I am a…
Nose blowing, Bible teaching, hug giving,
Spanglish-speaking, hand washing, playdough molding,
Book reading, naptime enforcing, tear wiping,
High-five giving, song singing, paper coloring,
Hair brushing, candy confiscating, color naming,
Culture bridging, peace making, children loving
Pre-Kinder teacher.
Here in the eternal fall, there are little vices to help us cope with the cold and dreariness of rain (ironic that right now it is super sunny…. but we’ll just keep that between us). Our best vice is none other than hot chocolate!
Since arriving in Bogota, my definition of hot chocolate has drastically changed for the better. What I once thought was hot chocolate (hot water mixed with milk and chocolate power) is not longer acceptable! My world of hot beverages has been upscaled to now include the real ‘hot chocolate’. I give you permission to call me a beverage snob.
What makes this so different you ask? Well let me explain.
First you begin with chocolate and milk. Real chocolate. The kind that melts if you touch it too long. We buy the kind with cinnamon and cloves mixed in as well for extra yumminess! Oh, and milk- yes, it comes in a bag. And yes it stay at room temperature until you open it. No worries… that’s just how it is!
Next you take one stick of the chocolate per cup of milk and place them in the special pot. Now, is it really necessary to have the pot? YES! It just doesn’t work the same with out it.
Next heat the mixture stirring with the special whisk. Again- this is necessary. It’s like magic… mixes the milk and the chocolate in a way that makes a PERFECT cup. Don’t ask me why: it just does.
Lastly, once it starts to boil, remove from heat and pour into your cup. Drink. Enjoy!
Now, we at ECA know our hot chocolate. Every Friday for staff meeting we have chocolate. I think it’s the administrations way of bribing us to be in a good mood for an early meeting (7am). And surprise, surprise it really works!
So there you go- the wonder of Colombian hot chocolate! For those of you back in the OR be excited- we are bringing supplies back with us over Christmas in order to bribe you to hang out with us! Yes, we are that awesome!
In the past week 2 major car accidents have happened to people I know. Both have been far away. Both have been tragic in one way or another.
One happened to a friend in Mali that resulted in the death of a little girl.
The other was a cousin in Japan that resulted in her being in a coma.
Both are tragic. Both are terrible. And both have caused me to cry out to the Lord on their behalf.
Here is where being part of a global church is hard. When someone is hurt in Asia, I know about it, and it burdens me. When a sister in Christ goes through trials in Europe, my heart breaks.
I would prefer to hide. To not know about things. To go on with my selfish life, oblivious to anything but me. But instead, here I am, crying out to the Lord on their behalf. It is good- but it hurts!
This week I have been teaching my students about “big” and “small”. Today I wanted to emphasize big and use it to describe God. I used a song I learned last year at BCA to help my point.
Our God is a great big God… and He holds us in his hands.
He is higher than a skyscraper, and deeper than a submarine.
He is wider than the universe and beyond my wildest dreams.
And He knows me and He loves me since before the world began.
How wonderful to be a part of God’s amazing plan.
Today when I was walking my students through the words, I was dumbstruck by the simplistic truth. God is bigger than anything here on earth. He is bigger than my pain. He is bigger than the problems of those around me. And more so He is bigger than anything I can imagine.
And in spite of God being so big, he knows ME and he loves ME. He isn’t burdened by all the cares of the world. He cares for me.
Selfish me should know that I would get a “God slap” on my pity party. I should be honored to lift up my burdens to the Lord. I should be honored to know people from everywhere and join with them in petition. I should be thinking less of myself and more of what God is going to do through this difficult circumstances.
Pray with me. Lift up these two sisters in Christ. Celebrate that our God is a great big God and HE ALONE knows what is going on. How wonderful it is to be a part of God’s amazing plan!
Yesterday marks the end of the first quarter of school for Ed and I! Not only does this mean that grades are due and we have a lot of planning to accomplish, but that means we have reached the turning point from “being new” to “figuring things out”.
Blessings of the first quarter:
-Tears, giggle fits, a tantrum, and lots of hugs
-Introducing my students to English
-Successful sharing of the gospel message
-Growth in many of my students in English, friendships, and being away from home for the first time.
-Snacks and treats from my students
-Wonderful school community- especially among the teachers
-More hugs, cuddles, and giggles
One of my students is very eager to learn English. Any time he has a chance to speak he answers in English. Sometimes, however, he just doesn’t know the words and answers come out like “father house go walk purple God”. I am so proud of him for trying and am excited for him (and all my students) to continue to grow in this!
For fun, the past week of school was “spirit week” and all the students were encouraged to dress up in the daily theme. Thankfully this was only a small distraction to learning and well, my kids are just too cute!
Check out some pictures!
