Merry Christmas

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!

Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that is for all people. For unto us is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord.

For heaven best, Jesus Christ was send in the form of a baby, with great love, grace and peace for the sake of the lost to be reconciled back to God in this body through the Cross.
It's not the bright lights that defines true Christmas. It's not Santa clause. Not the big bequest or the family feasting. But the fact that out of pure love the Father send down the Son for us in a form of man. Jesus Christ the Greatest Gift.

So let us laugh, sing, and celebrate for this very reason. Let Christmas become a Thanks Giving day!

 
*Merry Christmas*
 
Everyone!

True indeed.

I came across this wonderful quote today and my heart melt to the deep truth in the those words.

" It was through reformed theology that GOD opened my eyes to the true meaning of life. Surely the human heart is a God-shaped vacuum that can only be filled by God himself once He become the center and our source of Joy!"

In Hard times

The past few days has been hard. For once in my life I some how felt like Job, hit by the hard storms of this life. Everything has been upon me so hard and nothing seemed to work at all. It felt dark and stressful. But I"m here to testify that, our God is indeed true to HIS WORDS. Even though I walk through the valley of shadow and death, the most high God has been and still is with me.
He has been faithful, stead fast, a strong tower, and true. So He came through for me with this verse: 1 Peter 5:9-10
(9: Stand up to him. stand firm in what you believe. all over the world your brothers and sisters are going through the same kind of suffering. God always gives us the grace we need. so you will only have to suffer for a little while. then 10: God Himself will build you up again. make you strong and steady...)
just want to share this with everyone going through the same stage right now, that there is hope in the middle of those dark and hard storms. Just need to keep your eyes on Him, or else we might find ourselves sinking like Peter. God is with us in those storms as He was with Joseph, Daniel, and the three friends in the furnace. leading, guiding, and building up as well as strengthening our characters!
so cheer up!

Indeed, we would throw in the towel without HIM. which proves His words true; that we are nothing without HIM.

Grade 2's class party

Today was the last day of school for all the kids. And Ms Afrikaner and I decided to throw  a class party for our grade 2s before we could send them off for the long Christmas holiday.
It was really exciting to see the expressions on their face when they walked into the class this morning. They just loved the whole decoration that we set up.
We placed out some snacks and drinks for each an everyone and we had music, to show of their dancing skills. It was a super awesome day for us all.


Yet deeply sad because we are not only going to miss them for the two months that they are gone for the holiday but the hardest thing of all is that we will not be having them in our class next year.
 And the grade 7s will not be coming back at all. So today was the last day for them at school. We said our goodbyes, and I am still deeply sad about it. But the truth is, no matter how hard it is to let go, we can never keep them to ourselves. I guess I didn't take to heart the phrase that says: "Sooner or later, there comes a time where by you have to let them go."
It's really sad.
But that would not keep me from sharing the pictures of the day.

                                                                          The greetings.

                                                                    The deco in the class

                                                       The ballroom dancing.

Campus Crusade

The Campus crusade had a social to day that was held in the Zoo part (which is situated in the city center) and it was really an amazing blessing to meet most of these ladies for the first time. We spend a great time worshiping and building new friendships.

A different life...

So many times God calls us to step out of our comfort zones to live a life that's different from our little "perfect" lives that we lay out for our self. He has predestined us and called us to take part in His amazing story. But like Moses, we have so many excuses not realizing that the one who calls us will give us the strength to complete the task we are about to take on.

 Oh!!...so many times He has called me yet I have failed Him, but out of His love and grace He still chose to give me a second chance. I know that all the way my savior leads me, yet I find myself in doubt of His tender mercy, who through life has been my GOD but Him, He gives me grace for every trial. He leads me and keep me from falling and carry me close to His heart. The fullness of His love and assurance of His promises is what keeps me going.
What are we mankind but the dust of the earth? yet so unexplainable...He loves us so deeply.

Take care of your Garden

The heart is your garden

your kind words are the roots

your kind thoughts are the flowers

your good deeds are the fruits

take care of your garden

and keep out the weeds.

Fill it with sunshine, above all fill it with Jesus.

A little illustration I used in my bible class with the grade 2's today.

 

Sports Day.

Our Sport Day!
The kids were all divided into three teams.

Yellow team.

Red team.

And the Blue team.

But after the big race and the kids had fun and all, there was only one team that won the big prize and that was the...

YELLOW TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best day ever.

Back to the City

I am leaving the YWAM base and heading back in to town for good. So sad and exciting at the same time. It was surely life changing to be able to live at the base for 2 months and a few weeks. I loved the peace and the quietness that it offered, for it made me to be still and know that God was there. The hunger created within to find Him through hiking and to see His beauty, unfailing love, and Glory from every mountain top. I give Him the Glory for bringing me as low at to my feet and face. For showing me how broken I was when I thought I was perfectly complete. For opening my eyes to Him everything Ling presence around me and for assuring me day after day that He indeed was, is, and will always be there. He brought people in my life while there just to show me how effective His great plan of Salvation still is in this Broken world. And what type of people His willing to use to bring in the Harvest. I have raced the sunrise on top of the mountain, as saw His mercy in every sunrise and He's forgiveness in every sunset. Indeed sometime God does brings Us at certain places, to be with certain people in order for us to HUNGER, THIRST, SEEK, and GROW much more closer to Him

A mission team from Phoenix

In our second last month before the holiday we were blessed to have a team from Phoenix Arizona.

