Good news! I can eat. I have been healed and I'm sure of it. Feel free to invite me to all kinds of activities centered around eating food.
Atlanta is always good to me. I love this city mostly for the friendships it has offered to me.
God is always extremely good to me. He is teaching me a lot of things in this season, and you know how that goes...it's rough, but good. I'm really looking forward to the restoration workshop this weekend. I'm thinking I'm going to get to the root of some things that I need to deal with. And that is always worth the trouble.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Written Monday, June 30
I am up at 4:30 in the morning. Jet lag has struck again. We got home Friday night, and we’ve been hanging out with Mom. I plan on going down to Atlanta sometime this week.
Three reasons for coming home in the summer: seeing friends and family, shopping, and eating. I’m very sad to report that the latter pleasure has been stolen from me. I had hepatitis about a month again, and I’m still suffering the repercussions. I can’t eat anything with fat or it just kills me. It’s very sad. Other than that, I feel ok. My advice is stay away from dirty food.
I feel like there is so much to tell you, but now my memory is failing me. Maybe because it is 4 in the morning. Hmm… Well, we got the school moved, and we all moved apartments. I say we, but actually I mean my brother and the guys mostly. I stayed later in the summer to help, but was unable to because I had the hep. That sucker ruins a lot of fun. We are now in Dahieh, which is a neighborhood in between the West Bank and East Jerusalem (If that’s even possible.) It is in between the wall and a checkpoint, or a rock and a hard place, however you look at it. The pros: nicer, quieter neighborhood, houses have beautiful gardens, and an unbelievably humongous school building. The cons: the checkpoint (which should be moved sometime this summer so pray for that.) Overall it’s a good move.
My plans this summer are to see as many as my loved ones as I possibly can and spend quality time with them, and also to spread the news of what I’m doing and raise support. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll try to keep you updated. Also I’m going to get out some newsletters this week. Inshallah.
I am up at 4:30 in the morning. Jet lag has struck again. We got home Friday night, and we’ve been hanging out with Mom. I plan on going down to Atlanta sometime this week.
Three reasons for coming home in the summer: seeing friends and family, shopping, and eating. I’m very sad to report that the latter pleasure has been stolen from me. I had hepatitis about a month again, and I’m still suffering the repercussions. I can’t eat anything with fat or it just kills me. It’s very sad. Other than that, I feel ok. My advice is stay away from dirty food.
I feel like there is so much to tell you, but now my memory is failing me. Maybe because it is 4 in the morning. Hmm… Well, we got the school moved, and we all moved apartments. I say we, but actually I mean my brother and the guys mostly. I stayed later in the summer to help, but was unable to because I had the hep. That sucker ruins a lot of fun. We are now in Dahieh, which is a neighborhood in between the West Bank and East Jerusalem (If that’s even possible.) It is in between the wall and a checkpoint, or a rock and a hard place, however you look at it. The pros: nicer, quieter neighborhood, houses have beautiful gardens, and an unbelievably humongous school building. The cons: the checkpoint (which should be moved sometime this summer so pray for that.) Overall it’s a good move.
My plans this summer are to see as many as my loved ones as I possibly can and spend quality time with them, and also to spread the news of what I’m doing and raise support. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll try to keep you updated. Also I’m going to get out some newsletters this week. Inshallah.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Light Force by Brother Andrew
Quotes
“Christ said to go and make disciples of all nations. Did that include Palestinians or not? Did that include Arabs and Muslims? How could we ignore more than a billion people whom God says He loves?”
p.155
“I told them of one of my five meetings with Ayotollah Fadlallah, the spiritual leader of the Hezbollah in Lebanon, ‘Brother Andrew, you Christians have a problem.’ He told me….'What do you think our problem is?’ I asked. He answered: ‘You Christians are not following the life of Jesus Christ anymore.’ …I asked him, ‘What do you think we should do about that?’ He said, ‘ You must go back to the book.’”
p. 196
“Why are the strongest supporters of the Palestinians lefties and atheists?”
p. 311
What can the church in the west do to help? “I wish the Church would understand the struggles Palestinians have...
-Judaism
- Islam
- Nationalism
- Western Christianity"
p. 312
If you are at all interested in what is happening with the Church in Palestine/Israel, then please read this book. He says exactly what I want to say to the American Church. Loved it!
