It has been a while....

There have been many times I had things to write but, school has been busy and I have been busy outside of work too. I will try to post more in the coming year.

Today, is the day after Christmas. I spent the day working in my yard. With the mild temps here in south Louisiana it was a good day to do some needed raking and burning. And while I was doing that a thought came across my mind that I want to share.

How often do you feel that the things you do are needless, or not accomplishing much? I feel that quite often, I know I shouldn't but I do, and today was no different. As I raked leaves and burned them more were falling... I thought, what good is this doing? Yet, as I looked at the yard I could see I was making a dent and even though the leaves were falling still, they were not falling as fast as I was working. Soon enough the yard will have to be done again, or I will wait for the first mow... but I made progress today.

I told you all of that to say this.... When you feel all the work you are doing is for nothing because the leaves (troubles and issues of life) are all around. Or it seems to take two steps forward to just take one back... guess what you are making progress. It may be slow but it is progress and the only way you won't move forward is to stop all together. Think of the tortoise and the hare.... 

Every seed I plant in each child at my school will grow at some point. It may not be anytime soon, and I may never see it, but I know I am making progress. I pray that every child comes to know how much I love and care for them but that love is no where near how much the Heavenly Father loves and cares for them.

The school is changing a bit for the good also. God has made it possible for my daughter to teach at the school, and believe me it is a BIG answer to a number of prayers.

Well, I hope this made sense. I am tired from the work...

Thanks for reading, and God Bless You All!

I Have a Student...

Well, I have 12... and they all need prayer.

Everyone has baggage, problems they carry around with them. I am no different I have it to, stuff from my past and present that I use as a crutch or an explanation for why I behave a certain way. Today, as I was dealing with that one student I had a thought.... we all are born with a sin nature because of Adam's sin. We are fleshly and carnal, we just are there is no changing that. There is another factor that was exposed to the sin Adam committed, our DNA. Now, it is not an excuse either really, but having baggage of being bi-polar, autistic, dyslexic, or having another genetic "flaw" can also be a burden. Being tagged as a problem kid, or a nuisance adds to the baggage we carry.

If a person carries it long enough they can start believing they are "dumb", can't get anything right, always going to be bad, and all the other things they here people say about them.

So, how do we teach ourselves that the baggage we carry around doesn't need to be carried? How do we learn to drop it at the cross and move on with our lives?

One way is to have someone telling you different everyday, but that someone should be yourself! I can only do so much to encourage my 12 students to think better of themselves. I am one person in a sea of people, they need to learn to do it themselves.

That is where I believe the fruit of the spirit comes in. We have flesh to battle everyday, we need to fight it and if we are Christians (all my students say they are), we have been given all they need to live a successful life here on earth and in the kingdom to come, through the Holy Spirit. They just need to learn to bring those things and thoughts to their minds and stop quenching the spirit. We put the Spirit in a corner of our heart and don't let Him out till we "need" Him. Let's let the Spirit fight the daily battle and bring to our minds the things we need to remember about how to have the fruit of the Spirit.

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  Galatians 5:16-26

I hope I can get this across to my students, teach them that we need to let the Spirit guide our daily lives. I know it is hard, because I don't do it all the time myself. I am trying though and I think that is what God wants, for us to try to be like Him.

Thanks for reading. Please pray for my students! God Bless You ALL!

Here is a good video if you choose to watch it :)

Loving it... Loving Them!

There are many times you will hear teachers say "These kids are.... " You can fill in the blank with all kinds of things... I have said, "driving me crazy, awesome, cool, scaring me (yes, really), and a myriad of others. Even parents say them.... little humans can and do, know how to push buttons and invoke all kinds of feelings, good and bad. If you ever know a teacher that always has nothing but good to say about her class.... run!!! Just kidding, I love my kids but they still drive me crazy and I will tell you if I need too, so I am not sure that teacher is being honest with herself!

look at the first letters starting at true...

I do not know how many of you that are reading this are teachers, whether in a school, or a church. Or if you are ministers, missionaries, or parents. I only know a few of my readers personally. What ever it is that you do in life know this... Ministry is hard! It is emotional! It is time consuming!

