Following Jesus - at what cost?

"To this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."       1 Timothy 4:10

Spending time with families is always a highlight of my ministry here in Bogota.  Getting to celebrate birthdays, to eat lunch together, and to see my students with their families at their houses is such a blessing.  Here are a few stories and pictures about how God is working through these special times.

1. Alex's going away party:  One of my students, Alex, is moving and the 3rd Grade families threw a surprise party for his family to pray and say good-bye.  Claudia, the mom, spoke and she began to cry as she told of how God had finally worked in her heart after two years to be content and happy here in Bogota.  They are from El Salvador and the Lord has now called them to go and serve in Honduras.  Claudia said that the Lord has called her to love not just her country, but "Todo Mi Tierra" (or, all of God's creation/land/people).  She then went on to say how the teachers at ECA are an inspiration because their love for God comes first as they leave their families and move to a different country.

This made me cry because it was very convicting words for me to hear.  Having an emotional week due to missing people back home, feeling sick, and a busy two weeks at school with parent/teacher conferences and Fall Festival made me start to loose my focus.  The question before me was, "Will you give up everything to follow Jesus?  Even hard things like relationships back home?"  I know that Jesus is worth everything - but my heart and emotions were telling me something different.

I was able to talk with Claudia and tell her how much her words meant to me.  She asked about my story of coming to Colombia - which I told her how many questions and excuses I had thought of when praying about following the Lord in this way.  These concerns were met with a resounding peace that God would provide and take care of everything should I choose to trust him and GO!!

Having our hope set on the Living God is the only place it should be.  Putting our life in his hands is always a safe place to be.  Very thankful for this reminder this week :-)

2. Serving at Barrio Egypto with CDC:  My church here in Bogota spent this past Saturday at a ministry called Buena Semilla (Good Seed) in Barrio Egypto.  This ministry is an after school program and center to help struggling and poor children who have no other support in their lives.  Their parents are not always involved and they need a safe place to come and just be kids.  What a privilege to go and serve for a few hours with my friends to show the love of Christ to these children.

We played games and then fed the kids a nutritious meal of chicken nuggets, apple, chips and of course the favorite... ketchup!!  The precious brothers and sisters picture with me on the right LOVED ketchup so much that my friend, Jenny, had to sit down and stay there with her plate full for them to dip EVERYTHING - including Doritos :-)

This ministry is led by one of my student's families.   It was neat to connect and talk more with the dad of this student who needs extra love and care.  To see him and his ministry gave me a fresh perspective on his relationship with his son.  Praising God that relationships are being built for the good of my precious 3rd Grade students.

It was also amazing to see my friends here pour themselves out to those in need in their own country.  What servant hearts they have and how wonderful to know that the church in Colombia has believers willing to intercede for their own people.  Thank God for the opportunity to encourage them and serve alongside them.

3. Christian Character Day:
Every Fall, we take the time to celebrate Christians that have influenced our lives.  We call it Christian Character Day.  Can you guess who we are dressed as?

We learned from these men and women that it takes sacrifice and humility to follow and love the Lord.  Their examples show us how worthy Jesus is for us to give our lives to him in any way he asks.

Prayers and Praises:
Attitude and Respect of my students - that the Lord would continue to work in their hearts to love, obey, and serve Jesus.

Dealing with the transient lifestyle of a missionary that is always changing and being ok with those changes.

Maria and I are having a difficult time finding a time to do discipleship that really works and gives us quality time together - pray that this works out quickly and that God would provide a time for us to meet together :-)

So blessed by your support and by the precious blood of Jesus,

Nothing is possible without Him,

Carrie

Spreading Gospel Love in Cartagena

Our God is a Great Big God:
I had the opportunity to go and help run an English Camp for a school on the coast of Colombia.  They teach their students English, but do not have native English teachers like we do at El Camino.  Katie and Maddi (two other teachers at ECA) and I traveled during our week off to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ in Cartagena in exchange for getting to see some of their beautiful city.

Billy and Marcy are teachers from the school in Cartagena who were our wonderful helpers.  What a blessing they were to help organize and manage the kids who came to the camp. Also, we stayed with the pastor's family who is one of the sweetest families I have ever met.  Milena, the wife, was such a gracious host and was so excited that we were there to help teach English, especially since her youngest son, Juan David, would be attending the camp.  Juan David was singing the songs we taught while walking around his house which was a highlight of my week!  The ways the kids were singing praise to Jesus in ENGLISH was such a heavenly sound. The song "Our God is a Great Big God" was heard all over the church and school.