Quotes
“Christ said to go and make disciples of all nations. Did that include Palestinians or not? Did that include Arabs and Muslims? How could we ignore more than a billion people whom God says He loves?”
p.155
“I told them of one of my five meetings with Ayotollah Fadlallah, the spiritual leader of the Hezbollah in Lebanon, ‘Brother Andrew, you Christians have a problem.’ He told me….'What do you think our problem is?’ I asked. He answered: ‘You Christians are not following the life of Jesus Christ anymore.’ …I asked him, ‘What do you think we should do about that?’ He said, ‘ You must go back to the book.’”
p. 196
“Why are the strongest supporters of the Palestinians lefties and atheists?”
p. 311
What can the church in the west do to help? “I wish the Church would understand the struggles Palestinians have...
-Judaism
- Islam
- Nationalism
- Western Christianity"
p. 312
If you are at all interested in what is happening with the Church in Palestine/Israel, then please read this book. He says exactly what I want to say to the American Church. Loved it!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
In the spirit of the holiday, I had to show this to you. Before you get offended and think it's blasphemy, let me tell you, a pastor created these as illustrations as to what Jesus is NOT. I think it's pretty funny, if you look at it that way.
Check out the website: http://vintage21.com/sunday/video/
Let's try again....
Pictures of the new school.
A large lobby with elevators! This is the administration floor.
A very large classroom! (Can you imagine? They're all the same size! We'll be so spoiled.)
Teacher offices!
This is my favorite part. Skylights! You can see there are three upstairs floors. They are all the same and will be used for elementary and high school. The kindergarten will be below the main floor. The whole thing is on a hill, though, so even the basement has windows.
There are a few of these stepped auditorium-like rooms. We don't even know what to do with them all.
Large, sunlit hallways!
These very large rooms will be used for lunch rooms, libraries, and such.
The gym! Yes!!!! A gym!
This is actually the roof of the gym. It will be used as a play area. We're going to put up a high fence all the way around it and put basketball hoops and soccer goals and the like. It's a lot bigger than it looks. It's also on the same level as the basement/kindergarten, so you can get an idea of how it's all laid out. Underneath the gym is a pretty large room we're going to use as a student center with ping-pong and foosball, and we're going to make it like a lounge to use for bible studies, etc.
Walking from the school down to the gym.
So, if you're not impressed yet, let me give you an idea of what we're coming from here. This is our high school. We've been in this building for at least 15 years. (It's an old apartment building.)
Our grand lobby.
And very large stair well.
We have two other buildings much like this one for the jr. high and elementary. The kindergarten is on the bottom level of another apartment building next door.
The really, really amazing part of all this is, once we get moved, the rent will actually be less because of the part of town we live in. It will be a better neighborhood, too.
How to pray: The checkpoint is now situated right in front of our new school. Pray that it will be moved. There is no reason why they can't move it. It's not permanent, and the (infamous) wall is now complete, so they should be moving the checkpoint back to it. This will make life so much better for us and our students.
Also, we need about 100,000 dollars to get the school ready to open the doors. God's got us this far. I'm sure he has a plan for the next step.
Pray for me, personally: I will also need to be raising my support this summer. I've never done this before, so I need a lot of help. Pray that God guides me to the right people/right places.
Pictures of the new school.
A large lobby with elevators! This is the administration floor.
A very large classroom! (Can you imagine? They're all the same size! We'll be so spoiled.)
Teacher offices!
This is my favorite part. Skylights! You can see there are three upstairs floors. They are all the same and will be used for elementary and high school. The kindergarten will be below the main floor. The whole thing is on a hill, though, so even the basement has windows.
There are a few of these stepped auditorium-like rooms. We don't even know what to do with them all.
Large, sunlit hallways!
These very large rooms will be used for lunch rooms, libraries, and such.
The gym! Yes!!!! A gym!
This is actually the roof of the gym. It will be used as a play area. We're going to put up a high fence all the way around it and put basketball hoops and soccer goals and the like. It's a lot bigger than it looks. It's also on the same level as the basement/kindergarten, so you can get an idea of how it's all laid out. Underneath the gym is a pretty large room we're going to use as a student center with ping-pong and foosball, and we're going to make it like a lounge to use for bible studies, etc.
Walking from the school down to the gym.
So, if you're not impressed yet, let me give you an idea of what we're coming from here. This is our high school. We've been in this building for at least 15 years. (It's an old apartment building.)
Our grand lobby.