I think about the work I do minute by minute... even when I sleep. No, not just the work at the school, even though that consumes a lot of my thinking. I also teach Sunday School, AWANA, sing on our Praise Team,  serve on the Missions Committee and have many people outside of these things I work with, as well as looking after my family. I am afraid every day that I will do something detrimental to turn someone from God instead of drawing them closer to Him. Even though most days I am emotionally drained and I show it, I love ministry, it is just hard and overwhelming at times. Pray for your Pastors, leaders, teachers, anyone you know, who is working for the LORD, for they need it. Satan is alive and well, he is NOT giving an inch, he is trying to do all he can to get us to stop what we are doing!

So, I said all of that to say.... I love my job! No matter how much I get hurt or feel like a failure at times.

I love my students too! Every single one of those hard to handle little darlings! I want to lead and guide them in more than just the core subjects of Reading, Spelling, Math, and Language, I want to inspire their minds to love God and serve Him when no one else in their little lives may be! I want them to grow up not just to be well educated in the way the world thinks, but to also be well instructed in the ways God wants us to live and serve others. All of the children in my class, say they believe the truth in these verses;

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time."                  1 Corinthians 15:3-8

This is the truth that you must believe to get to heaven, that Christ lived a perfect life, died, was buried, and rose again on the 3rd day according to the scriptures. The other part is testimony to the fact that Christ rose! All of my student say they believe this, the Bible says that we must believe this to be called the sons of God. The next step for me, is helping them become people that will serve God and others. To me that is more important than the reading and math, even though they need that also. Please pray for me as I endeavor to do this.

Papers Graded

In the past few weeks a lot of things have taken place, I have graded papers every week (pray I keep that up and don't get behind like I usually do).  We have taken test, had an open house, had a Indian Taco fund raiser, started to make a corn maze (yes, a real one) and even had time to get some learning in! Here are some pictures of various things and you can even see some of the children.

Thanks for reading. Not sure how much of this blog makes sense! or fits with the title... Please pray for the other staff, for me and my kiddos, we need it really! God bless you all!

Small Library... but growing		1st and 2nd graders
4th -7th graders		1st - 4th graders

The Week One Done!

Well, The first week of school has come and gone. It was one of the strangest weeks I can say that I have ever had. Satan is really working in all areas to keep the school from running smoothly and for the kids to be distracted. I will not go into details but just pray for all of us. I would love to share each child's name, but I am not sure that is a good idea. So, just pray for the students of Indian Bible Academy, there families and community. Since this is a mission school, any prayer is really appreciated. Each of the teachers and the administration need prayer also. I will list our names at the end of this blog post.

We have 15 students in our school. Last year there was only two teachers with 16 students between us. Last year, I taught all subjects to 9 students and the other teacher had 7 students teaching all subjects.  I think this year will be much better.

I have 6 (1st grade through 4th grade) students in the morning and 5 (4th grade through 7th grade) in the afternoon. I teach reading, language, spelling and math. The other elementary teacher, teaches science, social studies, health, and writing. We switch classes at lunch.

My class room is 12 ft by 19 ft, that is 228 sq feet. It is not a big space. Making the most out of it is a must! I am glad I only have a few students, if I had to fit more than 9 or 10 in the class it would not be doable.

taken from back of classroom

taken from front of classroom

East Wall

West Wall

This year I have had time to get ready for school knowing I was going to be teaching full time. Last year it was hard because I basically found out the day school started that I would be teaching full time. I had no time to prepare. So, needless to say my classroom feels more organized at least even if it isn't. I also have been lucky that my daughter is here. She has helped a bunch and I am sure will continue to help. My teaching desk this past week was a whiteboard on a filing cabinets. I bought a new black table that is adjustable.

makeshift teaching table

I need to stop buying things... it doesn't help my budget any.  But I needed the bulletin board for calendar time activities and I wanted to have a birthday calendar this year also.

Birthdays

Calendar Activity Board

I made prayer cards for the students to start praying on their own. Talking to God is important to do daily. God just wants us to talk to Him like He was a friend sitting right beside us. He already knows our hearts He wants to hear us voice it. I think that is a part of the day that most of the children like. Especially one in particular. Last year he wanted to pray during group time out loud. Unfortunately, his brother laughed at him and it made that time and the rest of the day less productive for us all. This year he is very eager to pray, I think not only because we split the two of them up but also because it is an individual time.

