Indonesian Sicknesses and Birthdays

What a sick week and celebratory week all in one. I want to start off by saying to any of you who ever plan to travel anywhere and be there for a long period of time let's say to year, please follow these 3 important things you should do before getting sick.
1. Buy all of the medicine that you could possibly need and have your cupboards overflowing. Just like it was when you were growing up and all you wanted was a band-aid and 600 other medicinal things are covering them up.
2. Stock up on all comfort foods that you enjoy having around when you feel disgusting. If your country does not carry those things then stock up on crackers and bananas. These are always good fall back items.
3. Don't get sick. Really just avoid it as much as possible. It is not a fun thing to be away from home and be sick.
If you hadn't guessed after a month and a week I finally got something. Thankfully it only lasted the weekend and I was better by my birthday.

I got to celebrate my birthday this year by teaching then having an open house. It is kind of funny because my first year teaching at East Linn we had our open house the same day as my birthday as well. (Josh Becker one of my students now a 6th grader, Yikes!, wished me a happy birthday.

Well this year I my class parent had been informed it was my birthday and brought me a great cake with trick candles. All of the students and parents enjoyed that.

great cake

I think that day during school I was sang to 4 times in class and 1 time at lunch.

Afterwards I was able to go with a group of friends from here to eat some A&W and bowl. These pictures are of that experience. It was a blast. I am thankful for the fact that God is even interested in the small details of birthdays.

This is my host family 

They already know me so well

Jory this one is for you

So there you have it, just a great day.

Please be praying for two of my friends who have the opportunity to be a part of a softball team playing in Vietnam. Pray that they good witnesses, and safe while they travel. (and to make all flights:) *Chris and Erik

Pray for all of us newbies as our bodies adjust. 

Thankful for healing for one of my friends who was hospitalized, as I recovered.

Thanks for praying

Things I miss from home:

Griddles

Camp Fires

South Dakota Trips

Honeymoon and no accent

Let me start off by saying wow what a week. This week has been pretty fun getting to finally begin the school year. That final stretch was brutal. There was a point on Tuesday 30 minutes before the new students came to check out the class that I freaked out. Thankfully God has already brought around a strong support group. My friend Megan looked at me and said really Peter what are they going to remember about today? How you welcome them or what your classroom looks like? She said she would be praying I slapped a few posters on the large blank white wall, stepped aside and prayed that this year would be God's and not mine. It has been hard and there are going to be many things about this year that I think will be a constant struggle, but like I said God has already brought around so many great people that will challenge me at school. Just like Tanya, Teesha, Heide, and Kim at East Linn. Just can't get away from people like that:)

School started on Wednesday and I had 20 of my 22 students show up. Now for those who are teachers you know of the "honeymoon" period. Those who don't get it let me explain, normally in the last 4 years I have been teaching, the kids no matter if they are new or returners they are quite and listen. By about the second week out you want the kids to start acting up. Well there was absolutely no honeymoon period. So the first day was quite different than I normally start the year. Making me once again needing to rely on Christ than on myself. The second day we made it through a little more. While doing that I wrote on the whiteboard with permanent marker. You are probably thinking really? but here in Jakarta the permanent markers and white board markers look almost the same minus the word board marker on the permanents. BAHHH! So picture trying to teaching a lesson while also trying to remove permanent marker. Another time to trust God. It may seem like these epiphanies came after each event but it more came as I look at these pictures and was reminded of what God has me here for. Look at these children, each one of them precious in His sight (up to 23 now:).

batik Friday

making name tags

grades 1 and 2 chapel

break time at the park

This last part is short. Tonight I was at church and met a couple from Australia and one of them asked me where I was from. I said I was from Oregon. The lady then said, "So you are from America?" I told her yes. She could not believe it and went on to tell me that I had no accent. Which is kind of funny because normally I never think I have an accent anyway. But some of my other friends from Oregon said that they get teased about having an accent. That is really funny since my sister is told in Germany that she too does not have an accent. What does this have to do with anything? I was thinking afterwards that as a Christian would somebody look at me and say that I don't have an "accent?" Meaning would they know that this is not my home, but that Heaven is my home? Just something that I thought I would pass along.

Prayer:

Please pray for the first full week next week.

Relationships to be built at church

Things I miss:

electric pencil sharpeners

Walls that you can put tacks in

As always sorry for all the grammar mistakes. Thanks for praying.

Red Ants and Newbies

Red Ants, these disgusting little bugs are crazy. In the states we may have bigger red ants, but here these little guys are fast and mean. I am discovering what it means to be super clean. (Taking after Gayle :) If I am not quick to clean up after a meal or leave a crumb somewhere they find it and hang out. One or two would not be so bad, but then they begin to come by the hoards. I have to be careful because then they will come and decide to snack on me. Their bites hurt! The other interesting thing is that if you kill one you and don't clean that up they will come and eat the remains. Nothing is sacred to these little fiends.

Now you are probably wondering why I bring these pesky critters up. I cannot remembered if I mentioned the living situation. I live in an apartment that is directly below the school. Not to different from living next door to East Linn last year. I loved it! I could quickly drop by the school and get tasks done even in the wee hours. Here is how it is different in Indonesia, all 19 apartments are filled with other staff. I have really enjoyed this. It has been easier to get to know the other staff. However, it can be so easy to become like those red ants I had today. I put out some poison, as the blurry video below shows. They took this poison back to their nest. 

Each day I have the opportunity to work for a common purpose with the people I live with, which is to serve Christ. There are always things that come up in life that I want to want to go quickly towards. Some of them are great, but some of the things can be like the ants bringing home poison or eating a downed ant. These things can be bitterness, selfishness, pride, gossip, and lack of patience. If these are allowed to enter the relationships of those I work with then soon it will be like the anthill, a bunch of bodies that are no longer furthering the Gospel of Christ.

So please be praying for those of us living here. Pray that we would build one another up. That we would Gospel centered fellowship. That when troubles arise we would seek biblical restitution. That our lives would be a light to the security and cleaning staff and others who see us.

NEWBIES
Tomorrow is the day that new students to the school get to come and check out the teachers and the school. I have no idea how many of my students are actually new.
Imagine what it would be like to be six years old starting at a new school, and for some it is also a new country. This is what I will be encountering tomorrow with my kids.
So please be praying for these students that they would be at ease and not anxious. Pray for the school year, that we it would be one filled with the Gospel in all areas of learning.

Things missed:
Every once in awhile I might add this to tell you things that are missed. Most of them are just random silly things, because I hope you all know that I miss you already and am thankful for the many avenues of communication that we can share life's happenings.
So here is the things that have come to mind lately
Dollar Tree
Back-to-School isles
Taco Bell (Liz knew I would)
Carpeted floors

As always I am sorry for all the grammar mistakes. Thanks for praying!