And very large stair well.
We have two other buildings much like this one for the jr. high and elementary. The kindergarten is on the bottom level of another apartment building next door.
The really, really amazing part of all this is, once we get moved, the rent will actually be less because of the part of town we live in. It will be a better neighborhood, too.
How to pray: The checkpoint is now situated right in front of our new school. Pray that it will be moved. There is no reason why they can't move it. It's not permanent, and the (infamous) wall is now complete, so they should be moving the checkpoint back to it. This will make life so much better for us and our students.
Also, we need about 100,000 dollars to get the school ready to open the doors. God's got us this far. I'm sure he has a plan for the next step.
Pray for me, personally: I will also need to be raising my support this summer. I've never done this before, so I need a lot of help. Pray that God guides me to the right people/right places.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and I walked the path that Jesus took.
We started in Bethany, near the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, behind the Mount of Olives. From there we walked a pretty long way down to the old city.
There were people from every area of the earth, singing in so many tongues I lost count. There were small children trying to sell a tiny little stick with a few leaves on it for a sheckel.
One thing I couldn't figure out was why the catholics sounded so sad. Their group was at the end, having the patriarch of Jerusalem with them and all. They sang the same song over and over again. I say singing, but it was really more like chanting.
Wasn't this supposed to be a happy day? I mean, I'm sure Jesus wasn't feeling too good, knowing what was going to happen in less than a week, but everyone else was pretty jubilant. They thought that Jesus was going to be the one to take them out from under Roman rule.
It's a little ironic that now it's mostly arabs and internationals who march, and not the jews.
Believe me, there was no rush. I think I could have walked it three times in the time it took the patriarch. We did make it eventually, and our group went in singing as we entered the Lion's gate (the gate that Jesus took is now closed until he arrives again, and the lion's gate is the next one over.)
We stopped, the patriarch did some sort of blessing, and then the real party began. (I was hoping that wasn't it. Come on.) The scouts from different churches, orthodox, and catholic formed their lines and moved out, marching around the city with their drums and their bagpipes. That is how a King should be welcomed into the city. (Not with chanting, please.) And they were children....how special is that?
I was especially proud because a few of the scouts are students of mine. :)
Sunday, March 09, 2008
New School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I finally got to see it yesterday. I can hardly believe it's real.
You can see that it is huge. It was built to be a college, but has been left empty for 12 years and never been used.
....Well, after several tries to upload more photos, it just isn't working out for us today. So, I'll leave you with this teaser until Google gets their act together.
I finally got to see it yesterday. I can hardly believe it's real.
You can see that it is huge. It was built to be a college, but has been left empty for 12 years and never been used.
....Well, after several tries to upload more photos, it just isn't working out for us today. So, I'll leave you with this teaser until Google gets their act together.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I watched the Oscars last night, and my faith in Hollywood was restored. (Restored might be a strong word. I actually put very little faith in Hollywood.) But I fell in love with with the French lady, and the people from "Once." They were absolutely beautiful. I wish all of Hollywood was filled with people like them. Unfortunately, they are from France and Ireland....not Hollywood. Oh well.
It looks like we are getting our school. It's unbelievable and so incredibly exciting. Just take my word for it. This is impossible without God. I will be raising money this year, both for my own living expenses and for the school.
Please let me know if you read this and you can help me. I have a lot of creative friends. Let me use your resources, please! I would greatly appreciate it!
It looks like we are getting our school. It's unbelievable and so incredibly exciting. Just take my word for it. This is impossible without God. I will be raising money this year, both for my own living expenses and for the school.
Please let me know if you read this and you can help me. I have a lot of creative friends. Let me use your resources, please! I would greatly appreciate it!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
"Trust thyself only, and another shall not betray thee." Thomas Fuller
This is probably the stupidest quote I've ever seen on a teabag.
Right now, my nose is running so badly I want to stick tissue up it and leave it there. Forever.
On another note entirely, we might possibly be in a new school next year. A new, beautiful school with plenty of room. For those of you who have seen the old apartment building we call a school now (Mom, Nick, Sarah), you know how much this means.
It would be incredible. God has given us a lot of favor so far, so please help us pray it through. This also means that we would need a lot more money too....More on all this to come. I need to get my beauty sleep. I need it desperately.
Oh, yeah....remind me to tell you how I am now an MUN advisor (and love it.) That's "Model United Nations" for those of you who didn't know.
