Beautiful Days

Some days are just extra beautiful.

Friday was one of those days.

The sun was shining, the sky, was clear, and the temperature perfect.

Katharina and I decided that we should take the kids outside for our partner language time and work on skills like following directions, working together, and playing nicely by leading the students in some games.

The truth was, we really wanted to spend more time outside!

Playing a tag game on the front playground.

 After school CB, fourth grade teacher at CSK, and I decided to go for a walk/hike in the wonderful weather. She took me on a great path through the woods where it was so nice to enjoy the beauty of the woods after a long week.

 

 

I am so thankful for God's amazing creation and for extra beautiful days to say thanks to Him for those beautiful things He has given us.

Living and hiking in the Black Forest :)

 

 

2nd Grade at CSK

We are just finishing up our fourth week of school! It is hard to believe that we have been in school that long. However, at the same time we have done so much. God's love and grace are a reality each and every day as I learn from and teach these 2nd grade students. Here are some of the happenings at Christian School Kandern and in 2nd Grade:

23 students

14 native German speakers

9 native English speakers

2 teachers :)

Lots of FUN!

First German Chapel- singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"

Working on science projects

Making posters about the four seasons

This student always knows when I need a hug or some encouragement!

This is a tree in our school's backyard that our class is going to draw each month and see how it changes throughout the year!

Students take off their outside shoes and put on their "house shoes" when in school

Our school from the back playground

 

2nd grade was in charge of creating the thanksgiving food display that will be sent to a food pantry in the nearby area. We have awesome classroom parents that helped!

Each day is a new challenge and very rewarding as well! I love my students and I love teaching. I know without a doubt that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm so thankful for this opportunity to serve, LOVE, and teach these students. I really appreciate any prayers for my students and that the light of Christ would continue to be evident to them each and every day!

 

 

 

Thank you for following along in these adventures :)

 

A Little Taste of Life

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

 

It's hard to believe that I have been living in Germny for 6 weeks already and for the hard work, connections, relationships, and experiences I have already been able to have. In the last several weeks I have been able to begin settling into my daily routine. School is in full swing and the systems of the day are beginning to take root. (More about school to come!) I also have had the opportunity to experience some of the unique parts of living in Germany and German culture.

I wanted to share with you a bit more about some aspects of life here!

 

First, here are a few pictures of my room where I am staying. I live with 3 other girls named Amy, Sammie, and Megan in the second and third floor of a home. We are all teachers at either the middle school or elementary school at BFA. We have a great apartment that is the perfect place to come back to after a long day and to share with some great ladies.

The one side of my room

The view from my window on a lovely day!

 

My bed and desk :)
 

I have really enjoyed being able to attend church in German for many of the Sundays that I have been here. Last week, I went with some friends to a church picnic and enjoyed worshipping together outside in the beautiful sunny weather. Afterward, we had some amazing German food and were able to talk with other members of the congregation. I am really hoping to be able to attend German church in the weeks ahead and can already tell that I am able to understand more and more of the German service.
 

 

There are many festivals and fun events that take place in Germany during this time of year! It is fun to get to try new things at the different festivals that happen right in our own town or nearby. Here are some that have happened on the last few weekends:

Budenfest- "festival of the booths" in town with great food and music

 

Keramikforum- Ceramic displays in town with amazing pottery by local artists

 

Lots of neat pottery to look at!

 

Kürbisfest- "Pumpkin Festival" in a town outside of Basel. So many unique pumpkins and gourds

Amazing pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, and apple juice!

I've also enjoyed times on the weekend to connect with friends. Basel, Switzerland is the biggest, closest city. It is only about 25 minutes by car or 40 by bus. Going into Basel is a great change of scenery and a fun place to explore. I am thankful for the chances to go and walk around here.

Sipping tea with Amy

 

Fun friends exploring the Rathaus

This is just a taste of some of the neat experiences and things I have been able to do.I feel so blessed to be able to settle into the German culture and life here at BFA. Check back soon for updates about life at school!

 



Small Group Fun Begins!

This Wednesday was the first meeting of small groups at BFA. I am leading a small group of freshman girls this year for a time of fun, fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. I am so excited to get to know these girls better and to be able to meet with them each week. I already sense that it is going to be an amazing year together!

 

It is so neat to be able to interact with the high school missionary students at BFA and begin to hear their stories. While I love teaching and working with elementary students, I don't get to meet many of the students who are living in the dorms or going to the high school. I know that the Lord has great things in store as these seven girls and I share together the ups and downs of life and seek Jesus together.

 

 

Last night the girls brainstormed ideas about what they would like to do during small group time. As you can see we have lots of great ideas! Finally, we talked about areas that we need to commit to the Lord in the coming week. With so many things starting to pile up on my plate of things to do I know that I need this reminder that the Lord is my Helper and Strength. 

 

And I'm committing this small group to the Lord as well, trusting He is going to do great things.  

 

 

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalm 37:5

Teacher Retreat in Switzerland

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Nehemiah 9:6

 

This weekend I had the pleasure to go on a BFA sponsored retreat to Adelboden, Switzerland with other BFA teachers. It was so wonderful to be able to rest, relax, and recharge for the year ahead. Here are some of the highlights!

