It’s a buggy world!

This past month we have learned about the little bits of God’s creation! We studied, bugs, plants and butterflies. God has been amazing and provided me with some cool new pets for the classroom. Check out the pictures of our new ‘friends’.

 

This giant moth was sleeping outside our classroom window. That is a normal-sized sharpie to show you the size.

Our rhino-horned beetle was a class pet this week. That is a quarter-sized coin next to it!

How do churches welcome foreigners?

In the past few weeks I have gone to 4 different churches. And each church is different than the others. Two were in the States and are very comfortable to me. I know people. I understand the order of service. Last week I went to an English-speaking church. We have attended there many times and are slowly adjusting to the order of service and the people who are there. All of these churches in my first language make it easy to worship and learn.

BUT:

Today I went to a Spanish-speaking church. A few teachers from my school go to a church within walking distance of our house, which is a big deal on a Sunday morning. Since Spanish is my second language- and I am only moderately fluent- going to Spanish church can be a challenge. There are lots of thing happening- some familiar and some new. There is worship with songs I know in Spanish. There is a sermon using scripture which I can follow along.

But it makes me think- what makes a church welcoming to speakers of other languages?

That is what hit me today. The preacher I listened today was clear, repetitive, and spoke straight out of scripture. He used simple language that allowed me to understand and grasp what he was teaching, even in my second language. During worship we used hymn books so I had the words in front of me. As a language-learner, all of those are key to helping me to be comfortable and focused on God rather than figuring out what is happening and being distracted wondering if I am making cultural mistakes..

As a teacher we learn techniques to help students who speak English as a second language succeed in the classroom. Sometimes I think they should be applied to the church. Some of these things include:

-Using as many visuals as possible. These include pictures, outlines, and motions to assist the spoken words.
-Highlight key vocabulary to create understanding. If a student doesn't get the key word, then everything else is lost
-State the topic and stay on track. That way students have the skills to follow along and grasp what is being taught.
-Repeat the main idea multiple times; when something is repeated it starts to stick in the mind and can be understood little by little.

What if those planning a church service kept these in mind? Many churches do- they use power points, signs bulletins, and greeters to assist newbies.But what if it's taken a step further. Do pastors when they prepare sermons think about how to teach to people who don't speak English as their first language? Do greeters use motions and pictures to welcome people to the church. Are announcements more than words spoken, but include pictures and written words with explicit invitations?

If we are the body of Christ with the intention of being one body from every tribe, tongue and nation, then the local fellowship of believers should intentionally be skilled at reaching those from a different language and culture.

Just something to think about!

God does all things well

So many times in life I am left asking the question “why?”. If it’s not a personal struggle it’s from those around me.

In the past month we as a country went through two horrific public shootings. There is an 18 year old girl fighting for her life, having lost both her legs in the process. Mali is at war, and the causalities are only going to increase in number. I have had friends go through miscarriages, car accidents, and painful healing of relationships. And amidst all this I can’t help but cry out “Lord, take us home, this pain is too much!”

Today I was reminded God knows what he is doing- and he does all things well. I ran across this song by Tenth Avenue North and it served as a powerful reminder that God is in control. My favorite part of the song goes like this:

You break me to bind me
You hurt me, Lord, to heal me
You cut me to touch me
You died to revive me

All the pain, suffering and hurt only serves for God to show who he is. I have to take the focus off of myself and turn it to Him who is in control. As I question, I need to worship. As I cower, I need to look up. As I hurt, I need to focus. God is in control. God is in charge. And he is working well.

So, we’re 7 days into 2013

And how many of you have written 2012 by mistake? We did on our custom forms, but caught it in time. *phew*

Just thought I would write a few prayer requests for you to lift of the next few days:

1. School starts up again tomorrow! It’s just a teacher work day, but we are both ready to get back into our routine. Kids arrive on Wednesday and I can’t wait to see their adorable little faces.

2. Tabitha and her recovery. The most recent updates say she has gone through some exploratory surgery to find the root of the problems. She continues to go up and down. For those of you in the Oregon area, there is going to be a benefit concert on Jan 14 at 7pm at West Salem Foursquare church. Kutless is going to be playing, so if you are in the area, head on over and tell everyone.

3. My personal goal this year is to focus on “renewal”. I need more consistent times in the word and prayer. Plus I hope to take it to a deeper level with my students, praying with them, and leading them to Christ.

4. Praise for a wonderful community in Bogota. Today I got sunburned sitting in the park with the girls, enjoying catching up. Then tonight Ed watched the championship game with a bunch of the guys. We are blessed with great people who are focused on serving Christ through teaching.

That’s what I can think of for now. If you have any requests, please know I WILL be praying for them. Leave anything in the comment area or feel free to email me: sarahtrussell11@gmail.com.

Peace- and may 2013 bring you closer to our abba father.