Prayer Cards and Brag Tags

I am trying everything I can think of to make this year run smoothly, one thing I hope will help is progress reports every 2 weeks and caught being good tickets. So far, the caught being good tickets are working, and my hope is that with the progress reports the parents will begin to take a more active role in the education of their children. There is a lot of work to still be done, I know God has a plan and I hope that I am following it. We will see as the year progresses.

Thanks for reading. God Bless You All!

Please pray for:

Indian Bible Academy (Louisiana)
Pastor John
Ms. Erika (High School Teacher)
Mr. Andy (Elementary Teacher)
and Me, Ms. Vanessa (Elementary Teacher)

Getting Ready for a New School Year!

It is August 7, 2019... today was the first day of school for public school teachers. It is no different in our small private school, since we follow the same schedule. I have been working off and on all summer either thinking about what to teach, finding stuff on Pinterest, or actually working in my room. There used to be a a statement... " 3 of the best reasons to teach, June, July, and August. The thing is a teacher never stops being a teacher and as you can see (in Louisiana at least) August is no longer a reason.

Things that need to be organized in folders!

Files all organized!

Desk set up... I still need a teaching table! 

I never stop thinking about teaching. I am always thinking about the same three things over and over (there are actually more but these are the ones I think about most), "how can I improve?", "what should I teach?", and "why am I so bad at my job?" You may think I am crazy, but I spend a majority of my time pondering these questions.

I want to be the best teacher I can be, to honor and glorify God, since He is the reason I do this job. I don't do it for the money, never have, because this is the WRONG profession to be in to make money, especially in a private school. Believe me public school is no better, I am teaching now, because I can't live on my retirement and God said, "I am not finished with you yet!"

So how can I improve? In what ways can I, as a seasoned teacher continue to grow and learn to improve my abilities? Just that way.... By learning something everyday if possible, or at least searching out new things. I have always told my students if they are not willing to learn something new they might as well be dying... because our minds need the stimulation, without it, it will start to die. So, I read, I blog, I program, I talk to others, and I attend classes or conferences. I continue to grow my mind and my knowledge. I can study the Bible too! Yes, that does help me, don't ask me how but it does!

What should I teach? Again you may be thinking well, DUH! Reading, Arithmetic, Language, Writing, all the other subjects, and Bible in my school, right. I guess it isn't so much what to teach but how should it be taught. I want learning to be fun, and to cause the students to want to continue to learn long after they have left the school system. I want them to be excited to know that 2 x 2 equals 4 and that birds didn't come from dinosaurs (contrary to popular belief). I want them to know that just because dinosaurs are real that doesn't mean that evolution is, that the Bible actually talks about them.

“Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles.
He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.”         Job 40:15-18

There are more references in Job to dinosaurs but this is the one that I believe really shows it. It tells of a Brontosaurus, or an Apatosaurus, with large legs and a tail like a cedar, ribs like the bars on a jail cell. Don't you get a picture of...

from: https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/apatosaurus-brontosaurus-rising

In chapter 41, God speaks of Leviathan, which could possible be a dragon of some kind. Boys love to learn about these things. I want them to want to learn, so how do I teach to make it fun and exciting? I am always trying new things and I hope if you know some things I can try, that you would share them.

The last question is an esteem question. I am not a good teacher in my mind. I never have been, I have been told that by a few people, in particular a principal or two. Words have meanings, words hurt, words invade and stay in our minds. This is why I TRY... to choose my words as carefully as possible. I fight the floods of negative comments that replay daily in my mind! I don't want that for my students, I want them to know that even if they can't get math, they can succeed at other things or that if they are good at everything they should not look down on people who might not be as well rounded.

Teaching is a hard and time consuming profession, if you are doing it right. It is a life long profession... I will probably be a teacher in one way or another until the day I die (no time soon I hope)! I will continue to ask those question about my professional teaching, my Sunday school teaching, my AWANA teaching, and any other teaching God puts before me. Your prayers in this endeavor are appreciated!

Thanks for Reading. God Bless You!

Transition

As I have been contemplating this post "fear" has settled in. Not really fear... but awe in what God has in store for me, for Croatia, for Indian Bible Academy. I am not leaving Croatia behind totally, if God wishes for the ministry to continue with our team, He will see that happens. I have other ideas in my mind also, but God has to give is blessing on that.... Pray that God will lead in these areas.