This is probably the stupidest quote I've ever seen on a teabag.
Right now, my nose is running so badly I want to stick tissue up it and leave it there. Forever.
On another note entirely, we might possibly be in a new school next year. A new, beautiful school with plenty of room. For those of you who have seen the old apartment building we call a school now (Mom, Nick, Sarah), you know how much this means.
It would be incredible. God has given us a lot of favor so far, so please help us pray it through. This also means that we would need a lot more money too....More on all this to come. I need to get my beauty sleep. I need it desperately.
Oh, yeah....remind me to tell you how I am now an MUN advisor (and love it.) That's "Model United Nations" for those of you who didn't know.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I wish groceries would magically transport themselves from the store into my kitchen. They don’t even have to be free. They could magically deduct the cost from my bank account as well. I’d be fine with that.
I’m using this very peaceful, quiet Sunday morning to grade some papers and study for my world history class. I’m frustrated at the moment. This used to be my favorite class. Now they’ve lost all motivation and are blaming their laziness on my poor teaching skills. Thanks a lot…really.
Things have been strange around here. I’m in limbo. I have a lot of decisions to make, or rather, one really big decision that will affect many things. I’m unsure of what direction I’m heading in. I don’t know if I should come back here next year or go back to school, or perhaps go down a different path entirely. When I am faced with decisions like this I tend to shut down, and I don’t want to do that. I want to keep moving forward. I just have to figure out which direction forward is.
The last time I tried to write, I was so angry I couldn’t finish it. I want you to be informed. If you have the time, please look over a couple of these websites.
www.ifamericansknew.org
www.endtheoccupation.org
www.palestineonlinestore.com/help.html
I’m learning so much about my self, who God made me to be. I’ll share more on that later. But it’s good. It makes me excited, which means that I must have struck something, you know?
I’m using this very peaceful, quiet Sunday morning to grade some papers and study for my world history class. I’m frustrated at the moment. This used to be my favorite class. Now they’ve lost all motivation and are blaming their laziness on my poor teaching skills. Thanks a lot…really.
Things have been strange around here. I’m in limbo. I have a lot of decisions to make, or rather, one really big decision that will affect many things. I’m unsure of what direction I’m heading in. I don’t know if I should come back here next year or go back to school, or perhaps go down a different path entirely. When I am faced with decisions like this I tend to shut down, and I don’t want to do that. I want to keep moving forward. I just have to figure out which direction forward is.
The last time I tried to write, I was so angry I couldn’t finish it. I want you to be informed. If you have the time, please look over a couple of these websites.
www.ifamericansknew.org
www.endtheoccupation.org
www.palestineonlinestore.com/help.html
I’m learning so much about my self, who God made me to be. I’ll share more on that later. But it’s good. It makes me excited, which means that I must have struck something, you know?
Monday, January 07, 2008
Ahlan wa sahlan, George!
Tomorrow we go back to school. Blech. I wish I could stay in this country and do next to nothing, like I have for the last three weeks. Actually, I guess I don't. Even I'd get bored. There are good things about going back to school. Maybe we can cut our phone and internet back on. That would be nice.
Tomorrow is important for another reason as well. Our fine president, George W. Bush, is coming for a visit. (To this country, not my home.) They've hung American flags everywhere. It's weird. Christy and I might venture downtown for a closer look. Then again, there might be suicide bombers or something....maybe not.
About the above picture...I was going to get just a picture of the American flag, but when I found this one, I couldn't resist. Who could, really?
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
kol 9am w inta bachair (or something like that anyway)
I ran into this Christmas vacation like a freight train suddenly skidding off the tracks. I went from being unbelievably busy to having nothing to do. It was difficult at first, but now I've settled quite nicely. I have another week before I have to start thinking about going back to school.
Christmas Eve we went to Bethlehem, of course. What else would we have done? I'm sorry to say that I don't have any pictures to show you. I haven't been in the picture-taking mood lately.
I've received some very good news as of late, which makes me very happy. Pardon me for being so vague, but I'm not in the habit of disclosing very good news on the internet for fear of stealing someone's thunder. Mabrook (Congrats) to all involved, and for the rest of you, you'll find out soon enough.
When 2007 rolled around I was very excited about it, and rightly so, for it was a very good year. I'm a bit wary of 2008. I'm not sure why. I have a lot of uncertainties about what direction I'm headed in, and I feel...conflicted. I guess it's a growing season. Perhaps I will be pushed out of the nest once again. Should I make New Year's resolutions?
