Christmas Markets

In the last few weeks it has been fun to go and explore the various Christmas Markets in the area. Several of the bigger cities in the area have sections designated for Christmas booths that sell different kinds of crafts and goods for the Christmas season. Each one is so unique and the crafts and art are so cool to see! I have had lots of fun going around and taking it all in. Here are some pictures from the various places I have been able to visit.

 

View of the lovely houses in Colmar, France.

 


Christmas market booths in Colmar, France

 


Lots of people shopping

 


Yummy treats from the market. It has been fun to try new things!

 


Christmas tree in the marketplace in Basel, Switzerland

 


Some shoppers at the market in Basel

 


Lots of unique gifts!!

 


Sarah picking out some ornaments for presents in Freiburg

 

View of the market in Frieburg, Germany at night!
 

Handmade houses from the Black Forest!

 

Beautiful lanterns on display at the Freiburg market

It has been fun to see the Christmas preparations and decortaions here in Germany. However, I am looking forward to retunring home to Pennsylvania to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. I leave this Wednesday and appreciate your prayers for safe travels!

 

Merry Christmas from Germany!

Frohe Weihnachten aus Deutschland!

Lots of Updates!

The Season of Advent has Begun!
I am enjoying celebrating the Christmas season here in Germany. From Christmas markets, to singing carols, fun traditions, and beautiful decorations there is so much to see and do.
It's been a while since I have posted about what has been happening and I have several fun events that I want to share with you.

Last Thursday was St. Nikolaus Tag at our school. This is a tradition in Germany that is celebrated each year on December 6th. On this day the students put their shoes outside of the classroom door and St. Nikolaus comes and fills it with yummy treats for their good behavior.
At our school the moms helped to gather the goodies for the kids and fill the shoes while we are in class. Then, a bell rang and we went to the window to see St. Nikolaus waving to the kids and wishing them Merry Christmas! Then the kids go see what St. Nikolaus/the moms left in their shoes!
It was lots of fun!


Watching St. Nikolaus out the window

St. Nikolaus waving from the front of our school!



Bags of treats shoved in the student's shoes

So excited that St. Nikolaus came :)

Yummy baked and chocolate treats to eat.

Friday was our Elementary Christmas Concert. The students learned lots of Christmas songs and performed short skits leading to the real meaning of the Christmas story. They worked so hard to learn the words and motions of many songs and to memorize their lines for the play. After the performance the students and their families came to the classroom for a time of eating Christmas treats and visiting with one another. It was so special to interact with the students and their families and to celebrate together. Here are some photos from the night!

Singing German Christmas songs with the CSK teachers

Students grades 1-5 singing together

The second graders performing their skit.

Lots of people in the classroom afterward to celebrate!

Congratulating the students after a great performance!

Such a special time together.

More Christmastime stories to come!!

 

Awesome Field Trip!

On Monday our class went on another field trip! We went to a church in a nearby town that had Biblical figures on display that showed different scenes of the Bible. It was so much fun to talk about the Bible stories with the kids.

• They made wonderful connections: "Hey look there's Zacchaeus!"
• Asked great questions: "Why is that person touching Jesus' clothes?"
• And learned new things: "Jesus washed his disciples' feet?!"

Some of my students had never heard these stories before and it was so special to share them together.

Here are lots of photos that outline our trip: 

Enjoy!

We took the students on the bus to the town called "Weil am Rhein". Taking 23 seven and eight year olds on a public bus is always a bit crazy...
But we all made it there!

The students got to look at the Biblical figures in the sanctuary of the church. The scenes started with Gabriel appearing to Mary and ended with Jesus' death and resurrection.

Looking at the manger scene where Jesus was born!

These girls are looking at Jesus in the temple as a young boy. The girls liked looking at the different scenes and imagining what it would be like if they were there.



These girls are standing by Jesus calming the storm. The students recognized the story and said, "Hey, we acted that out in class!" So neat to see them remember and connect with the stories!



My favorite story scene was Jesus with all the children.
"Let the little children come to me!"



Some of the students' favorite scenes: Lowering the man through the roof to be healed by Jesus and the last supper.

 

Love these kids!
So thankful for a chance to see the stories of the Bible in a unique art form with them.

 

Afterward we ate snack and let the boys have a leaf fight :)
Why not?!



The girls decided to make a leaf blanket rather than have a leaf fight.
Good choice. 


