Colombian 30th birthday and a Colombian Welcome

A Colombian 30th birthday - I wasn't sure how I would feel on my birthday with my family and many of my friends so far away.  Thank you to everyone who made my 30th birthday feel so very special!!!! I can't believe God has blessed me with so many wonderful friends (who threw me a surprise party today - my ECA peeps and my friends from CDC are amazing!!!) and an amazing family who helped me celebrate even though they are back in Chicago. I also got to skype with my birthday twin, Margo, with my students to wish her a happy birthday as well.  God has also blessed me with students who will forever be in my heart - along with the fun "monkey" themed surprise party they threw for me after school on my birthday. I was told that I was going after school to eat a snack with one of my students and their families.  As I entered their home - I was met by 24 monkeys!!  My kids greeted me with monkey masks and were so excited to celebrate together.  Love you all so much :-)

Stefanie, Mayra, and I on my 30th birthday!!!

My Colombian friends, Stefanie and Mayra, along with my ECA friends all surprised me by gathering at a restaurant called La Vencindad.  This restaurant is based off of a Mexican TV show that my Colombian friends watched when they were young.  The waiters dressed as the characters and even sang "Happy Birthday" to me in a very special way.  After they sang, the waiter handed me an envelope that had letters from my family and mentor, Margo, from back home.  God is so good to have my family be involved!  Stefanie and Mayra had contacted my sister, Kristin, and she helped them with getting my birthday all planned.  These letters are so precious to me - especially the one from my two nephews (which were fingerprints and footprints).  Here is a facebook link to the video of when they sang to me at La Vencindad - 

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/photo.php?v=10152671337710438&set=p.10152671337710438&type=2&theater


One of the most precious moments between me and my students on my birthday was when I received a letter from one of them.  This student has been on my heart all year and God has been working to help me shepherd her heart.  It has not always been easy - but I feel the Lord's hand in bonding me closer with this student.  The weight of the words she wrote me were humbling and made me cry.

"Happy Birthday Miss Bergmann!!!!!  You are one of my favorite teacher's because I know you love me a lot and I love you, too!  I like the games you teach us.  I am sorry for the things I've done to you.  Tell your family that I send them a big hug.  Read this to Sammy and Joshie and tell them they are so, so cute!!  Happy birthday, Miss Bergmann!!!"


Visit to La Chorera - Some ECA teacher's started our spring break by hiking to a waterfall called La Chorera.  The hike was really hard, but it was amazing to be in God's beautiful creation.  This was a much needed time of rest and to see the country that we all hold so dear to our hearts.

Muscles!!  Katie and I holding up a big rock :-)

Sarah, Laura, and I on our way to see the waterfall!

Brittney and I - after we had climbed some rocks to go up in the waterfall.  Wet!!!!!

Welcome to Colombia - Last weekend, I was invited to lunch and then bowling with one of my students and their families.  We had a such a fun lunch together, as I was able to teach my student a song on the piano afterward - anyone know "Heart and Soul"?  We decided to go bowling down at the Unicentro.  After we had waited almost a hour, we walked to our lane and started to put out names in the computer.  Within a matter of 30 seconds, my purse was stolen by a women who walked quickly behind us.  When I noticed, the bowling alley checked the cameras while I waited at the entrance to check if people were trying to leave with my purse.  The women had left the bowling alley right away with my purse.  God was gracious to me - as I was able to contact my parents in the States to cancel my bank cards.  I struggled with anger toward the woman, as I had my new camera in my purse - with pictures from my birthday parties that had not yet been put onto my computer.  (Som forgive my lack of pictures of my students in monkey masks!!) God showed me how much I was valuing "things" that were of earthly value.  He opened my eyes to see the ways he was providing for me, even in the midst of my purse being stolen.  My parents are coming down (today) and are able to help me replace some things that I had lost.  

The family that I was with at the bowling alley offered for me to borrow money until my parents came down.  This was also a huge blessing.  As I started to buy groceries and plan for my parents coming down, my money supply was getting low.  I wasn't sure how I was going to have the necessary things for my parents (like toilet paper :-) when I came across some money that I had forgotten about.  One of my students had given me some money for my birthday a few weeks ago, and I had forgotten about it until I was cleaning up and putting away things in my apartment.  God is so good and is worthy of full trust in his abilities to take care of his children.

Prayers/Praises:

That God would be gathering the ECA team together for next year.  There are some much needed wholes that we will need to be filled - including the McCollum family who has felt the Lord leading them to a school in Annapolis, Maryland.  Please pray for everyone as they transition to new roles, and that those still at ECA will trust in the Lord to bring HIS TEAM together for 2013-2014.

Pray for my parents - who are arriving in Bogota in just a few hour!!!  They do not know that I will be actually meeting them at the airport.  Pray for a blessed time together this week - as I get to introduce them to Bogota and to El Camino.  They will have the opportunity to visit the Special Needs Orphanage and to go with my 3rd Graders to our ministry called Hogar de Paz Foundation.  

For my role next year - I have decided that I would like to teach 3rd Grade again next year.  This may come as a shock to some (and to me, as well), but I feel like another year teaching 3rd Grade will provide ministry opportunities to minister to next year's 3rd Graders in deeper ways.  There is a possibility of me helping with special education as well.  This will take some planning, as they look at freeing up some of my teaching time with help from another teacher.  

Insurance - Please pray for my insurance coverage, because they are not covering my doctor visit or my prescriptions medication in the way that I thought they would.  God assured me that he would provide in this area for this past year, and I am praying that he continues to provide in this area so that I can continue to serve Jesus Christ here in Bogota.

Praise - my friend, Rachel, has been accepted to teach at El Camino next school year!!!!!  They do not know her exact position, but she will be working in elementary.  Please pray for her preparations as she starts the process of support raising and figuring out the logistics and all of the MANY details in moving to another country.  Pray for her heart, as God prepares her for service in His Kingdom here in Bogota.

Bendiciones,

Carrie

Integrity

Growth/Fruit - A parent was telling me how her daughter has been feeling in class.  God is so good to give me a glimpse into one my student's hearts in this way.  My student responded with saying:

"Mommy - before, at my old school, I was so full of sin.  Now, I have Jesus more in my heart and He helps me do nice things.  I know that he loves me so much"

This made me cry, feel very humbled, and also want to jump for joy at seeing how the Lord is working at El Camino Academy.

Integrity in Commitments 
Our theme in chapel has been Integrity.  This past month, we have been focusing on having integrity in our commitments.  This includes home, school and relationships with friends and family.  As an elementary team, we decided to put up posters that show our integrity in commitments.  Our saying is:

"Say what you mean.  Mean what you say.  Do what you say you will do."

Each 3rd Grader wrote out their individual commitment that they want to keep.  Some of them included being more obedient to their parents or to their teacher.  Others chose to commit to doing their homework on time or to being a better friend.  We signed our names and let the whole school know what we were committing to by posting them in the hallway. 

Please pray for our 3rd Grade Class.  We will be teaching a lesson on having Integrity in God Given Talents at Chapel on April 6th.  So, we will begin talking about and studying what God given talents are and how God wants us to use them.  Pray for our preparations and that God would teach each and every 3rd Grader about their own God given talents!

"Each one should use WHATEVER GIFT he has received to SERVE others, FAITHFULLY administering GOD"S GRACE in it's various forms."     1 Peter 4:8