school's out! and i'm back!

i can't believe i haven't touched this blog for over a year and a half! ...and i can't believe it's been over a year and a half since i started my career.

my, things have changed. i now have two academic school years under my belt, super immunity (haven't had the flu or cold all year!!) statuses of soon-to-be bride and apartment owner, a couch, dining table, and two bar stools :) i have been so blessed over this period of time and certainly can see God's hand weaving together my life( like He is weaving together the babies of my friends who are now pregnant!! HK, SS, ES. so exciting!!)

anyway, there are things i have been worried about and am fighting to be at peace with through prayer and just plain faith. my school is looking for a new location in vancouver in september, yes THIS september! if we can't find a place to put our precious little classes of lovely children to nurture and love love love them, well, there won't be little classes of lovely children or a school. meaning i will be jobless, unemployed, with a mortgage and wedding to pay off! not to mention how heartbreaking it will be to not only lose the families who have been so supportive of the school and my classroom, but also the colleagues who have been like family to me. it has been a hard couple of months. my heart and mind are clinging to God's words.

" Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:26

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

 

regardless of my school's situation and those nagging pessimistic thoughts, i know that whatever happens is God's will and it will be perfect, just as He planned. however, please keep my school in your prayers!

i am leaving this post with something i came across in my resume folders today; my philosophy of Christian education. i find it neat that although i don't remember it word for word while i am teaching, i do this naturally, out of my heart. for that i rejoice and am thankful that God is building me to be a teacher of truth and realness.

Philosophy of Christian Education

Since the age of 12, I believe my calling has been to work with children. I have successfully strived towards what may be pleasing to God and that is why I am hoping to be considered for this teaching position.

I have taught children biblical content at Vacation Bible School programs and Christian Summer Camps and believe that Christian education is to build up these disciples of Jesus to be faithful and knowledgeable in the Bible, to have a personal relationship with God, and strive to have a holy character like that of our Savior.  Jesus says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, NIV). As an ambassador for Christ, I believe my role is to obey God’s command of spreading the Good News to people, children included, and build them up to be intellectual disciples of Jesus.

Firstly, I believe it is important in a Christian school to put the emotional and physical needs of the child as priority.  In order for children to be focused and at their best for learning, these needs must first be addressed. This not only shows the act of a teacher’s love and concern for their students, but allows the children to see God’s love in their teacher’s actions and His command of “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11). In addition, it may reflect the greatness of God’s love and teachers can encourage students to begin a personal relationship with God. This leads to, secondly, the child being able to grasp the commandment of loving their neighbor because of what the teacher has modeled. I believe in the classroom as a place for learning to respect and love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Through cooperative learning, children will be able to build social skills as well as practice the fruits of the Spirit modeled by the teacher. Lastly, I believe a crucial part of Christian education is to provide children with academics, but a Christian perspective of some of the issues and solutions in the world. This way, they may have a solid foundation in Christianity and strive to live their lives according to the Christian faith.

  In summary, I see the role of the teacher and Christian education as a God-central system that, hand-in-hand, should provide children a Christian ‘window’ of the world. This does not mean indoctrinating them, but providing them with opportunities in which they can be encouraged, and hopefully desire, to and have a relationship with and become leaders for Christ. 
 
amen!