Serve the Lord with all your heart!

One of the biggest joys of working at ECA is the focus on serving others starting from a young age. Once again, my PK class was able to go to the nursing home and serve the grandparents. This is one of my favorite events of the year because my students get to practice what they are learning.

We start the day by chopping lots and lots of fruit for a giant fruit salad.

Then we changed into traditional dress for the dance presentation. This year we decided to have students do the dance presentation from celebrate Colombia presentation, and students were excited to perform again.

We piled into vans and headed off to the neighboring town for our time of service.

We started off dancing, then sang a few songs in both English and Spanish.

Then students walked around, greeted the grandparents, colored pictures with them, and some did puzzles. We also handed out the snack of the fruit salad.

Every visit, God speaks to my heart through the loving service of my students.

While chopping fruit my students were saying "oh, make it small in case the grandparents don't have teeth" Or "Wow, mango, that's my favorite, I hope the grandparents like it too!"

On the ride there my students were excited and eager to arrive.

And the most amazing, the moment we walked into the nursing home my students were so loving! They greeted the grandparents without fear. While dancing and singing they were focused and joyful to share God's love through performance. And when it was time to serve the snack and talk with the grandparents, most were excited and eager to reach out.

I can't think of a more beautiful picture than seeing my students willing, able and joyfully serving others.

Celebrating Colombia

This week our school celebrated the country we all call home: Colombia. This year our annual celebration's theme was: From Colombia to Latin America. Through presentations, skits and dances we learned about many the many different cultures and traditions from Latin America.

Pre-Kinder celebrated Colombia and learned "contradanza". They have spent the past two months practicing the choreography and preformed in front of the entire student body and many parents. I was so proud of my students and you can't beat their cuteness.

Check out their cuteness!

In the week leading up to the celebration we had school-wide Spirit week. It's always hard to get pictures will all 24 wiggling bodies moving, but check out the fun themes:

THURSDAY: THROW BACK!

Our 80's gear was a little missing in the "groupie"

WEDNESDAY: PAJAMA DAY

TUESDAY: Topsy- TuRvY (No pictures that day...oops!)

MONDAY: PROFESSIONAL DAY 

Love your neighbor

As a teacher of PK I love to intentionally plan fun and meaningful activities for my students. This week we have been learning about the parable the good Samaritan focusing on God's love for us. Three years ago I found a great picture that shows how the Good Samaritan is a reflection of Christ. Although my students developmentally are not really for big abstract concepts, I thought I would see what they thought of the picture.

As I asked them what they saw, most reflected on the Good Samaritan helping the stranger or the donkey. However after probing deeper they recognized the cross. As I asked them why the cross was there, a light went on for many students as they realized that the cross is God's love, just like the Good Samaritan is God's love. Although my students are small, I am so blessed to build into them a deeper and more meaningful understanding of God's GREAT love for us. 

As a time of personal reflection, I asked each student to draw a picture of them helping another person. The majority chose to draw helping a friend who had fallen and gotten hurt- well connected with the Good Samaritan story- and as I asked them if they were showing God's love, you could see their pleasure with knowing they were reflecting Christ to one another. As a representation of that love, I would draw a cross on their picture like the example. My hope is that  as they see their art, they can internalize that they can be God's love to others- just like the Samaritan!

My work as a teacher is more than teaching English or how to count or how to be a good friend. My job as a teacher is to bring each one of my students little bit closer in their relationship with God. I can't think of a better job in the world!

Things on my mind...

1. We started classes again on Wednesday and it was so great to be back with the kiddos! After a season of  working with a student teacher, visitors, lots of 3 day weekends due to holidays and just the general craziness of the Christmas season it was nice to be back with my kiddos in our normal routine.

2. Burkina Faso. Although we no longer live in West Africa, the events happening in that area of the world impact our hearts. This weekend there was a terrorist attack in Ouagadougou (try saying that 3 times fast) where at least one foreign missionary was killed along with many others. Although we personally do not know the family, we understand how an event like this can lead to fear, Spiritual attacks and lots of pain. Our hearts and prayers are with the missionary community as well as the Christian and Muslim population. Also, an Australian couple has been kidnapped. They live and work in the northern part of the country near Mali and are some of the only medial staff in the area.

