Girls' Day out!

The gr 5 girls had an awesome opportunity to visit the YWAM base this past Saturday all thanks to Mrs. Hunter. It was really special. It was fun and unforgettable! We all loved the great adventure and awesome experience.

Wherever you are be all there

Jim. puts it this way:

“Wherever you are be all there! Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”

Be all there, body, heart, and Spirit and make every moment count for the glory of God. I have decided long time ago to take every day at the time. Not to worry about tomorrow for that would rob me of today’s joy and I would miss out whatever God present before me today.

A friend once said to me: “Nothing else matters that much when you know that God wants you to be wherever you are at that moment.”John Zellmer

I have carried that truth with me ever since. I have felt like that 3 years ago when I walked into community hope school. I have felt like that a year ago when I was sitting at the back of our grade 2 classroom and just quietly observed the kids. I have felt like that a few months ago with my new grade 5s, and I have strongly became aware of that just an hour ago during our parents’ meeting.      

     

Sometimes I really wondered whether these kids really understood what I said. Sometimes I just look up at the end of the day and be like: “Lord, is this really worth it at all?”

And so finally the parents stood up this evening and answered that question. It was amazing that they had a lot to say and just shared how thankful they were. They spoke about; the great change, the amazing impact, the growth, the motivations, the new hope, and how God was evident in their children’s lives. They stood up and they all had something to say, one after another. All the effort, all the sowing, and all the encouragement, it wasn’t just changing the kids; God has been using it to change their parents and family members’ lives too. Surely God has a plan for these children. I count it great joy to be apart of his story. I count it to be a great privilege that I can be apart of he's plan of redemption and bringing hope to he's people here. Whatever we whispered to them behind those classroom doors, they make it known to all back home!

And so the good news is spreading through education and at the same time God is busy changing and touching lives.

“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.”

I found this statement to be true. I found this to be real myself. As I sat there, biting my nails off my thumb finger, the parents surely captured my attention. I wasn’t just listening with my ears; my hearts was listening and receiving too. And I embraced it all, every word!  

They truly appreciate us. They appreciate what we are doing in their children’s lives. They can truly see the change in their lives. They can see them grow. They can see God moving. Now, they want to be a part of this great change; they want to be a part of what God is doing here. Many were motivated to do their parts as parents and I was motivated to do even more and go beyond!

It is worth it. It is worth it!

If you trash all that the world has to offer and approve and then choose to live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God, then all that you will be left with;  Is God, Joy, and contentment!

Made for so much more...

Never try to live for anything or anyone else than Christ Himself. I have gone half way through life to finally discover this truth. there is none higher, greater, much more worthy than Christ himself. And living for him is just offering back to him what truly and rightly belongs to him. We have been bought with a price, we are not our own.
All throughout life people come and go, things come in new forms but they all wear out, but He remains to be true and valuable forever.  When all virtues walk out it is love (Christ) that stands back and remain.
When we have nothing and no one left but God, we discover that God is enough and all other things are just simply passing by. meant to be rides as John says; that points us back to Christ.

What has He set me apart for?

I have always wanted to live for a purpose much more greater and meaningful than the world had to offer. I was always afraid that I might miss God's will for  my life and what He wanted to do through me. Over and over I pleaded with the Lord that I wanted to be in his will. I asked him: what do you want me to do Lord?  You have done that and that through Moses, Joshua, David, Ruth, Esther...and the list goes on. But the real question was: what about me? what have you set me apart for?

I knew deep inside that there surely can't be any greater joy than someone living for God's purpose and finding themselves where God wants them to be, in hes will. I have always struggled to read Jeremiah 1:5. I read it over and over again in search for only one answer.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Yes, He has appointed him to be a prophet to the nation, but what about me?  what has He set me apart for? what has he appointed me to be? and in which ways does he want me to be a blessing to my nation?
Every time I look at the faces of my children, listen to them speak, or watch them smile directly at me; my heart moves and deep down I am always convinced that there is no place I rather be! 
who knows if He has appointed me to be here for such a time as this and in such away to also be a blessing to my nation. After all he has determined our appointed times and boundaries of where we will live even before time. I know for sure that these days with my children, every single one of them, they were written in to his book and he planned them all before a single one of them began.
Are they not part of this nation. Surely they are our future generation.

 They say: blood is thicker than water, but I say the spirit is thicker than blood.
 They might not be my very own but by God's grace they have captured my heart and I might as well  call them my own and treat them as my very own. He has entrusted them to me that He might speak into their lives, teach them, love them, and direct them back to himself through me, does he not then qualify me to be their Spiritual mom? I believe he did.

  My greatest prayer and hope is that I would live to see them truly becoming sons and daughters of the Living God and that I would be here to enjoy and celebrate those moments with them. And what ever God sows in to their lives now would change their life and bear fruits.