 

Enjoying a snack before heading back to school.

 

The resurrection scene at the end of the display.
All people of all nations praising God!


Praising God for a great trip and chance to share the Gospel message with all our students!

Shepherd and Sheep

 Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"

John 10:14

Ich bin der gute Hirte. Ich kenne meine Schafe, und meine Schafe kennen mich"

John 10,14

The Shepherd and sheep analogy is one of my favorite in the Bible. The fact that Jesus is our good Shepherd who guides us, leads us, and protects us is so reassuring and comforting. Recently, this analogy has been popping up everywhere. My students are memorizing Psalm 23 in German AND English. Our verse this week has been John 10:14. The students made tiny sheep with Bible verses on them and put real wool on them. (Pictured below). These passages have been coming up during my own Bible study time.

As I am reminded that Jesus is my shepherd I also feel as though I am shepherding these 23 sheep/students. They look to me for guidance, help, and direction. I have been entrusted to lead them in the right way and teach them truth. With this great and sacred responsibility I know that I need to keep my eyes focused on the true and best Shepherd so that I can be a model of Jesus' love for my students as well.

The other day Katharina, my partner teacher, and I lost track of time and forgot to pick our students up from P.E./Gym class. The students came back into the room bubbly, telling us stories, and happy to be back with their teachers. I looked at Katharina and said, "The good little sheep know their shepherds!" They always come back.
What a joy to shepherd these kids knowing that Jesus Christ shepherds us all!


Holding their little sheep craft!
You can click on the picture to make it bigger!



 

Time to Breathe

Last Wednesday my small group girls and I had a fun movie night together. It was needed to just relax in some comfy clothes with popcorn and hot chocolate. I am so blessed by my time with these awesome ladies and for a chance to take it easy together.
 

Small Group movie night!

This Friday was the Thanksgiving celebration at the elementary school. The parents helped to organize a wonderful event with activities and food for all the students.

 Unfortunately, I got a stomach bug the night before and was battling a fever and flu-like symptoms. No fun! Although I missed this fun event I still got some cute pictures from the day's festivities from a friend.

I am on my way back to a settled stomach and figuring out what to eat and not to eat. I would really appreciate your prayers as I hope to go back to school tomorrow.

 

Making Crafts

 

First Graders dressed up like pilgrims

Eating Thanksgiving food together

Despite feeling completely out of it and under the weather, I am learning the importance of rest and trusting that the Lord knows just what I need. There are times when we just need to stop and rest. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Learning to rest in Him and know that it is all in His hands.

 

Five Fun Favorites

Here are five fun things that have been happening in the last week or so!

1. Hike to Castle
Guess what! I can hike to castle ruins from my house. How cool is that? A little over a week ago, Heather Brown and I went for a beautiful fall walk to Sausenburg castle which is just over 3km from my house. I have been wanting to hike there since I moved here and I finally got to go. It was so beautiful and I had great company :)

 

2. First Snowy Day
Last weekend it snowed in Kandern. There's something so magical about snow. I loved it!
(It has all melted by now and we are back to living in fall.)


View from my kitchen window

3. Scientists
My students are wonderful scientists. We did a leaf investigation a little over a week ago and the students did a great job studying and classifying their many leaves! It is so fun to be able to do hands on projects in science using natural materials!

 
4. Praising Jesus
This last week was a fall holiday for the German students and so I just had my English students in class. There were so many times during the last week where my heart swelled and I smiled as I watched these student's learn and grow together and demonstrate their love for the Lord in so many ways. One of these times was as the students created a "Thankful Mural" of the many things they are thankful for. I put on worship music and the students sang songs of praise to the Lord as they drew pictures of family, friends, Christmas trees, houses, and foods. What a joy to watch!!

 

5. Herbstmesse
Wednesday the middle school and high school students of Black Forest Academy traveled to Herbstmesse, a fall festival in the nearby city of Basel. There are fun rides to go on and great food. I met up with some of my second graders who were there with older siblings and their families, and I went on a few rides with them! What a great experience to make memories together outside of the classroom :)

 

Castles, hiking, snowy days, science projects, singing songs, giving thanks, slides and second graders, these are some of my favorite things! My heart is so glad to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Lord's creation and to delight in His children. Jesus is making these words ever more clear to my heart, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:3-5. These children continue to teach me more about the love of my heavenly Father and I am so glad to be able to share His love with them daily. More stories to come!