Sunday, February 27, 2011

End of February



Hello again! Somebody informed me that I should update my blog more often, so here I am, giving you another update. :) (This is for you, becky.) Actually, I would like to update more, it's just been so busy.
I just uploaded some pictures on facebook, so you can check them out, but I included two here so you can have a little taste if you don't have a chance to look there. :) I included two pictures. One is of a trip to Madura (another island close by) with a church group. We ate bebek goreng (fried duck) at a famous restaurant here. The other picture is of English club, singing a song with the students.
I just returned from a retreat with my church for Sunday school teachers. It was just overnight, but it was really refreshing. We were able to worship God together and learn about creativity in teaching and letting God use us in loving our students. It was a good reminder not just for S.S., but also for teaching during the week. Please pray for me that God's love would lead me and fill me so that anything I say and do would be an overflow of what He has already given me. Thanks so much for your prayers and support!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Answer to prayer

As I said last time, I have started teaching the middle school class at the English club. I taught it first on February 5 and was a little discouraged because the students had trouble paying attention. On February 12 I had my second time to teach. The day before I came home from school with a fever. When I woke up on Saturday, I didn't have a fever, but I still felt weak and tired. I almost didn't go to Oasis because of the way I was feeling. But I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to go. I also know a lot of you were praying for me in planning and teaching the class. God answered these prayers more than I even imagined. I felt so much better as soon as I got there. And when the classes were finished, I felt energized instead of tired like usual. The class itself went well too. The kids seemed to have fun and listen beter. So, thank you for all your prayers.
I just wanted to share these verses in closing. Recently, God has been encouraging me about His love and grace that are undeserved. Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing in God's glory."
I pray that each of you will be encouraged by God's love for you and look forward to sharing in His glory someday with confidence and joy!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

New year...again



Wow! Last time I wrote it was new year's eve and today it is Chinese New Year so we have a day off. I didn't realize it had been so long since I last wrote! January went very quickly, especially the past week. Here's a brief recap:
School started again on the 4th. I'm trying to remember what else happened... :)
The English club started again on the 15th. I will be helping with the oldest class now as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade class. This coming Saturday I will be teaching the older class by myself because the other teachers will be gone.
On the 22nd, I went out of town with some other teachers to attend a wedding of one of our co-workers. It was definitely different from the weddings that I've been to before. We had to go to an early church service for the ceremony itself (7 a.m.) Actually, it was just a church service, with the couple signing their vows in the middle of it. A few hours later the reception started, but it was very fast. We just went to the place, where the bride and groom were seated on a stage, dressed in traditional Javanese clothes. We greeted their family members and then them. After that, we helped ourselves to the buffet style food, and then we could leave. The first picture above is of us with the bride.
On the 27th and 28th, our school had it's open house for this semester. I had my first experience of being one of the "PICs" (person in charge). So it was a little tiring, but it went well. Our theme was "Save the earth - Reduce, reuse, and recycle". The second picture is of one of my students with a craft made out of recycled materials.
Last weekend was busy with a birthday party for a friend, English club all day on Saturday, and then church followed by a Sunday school meeting on Sunday.
This week has gone quickly so far at school. Now our division is preparing for our Valentine's day program on the 14th. The children will perform Cinderella for the parents, so I am on the decorations committee to make the scenery for the play.
Last night, a family from school invited some of us over for dinner in honor of Chinese New Year. We had a great time eating and then singing together. (They have a whole room dedicated to music with a piano, drums, and microphones for singing.)
Well, hopefully it won't be so long until I write again! :) God bless you!