Moment of joy #8.. why I do what I do

This week and next I get to spend some extra time with my students during elementary day camp. This is a time for them to have some extra practice in English and some structure during the vacation time.

This week our theme has been “pizza” and we’ve had a lot of fun making pizzas and talking about our favorite toppings. As part of our lesson today we asked the question “is there pizza in the Bible?”. One of my students answers was actually quite clever- “no- because they didn’t have pizza during those times”. Probably true.

I then asked my students if there was ever food in the Bible. They thought of communion and when Jesus multiplied bread and fish to feed large crowds. I then proceeded to share the story of God providing quail and manna in the desert. We then talked about how God provided for the needs of his people. I then posed the question: “How does God take care of our needs?” and here are my students responses:

Student 1- He gave us Jesus

Student 2- Jesus died on the cross

Student 3- Jesus washes away our sins

They get it!!! They understand that our need is to be close to God and we can’t do that on our own. They realize that Jesus is not only the answer but the provider of this salvation.

I was blown away!

I was expecting answers of God’s provision to be “God gives us food” “God gives us family” “God gives us a home”. Oh, those are all true- but there is so much more than our physical needs and BOY did my kids hit the nail on the head!

There are times when I struggle with teaching in a Christian school. I believe in the transformational power of the gospel. I believe that God longs for us to train His children to know him and love him. But sometimes I doubt that Christians schools really help students understand Christ.

Today I was proved wrong. All year we have been teaching the kids about who God is and His plan for the world. We looked at creation and the beautiful perfect world God created. We saw the fall of man with Adam and Eve. We rejoiced with the birth of the savior. We cried at his painful death for our sake. And we hope in his return. All year we have taught our students these truths. All year we prayed over them and waited on the Lord to work in their hearts. And today I saw these truths rooted in their lives- not by my words or teaching but because they know Jesus. They understand and they believe!

 

Here are some fun pizza activities from this week!

Pizza restaurant dramatic play!

Pizza puzzles

Drawing our favorite pizza and who we eat it with (apparently the dog is hungry too)

Taking my order

Making a yummy pizza!

Painting our paper mache pizzas

Moment of joy #7… on adjustment

How do you know that you are adjusted to a new place? When you do a victory fist pump for an errand that once caused you stress and now seems like second nature.

When I first moved to Bogota, grocery shopping was a challenge. Where were the best places to buy? What prices are reasonable? What is that thing and should I eat it? Should I go to a variety of little shops or get everything in one place? What was once second nature (heading to WINCO) now was a chore… for about a month. Then we found our groove and shopping for food is as normal here as it was in Oregon.

There are other things that take longer to adjust to. For us lately, it has been the ability to navigate the health care system. Ed is going in for bimaxillary (2 jaw) surgery next week and in preparation for this procedure, there are a lot of little steps we must take in order to be ready.

I come from a culture of convenience. One stop shopping is the norm. Have you been to target? or Wal mart? or Fred Meyer? You can get clothing, food, hygiene items, electronics, and even dog food all without leaving the door. Or take hospitals and doctors offices. You can get your blood test done, see a specialist with only a quick appointment, or get you prescriptions sent directly from the office to the pharmacy.

Colombia is different. We go to one office for photographs and molds. Then to another office across the street to take a blood test. Our orthodontist is a 15 minute bus ride away. And the clinic where the surgery takes place is somewhere else.

At first this “running around” frustrated me. I didn’t always know where to go, what to ask, and how to make sure the results got where they needed to be. It was hard work and different from what I was used to in the States.

We had a moment a few months ago where Ed needed a blood test so we went after school. We arrived to the clinic after being lost on the same block for 20 minutes in the afternoon. I went to the receptionist and explained what we needed. She looked at me confused and asked if we were there to pick up results. I said, no we haven’t done the test yet. She then looks at me like I am the dumbest person in the world and tells me “blood tests are only in the morning”. Apparently that was common knowledge to everyone but us. We left and made plans to return the following morning- which we did with success.

Living in a new place there are so many little things that don’t always come easy when you are from the outside. I have decided though, to try to look at the big picture and not to let frustration overwhelm me. By having one place to give blood samples one clinic can serve 100s of doctors without the doctors having to purchase the supplies needed for the occasional blood test. By having photos and molds constructed in one office, they can have higher quality equipment that is used on a frequent basis rather than an individual office hoping they can afford the tools they need. Even the clinic our surgery will be in is specialized in the equipment that the doctor needs for this particular type of surgery.

So although this means more running around for us the patient, the doctors are able to have exactly what they need and provide the best care possible. What’s different is not always wrong. There is logic and a system. From the outside the system is confusing and frustrating, but in reality it does work!

