A new year and imago Dei.

A New year

Two months ago I thought what I would even be writing about this year. It all seemed so blah I had already spent a year here and nothing was seeming new and exciting. At the same time there were so many new things.

Some of the new things involved a new teaching team. I miss my old team members (Rest in America, Katie and Amanda), but I am loving the opportunity to work with seasoned veterans (this might make Shannon and Jonah sound old, they are not:) who have a few more teaching years under their belt.

This year I have also had the honor of being an assistant coach for senior girls soccer. The age range from grade 8-grade 12. Never did I imagine coaching soccer at this level (being the bench warmer that I was). It has been fun getting back and coaching high school age kids. I have enjoyed seeing how the relationships have spanned the grade levels.  They started as a group of girls who only knew people in their grade level and only speaking to them, to singing wildly on the bus together after losing game, after game. 

So yeah, I guess that there are some new things, I just tend to forget about them sometimes.

imago Dei

Yesterday I was listening to a podcast by Pastor Matt Chandler. His series is all about God's beautiful design. Now most of what I heard him talk about was nothing new, but there was a Kaploooyy moment for me. If you don't know what a Kaploooyy moment is please read the following defenition:

         Kaploooyy Momment: Something that you have known about, but then it comes to life in your brain                                                 and makes it explode. From the dictionary of Peter Randall :)

Matt Chandler was talking about the fact that we are created in the image of God. Which means that we are imago Dei, the image of God. I have known that for quite awhile. But what really was the Kaploooyy moment was when he talked about how we treat people. If people are truly imago Dei, which I believe they are, then I should see value in these people and think about how I treat them. 

This sermon went right along with a professional development class I took two weeks ago, on compelling worldviews. I believe people are made in the image of God. This also includes students.

So as you look at the people around you, do you see them as nuisances, a waste of your time, or like I had just this last week been reminded that each person I come in contact with is made in the image of God and I need to be reminded of that daily.

As always I apologize for the non-fluidity of this, and spelling/grammar mistakes.

Prayer: Remember to see my students as imago Dei

           The start of Term 2

The following are pictures from a safari in Indonesia.

Escalator Society

I want to start this post off with a confession, I am a fast walker. Okay so maybe those of you who have ever walked anywhere with me whether it be in a store, a cave (mainly my family), or on a road already know this. But that aside I like walking fast. It probably comes from this instilled never wanting to be late syndrome, who knows. But I also like to discover new things and places. I am always on the go. However here in Jakarta my stroll is not the same. How can this be when I still have the legs I had when I left the states and the Chacos on my feet? This became so because Jakarta is an Escalator Society.

What is an Escalator Society? Well for one, in an Escalator Society there are escalators in every single building. There are escalators that are the equivalent of 3 steps. You read that correctly THREE steps! An Escalator Society also means that people move at an escalator pace even when off the escalator. The people stretch out wide enough to block the path like 2 people standing next to each other on an escalator not allowing anybody past. 

When I first moved here it just drove this fast walking guy crazy. I was always looking for that small gap to squeeze through. Now though when I do get in the Escalator Society jam it has been great to also slow down to observe, to observe the little bits of creation. 

The other day I had the opportunity to just sit on one of the benches outside of the school and watch one of the many Jakarta thunderstorms. One of the high school students saw me and just couldn't believe that I was just sitting there.I told the student I was just relaxing in view of God's creation. They thought that I was crazy. It made me realize how little students are given examples of what true rest is. It has made thankful for the Escalator Society. Don't get me wrong I still like walking fast, but slowing down to an escalator pace can be just as good.
This video is an an example of one of my strolls sorry for the shakiness of it, and watch for the escalators :)

By the way this month marks the 10th month, crazy and in 26 days I should be somewhere closer to home.

Pray: that I finish the year strong loving the kids with Christ love

For teachers who will not be returning as they look for new jobs and transition into a different lifestyle

For new teachers preparing to come

Things I miss: Blackberries

Things I have made: Soft Pretzels

Thanks as always for your prayers

Sea World Indonesian Style and a Journey through the streets

Sea World Indonesian Style
Have you ever been to Sea World?
Have you ever been on a field trip with 70 students?
Have you ever gone 20 kilometers(AKA 13.6miles)?
Have you ever been on a bus for 2 hours?
I have done all of those just not at the same time.
Well today the Grade One had the opportunity to do all of those at the same time, Indonesian Style.
That's right we did all of those. This past month we have been learning to write simple research papers (English), take surveys (Math), and take care of our bodies(Science-stretched a little). These pieces combined led up to the culminating event of taking 70 Grade One students (give or take a few) on a field trip to Sea World. No we did not get the opportunity to head to sunny San Diego. We instead jumped on two luxury buses (minus the toilets) to smoggy Ancol, Indonesia. Home to probably the smallest, yet jam packed with cool Sea Creatures, Sea World. The distance according to Google Maps is about 20 Kilometers. A distance that at most would take 20 minutes in Lebanon. However because we wanted this to be an Indonesian style field trip, we took 2 hours to go that distance. Thankfully the drive home was only 1 hour :)
This may have put a damper on things for all of us, but the wait was worth it. Once we got inside we were welcomed to an Aquarium 3 times smaller than the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Though it was small in size there was still plenty to see. Probably the favorite portion of the trip was the tunnel that had stingrays, sea turtles, grouper fish, sand sharks, and many other fish swimming over head. Worth the wait, most definitely.