I'm going back to Bethlehem or Beit lahem for New Year's eve. That should be fun. Perhaps I'll take pictures...
I found this friend in Galilee. He came as far as I did. :)
kol 9am w inta bachair (or something like that anyway)
I ran into this Christmas vacation like a freight train suddenly skidding off the tracks. I went from being unbelievably busy to having nothing to do. It was difficult at first, but now I've settled quite nicely. I have another week before I have to start thinking about going back to school.
Christmas Eve we went to Bethlehem, of course. What else would we have done? I'm sorry to say that I don't have any pictures to show you. I haven't been in the picture-taking mood lately.
I've received some very good news as of late, which makes me very happy. Pardon me for being so vague, but I'm not in the habit of disclosing very good news on the internet for fear of stealing someone's thunder. Mabrook (Congrats) to all involved, and for the rest of you, you'll find out soon enough.
When 2007 rolled around I was very excited about it, and rightly so, for it was a very good year. I'm a bit wary of 2008. I'm not sure why. I have a lot of uncertainties about what direction I'm headed in, and I feel...conflicted. I guess it's a growing season. Perhaps I will be pushed out of the nest once again. Should I make New Year's resolutions?
I'm going back to Bethlehem or Beit lahem for New Year's eve. That should be fun. Perhaps I'll take pictures...
I found this friend in Galilee. He came as far as I did. :)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
I felt an earthquake the night before last. It was awesome. It rattled the windows and lasted for just a second. Now all I need is to see a tornado form in the sky and I'll feel complete.
We had a wonderful thanksgiving. All the teachers got together, Arab and American (even a couple Koreans and Columbians), and we shared a huge dinner. Everything you could want was there; all the traditional fare, and Arabic food as well. If I may brag for a moment, I do believe my sweet potato souffle was the most popular dish by far. It's nice to be able to share our very American holiday with others. At least it gives us a chance to eat together.
I am so thankful for so many things: for the chance to be doing what I'm doing; for my friends who are my lifeline, and without whom I could not be who I am; for every one of my students; my family (and the fact that my brother is here with me). I'm thankful for trivial things as well, like my hair, and chocolate, and the new clothes I got for my birthday.
Thinking about being thankful reminds me of how much I fall short in this area, how little I show God how much I love him. Not only am I incapable of showing enough gratitude, but I seem to forget most of the time, too. I am very thankful for my God who loves me despite how miserable of a person I am.
It seems that some people are coming my way soon, and there are some things that I would love to have brought to me. Maybe you're feeling extra generous this Christmas season, and would like to give me one of these things. Then you could give it to Alli, and she would make sure it would get to me. I would really appreciate it. :) Then maybe I could send you a little something special from the Holy Land!
The List:
Good Earth Tea (from Trader Joe's)
B & B Works Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion
brown paper lunch bags (for spirit bags)
albacore tuna in the foil packs
Hershey's kisses and assorted christmas candy
apple cider mix (packets)
Paul for Everyone/Tom Wright books (used, borrowed until next summer, I don't care)
I also have a couple of bigger, more odd requests. I mentioned that I make spirit bags for the sports players. (They've never gotten anything like this before.) Our mascot is the Yellow Jacket. You live in Atlanta (probably). You have a lot of Yellow Jacket stuff around you. I would love to get about 35-40 of the "Buzz" yellow jacket tattoos for the basketball players. They would have to be just the jacket, no Ga Tech logo on them, or anything. They are probably expensive. Maybe you could join forces.
Also, I have a weekly Bible study for jr. high girls, and lately we've been going over what it means to be beautiful, inside and out. I thought, with my connections, it would be great to get them each a lip gloss from MAC for Christmas. I'm pretty sure Yesenia could help me out with this (though I haven't asked her yet!) There are about 10 of them, and I would want them to get close to the same color. I was going to pay for them myself, but if someone would like to help, that would be awesome.
OK. I've exhausted myself. :) Now on to grade papers!
p.s. love you!
We had a wonderful thanksgiving. All the teachers got together, Arab and American (even a couple Koreans and Columbians), and we shared a huge dinner. Everything you could want was there; all the traditional fare, and Arabic food as well. If I may brag for a moment, I do believe my sweet potato souffle was the most popular dish by far. It's nice to be able to share our very American holiday with others. At least it gives us a chance to eat together.