And this week when we went back to the clinic for more tests we knew to go in the morning and it was a 10 minute process! *first pump*

Moment of joy #5

For about a year now, Ed and I have been attending a church that is very close to our apartment and let me tell you, I love walking to church. I love that I don’t fight traffic, public transportation and can use my journey to church as a time to prepare my mind and heart to learn and worship. I love the beauty of God’s creation that we pass. I love the tranquility of a neighborhood on a Sunday morning. I love that most mornings it is sunny and beautiful. I love the gentle pace of walking not crossing too many busy streets. It’s a perfect moment of joy each week.

Moment of joy #4

Well my plan of posting weekly hasn’t really happened, but I have been more and more aware of little things in my day where God not only shows himself to me, but tells me he loves me.

This morning we had an all staff worship time. The first week of February the city of Bogota has a “no-car” day where personal vehicles are not allowed on the road. Busses and taxi’s still run, but all personal transportation comes to a halt. At our school we give the students a day off and have workshops and professional development. We start the day with the whole staff together in worship. It is so beautiful to come together as a ministry and worship the Lord our God in both of our heart languages (English and Spanish). It is beautiful to focus on what is really important and take time together to give praise to our Lord.

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On another, more selfish note, I have been so blessed by a new piece of furniture in my classroom: the reading loft. At the end of last year we were asked to dream big about what we might like to see in our classroom and immediately a reading loft came to mind. I had one in the classroom I student taught in and it was a great learning space for the kids, as well as creating double floor space in my classroom. I asked for it, not really expecting it to happen.

Well last weekend I walked into my classroom (I was at school to teach some workshops to parents) and lo and behold this beauty was waiting for me:

 

 

My kids love the “tree house” and all take turns fighting over who is up on top It brings me joy to see them have so much fun!

Moment of joy #3

 

This year I have the awesome opportunity to dive into God’s word through a Bible study with some of my co-workers. We are doing Beth Moore’s Bible study- Believing God. It has been a great study looking at who God is and challenging up to make our faith active in the present moments.

Two weeks ago the session was on miracles and believing God will do what He says He will do. We sat around that evening sharing miracle we had witnessed, and even ones we had not. One of the key points in the study was that God absolutely CAN do miracles, but sometimes he does not. He reasons are always bigger than our own- and our faith should grow in the obvious and the not-so-obvious.

I was so encouraged by our discussion and hearing stories from my sisters in Christ of Gods work around their lives. We serve and love a mighty and caring God that knows us better than we know ourselves.

Moment of joy #2

We headed back to school this week, which led to lots of mixed feelings. I was eager to implement changes in the classroom and see my students, but also sad to be getting up so early in the morning.
That being said, it was a great week with my students. I enjoyed looking at bugs, hearing their laughter, and sitting outside with them in the sun! Over the course of our 3 days back, I thoroughly enjoyed being with my students and seeing the world through their eyes. I was reminded of the wonderful ministry God has given me at ECA and the delightful children he has placed in my class this year. Here are some “everyday” moments found in pictures.

The year of joy

I read quite a few blogs and many writers take on a theme for the year to focus on for personal growth. Even though I am not an “official” blogger I like the idea of being faithful to growing in one area. One of the things that is challenging for me is to focus on the positive. In general I consider myself a positive person, but at times that is just the front I put on. Inside I struggle to think positively and meditate on the goodness around me.

For that reason I hope to let this be the year of joy. My goal is once a week to write a “moment of joy” from the previous week. The Bible says we are to be joyful in all circumstances- with our eyes fixed on Christ. Real joy is not just happiness, rather a comfort and peace that the Lord is King of all.

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. - Psalm 47:1-3

To start off this adventure, one story comes to mind. It was both joy and pain in the same moment.

Last week, Ed and I took advantage of really cheap tickets and went on a cruise for Christmas. We had a wonderful time relaxing and seeing many new sites in the Caribbean. At the end of the cruise there was a special presentation of flags from all the countries represented by the staff on board. Each country was named one by one and a representative waved the flag for all the passengers. There was music and celebration of the wonderful togetherness of the world on the ship.

I was taken aback by the pride and joy shown in each country represented. How amazing to be surrounded by so many people from literally every tribe, tongue and nation. I was enthralled with this celebration and the little taste of heaven represented.

Then I realized- not everyone on that ship will experience this type of celebration in heaven. The world is full of people who do not claim the Lord as their King. Although the moment of “all nations” was before me, it was for earthly reasons. I was saddened by the fact that it is so easy to settle with this as “the best” and forget the best that is to come.

My joy was mixed. I saw people from every tribe, tongue and nation together- but it was not to praise God. I look forward to the day it will be at the feet of Jesus- but know there is much to be done before that can happen.