3. The school is prayerfully considering starting a process of growth. Right now we are exploring options of how to make it happen in a organized and feasible way. Please pray with us as we seek God's plan for ECA's future.

4. Recently Colombian was named the happiest place on earth. It's pretty great to be living in a country where people are really happy. Although I have no "proof", this comes at no surprise as the Gospel continues to reach more and more Colombians and the Christian church continues to grow each year. The fact that I get to be a small part of bring God's joy and peace to this country makes me very, well, happy! Also, dont believe me? Come visit and we can show you first-hand.

5. New projects. I have been working with a church on the coast who is wanting to start a Christian school. This is in the very beginning stages, and it is still unclear how deeply I will be involved in the project, but it is exciting to see what God is doing and be a part of His work.

Visiting with leaders of a potential new school on the coast of Colombia.

All in all- there are moments of being overwhelmed and I feel a little of all emotions at the same time. I know that God is working and all I need to do is obey Him- day by day and minute by minute. God is doing awesome things in Colombia and around the world. Times may seem crazy, overwhelming, sad and joyful- but our hope can only be found in the Lord. Trust and obey.

A new normal to a festive normal

After three years of living in Bogota, life has a sense of normalcy. I know where to shop, how to get around, I can speak easily with my neighbors and people at church, and sometimes I forget I am living in a "foreign country". Then every once in a while I step back and realize... somethings here in Bogota are just strange.

For example- grocery shopping. When we go to the bigger supermarkets, I sometimes forget that I'm not in the States. There are aisles with orderly rows of food and household items. I push a shopping cart and can scan barcodes at handy little price checking machines. But then, as I go down an aisle it becomes a real life game of frogger. One family has decided to stop mid-aisle to contemplate the price of rice while another mom is chasing her child away from the candy. Defensive cart pushing is real and incredibly funny when you step back and watch the chaos.

Now lining up to pay for groceries is also a "normal" experience. Many stores have adopted the one line system where everyone stands in one line and the first person always goes to the empty check stand. It takes away the guessing game of the "fast line" and really is more efficient. Until you are in line and realize the person behind you is RIGHT behind you. Like if you take a breath in you are going to bump them behind you. There is no way any person is going to cut between you and the person behind you! When this happens I have to take a deep breath (and hope not to bump them) and remember that personal space is clearly defined differently here in Bogota.

In the same time that life seems normal, I realize that living and working in a missionary community allows me to live a life that is different. Conversations about student's hearts are a daily occurrence. Prayer is the go-to medium for solving problems (most of the time). Grace is extended when mistakes are made and communication becomes cloudy. I feel so blessed to live and work with a group of people that don't mind cultural differences and embrace God's cultural similarities.

As we move onward towards the Christmas season (which started the day after Halloween here) I am excited to celebrated with family- both literally and figuratively (my parents will be here in 10 days!!!). I am excited to share the warmness of Jesus coming to earth with my PKers and help them see that God has an amazing plan for this world. I am excited for the various parties and celebrations with co-workers and church family. And I am eager to dive into the word of God and be in awe of His work.

So as normal life turns into festive life I am looking forward to a worshipful life.

On a slightly different note... here are some pictures of Christmas entering Colombia...

Welcome tree at our school

Christmas is arriving in Cartagena too!

A PK sized tree

Fall Festivities

Growing up in Oregon, I can argue that fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The leaves change colors to brilliant oranges, yellows and reds. Rain has not yet set in so the air feels crisp and fresh. Everyone takes trips to farms to find the perfect pumpkin to decorate the house. It's a refreshing, fun time of year.

Living in Colombia- one of the most naturally beautiful countries I have seen- means that there are no seasons. As part of our school curriculum to teach USA culture, kinder introduces the concept of seasons to students growing up in a season-less climate. This year the kinder teacher asked if my PKers would like to join her class for a fall celebration to help students really understand the fun and beauty of fall. Missing the States more than usual I quickly agreed!

We contacted parents and planned a fun afternoon of all things fall! Hay rides (in a wagon), a pumpkin patch, bobbing for apples, photo booth, and the classic donut on a string activity. We also had parents make traditional fall treats: pumpkin bread, apple crisp, and pumpkin pie. Students got to see, fell and taste the fall season from many parts of the USA and I got to abate my homesickness!

God's love!

