's about faithfully obeying in the "small moments."  God's calling us to listen for His leading, step into the unknown, and believe that He will work through us.

I also shared the story of my classroom tree (see the previous blog entry), which is a necessary reminder of the importance of spending time with God every day.  Author CJ Mahaney writes, "A cross-centered life is made up cross-centered days."  We must remind ourselves of Jesus' sacrifice and live in light of this truth.  And even when we mess up, God takes our dead branches and makes green leaves grown on them again.

We ended the service today by singing "Lord, Reign in Me," a familiar song with words that struck me anew:  "May my life reflect the beauty of You, Lord / You mean more to me than earthly thing / So won't You reign in me again // Lord, reign in me, reign in Your power / Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour / You are the Lord of all I am."  Amen.

The Classroom Tree (Not the Christmas Tree)

There's a potted tree in my classroom.  Back in September, I told my students that I would bring a tree from home for our classroom library, but the small size of my car and my forgetfulness delayed its arrival at BFAS for over a month.  Sometime in late October, I managed to wrestle the tree into my car and over to the elementary school.

The students were overjoyed at this addition to our classroom, and our classroom "landscaper" asked me, "Miss Brown, how often do we water this tree?  How much water does it need?  What should I use to water it?"  In the busy classroom schedule, I put off his questioning, stating that we would take care of it soon.

But "soon" turned into over a month.  At first the tree looked full and healthy -- it added a lot to the atmosphere of our classroom.  However, brown leaves began to appear on our tree, and it was embarrassing to have other teachers try to help me pluck them from the branches.

Finally, there was nothing but brown leaves left on this once thriving tree.  I couldn’t help but realize that I had been the cause of this tree’s death!  I had neglected my responsibility to care for it diligently.  Without telling the students, I began to water the tree every night, hoping that it would somehow magically come to life again.  I admitted to my students that this tree was beyond hope, and I would have to chop it into firewood.

But the next day I was surprised to find bright green leaves on the tips of each of the dead branches!  Was it really possible?  Our tree was coming back to life!  A student and I shook the branches to remove all of the dead leaves.  Although the tree looked bare, it was most definitely alive.

God has taught me a lot from this potted classroom tree.  Things may look great from the outside for awhile, but without spiritual nourishment, it is only a matter of time before there will be outward manifestations of inward dryness.  But even then, hope is not lost!  God can take the “dead leaves” of our lives and transform our hearts: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Johanna Weaver writes, “The longer I go without being filled with God’s presence, the drier and emptier and more frustrated I’m going to become.”  Jesus, may I live every day fully focused on You!

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!