I am so thankful for so many things: for the chance to be doing what I'm doing; for my friends who are my lifeline, and without whom I could not be who I am; for every one of my students; my family (and the fact that my brother is here with me). I'm thankful for trivial things as well, like my hair, and chocolate, and the new clothes I got for my birthday.
Thinking about being thankful reminds me of how much I fall short in this area, how little I show God how much I love him. Not only am I incapable of showing enough gratitude, but I seem to forget most of the time, too. I am very thankful for my God who loves me despite how miserable of a person I am.
It seems that some people are coming my way soon, and there are some things that I would love to have brought to me. Maybe you're feeling extra generous this Christmas season, and would like to give me one of these things. Then you could give it to Alli, and she would make sure it would get to me. I would really appreciate it. :) Then maybe I could send you a little something special from the Holy Land!
The List:
Good Earth Tea (from Trader Joe's)
B & B Works Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion
brown paper lunch bags (for spirit bags)
albacore tuna in the foil packs
Hershey's kisses and assorted christmas candy
apple cider mix (packets)
Paul for Everyone/Tom Wright books (used, borrowed until next summer, I don't care)
I also have a couple of bigger, more odd requests. I mentioned that I make spirit bags for the sports players. (They've never gotten anything like this before.) Our mascot is the Yellow Jacket. You live in Atlanta (probably). You have a lot of Yellow Jacket stuff around you. I would love to get about 35-40 of the "Buzz" yellow jacket tattoos for the basketball players. They would have to be just the jacket, no Ga Tech logo on them, or anything. They are probably expensive. Maybe you could join forces.
Also, I have a weekly Bible study for jr. high girls, and lately we've been going over what it means to be beautiful, inside and out. I thought, with my connections, it would be great to get them each a lip gloss from MAC for Christmas. I'm pretty sure Yesenia could help me out with this (though I haven't asked her yet!) There are about 10 of them, and I would want them to get close to the same color. I was going to pay for them myself, but if someone would like to help, that would be awesome.
OK. I've exhausted myself. :) Now on to grade papers!
p.s. love you!
Monday, November 19, 2007
I suck at blogging. I pretty much suck at keeping in touch with people. I'm sorry friends. I love you lots and lots. I just don't think about writing.
My favorite cut his wrist at the soccer game sunday. He fell on a broken bottle while fooling around on the sidelines. (too much trash in this country) It scared me to death. (Not that it's about me.) He almost lost movement in two of his fingers, but they fixed them. He's home now. I got to see him smile tonight, and that made everything better.
I miss you all so much.
My favorite cut his wrist at the soccer game sunday. He fell on a broken bottle while fooling around on the sidelines. (too much trash in this country) It scared me to death. (Not that it's about me.) He almost lost movement in two of his fingers, but they fixed them. He's home now. I got to see him smile tonight, and that made everything better.
I miss you all so much.
Monday, October 15, 2007
It's the end of a short vacation. Back to school tomorrow! I feel pretty good about it.
Ramadan is officially over, which means that we go back to a full school day and I'm allowed to drink in the classroom. Yaaaay! I can have my coffee again! Also the longer periods mean that I might actually get to cover everything in class that I want to.
Right now, I'm in the middle of making spirit bags for our soccer players. Do you remember those from high school? We used to make them in the marching band. (Yes, I said marching band.) These kids have never had anything like spirit bags before, let alone any school spirit, so we're changing that this year. I'll post a picture when they're done.
I'm working on getting a newsletter out. Or rather, I'm thinking about it. I know I need to do a better job of letting everyone know what's going on, especially so you can pray!
I've had a little dilemna lately with high school boys flirting with me. Now, if you know me, you know that I smile/laugh at just about anything. Let me tell you, this does not help the situation. It is serious, because it could become a bigger problem if my reputation is marred in any way. But for now I have a lot of good laughs (once I'm at home). Some of my favorite quotes:
"Do you love me, miss? I'm thinking about dumping my girlfriend."
"Will you go to the banquet with me? .....You'll change your mind once you see my BMW."
"I wish I was born five years ago." (Which, ironically, would put them right in my fave age bracket. :)
"My uncle married a girl 12 years older than him."
This one takes the cake: "I'm going to georgia. Everything's hot in Georgia."
