We were invited to lunch after church tomorrow, but the invitation came complete with an assignment. We were each asked to write a Psalm of our life, based on Psalm 136. After much procrastination and some grumbling, I finally did mine tonight. And as most things go, I really enjoyed the exercise once I started doing it. =-) Give it a try and if you do, send it to me, please!
I will praise the Lord, for He is good,
for His love is everlasting.
He brought me into this world in Charlotte, NC,
for His love is everlasting.
He placed me in a loving Christian home,
middle child of three,
for His love is everlasting.
He gave me a great love for music,
voice, viola, violin,
for His love is everlasting.
He allowed me to be homeschooled,
fourth grade till the end,
for His love is everlasting.
He paved the way to music conservatory,
and a viola performance degree,
for His love is everlasting.
He allowed me to play with the Charlotte Symphony
and to teach music to children,
for His love is everlasting.
He watched over my brother's family in Russia,
and taught me through my summers there,
for His love is everlasting.
He gave me an ear to hear
and has blessed my desire to learn,
for His love is everlasting.
He has taught me patience
and to rely on Him and His perfect timing,
for His love is everlasting.
He has brought me here for training,
and will be with me as I move to Odessa,
for His love is everlasting.
He has given me the desires of my heart
and is fulfilling all my purpose,
for His love is everlasting. Amen
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Boredom rears its funny head
The Ten Commandments of McDonalds
1)Thou shalt not eat at any other fast food joint.
2)Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's Big Mac.
3)Thou shalt not complain of hydrogenated oils. They are yummy.
4)Thou shalt eat here every day. REALLY, it's good for you.
5)Thou shalt always SUPER SIZE. It causes addiction and is good for our bottom line.
6) Thou shalt honor our french fries and apple pies.
7)Thou shalt take in your daily pound of salt in our establishment. It helps soak up the hydrogenated oil.
8)Thou shalt be kind to the drive-through mechanical voice. It is also a person.
9)Thou shalt not act like the cashier is a moron, even if he only has a fourth grade education.
10)Thou shalt not worry about clogged arteries. We all die in the end.
The heart of a servant
In class last week we talked about how Jesus served the disciples by washing their feet. Their dismay over this act was obvious. His response was, "Most assuredly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him." We are called to service, regardless of what position we fill within the body of believers.
I saw a beautiful example of a servant leader this morning, as I met with the principal of Kootenai Valley Christian School. I met with her for an hour, talking about the possibility of teaching music classes there two days a week. She blew me away with the heart of servitude and sacrifice that she exhibits in all of her speech. She talked to me of the history of the school, the finances, the families and the education that is provided there. Walking into her office, I was reminded again of the humility that is required of a servant. Her office looks like it is the office of a social worker who works in the ghetto. There are no thrills, nothing attractive: battered metal desk, two very old, worn out chairs, books stacked on dented- in file cabinets. Everything looks as if it was found on the side of the road or purchased from a thrift store. Oh, to compare it to the school where I've worked for the last four and a half years; a school of privilege and wealth. In contrast, selflessness is exhibited everywhere you look in this school, from the principal and the teachers, to the parents in this economically challenged area. They all make many sacrifices so that these children can come to this little school, where there no extras. They can't afford teachers or materials for band, strings, art, computer, etc. and yet this tiny school is almost a year ahead of the public schools academically.
The school barely makes ends meet each year and refuses to operate in debt. If they have the money, they remain open and if they don't, they close. The principal told me multiple stories of how God had miraculously provided finances right as they were on the point of closing the school. It is now in its 13th consecutive year, with 120 students. I just sat there listening to this woman with a passion to give children a Christian education in a poor, deprived town. She looks at this as her mission field and keeps track of each child who graduates from here, keeping up with their lives and their walk with God. It was such a blessing to me to spend time talking with her and getting a different, fresh perspective on what the ministry of a Christian school can be when it's not looked at as an industry, but as a mission field.
And.....I'm super excited that starting next week, I will be teaching general music classes two afternoons a week to the 1st through 8th grade classes! This will be a good challenge for me, because I have no budget, no resources at the school and none of my own materials here. I'll be spending the rest of this week figuring out some basic lesson plans for the different age groups. I am just so incredibly blessed that God has brought this opportunity to me and that I'll be able to share my love of music in this school for the next four months. God is so good!
I saw a beautiful example of a servant leader this morning, as I met with the principal of Kootenai Valley Christian School. I met with her for an hour, talking about the possibility of teaching music classes there two days a week. She blew me away with the heart of servitude and sacrifice that she exhibits in all of her speech. She talked to me of the history of the school, the finances, the families and the education that is provided there. Walking into her office, I was reminded again of the humility that is required of a servant. Her office looks like it is the office of a social worker who works in the ghetto. There are no thrills, nothing attractive: battered metal desk, two very old, worn out chairs, books stacked on dented- in file cabinets. Everything looks as if it was found on the side of the road or purchased from a thrift store. Oh, to compare it to the school where I've worked for the last four and a half years; a school of privilege and wealth. In contrast, selflessness is exhibited everywhere you look in this school, from the principal and the teachers, to the parents in this economically challenged area. They all make many sacrifices so that these children can come to this little school, where there no extras. They can't afford teachers or materials for band, strings, art, computer, etc. and yet this tiny school is almost a year ahead of the public schools academically.