This month in our newsletter I was able to share some parent feedback about how they see their child growing in God's love! I wasn't able to put all the quotes into the newsletter, but since each story was personal and a great testimony I thought would share all of them here on the blog.

Enjoy!

-Our son is a very affectionate child. That being said, many times his reactions isolated him and it is hard for him to relate with others. The topic of love has been a great welcome to him from the school. I believe he will learn to relate to others and build relationships with all people through love, which can be shown through actions and patience. The most incredible thing is to hear him speak of God's great love for us through his creation. Through the PK classes he has learned that we were all created with love for God and from that love we can love others.

-During the very short time that our son has been at ECA we have seen in him an interesting process of growing in love. We have seen significant changes in him regarding obeying, respecting others, and playing safely with with others. It has been a permanent process to discipline him at home, we know that this is just the beginning of a long-life process, and we have found that ECA has greatly contributed to this purpose. Probably the most important purpose God wants to see in our lives is to shape our character to grow in love.  Thus growing in love means many things for our son such as respecting others, helping others, being disciplined, sharing, supporting, having good manners, and so on. During this period, we have seen clear improvements in our son’s behavior, and the way he gives love to others. This is reflected all around him: we see that in his actions, his relationships, his creativity, his happiness. We are delighted with ECA’s approach to teach children how to grow in love. We consider that this is extremely important for the entire life of our son. As a family, we know that it is our responsibility to cultivate love in our child, with our everyday examples, with our life style, and encouraging our son to love others. Then we are pleased to know that ECA’s approach is an excellent complement to our efforts to discipline our son and to show him the only right way to grow in love: trust in the word of God.

-As parents we have seen how our daughter has grown to understand the love God has for us and she has begun to understand there is love our in our home because God loves us and we love Him. Our daughter has a love for ministry and values preaching, telling us that she wants to do what God has called her to, according to his purposes. We believe this is God's purpose in her life and it makes us so excited to think that the Lord will use her for things we can't even imagine. We are so proud of our daughter and have seen how ECA is a part of her process in realizing the work that God is doing through his creation and in the blessings that we receive.

((and the quotes from our newsletter in case you missed it))

-We are so happy to see our son growing in this area (of love) and understanding God's love for us. He is often telling us how great is God s love and that He made the sun and the moon and the stars. He is expressing gratitude for every little thing. We are so encouraged every time he says, "Thanks God for..... "

-Our son is growing in love all the time! Now he is more affectionate, is more gentle with his sister, and he knows that "obey" and "respect" are ways to love. He is more expressive now, with words hugs and kisses (including trickle wars) and says: te amo más lejos que la cabeza de Super Dios! (My love is bigger than the size of Super God's head!).

-We have seen our child grow in forgiveness and showing love. We noticed that he has a gentler spirit and can speak with clarity about lessons he is learning at school such as solving problems using love. We keep hearing him say "we always need to forgive everyone" and it makes us so happy to think that even at a young age he is building this type of foundation for the rest of his life.

-The other day my daughter was at church singing and dancing during worship. She was so involved and focused. Afterwards I asked her about it and she said "I love God so much and I want to worship Him with everything that I have to show Him I love Him."

-Our daughter has become more interested in the needs of others.
Spending times with boys is a challenge for us as a family because we see that she wants to imitate fighting and rudeness, but we see it as an opportunity that the Lord has given her to teach her as a woman she can love and work her friends. When she prays she gives thanks for her school, her classmates and for help to be obedient every day.

Off to a great start!

PK has had a great start! We have been enjoying our first unit studying creation. As we continue to work hard to clarify and perfect our curriculum, I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am to build in my students a strong foundation of the Bible. My students get hands-on learning experiences to know who God is and what he has done for us. 

We start every year by studying God's perfect creation. Then as we see how man feel away from God but God still loves us. We see His plan come into place through the arrival of the Savoir. As we discover the life of Jesus we can see how we are to live in a way that honors God. At the end of our year we see that Jesus radically change the world through His followers and their legacies.

Units:

Creation

Fall of Man (Adam and Eve, Noah)

Christmas

Jesus' Life

Easter

Early Church

Here are some highlights of our creation unit so far:

Creation week 1- Yellow day!

Creation day 2- water!

Creation day 3- Making a land collage!

Day 3- Making land and plants with playdough and pipe cleaners

Day 3- Land and plants!

Playing with moon dough