I have posted most of the photos from the trip on Flickr. If you want to look at these that would be great. Enjoy. There is also a video of one of the songs everyone loved to sing.

So right now, I am sitting in another hotel room getting ready for the Summer Seminar for abeka. At Indian Bible Academy this is the curriculum that we use. I have taught using these materials before in another private school, and I used the materials last year at IBA. I hope I will receive some insight into ways to better use the materials in a combined class room. I will be teaching all grades K-7. Not all at once, k-4 in the morning and 4-7 in the afternoon. there are more 4th graders this year than the other grades. So being here will be a blessing.

One of the things the Lord has impressed on my over the last few months is that He wants me to be a disciple maker. Actually, He wants all Christians to be doing this. This command should be well know to followers of Christ!

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”" Matthew 16-20

I do teach, and talk to others about Christ, but I can't say that I have purposely put forth an effort to disciple. I have been reading The Disciple Maker's Handbook, by B. Harrington and J. Patrick. This was suggested by my pastor in pursuit of learning to be a disciple maker and I am almost finished reading it. It is a very good and "quick" read even as I am a slow reader.

Here is the idea that I feel God has impressed on me. I want to teach my students at IBA to be disciples. Many of them may not have given their lives to Christ yet and one of the first things we will talk about is the picture of Christ throughout the whole Bible. Then to lead them in seeing the fruits of the spirit through the lives of people who lived their lives filled with the spirit or examples of those who lived the opposite. Here is an example: Abraham and Sarah can be an example of Faith and an example of impatience. Sarah was impatient about waiting for God's timing and then was jealous when God blessed her handmaid. Yet, when God was faithful and Issac was born Abraham believe God and was willing to sacrifice him, knowing that God would provide and keep His promise.

I also found in the book a poem written by someone who is unknown. I plan to have it posted in my room and have the class read it daily...

"The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are read by more than a few. But the one that is most read and commented on is the gospel according to you. You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by the things that you do and the words that you say."

What does the word gospel mean? "The teachings or revelations of Christ", "a thing that is absolutely true", or "a set of principles or beliefs". The Greek word used in the Bible is "euangelion" which literally means Good News. Think about that and the poem above. Many people see you and are reading your good news.... What is your good news? That God is good in the good times and the bad, that you can have joy, peace, love, faithfulness, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control, no matter the situation. Or that God is only in your life when you need Him, that He is someone you talk to on Sundays and in the bad times. Or maybe you think God is only God on Christmas and Easter. My life and yours speak volumes to those around us, I pray that my life speaks the right message to my students and all those I meet. I pray that I can teach them to live a life that speaks volumes about God to ALL those they meet in their lives. Please pray for me in this endeavor for God to make disciples for Him.

Thanks for reading. God Bless You All!

 

 

Architecture

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was [j]founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:46-49

The architecture around Croatia is probably not unique, I am sure other areas in Europe have the same styles. The one thing that is very different is that the modern building are not replacing the old for the most part. It isn't nostalgia that the people seek that cause the building to lie dormant, the buildings may not have been reclaimed after the war. The family that owned the building may not have had enough funds to rebuild. The architecture is one of my favorite pats of this country.

Jesus said that people who hear all He was saying and does them is like a man who builds his house on a rock, his foundation was dug correctly and was made to be stable. The person whose house is build this way is less likely to lose his house when the storms come. Life is like that also, when we build our lives on the One who is life giver, when the storms of life come we are less likely to be tossed to and fro, or lose our footing, we can stand strong against the storm.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

If our lives are built on the right foundation and our foundation is on the chief cornerstone, Jesus, we can stand against anything that comes our way. It doesn't matter if it is good, bad, or ugly, we can stand. I want my life to be built on Christ and for that to be evident, I am not sure that it is. My foundation hasn't really been rocked yet, and I am not sure I want it to be. If it is I pray that I can stand strong in the face of all that comes my way.
The school that we held class in had remnants of time past in the foyer, things that had been excavated around the village. The following photos of those things. I think most of them came from what looks like and old church. Does that mean that it was not firmly planted on the Chief Cornerstone. No, time passes, no one lives forever in this physical life. There will come a time when time will pass us by, if Christ tarries. The real question for me is will I have something, even a little piece of me left behind to reminded the world I was here...

Thanks for reading. God Bless You!