The school barely makes ends meet each year and refuses to operate in debt. If they have the money, they remain open and if they don't, they close. The principal told me multiple stories of how God had miraculously provided finances right as they were on the point of closing the school. It is now in its 13th consecutive year, with 120 students. I just sat there listening to this woman with a passion to give children a Christian education in a poor, deprived town. She looks at this as her mission field and keeps track of each child who graduates from here, keeping up with their lives and their walk with God. It was such a blessing to me to spend time talking with her and getting a different, fresh perspective on what the ministry of a Christian school can be when it's not looked at as an industry, but as a mission field.
And.....I'm super excited that starting next week, I will be teaching general music classes two afternoons a week to the 1st through 8th grade classes! This will be a good challenge for me, because I have no budget, no resources at the school and none of my own materials here. I'll be spending the rest of this week figuring out some basic lesson plans for the different age groups. I am just so incredibly blessed that God has brought this opportunity to me and that I'll be able to share my love of music in this school for the next four months. God is so good!
Friday, February 6, 2009
First week of classes
We just finished our first week of classes today. Our teacher was John Pipes, a career missionary with International Messengers. He has served in Poland, helped start the Odessa team and is now instrumental in getting a team up and running in Uganda. He taught "God in Missions," where we studied some of the men from the Old and New Testament. We looked at how God called them to His work, how they responded(for the good or bad) and how He ultimately ended up using them. I really enjoyed the class and going back and reviewing what I already knew, but looking at it in a different light at times. John is a funny character with a great heart for missions and a passion for sharing that with others.
On another note: I think I've found an awesome way to do my community service while I'm here! I'm really excited and am praying that it works out. I was asked to play guitar for chapel this afternoon at the little Christian school here, Kootenai Valley Christian. While I was there, I talked to the principal and told her my music background and that I'd love to help out in any way that is needed. She immediately told me that they no longer have a music teacher, and it would be great if I could come a couple times a week and teach some basic music classes. So, needless say, I am pretty excited about this opportunity. I'm going to be going in Monday morning to meet with her and discuss details and schedule possibilities.
Oh, and one more very important thing to mention: I finished my first ever crochet project, pictured above! =-)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The "big" adventure
Today we ventured an hour and a half away to Kallispell, Montana. It's a pretty small town, as well, but much bigger than Libby. It actually has its own airport and we were on assignment to pick up our first teacher, John Pipes, and a young man heading to Uganda in a week. Those poor guys have to spend an entire week with an all-female class. =-)
We skipped church to make the drive and actually get some shopping done before picking them up. We figured that since we doubled up on churches last week, we would be forgiven for skipping today. We hit Wal-Mart, Starbucks(woohoo!!), Target and the Dollar Store. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't enjoy group shopping, so this was an exercise in patience for me. I was mentally done after purchasing my iced, tall, peppermint, black and white mocha at Starbucks. ahhhh
We picked up the guys and made the drive back to Libby, attempting to get back here in time for the guys to make it to the Sharp's house for the Super Bowl kickoff. John had the brilliant idea to drive up the icy hill so that they would get there sooner. We made it about 1/4th of the way up before we started sliding. Down, down, down we came, CRASH into the snowbanks on the side. oops. We were stuck nicely and all got out to examine the damage. Hmm, uh oh, there goes Sandra, sliding down the hill. Come back, Sandra!! The van resisted all initial attemps of movement, so we all tramped back to the training center to put on our boots and grab some sand and shovels. We began to put down the sand and shovel the snow away from the tires. About that time, a friendly neighboring pitbull/lab came over to assist/get in the way of the operation. We finally managed to push the van up onto the road, where John managed to steer it backwards down to level ground. We walked back to the training center and this time, the guys decided they would just walk up to the Sharp's in the snow.
Welcome to Libby, Montana! Warning- Driving without studded tires not advised.
We skipped church to make the drive and actually get some shopping done before picking them up. We figured that since we doubled up on churches last week, we would be forgiven for skipping today. We hit Wal-Mart, Starbucks(woohoo!!), Target and the Dollar Store. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't enjoy group shopping, so this was an exercise in patience for me. I was mentally done after purchasing my iced, tall, peppermint, black and white mocha at Starbucks. ahhhh
We picked up the guys and made the drive back to Libby, attempting to get back here in time for the guys to make it to the Sharp's house for the Super Bowl kickoff. John had the brilliant idea to drive up the icy hill so that they would get there sooner. We made it about 1/4th of the way up before we started sliding. Down, down, down we came, CRASH into the snowbanks on the side. oops. We were stuck nicely and all got out to examine the damage. Hmm, uh oh, there goes Sandra, sliding down the hill. Come back, Sandra!! The van resisted all initial attemps of movement, so we all tramped back to the training center to put on our boots and grab some sand and shovels. We began to put down the sand and shovel the snow away from the tires. About that time, a friendly neighboring pitbull/lab came over to assist/get in the way of the operation. We finally managed to push the van up onto the road, where John managed to steer it backwards down to level ground. We walked back to the training center and this time, the guys decided they would just walk up to the Sharp's in the snow.
Welcome to Libby, Montana! Warning- Driving without studded tires not advised.
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