I had the opportunity to stay with them at the YWAM base and drove down to school with them every morning. 

Half of the team members helped at school every morning while the other half especially the men helped build Martha's house and the construction of the roof. They have been building wonderful relationships with the children. The children really loved them.

I have to say the past two weeks has marked an amazing journey of my life, it was truly amazing just to see God's words proven to be true day after day. The words that declares that God is the Father of all. He has broken down the wall of hatred and has united us all as one person and family in Christ. No matter where each one was from we found our rightful place in Christ's unity. I got to see and live that out with an amazing team from "Sweet Home Arizona, where the skies are so so Blue!"

 They have been such a blessing beyond words. And I deeply thank the Lord for the living hope that they have brought streaming out into the Community Hope's kids. They grew more and more to love the Lord, life and every member of the team. Especially the grade six. 

The kids and I thanked them all for the hugs, the games, dancing, worship, spicy card games, and for the life changing testimonies and skits. 

I have been indeed personally encouraged, motivated, grown to love and to appreciate more and more where God called me to be and be a part of.

                           Luke, Blake, Antonio, and Will with the kids during break time

Thor and the grade 2s

                                                                 Meddie and Jamila.

Grade 7's Team Building

The grade 7s has a team building project this weekend at the YWAM base and my brother and I, and a few more young teachers from the school volunteered to help out. I really love it here. It’s really quiet and peaceful.
I get up every morning before sunrise to do my quiet time here by the dam. The morning sun rise is spectacular.Takes my breath away every time. I see that first sun rays peek over those mountains, and it feels like I can hear God Himself whispering good morning to me through that splendid sun rise. He’s beauty is displayed early in the morning, that from the rising of the sun to the sun set, He’s name indeed is praised through all creation.

                                                        YWAM's dam

                                                                    The grade 7s

 I have to say that it has been quite interesting and fun for the past two days. On Friday we had prepared many ice breakers and awesome games for the kids. And yesterday we had early devotional time and then weeding after breakfast. The kids had to learn how to work together as a team which worked pretty well.

Noon time, we went out hiking, which was really my favorite thing to do. I really loved every moment of it. I love Hiking simply because every step you take clearly teaches you about the Christian journey. Which seem to starts off pretty well but as you go up in the middle, the journey starts to get tough and your legs get tired, your arms, and your whole body screams for nothing else but give up!

It always seems easy to go back down then to continue going up. But I have found that when I hike and I come to a point where by I feel tired, I don’t look back but keep my eyes fixed on the top of the mountain. And try to imagine the great view and the nice cooling breeze that I would get once I get up there. Those are the two things that keep me going. And indeed the reward is always great!
The team building, the fellowship, games, and food has been great. The kids truly enjoyed every bit of it, so did we all as teachers.

Chapel Day

This was our Chapel day this morning and we had visitors from the States, who are part of the YWAM's DTS. Daniel and Junairo. They are both basketball players and they use that sport to share the gospel with people around the world. Which I think is pretty amazing. They have a basketball with six colors and they explain the gospel step by step by using every color on the ball. The kids understood it pretty well and they loved it.  It was a really awesome day. The kids hang around with them. Asked them a lot of questions, and played a lot of games.

                                         Daniel and Lonel playing soccer with the grade 5s during break time.

Thank You Lord

What Can I say, school has really been great so is the the kids. To be honest, I have to say it's a blessing being here at Community Hope school. And I really thank God for allowing me to be apart of this children's lives. I thank Him that he has chosen to work through some one like me to be a light and a blessing to them in return. The Lord is really good. And because of His amazing kindness I am always looking forward to every day. Because I know that every time I reach those school gates there will be sweet faces waiting for me outside with arms open wide in hope for a warm hug from Ms Josua. They are treasure boxes.

I look at these kids and indeed by God's grace I see the hope to this broken community that they live in. I see God raising up a new generation to build up His kingdom and to shine his light in the darkest places. I see God rebuilding the ruins.

THEY ARE THE APPLES OF MY EYES.

They said we should not get attached to the kids, but I have to be honest and admit that I am definitely growing to be in love with these kids and more attached than ever.
 I can't help myself. In fact, I thank God for the gift of teaching. For the joy of being a blessing and being surround by more than a hundred kids every day and all over me!
Their laughter, their hugs, their smiles, the mixed up words, and that good bye hugs and kisses on the cheek when its time to go home. I thank God for those last words at the end of the day that always seem to melt my heart to bits.
''I love you Ms Josh."

Oh, how long?

Oh, how I long spend wasting my life searching for a purpose and meaning to life in the wrong places and people.
When I ought to be still and listen as He says to me: I am the source of your life, apart from me you can do nothing and your life has no meaning.
When you see the struggle and the shame, I see the reason why I came to die. I came for your story and I came for your wounds, to show you what love sees, when I see you.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is the reason why I am here and whether I live or die, I am His and pray to do it all to His Glory.