SUPERHERO DAY
TWIN DAY
Movie Day: Madagascar
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| I told my kids there was a surprise and look what they saw!!! |
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| Most of the elementary excited to listen to the firemen! |
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| Look at all those buttons. |
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| Miss B (3rd grade) and Miss W (1st grade) got to dress up. |
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| Look at those awesome uniforms. |
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| Now profes, run to the fence and back. No big deal! |
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| Ok, now we're going to attach the hose and spray you all! |
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| More water, more water! |
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| Mrs. Trussell, I'm all wet! |
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| Woo hoo! We got soaked by the fire hose. |
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| That was so AWESOME! |
As most of you know, or housing situation upon arrival was not permanent. We had the apartment until the end of August, then we had to move. It was a little unsettling- fighting the desire to unpack and settle while knowing that it would have to packed and moved in less than a month. Regardless we persevered and have made our move “to the West Side”.
All teacher housing is within close proximity to one another in the northern part of Bogota. There is a main highway which splits the groups into two. Thankfully a foot bridge goes over the highway so socialization and catching the bus to school can happen without the hazard of dodging 8 lanes of rush hour traffic.
In our move, Ed and I switched sides. We went from the side closest to the morning bus (a 3 minute walk) to a 15 minute walk in the morning. We also went from the side with the tiny grocery store to the side with the shopping mall, movie theater, restaurants, and smaller shops as well. SO it has it’s perks.
I think our newest obsession after moving is the “meat stick man”. On a street corner about 1 block away a man sets up a BBQ and grills chirizo (sausage) on a stick and arepas (think really think corn tortillas filled with melted cheese) for only $1.25 for the both. This has become our new fast food treat!
We also like our new house. It’s small and we miss having lots of counter space, but we have new laminate floors and fresh paint. We have made it home (minus decorating… that’s still in process.) Check out some pictures!
(top left: bedroom, top right: spare room/workroom, middle left: dining room, middle right: living room+Ed, bottom: kitchen/laundry room)
Every Tuesday we have staff devotions as a way of strengthening our community. This morning something new struck me (which is always exciting when I’m half awake). The devotional was on seeking God’s heart, not just his hands.
Esther was the example given. When she went before the king, she didn’t just want to save her people, but wanted to know the king as well. She had his respect, and he listened to her. Several times before making her request she hosted banquets in his honor. Had she just gone to the king without establishing intimacy, she would have most likely been killed immediately.
How often do we skip the intimacy with God in order to get what we want from Him? We come to God with the list of problems “to lay before him” yet don’t stop to worship Him for who He is.
We were challenged this morning to go to the secret place and intimately know God. Leave our problems at the door, shut the windows to distractions and know our God. Matthew 6:6 says “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Don’t allow the outside world and the stresses be a distraction between you and God.
For a while now, I have been focusing on the descriptions of God. If I am honest with myself, however, it’s been more for the habit of reading something rather than a way of intimately knowing God more.
I remember learning a while ago about the practice of meditation as a way of knowing God more. I used to think that meditation was an Eastern philosophy of emptying the mind. However, it was pointed out to me that in the Bible meditation is mentioned several times- and not as an emptying of the mind rather a focusing on one specific attribute in worship.
Here’s my challenge: (for myself and anyone else who would like to join me). For the next 2 weeks I am going to intentionally meditate on the descriptions of God as way of learning more about Him and growing in my relationship with Him. I know it seems a little strange to post this for the world to see, especially after the point of being secret, but I do it as an accountability to myself.
Who knows what I will learn and how I will grow- but that is the beauty of it. I may or may not post some thoughts as I go through this process (posting seems to deplete the “secrecy” of it, however, I think through writing… so we shall see).
Also, if you want to join along the link above goes to a month-long reading plan through youversion. Enjoy and please let me know if you do!
I’ll be honest, this transition to Bogota has been harder than I thought it would be. I have been so excited to settle down and unpack my bags that I forgot how hard moving to a new place really is.
I think the first surprise was changing from a small school to a big school. This was a change we intentionally made, but it hard. I went from a staff of 7- all of whom relied on each other for survival to a staff of over 40 teachers and 30 support staff. It is a welcome change, but one to get used to. I still don’t know everybody’s names or what they do. Plus with a staff that big sub-groups form and the process of finding a “niche” is necessary.
I was also surprised to find it hard to know how to get around and what to do in our extra time. We live in the north end of Bogota and the school is there also. It takes time and navigational skills to venture out of our area- both of which we are slowly gaining- but not fast enough for my liking.
I think the most surprising was just how distracted I have been from my relationship with God. When in a new place “survival mode” kicks in, and I revert to my earthly instincts of trying to do it all myself. I forget that I am doing God’s work and need to let him in to work through me. I forget to prioritize the word and just bowing before him in prayer. It leaves me dry and frustrated.
Finally this week I have began to feel settled. I am starting to feel the routine of my days and have had a spark to re-ignite my relationship with God. I am making friends and finding fun ways to spend my free time. I just had to let myself adjust and slowly adapt to a new place.
Please continue to pray. Pray we continue to adjust. Pray we make genuine relationships with our community. And most of all pray that our relationships with God grows and thrives as our lives settle into this new ministry.
I will leave you with pictures of my students… aren’t they adorable!!!
