Praise Jesus! I have a job teaching 4th grade in Germany next year! I will be teaching at the International School of Augsburg!
More details to come...
Thank you for all your prayers!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Feeling little again
Sometimes I wonder about my high schoolers. They surprise me every day.
After the great success of Infinitives! The Musical, Luiz brought in a rolly-polly bug. Luiz wanted to know the English name for this bug so I told him the official name (Pill Bug) and the informal name (Rolly-Polly Bug) which evidently in BrazillianPortuguesEnglish becomes "Rolly Bug". He played with it for about 10 minutes, then Cindy ran around the room with it chasing Vivian.
As class got started, rolly bug officially earned the name "Yang Jr." Yang was not amused. Yang Jr. became a part of our class that day even to the point where Luiz would ask, "Now Yang Jr., what do you think the answer is?"
During a review game, Eric noticed that Yang Jr. had stopped moving to which Luiz said in his laid-back life approach, "Ohhh, heez jus' resting."
Sure enough, Yang Jr. crawled over to their team sign and the boys claimed he was a lucky charm especially after they won.
After the bell rang, Yang Jr. just became another pill bug on the grass and my students remembered they were 17 and 18 again, not supposed to have rolly bugs for pets and moved on with their lives.
Yep, they definitely surprise me.
After the great success of Infinitives! The Musical, Luiz brought in a rolly-polly bug. Luiz wanted to know the English name for this bug so I told him the official name (Pill Bug) and the informal name (Rolly-Polly Bug) which evidently in BrazillianPortuguesEnglish becomes "Rolly Bug". He played with it for about 10 minutes, then Cindy ran around the room with it chasing Vivian.
As class got started, rolly bug officially earned the name "Yang Jr." Yang was not amused. Yang Jr. became a part of our class that day even to the point where Luiz would ask, "Now Yang Jr., what do you think the answer is?"
During a review game, Eric noticed that Yang Jr. had stopped moving to which Luiz said in his laid-back life approach, "Ohhh, heez jus' resting."
Sure enough, Yang Jr. crawled over to their team sign and the boys claimed he was a lucky charm especially after they won.
After the bell rang, Yang Jr. just became another pill bug on the grass and my students remembered they were 17 and 18 again, not supposed to have rolly bugs for pets and moved on with their lives.
Yep, they definitely surprise me.
School fun!
I had too much fun in school this week.
The highlight was an activity I did with my students called, "Miss Ernst is too tired to teach so learn it yourself". That's not the official title, but still you get the just of it. Now you must understand I teach advanced grammar...really boring advanced grammar so I have to trick my brain (and my students' brains) into thinking advanced English grammar is exciting.
My students had 45 verbs to memorize that accompany infinitives. 45. Ugh.
So I gave them 20 minutes, colored paper, markers and said, "Make something that will help your classmates remember these for the test."
What I didn't expect was Infinitives! The Musical, an impromptu production created and performed by my students.
Act I was Luiz, Sean and Yang. Luiz (my sassy Brazilian) sang an infinitive-infused love song, Sean(your average Korean side-kick) beatboxed and Yang (my resident Communist and eternal pessimist) did his best Milli-Vanilli dance moves.
Act II was James, Andrew, Daniel and Eric. James and Andrew provided back-up vocals for the "Twinkle-twinkle, little star" introduction which then dove head-first into Eric's (unassuming, lisping Eric) gansta-rap backed up by none other than Daniel(quiet, polite, respectful) who added his own mix of Flava-Flav/Koolaid man interludes in his deep bass voice. "OH yeaaah..." I didn't hear the first half of it because I was laughing so hard.
Act III was Meg, Sunnie and Cindy (I'm not making this up) who sang their ABC song with verb lyrics, looking excessively cute as usual.
It is now the stuff of legend. And all because I let them have control of their own learning. I wonder how many students during their test will be mouthing "oh yeah".