Journey through the streets
Having an apartment on the 11th floor allows me to see many different things from my windows. One of the many things that I can see is a giant dome. I have asked the many people who visited my apartment if they knew what it was. Nobody could give an answer. Finally a few weeks ago it was a sunny Sunday afternoon, so I set out in the direction of the dome. I didn't know how far it would be or any of the streets. I was just determined to find out what it was. So I slipped on my Chacos, grabbed my water and headed out. I had a general idea of where the thing was. I thought my building is about 15 stories higher than most around it, so I should be able to see it to get a reference point throughout the walk. Boy was I wrong! I zigzagged through the streets and alleys. I took a walking bridge across a main road (which was the only time I could actually see my building). I came to a few dead ends. Finally I spotted the dome, I was so close. However, the roads here are not that easy to navigate so what should have been a straight shot to it, ended having to be a reroute and go next to one of the main toll roads. The toll road led me then to the dome, it ended up being a convention center. Not as exciting as I had hoped. I was hoping that possibly it was some sports arena where they played world champion badminton. At this point I turned back around tried to find my building, tried retracing my steps, ended up on different roads and somehow made it back to the school.

Now for a shout out to three of my old students (and a sister)
Morgan, Reese, and Irelynn (emma)
I got a letter from them today. They know how much I love pictures so they sent it to me. Thanks for thinking and praying for me girls.

Things I miss: an update: I found pickles the day after my last update

Things I have made: Smoothies and blueberry muffins
Things to pray for: The final term of the year starts in 1 week (crazy 9 months has flown 2 months to go)
For relationships with those I come in contact with.

Sea World

View of the dome so far away you can't see it :)

The Bridge

The DOME

Convention

The letters

Just a Little Different

It is hard to believe that it was about this time last year that I was getting the news that I would headed to Indonesia. So let me just tell you some of the differences that I have seen in the teaching/coaching/cheering part of my life.

Teaching has been great. It is weird to think that last year I was teaching 1st and 2nd grade on my own. Now this year I have a partner teacher with whom I have the privilege of teaching along. At times I miss being able to conform my schedule to doing things on my own, which happens when she is sick. But then on those days she is sick I am reminded what it is like to be responsible for 22 students, especially when it comes to packing up. This year was also the first time that I have had a student move mid-year. I am used to students leaving during the summer, but of 5 years teaching this was a first. Finally getting to teach alongside 5 other first grade teachers gives me a great opportunity to become a better teacher learning from their ups and from their downs. Always being refined! On the note of teaching we are learning about all things Olympics, this is the most excited my kids have been in awhile. To bad no Indonesians are competing in the Winter Olympics ;)

Coaching has been great, but you may be asking how do you coach track and cross country in the middle of a city skyscraper with no field or track. Well you don't and so then you take up coaching soccer. Now this is not just any soccer. This is 5th and 6th grade girls soccer with only 2 practices a week. Is it a hard transition from Jamin and Mikey (ELCA) and their crazy antics, probably not. I love it and I am learning so much in skills and coaching in general. Our team name is the E-girls, but they decided I could shout He-girls. Even though the E stands for Eagle.

Cheering, well you all know me and my loud voice I like to use it for sports. It is Junior school soccer season and Senior school basketball season (which is year round). Anyway what a different culture, because everybody lives quite a ways away many people don't come to the sporting events. Mostly it's the teachers, a few parents, and a small band of students. Many of the schools don't even have grandstands. Crazy I know. But I still love it. Just this week I had the opportunity to go to another school in the league to watch the game, there were probably 10 fans not including the players waiting for their game. The echo of a ball bouncing, the squeak of the shoes, and the whistle of the ref no matter where I go these get my voice loud. Then it was time to board the bus to go home and this is where it the recollections stopped. What should have been a hour ride back ended up being 3 hours, TIJ (This is Jakarta). I thought the ride from Kennedy back to ELCA was long :).

So things are just a little different, but I am right where God has me and that is great. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Prayer: Halfway through the year means to comfortable of kids
It is rainy season be praying for the areas that flood

Things I miss:
Pickles

Things I have made:
Cheese cake

As always thanks for praying