COLD,cold...COLD!

 Finally winter is here, but I didn't think it would be this much cold. I have never went this  thick before! Blankets to school is an in thing now. I wouldn't dare laugh or blame any one. It was 6 degrees yesterday and today is 0!  I couldn't feel my toes and my fingers yesterday. Wow...I am not complaining after all that means more cups of coffee and warm soups for me. I am thankful for winter. I am thankful for a season of change. I am thankful that I can find myself struggling to get warm at least once or twice in a year. That doesen't come by so often. I love winter!  Stay warm!
:)

What on earth is happening to our Children?

My heart cries out to the young boys and girls of this age. It cries out to the new generation that is being raised up every day.
unless we step up in raising young sisters, daughters, nieces, or cousins...brothers, nephews, and sons, any boy or girl that might ever cross our path, to become Godly women and men in this confused and conflicted culture then there won't be any much hope left of having fine young men and women in the future.

It's sad enough and growing concern that many girls are being molded, influenced, and in many cases, damaged, and lied to by a false world view. If we don't teach them the Truth, then the media, the society, and this twisted culture that is doing every thing to crush the truth, beauty, innocence, and purity, will lead them astray. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) I have come to learn that when we sow the seeds and we surrender them completely to God, He is faithful and can be trusted to make them grow and produce good fruits. I have always had a hard time letting them go because I wasn't sure what the future held for them and how their lives would turn out like. Would they still remember what I taught them? will they be able to stand firm on the truth in hard day? or will they be swept away and fall away?
My eyes has been opened to the sovereign hand of a Mighty God who alone is able to save and teach His own. I may not know what tomorrow hold for them, but I know the one who holds it quietly assure me: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver. 
 Lay a firm foundation now while you still can, give them back to God, and he will do what you are unable to do for them, insight and out of sight, the Lord is faithful to take care...don't wait for the world's media to do it for you, because all it does is steal, kill and destroy.
Never tell the Lord that they are still too young, because the day I told the Lord that in my early teens He gave me Jeremiah 1:7   I was amazed to find out that God hears us even when we grumble silently! and that He wanted to use me at such an early age.  :)

The older I get, the more I realize that the key to raising children is laying a firm foundation and praying for them every day. God can be trusted to do the rest.

A New Season...back to school!

                                                                     Second Term...

 I like the idea of starting all new again. I like the idea of getting a second chance when ever  I miss up once or twice. I love the fact that God offers us a  clean slate every day to start all new with him with out keeping a record of our yesterday's mistakes. 
Every time I open my eyes early in the morning there are surely days that I don't feel like putting my feet on the ground at all. I have to say that there is nothing else that fully revives my soul than to hear the Holy Spirit saying to me in those moments:
" He's mercies is new every morning" Lamentation 3:3
"This is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it!" Psalm 118:24
 Well, It's a new season and the Lord has given us a new term. A fresh start both of us as teachers and our students. School started on Tuesday and all our children are back at school. The holiday was long indeed but it was good because everyone had a chance to rest, think, and unplug. And we were all able to start all new again.
The children were super excited to be back at school. There were hundreds of stories to tell. Every one wanted to tell their story at the same time! loads of hugs, sweet word of encouragement, and new resolutions resolving to work hard and change. The holiday was filled with great excitements, adventures, parties, family reunions, but also the lost of family members. Despite all the hard times they faced during the holiday, the kids are still excited to start all new again. That has been a ray of hope to me.

Looking forward...

I am really excited about this term! I am excited to see and also find out what the Lord has in plan for us in this new term. I am excited to see God at work, His hand in every step of the way and every area of our lives. I am hoping to see more change and new growth in all our children's lives. We are praying for New hearts and New mind sets that only God can give. We are praying for guidance and strength for the journey ahead of us. To learn to trust, depend, and to fully surrender our children to the Lord, knowing that what ever He has started in their lives He alone will bring it to a full completion as long as we are faithful in sowing,teaching, and serving both Him and them in all He has called us to do here.
I am honestly really excited to take up another adventure with my kids. I pray to cherish and appreciate every moment with them because once a day is gone, is gone forever. I hope to love every moment and see the Lord in both the storms and the peace.

                                          

  A poem for Africa Day by the gr. 5s


AFRICA DAY

Africa, the land of wonders
Let us all unite and celebrate this day.
Every where they go, O'
May they see the sons
and the great daughters of Africa

May they see the brown Sahara
And the beauty of the green fields.
The Victoria Falls, the Great Zambezi
and the Zulu dancers.
O' Africa, the wild desert flower.
You alone are the black African pearl.
In unity, your rainbow Nations stands as one!