While in the car, I felt the desire to ask Milena how she became a Christian.  Her willingness to trust me and share her story was a blessing.  Her love for Jesus and how he called her to believe in him to redeem her life is now helping many other women at her church who are struggling as she once did.

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."   1 Thessalonians 5:11


TIC:  Not knowing about a fundraiser for the Fundacion de Jesus on the first night and attending the dinner in our clothes from the airplane (t-shirt and jeans) while everyone else is wearing fancy dresses.

Having a teacher devotional day that ended with the speaker praying over every person for over 3 hours :-)  It was a beautiful time of worship, but that was a LOT of Spanish.  (I know how the students felt having to hear English all week!)

This is Colombia :-)  TIC!!



Cartagena and new friends:  After the camp, Billy and Marcy took us to eat lunch and then showed us the city.  Cartagena is most associated with pirates of the Caribbean and is known for it's beautiful colonial buildings and fortresses. The fist night we were in Cartagena, we took a carriage ride around the old part of the city.  It was beautiful to see the architecture and be told of stories where slaves were sold or to see where pirates landed and attacked.  Along one of the beaches, there was a long wall that was used for defense against pirates.

                                    

Castillo de San Felipe was amazing to explore.  We were able to walk down and through the passageways of the castle.  There was a HUGE Colombian flag that flew over the castle, with the view of the city in the background.

Islas de Rosario and the Playa Blanca was a day to be amazed at the beauty of God's creation.  As a thank-you for showing us around all week, we offered to pay for Billy and Marcy.  Neither of them had been to see the beautiful islands and swim on the white sand beaches.  Colombia is such a beautiful country with so many resources.  May God continue to bless this country.

Bocagrande Beach has brown sand due to the islands separating the mainland of Cartagena from the coral reef out in the Caribbean.  The Coral is what breaks up and creates the white sand out on the islands.  It was a fun time to play with the family who we were staying with.  It was so fun to throw a frisbee and play in the water with the two boys.

Marcy and Billy with both be in Bogota next weekend, and also for the OBED conference that ECA is hosting in November.  Praise God for these new friends in Christ.

Prayers/Praises:
Pray for continued patience and grace with my students.  Pray for compassion and a love for them that is from the Lord.  That I would seek the Lord for wisdom and rely on him daily for how to shepherd their hearts.

Strength and renewed energy in Jesus - feeling exhausted and drained lately!

Bendiciones,
Carrie

A Visit from Nick and Celebrating Writing

Hope and Service: Nick Vijicic came and visited ECA a few weeks ago.  Born with no arms and legs (except for a tiny, two-toed foot), God has taken this man's life and given Nick such a powerful testimony of life and hope in Jesus Christ.

My students were so moved by his testimony of being bullied and being afraid to try things just because he had no arms and legs.  His ability to joke about his difficult circumstances is a gift from God.   His message spoke to my students about focusing on their ABILITIES and not what they can't do.

With the grace of God, Nick has learned to do so many things like swimming, sky-diving, typing on a computer.  Last year, Nick got married and now has a son.  His life has been redeemed and given a new purpose with Jesus.

Nick told a powerful story about when he spoke at a school.  Never before had Nick met someone else without limbs.  At this school, a family had brought their young son who was just like Nick and they were invited on stage.  Nick's life was such an encouragement to this family and he told the parents that if their child was ever bullied at school that Nick would come and speak.  Well, a few years later Nick got a call from this family and they asked for help.  Nick traveled to this young boy's school and spoke.  From this moment on, the young boy was the most popular kid at school who learned that they way you made by Christ is always "cool".

"Since his first speaking engagement at age 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story

with millions, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes."

Nick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” Nick’s latest foray into radio will expand his platform for inviting men and women all around the world to embrace the liberating hope and message of Jesus Christ.

Here is more of his personal testimony - http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/about-nick-his-story
Here is his website if you want to know more - http://www.nickvujicic.com/ 
VIDEO of Nick - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWnt9OVUEL4


Celebrate Writing!
In 3rd Grade, we have been working on narrative stories.  Taking small moments with important people or places and creating an exciting story to tell others is what great authors do.  Each and every 3rd Grader has been working hard at finding the heart of their story, adding in details, showing their reader what happened (and not just telling them), and rehearsing their stories with a partner to try and make their eyes go wide and their mouths drop with excitement.

To end our 1st Quarter, we had a celebration of our writing.  God always amazes me at how well these English Language Learners embrace another language and can learn to write so well.  Praise God for these bilingual leaders who can go and make a difference in the world for Jesus.  I was so impressed at the wonderful stories that my students wrote and we invited in other classes and teachers to share in our writing growth.  Here are some pictures from our Writing Celebration.