 

We stayed at the Janz Team Chalet that had wonderful views of the Swiss mountains and countryside every direction you looked there was a breathtaking view!

View from my bedroom window

 

View looking the other direction



Janz Team Chalet



During our free afternoon we were able to walk into the town of Adelboden to see some of the neat shops in the little town. My favorite part was walking down the main street and in between the shops seeing the gorgeous mountains! Very fun!

 

 

After walking into town we walked to a gorge that was absolutely stunning. The walk and the journey through the rocks and above the water was a great adventure.

 

At the gorge with friends

Hiking through the Lord's amazing creation!

Another highlight of the trip was connecting with the other teachers and having great discussion about teaching and loving our students. It was encouraging to talk with one another about ideas to offer grace and compassion in the classroom while still holding the students to high standards. I am excited to put what I learned into practice in the weeks ahead.

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade English teachers at CSK.
So thankful for these women in my life.

The final highlight of my trip was Sunday afternoon when I was able to travel with 3 other teachers to another part of the alps to hike from Steckelberg, a small town near Lauterbrunnen, to Gimmelwald, a town located beneath the Schilthorn, a mountail peak of the Swiss Alps. It was quite a hike with spectacular views of the mountains and surrounding villages. It was a wonderful way to spend Sunday while praising God for his amazing creation!! Pictures could not capture the grandeur of this location!

 

 

I am so thankful for the chance to spend a free weekend enjoying the blessings of a Great God. Even more, I am reminded of the amazing opportunity in my classroom to offer love, grace, and compassion each and every day to my students. What a wonderful JOY! While I certainly cannot do it on just my own strength, I am dependent on the Lord's bountiful joy and grace to help me through each and every day!

 

Thanks for following along in this walk filled with joy.

 

Loving God and Loving Others

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
Matthew 22:37

Matthew 22:37 has been the memory verse and starting theme this week for grade 2 at Christliche Schule Kandern (CSK). What a great way to start the year! A reminder that our focus needs to be on loving God and also loving others. It is my prayer that the students will continue to learn what it means to love God with their heart, soul, and mind and how to love one another as we develop an atmosphere of love and care in our classroom.

 



Beautifully organized library- so far it's working out great. We'll see how long it lasts!

 School began this Monday. I am co-teaching 2nd grade with Katharina who is fluent in both English and German. It has been absolute delight to work with her thus far. We are a GREAT team. It is so neat how the Lord has paired us up so perfectly. I am so excited to continue to work with her this year. I feel so blessed to have her at my side.

First day of school picture by my nice clean desk! We'll see how long it lasts :)

 Our 24 second graders are full of lots of energy and are eager to learn. I am learning all that it means to teach in a bilingual school. We have 14 native German speakers and 10 native English speakers. I am still figuring out how much of each language the students understand. It is truly amazing how much the students know and how quickly they learn! Some subjects are taught in English and some are taught in German. At times when we are all together we will give directions or read a story in English AND German. I am getting better at translating for the students which is fun! Other times, the students can translate for one another or figure things out by example.

Quiet reading time each day. Everyone was reading quietly!

On Monday the 2nd graders who attended CSK last year performed a play for the incoming 1st graders at "Einshulungsfest." Einschulingsfest is a big celebration in German tradition to celebrate the first day of school. The first grader's extended family comes to the celebration and presents them with a "tute" filled with school supplies and fun treats! It's a big occasion and makes the 1st grader feel very special. And the 2nd graders did a great job reciting their lines in English and German for all the watching guests!

As we begin the routine of school it is so neat to learn and discover the unique personalities within our classroom. I am reminded of how beautifully God has crafted each student to love Him and to love one another. I'm also reminded again and again that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Thank you Lord for providing for me and for this amazing opportunity to love you by loving your children.

 

Gearing up for School!

The first day of school is September 3rd and is rapidly approaching!! In the next week I have to finish setting up my classroom, prepare some lessons, meet with my German co-teacher, and figure out the details of teaching at Christliche Schule Kandern (CSK). I've been sorting through the books of the classroom and dividing the English and German books and putting different kinds of books in similar piles and bins!

I will have 24 students in my class. There will be a mixture of native German speakers and English speakers. I will be teaching the English students language arts during a time called "Mother tongue". Later in the day I will be teaching the German students English during a time called "Partner language". I will be teaching all the students science. Finally, I will also teach the first graders Social Studies! Here is another picture of the work left to be done this week in my classroom! It's a bit messy, but there's a lot of great space!

I would appreciate your prayers this week as I prepare for the student's arrival and get my lessons and the set up of the class all sorted out. I have already been able to meet several of my students and I'm excited to meet them all!

This last week I got to travel into Basel with the other new staff from BFA. They treated us to a drink at the local Starbucks and we had a chance to walk around the neat city! It was raining, but it was fun to cross the Rhine and see a bit of a unique place. I'm looking forward to going back!

The Rathaus (city hall) in Basel, Switzerland

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I know the Lord has great things in store for this year!!