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I recently gave most of my belongings away. I have some stuff here, in Jerusalem, and I have a few special belongings left in various places around the U.S. of A. But the point is, I own very little, and that makes me very happy.
On the other hand, I spent a lot of money on new clothes this summer. They really are cheaper and much better quality in America than they are here. "Dressing the part" helps you act the part, too. When you dress professionally, then somehow, magically, your persona is changed into someone much more efficient than slouchy, jeans-and-a-tshirt you. They've done studies on this, you know. (And it does make me so happy to look in my closet and see all the pretty things to wear.)
I've recently discovered that my 10th grade students really like me. They've told other teachers and the secretary that I'm a good teacher and I explain everything really well in class. (You don't know how much this thrills me!) I've also found out that they watch everyday to see what I'm wearing. Apparently they like my style. How cute is that?
The thing is, the fact that they like my clothes makes me more relatable. There are, of course, many other ways to relate to students. But the point is that those clothes, that can seem so frivolous at times, are actually aiding my ministry somehow.
Please don't misunderstand me. I know there are countless ways to read this. My point is that there is a balance to everything. It is honorable to live with almost nothing to your name, but sometimes it's not. Sometimes God wants us to have things in order to use them for his glory. (I'm trying to figure out how I can convince him that I could really use a new black macbook for his glory.)
Monday, September 10, 2007
Here is a conversation you can have no where else:
Where is that other mall? You know the one down where what'sit was born.
Moses?....No, no. Elijah?
Was it Elijah?......No, John the Baptist!
Yes, John the Baptist.
What is the name of that mall?
I taught school today, and tutored, and then had an arabic lesson. Not to mention preparing for class tomorrow. Busy day.
Yesterday we went up to Galilee. It was too hot, and not that exciting, but it was nice to be able to show my brother new things. It is beautiful up there.
I'm tired. Good tired, though.
Where is that other mall? You know the one down where what'sit was born.
Moses?....No, no. Elijah?
Was it Elijah?......No, John the Baptist!
Yes, John the Baptist.
What is the name of that mall?
I taught school today, and tutored, and then had an arabic lesson. Not to mention preparing for class tomorrow. Busy day.
Yesterday we went up to Galilee. It was too hot, and not that exciting, but it was nice to be able to show my brother new things. It is beautiful up there.
I'm tired. Good tired, though.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Before we get too far away from it, I want to tell you a little bit about my summer. I was able to do many of the things that were on "the list".
Six Flags twice! (Thanks alli and kevin!)
Went on a road trip (with my grandpa, from MI to TN)
I had a very patriotic 4th (including a lake, a boat, amazing friends, hot dogs with all the fixin's, fire works and fire crackers, singing "God Bless America" at the top of our lungs, listened to Leonard Skynard on the radio, and just a bit of sun burn.)
Ate good food (including taco bell)
I did go out with friends (and did a tiny bit of dancing)
I saw an old friend and a new friend play their sweet music (Meagan Coffee and Tyler Lyle)
I did not raise money (oh well)
The best things were not on the list. I got to spend time with the most amazing people on earth. I made new friends, the rare kind that I would actually like to keep for a very long time. (You know, I say they're rare, but I seem to have a lot of them.) I learned a lot about relationships and a lot about myself. I invested in people, and they invested in me. There was some reconciliation, some healing, some releasing.
I saw a store in Mount Pleasant, MI called Assmann's flooring and rugs.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Six Flags twice! (Thanks alli and kevin!)
Went on a road trip (with my grandpa, from MI to TN)
I had a very patriotic 4th (including a lake, a boat, amazing friends, hot dogs with all the fixin's, fire works and fire crackers, singing "God Bless America" at the top of our lungs, listened to Leonard Skynard on the radio, and just a bit of sun burn.)
Ate good food (including taco bell)
I did go out with friends (and did a tiny bit of dancing)
I saw an old friend and a new friend play their sweet music (Meagan Coffee and Tyler Lyle)
I did not raise money (oh well)
The best things were not on the list. I got to spend time with the most amazing people on earth. I made new friends, the rare kind that I would actually like to keep for a very long time. (You know, I say they're rare, but I seem to have a lot of them.) I learned a lot about relationships and a lot about myself. I invested in people, and they invested in me. There was some reconciliation, some healing, some releasing.
I saw a store in Mount Pleasant, MI called Assmann's flooring and rugs.
It doesn't get any better than that.
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