For the sake of the gospel,
Love,
Carrie

CHAMPS, Serving, and Da Bears :-)

CHAMPS - We have a new program in our class called CHAMPS.  The kids are encouraged to be champions in their behavior by following the CHAMPS rules.  There are pictures that go on the board and tell the kids who/when can they talk; who/when can they ask for help; when and if they can move around the classroom; and how they are to be participating. 

God is using this program to work in 3rd Grade already.  All of my students responded very quickly to these procedures.  They love earning points and its easy to redirect behavior by pointing at a picture.  While it is tiring to be changing the pictures A LOT during one lesson, I am so blessed at how God is using this program to more clearly communicate behavior expectations.

On Fridays, we have free time (which they earn with their CHAMP points).  Those that don't earn the points have to sit out of the free time fun. Some of my students have a hard time earning CHAMPS.  I have been praying so hard for God to work in their lives, and that they would see his grace - for them to keep trying and to know they are loved when they fail.

When one student didn't earn CHAMPS and the Friday Free Time, they became upset.  Being reminded to extend them grace, I wanted them to know that I saw that they had tried hard all week and that I still loved them so much.  But, the student walked away from me, really upset at me for taking away free time. 

This reminded me of times when I have drawn away from God because I feared the consequences of my actions or have gotten mad at God for not giving me mercy when I felt like I deserved it.  But, the truth is, God's mercy is never deserved.  We can never earn his grace.  Because He is God, He is free to give blessing or to give judgement when he pleases.  Thankfully, he always chooses to give us grace and mercy - more abundantly that we could ever imagine.  The Lord was gracious to this student - as they earned CHAMPS the following week :-)

"The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.    

He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.  

 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

  For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust."

Psalm 103:8-14 (ESV)

  Daily life with my students:
There are so many life lessons that are learned in 3rd Grade.  Some of my girls learned that we have a choice when we are hurt by a friend: to either let that friend make us feel bad or remember who we are in Christ Jesus. 
A lot of miscommunication happened and had caused hurt feelings between them.  We talked and prayed together.  What a lesson to learn that sometimes we think something is true (like someone talking about us) when it is not.

The boys in my room are learning about picking friends who bring out the best in them.  I noticed that certain students behaved better when a few of their good friends were sick.  They were surprised to hear this news.  We were able to talk and pray about picking friends - and how friends in Christ help us to be more like Jesus is.

Serving my lovely children while feeling stressed (a day with a few breaks - yet my time was spent dealing with student issues during this time instead of planning) was and is tiring.  This would leave me feeling low on energy and spiritually drained.  The Lord brought some comforting verses to my mind:

"Come all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28-30

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and honor, forever and ever,  A-men."  1 Peter 4:9-10

 It's so easy to forget to bring Jesus into our service.  My exhaustion showed me that I was depending on myself more than I realized.  Praise God for opening my eyes and drawing me into a wonderful quiet time with him where he reminded me of His Strength I can draw on.  It's impossible to serve when you have nothing left to give.  Thankfully, Jesus has provided a way for us to be filled with his love and have that love overflow and bless those around us. 

Chicago Bears Fans in 3rd Grade:
My students love to draw me pictures and have recently discovered that I love American Football and love to watch the Chicago Bears.  I have a whole collection of pictures now of my favorite team  beating the Packers :-0  This all started when a student asked if he could bring in a monkey with a football jersey on.  I asked which team it was and he said all he knew is that it was wearing green and gold...

Uh, Oh!!!!  I teased him that those colors would never be allowed in my classroom :-)  The look on his face was priceless.  He then told me that his cousin had the monkey that was wearing the blue and orange, so he would trade monkeys for me.  This just made my day.

I'm thankful for Jesus allowing me to have these moments of connection with my students. 

 

Look at the score, now.  Are they turning on me?

Prayers/Praises:
On our October Break, my friend Katie and I will be traveling to the coast to run an English camp for a school in Cartagena, Colombia.  This is such an exciting opportunity to use our English to connect and share the gospel with these people.  Please pray for our planning and our time there serving this school with the love of Jesus.

Report Cards for 1st Quarter are right around the corner.   Please pray for a strong finish to the quarter for me and all of the students.  This is coming into a busy week for me, so please pray that I would find peace and comfort in Jesus and not get stressed :-)

Please continue to pray for Maria and I as we meet and try to get to know each other.  It is my heart's desire to pour into her this year and be a blessing just like I have tremendously been blessed by a discipling relationship.  

The Farmer's strike is still in negotiations - no new updates.  Things are at least more calm around here.  Please keep praying for President Santos and the farmers as they try and work out their problems peacefully.

Grace and Peace,
Carrie