Flu...and...headahe

Yesterday wasn't any better from the day before.Woke up very late, missed out on driving with Marya (the grade 3 teacher, who I was suppose to drive with to school ) and struggled to get a taxi from my place to katutura. So I had to walk all the way to the Dorado taxi rank which is a 30 minute walk. It took me a while, but I got a taxi the moment I got there and he dropped me off at a service station close to the school.
I just realized that if you are not early then you are late.

But I am really thankful today. No repeats of Wednesday and Thursday. I woke up at the right time. Left home and got dropped off at the right place. And most importantly, got at school on time. for the first time I found the kids at the gate, who ran to greet me with warm hugs.I felt like I was starting to get a gleams of what it truly means to be a teacher. I really had an amazing fun morning with the kids. And deeply enjoyed the 30 minute chapel that we had in the hall.The kids were awesome during worship time. Loved it.

I did time lines and flash cards all morning again and I sat in the hall by myself  the whole morning. Well, until Nigel from our grade 2 got excused from the class for being naughty. So he spend the whole 30 minutes with me outside chatting about his favorite cartoon movies and what he wants to be when he grow up. I have to say that it was really great to spend some time getting to know him. He's really an amazing little boy, he just needs attention.
I couldn't spend the rest of the day with the kids as I hoped I would because after break my headaches from the flu which I have been trying to deal with for two days now, started to get worst. I didn't want to get the kids sick so I had to come home early. Lying on the couch with a ice full cloth over my forehead this moment, I am trying to read Louie Giglio's book.
Then an hour nap might just do later.

First day officially helping at Community Hope school

It is my first day officially helping out at Community Hope school today.
 And hey..they say first impressions are very important. I don't know, because mine started off with a crazy morning. First of all, I got up at the wrong time which was 4 a.m. Then I got into a taxi that dropped me off at the wrong school in town. Then I got into anther taxi that dropped me off some where in katutura. Which happened to be at the wrong place. I took the matter into my own hands and decided to find the school myself. That's when I got lost on my little adventure.
So I pleaded the Lord for help and He answered me.Took me about an hour to finally find the school.
But I did, and I thank God for that.
:)
I didn't really have much to do today. except to cut out words for flash cards and help make time lines for the grade 2 class. I am scheduled to teach arts and Bible every Friday for the grade 2s. And connect group with the grade 5 girls. I am really excited to get to know and connect with all the kids in some way. I really pray that the Lord will use me to be a blessing in these children's lives and as every day goes by He will continue to reveal to me what He's plan is for bringing me here.
But hey, meet the grade 2s and Ms Afrikaner.

First Day...Visiting Community Hope

So Community Hope is a small school in Katutura situated in a church building. It provides hope through Christian education to children, many of which orphaned by AIDS.

In 2005, Community Hope School (CHS) began with ten students where the need was seen the most- in Katutura. Today, CHS is a fully functioning primary school, ministering to over one hundred students in grades one through seven. Each day these children receive breakfast, snacks, hot lunch, a quality Christian education and, most importantly, hope. School staff visit homes and give medical assistance, food and counseling to those who look after the children.

It has round about 200 students and it is run by an American couple John and Suzanne Hunter who I  happened to meet for the first time last week Sunday at church. We started talking and before I knew it we were talking about my life and what I have been doing last year which was teaching. And at the same time they have been praying to get someone who could help out at school in grade two. I wasn't sure about the idea at first when they asked me if I wanted to help out, so they asked me to take some time to pray and think about it.
But with my visit of the school today and after seeing those kids, I have to be honest and say I definitely want want to be there. I don't have a plan at all, and I think that is okay because I am sure that if God is indeed calling me to be apart of those Children's lives then He has a plan and He will make away. He alone will give me the strength I need, the ability, and the heart to be able to do what ever He calls me to do there. Community Hope school is indeed a pretty neat and friendly place. and the kids are really amazing. My first day and they were all over me. I like them already.
I will be working in grade 2 with another teacher and her name is Ms Afrikaner. I am really looking forward to get to know her. I deeply pray that the Lord will build a good friendship between us and I really hope to learn so much from her.
I am excited!

No easy journey

God has not promised an easy journey, but has promised to be there with us every step of the way. what really matters is that you know that GOD has called you to be where you are and who you are in Him. so, trust the past to His mercy, the present to His Love, and the future to His providence.

We don't know what Tomorrow Holds, But we know who Holds Tomorrow. He alone is greater than Tomorrow.

Home sick

Still finding it very hard to adjust to this city life. Noise pollution, busy and crowded streets & roads. Long distances services and over towering neighbors walls. Bright evening city lights & silent morning birds.
I miss my little tiny countryside town. Even though not the best, my heart still feels at home there than anywhere else. I miss the green surroundings, the sweet morning fresh air, the songs of the early morning birds. And the everyday smile and chat with the neighbors 7 days a week. The smell of smoke from the fire place, golden sunset and mountain's view. Dim street lights. And the clear bright evening sky. Surely, there is no place like home.

But this will be home for now, I just have to get use to it and adjust to all the newness of it all.