Want to Join the BFA Team?

Does this blog convey how much I absolutely LOVE living in southern Germany, teaching at BFA, and being a part of this community?  I hope so.  Black Forest Academy is a very special place, and I'm so privileged to be a part of all that God is doing here.

So... will you prayerfully consider joining the team at Black Forest Academy?  In order to provide quality education for missionary children, BFA needs passionate, qualified professionals.  

Needs for 2011-2012 School Year

HIGH SCHOOL:

--Vice Principal

--English 

--AP Biology and Chemistry

--Physical Education

--Math

--Bible

--Coaches

--Counselor

--ESL/ELL

--Applied Business

MIDDLE SCHOOL:

--Vice Principal

--Math

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

--Receptionist

--Physical Education

--Art

RESIDENCE LIFE:

--Dorm Parents

--Resident Assistants

SUPPORT STAFF:

--Personnel

--Maintenance

--Nurses

--Finance

--IT

--Front Office

--Library

--Graphic Artist

If you'd like more information, email the personnel office.  Is Jesus leading you to apply?  It'd be great to have you serve here at BFA!

Resolutions for a New Year

We have already experienced 21 days of 2011, but I don't think it's too late to talk about goals for the new year!  I've always been a goal-setter and list-maker, finding great satisfaction in achievement and completion of desired tasks.  So, it is no surprise that I decided to write some New Year's Resolutions for this year.

On the (very) long plane ride back to Germany earlier this month, I tapped out about 35 goals on my ipod touch.  These included...
-- hospitality (inviting new friends and long-time BFA staff members into our home)
-- reflection (analyzing student needs and assessing how to meet them)
-- connection (continued accountability and fellowship with like-minded believers here in Germany)
-- communication (continued contact with friends and family in the States)
-- devoted prayer (for family and friends around the world, for my students, for BFA, for my neighbors)

It really was a great list.  I thought.  And then, it happened.  While I was doing a New year's goal activity with my small group girls, I accidentally pressed "delete."  With no "undo" option on the ipod, my well-crafted list was gone forever!  The first thing I heard come out of my mouth was this: "Well, I guess God didn't want me to have those resolutions!"

I was reminded of this important lesson: As much as I plan and put pressure on myself, God is ultimately in control.  While the goals still remain at the forefront of my mind, I believe that surrender is far greater.

I can't think of a better way to start 2011.

A New Classroom!

Today's move from one classroom to another went so well!  Thank you for your prayers.  I am so thankful to Brittany and Kristi for their help during the day!  Here are some before and after shots of the classrooms. 

My old classroom before the move (Christmas party):

My old classroom during the move today:

My new classroom at the beginning of the school year

(so there were some changes during the fall semester):

My new classroom... all set up!

Kristi did a lovely job with the classroom library!

Culture Shock!

I'm back in Germany, gearing up for semester 2 of teaching at BFAS!  It seems like much longer than 3 weeks that I have been away from the classroom... hopefully the students and I will adjust well when we start classes on Tuesday!

Surprisingly, the "culture shock" I experienced the most this break was not re-entering Germany, but adjusting back into American culture.  Although I have lived in the United States all my life, something about being out of my home country for 5 months changed my perspectives, routines, and expectations.  Here are three of my biggest (and humorous!) "culture shock" moments from my three weeks in the USA:

1.  Walmart.  The very first place my friend took me from the Pittsburgh airport was Walmart.  I wasn't desperate to visit Walmart -- I promise!  :)  I thought I had lost my liquids bag, so I needed to replace those items.  Walking into Walmart was a bit overwhelming.  Everything seemed so inexpensive, and I was able to purchase apples, clothes, makeup, a wallet, and shampoo all at the same store!  That is pretty rare here in the small town of Kandern.

2.  Einstein's.  I met a high school friend at Einstein's bagel shop for breakfast one morning.  Kelly and I have kept in touch over the past 5 years as we have experienced college in two different states and now have entered the "working world."  I got my drink and was walking over to the table to join Kelly when I passed by another person and said "Entschuldigung!"  My voice trailed off as I realized I had just said "excuse me" in German, not English.  I don't know if the other customer realized what I had done, but Kelly and I enjoyed laughing about it for a minute or two before beginning our breakfast!

3.  How do I get out of the house?  On New Year's Eve, I planned to meet my parents at our friends' house for dinner and a game night.  I had walked the dog and was ready to leave, when I realized I didn't know how to close the doors to the house.  There was no garage door remote in the car I was driving, so I decided to close the garage doors from the inside and go out the front door.  However, I couldn't find the hide-a-key to lock the front door!  I called my mom and she gently reminded me of the garage door number pad to close the door from the outside... oh yeah, I totally forgot we had one of those!  Oops!

I am also preparing for the "shock" of getting back into the school routine next week.  I move all of my stuff into a different classroom tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be redecorating the walls and rethinking routines this weekend.  I'm preparing my heart and mind for teaching only fourth grade and would greatly appreciate your prayers as I embrace the challenges of transition into the spring semester.

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