The highlight was an activity I did with my students called, "Miss Ernst is too tired to teach so learn it yourself". That's not the official title, but still you get the just of it. Now you must understand I teach advanced grammar...really boring advanced grammar so I have to trick my brain (and my students' brains) into thinking advanced English grammar is exciting.
My students had 45 verbs to memorize that accompany infinitives. 45. Ugh.
So I gave them 20 minutes, colored paper, markers and said, "Make something that will help your classmates remember these for the test."
What I didn't expect was Infinitives! The Musical, an impromptu production created and performed by my students.
Act I was Luiz, Sean and Yang. Luiz (my sassy Brazilian) sang an infinitive-infused love song, Sean(your average Korean side-kick) beatboxed and Yang (my resident Communist and eternal pessimist) did his best Milli-Vanilli dance moves.
Act II was James, Andrew, Daniel and Eric. James and Andrew provided back-up vocals for the "Twinkle-twinkle, little star" introduction which then dove head-first into Eric's (unassuming, lisping Eric) gansta-rap backed up by none other than Daniel(quiet, polite, respectful) who added his own mix of Flava-Flav/Koolaid man interludes in his deep bass voice. "OH yeaaah..." I didn't hear the first half of it because I was laughing so hard.
Act III was Meg, Sunnie and Cindy (I'm not making this up) who sang their ABC song with verb lyrics, looking excessively cute as usual.
It is now the stuff of legend. And all because I let them have control of their own learning. I wonder how many students during their test will be mouthing "oh yeah".
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Is God Enough?
Last Sunday, Pastor Art was out of town and the children's pastor, Bobby, preached. I knew Bobby was nervous about his first opportunity to preach Sunday morning and so I prayed that God would give him a Word, not just a word, but a WORD from God. Little did I know, it was a Word for me. Here's what Pastor Bobby preached on:
Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him
Think about Job's life. He lost everything. He lost his finances, his family, his fitness(health) and his face(his reputation). He lost it all. Yet, he still said, "I know God did this. Heck, He could even kill me. But I will still hope in Him."
Wow.
Here are three questions that Pastor Bobby brought up with accompanying thoughts:
1. Can God be trusted while you are submerged in suffering?
Faith may not be a way out of trouble. It may be a way to endure trouble.
Faith is not receiving from God what you want. Faith is accepting from God what He gives you.
2. Can God be trusted when you are forsaken by friends?
Job 19:13-19
Psalm 41:9
Psalm 55:12-13
3. Can God be trusted when you are dismayed by darkness?
Remember, Job never read the book of Job. He didn't know the backstory. He didn't really know what was going on. He only saw part of the picture. Job never got the answers he wanted.
"Why" is God's question. "How" is ours. How will I respond?
Isaiah 50:10-11
10 Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him
Think about Job's life. He lost everything. He lost his finances, his family, his fitness(health) and his face(his reputation). He lost it all. Yet, he still said, "I know God did this. Heck, He could even kill me. But I will still hope in Him."
Wow.
Here are three questions that Pastor Bobby brought up with accompanying thoughts:
1. Can God be trusted while you are submerged in suffering?
Faith may not be a way out of trouble. It may be a way to endure trouble.
Faith is not receiving from God what you want. Faith is accepting from God what He gives you.
2. Can God be trusted when you are forsaken by friends?
Job 19:13-19
Psalm 41:9
Psalm 55:12-13
3. Can God be trusted when you are dismayed by darkness?
Remember, Job never read the book of Job. He didn't know the backstory. He didn't really know what was going on. He only saw part of the picture. Job never got the answers he wanted.
"Why" is God's question. "How" is ours. How will I respond?
Isaiah 50:10-11
10 Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment.
When in darkness, don't light your own torch!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A new way to give
So I don't often get super excited about things. However, when I do, I get REALLY excited!
Kiva is one of those things. I was introduced to the organization by family friends. Kiva is not a charity, it's a microloan organization. They work with field partners all around the world that give people loans to fund their business. It's not charity, it's a loan so it is expected to be paid back to you. It has a powerful effect though.
