New Futsol Pitch

hokey pokey or a kick

goal keeper

running for the ball

The school finally has a futsol pitch. Here are some photos of the 'first' game. I was playing with my camera settings and realized if I used this one, the photos were not blurry...well sort of.

go for the goal

the little black pellets get in everything...but at least we have a pitch!

Speak Life

Today I led a chapel. I chose as my topic - Speaking Life. In Proverbs there is a passage that says what we speak can kill or nourish life. As I was doing the research for the chapel, I found a stat that said on average a person opens their mouth about 700 times a day and speaks about 18000 words. If all those words were written down that would be about a 54 page book. I held up a book with about 54 pages in it. I wanted the kids to understand how much they talk.  I then asked them to think about how many of those words were used to speak life. I mentioned that in Matthew it states that we will be held accountable for every word that we say. Ouch! There was a heavy silence.

Toby Mac has a song called "Speak Life". I encourage you to listen to it if you can. I played it for the kids (and I heard later that one of the classes went back singing the chorus and asked to listen to it again. Amen!)  I finished the chapel with an object lesson. I asked them to think about all those words they will speak during the day as they are brushing their teeth. They need to think about it because as they squeeze the tube and the paste comes out, it is like our words. Once those words come out of our mouths, we can't put them back in. So they need to think carefully  each day about how they are using their words for..Death or Life!

By the way, after that talk, I didn't have much to say for the rest of the day. :)

Shivapuri National Park Trip

The first weekend in February some friends of mine decided to go adventuring! We climbed into a crowded car and headed  north out of the city. The roads were in pretty bad shape and we got a bit lost but we came back with stories to tell and ready for a nap from our short jaunt up the hillside.  Here are a couple photos from that trip.

GoLD RuSH!

Yesterday in my US History class, I led the students across the Oregon Trail and then had them pan for gold (rocks I painted gold with fingernail polish!) Here are some photos. On the trail, they had to cover a raw egg while remaining in their wagons ( a string around four students). I think they had fun and we learned that the trail was difficult and panning was not for everyone.

Making the wagons

holding the cargo

We conquered the Rockies

climbing the 'rockies'

weighing gold

panning for gold

Reading through the Gospel of John

So today, as I was reading through the chapters of John that were next, I came across some verses I don\t think were there before. In Chapter 7 verses 45 -53. It starts off with this bit about the temple soldiers coming back empty handed and being questioned.  The priests and Pharisees aren't happy... then Nicodemus speaks up and asks a good legal question, " Is it right to judge a man before he is heard?" Which is amazing that he speaks up after a curse is called down on the ignorant masses who believe in Jesus. But he does. The Pharisees immediately say, " You goof, look at the Scriptures. There are no prophecies about the messiah coming from Galilee."

What I found fasinating about this short story is that one: Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus has given Nicodemus courage to stand up and out a bit. He seemingly asks an innocent question and one that actually needed to be asked.  Good for him and that serves as a reminder to me to be bold because I know the truth and yet be wise.

The second thing that I found amazing is that the Pharisees proof what idiots they are. They have searched the scriptures looking for connections between the messisah and Jesus and conclude that Jesus is not the messiah because he is from Galilee and as everyone knows there are NO prophecies linking the Messiah with Galilee!  They didn't really do their homework, did they?  So it is quite a good reminded for me there too. Check it all out and  continue to seek out the whole truth of God's Word.

Corndogs, Pickles, and State Fairs, Oh my!

In my US History class this week, we talked about state fairs and the important role they have in celebrating state agriculture and pride.  I decided to go to a local restaurant and get some corn dogs and dill pickles, so the students could get a taste of the delicacies available at a state fair. The treats were gobbled up as we talked about quilting, pig calling, blue ribbon winners, and merry-go-rounds. I hope a bit of the festive air wafted through the room before we moved on.  Kind of wish I could go to a state fair this year!

2014 Finally!

It's been a long time since I have actually written a blog. My apologies!
I have done a lot and been through a lot, but realized that I needed this outlet to let my friends and family know how life is here at the top of the world.

In December, I was able to fly to Thailand and stay with friends in Bangkok and Chiang Mai for about three weeks. I really needed the break and to thaw out.  One night, it got fairly warm and I woke, thinking that I needed to put the Air Con on. But then I realized that in a couple days, I would be freezing again, so decided against it and just enjoyed the heat. But I had a good refreshing rest overall and got to see some wandering friends and play a bit of tourist.  ( I'll posted some photos in a later blog)

I returned to the top of the world in January to attend a leadership meeting for the school and then jump back into teaching US History and being the Academic Director. It was difficult to get going, but it is nice to be back in the classroom and continuing to be a life-long learner!

It is now February (my, where is this year going?) and I am seeking out what the Lord has planned for me in the coming year. I know most folks do this at the beginning of January, but I was in no frame of mind to do that then, so dealing with it now. I would ask that you join with me as I pray and ask God for direction.

It is starting to warm up a bit, which is a good thing. I am not a fan of cold weather. I am also getting out of the mission/school bubble a bit more too and that helps me stop thinking about the cold.

Thank you all for your prayers and notes over the Christmas season. God is so good!