You get to choose who you would like to fund, research the field partners for risk and then loan as little as $25.
Currently, I'm helping a beauty salon and grocery store in Nigeria and a food stall in Ghana. These are real women with real ambition to bring their family out of poverty and send their children to school.
You can also be a part of teams, or small communities of loaners with similar interests. I'm part of Kiva Christians and it's amazing the dialogue people have, sharing all the organizations out there to give.
It's amazing how fast projects are funded, usually within a day. Sometimes, they even have trouble when people want to lend, but there are not enough borrowers!
If you're interested in helping out, you can go to Kiva's main site, www.kiva.org or if you would like more information, watch this video from a Kiva volunteer that explains the process.
Kiva is one of those things. I was introduced to the organization by family friends. Kiva is not a charity, it's a microloan organization. They work with field partners all around the world that give people loans to fund their business. It's not charity, it's a loan so it is expected to be paid back to you. It has a powerful effect though.
You get to choose who you would like to fund, research the field partners for risk and then loan as little as $25.
Currently, I'm helping a beauty salon and grocery store in Nigeria and a food stall in Ghana. These are real women with real ambition to bring their family out of poverty and send their children to school.
You can also be a part of teams, or small communities of loaners with similar interests. I'm part of Kiva Christians and it's amazing the dialogue people have, sharing all the organizations out there to give.
It's amazing how fast projects are funded, usually within a day. Sometimes, they even have trouble when people want to lend, but there are not enough borrowers!
If you're interested in helping out, you can go to Kiva's main site, www.kiva.org or if you would like more information, watch this video from a Kiva volunteer that explains the process.
Shorts snippets of goodness
This is from my single's Bible study a few weeks back.
What your focus is on determines your fruit.
What your fruit is determines if you will be fulfilled or just stuffed.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Listen to the Lord in all you do and wherever you go
Matthew 6:33 Steep yourself in God thoughts, God-reality-->you won't miss out.
Philippians 3:13-14 Your prize is a relationship with God. He is my reward!
What your focus is on determines your fruit.
What your fruit is determines if you will be fulfilled or just stuffed.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Listen to the Lord in all you do and wherever you go
Matthew 6:33 Steep yourself in God thoughts, God-reality-->you won't miss out.
Philippians 3:13-14 Your prize is a relationship with God. He is my reward!
Promotion
Time to catch up on some great encouragement I've received at church in the last few weeks:
Godly promotion--you don't promote yourself, your boss doesn't promote you, God is the one who promotes you (or demotes you).
Psalm 75:6-7 "
1. Be found content with what you have and where you are
Godly promotion--you don't promote yourself, your boss doesn't promote you, God is the one who promotes you (or demotes you).
Psalm 75:6-7 "
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.
7 But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another."
Everything we do is unto God-->this is true freedom!
Hebrews 4:13--God judges from the inside out. Doesn't matter what you do publicly, it's what's going on privately.
1. Be found content with what you have and where you are
- 1 Timothy 6:6 "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
- Ecclesiastes 4:6 "Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind."
- How do you expect God to move you forward when you're not content with where He has placed you right now?
- If you're dependable to everyone except God, something's wrong. If you will show up at every meeting on time, every obligation on time, but refuse to spend time in God's Word or push it to the side, something is wrong.
- Promotion comes with obedience
- Don't demand something that is not yours.
- When others say, "Oh that's just fine," God is saying, "No, that's not fine. It's not okay to take that stapler. It's not okay to take that paper. It's NOT yours!"
- Pastor Art shared an amazing story from his own life when he (while in the ministry) stole merchandise from his employer. He was unable to be promoted, to get a job, or even succeed in the ministry until he had called his employer and repaid what he had taken.
- Proverbs 16:11 (Amplified) "A just balance and scales are the Lord's; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles]."
- Reflect the character of God and His nature.
- Excellence has NOTHING to do with performance. Look at the life of Daniel (Daniel 1:16-21) He outlasted numerous kings and three kingdoms!
- Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
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