Shepherding a Child's Heart

My desire is not just to work on the outward behavior of my students, but to care about the issues of their heart.  In elementary, we use the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp to help guide us as we seek to disciple and bring our students closer to Jesus.  I have been applying what I have been learning to help one of my students in particular.  The biblical principles in his book have helped mold my philosophy when I talk through situations with all of my students, but there is one situation where it has been really helpful.

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a had tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."   Luke 6:43-45

As I mentioned in my last blog, I have a student who is dealing with anger issues, violent behavior, and avoidance of work.  These are the outward signs of behavior that I am seeing and have been trying to manage these situations all year.  Lately, the behaviors have increased in quantity and frequency.  These issues are also coming from some family situations that she is having (feeling loved and accepted is part of the issue).  My special education background has been really helpful, allowing me to find some tools that will help teach my student how to handle the issues that are in her heart.

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean."  Matthew 15:18

With the help of the 3rd Grade Team, there are some things we are implementing to help shepherd her heart.  The first is teaching her what to do with emotions when she feels SO angry at something that seems so little or insignificant.  I have talked with her about examples of when we might get angry at someone but what they did really didn't hurt us.  For instance, my little sister used to jump out from around the corner and scare me when we were kids.  This made me jump out of my skin and become so scared that I would get mad at her.  Due to my reactions, it made her want to do it even more.  My mom finally told me that if I could control my reaction that she would stop.  I also realized that I was getting mad at my sister for something that really wasn't hurting me.  After explaining this example to my student, she agreed that there were times where she would get angry over something so little.  We now have a thermometer in our room.  She can point to the thermometer when she starts to feel angry.  Then, she needs to evaluate whether the situation is a BIG deal or something small that she can actually handle by showing me a thumbs up or a thumbs down.  I will then respond with how I see the situation.  This will help shepherd her heart to realize the emotions that are so strong in her heart and how she can perceive them.

Also, we are adding in a social story to help her learn about anger.  I used these kind of stories when working with autistic children.  Using pictures and talking through social situations when they are NOT happening will help the child with processing the emotions and how to handle them.  I wrote a social story dealing with anger, adding in key points like how we feel or act when we are angry and how Jesus came to help us with these issues of the heart.  This story will be in her reading folder as a fluency story she can practice reading everyday.  Every child has story that they are practicing, so this is a way for her to read about anger and practice reading!

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."  Proverbs 4:23

Last, I am starting to have a special lunch with her once a week so that I am building in some positive attention time and relationship building time.  I am hoping that this will give her the attention that she is seeking and will again help in shepherding her heart toward Christ.  When I suggested this to my student, she was so excited that we had our first lunch date that same day :-)  Later that day when she left for the weekend, she came over and gave me a REALLY BIG HUG and said, "Miss Bergmann, I am really going to miss you!."  This just humbled me to my knees and made me so grateful for the work God is doing to help this little girl.

Prayers/Praises:
I am hoping to make a decision for next year by the end of March.  Please continue praying for me as I decide.  I am seeking discernment on what I want verses what God wants, and where those desires and passions match up :-)

We will be inaugurating the use of our 3rd Floor this coming Monday!  Everyone has been working really hard to get things ready for the classrooms to be used.  We are all so thankful to God for this blessing and provision.


For the sake of the gospel,
Carrie

Teachable Moments

I want to share with you some moments I have had recently with my students.  My favorite part of teaching is when something happens and you can teach them about Jesus and the gospel right there in that moment that God gave you.  With teaching, there is not always time to be able and talk one-on-one with students when these things happen.  God has graciously poured opportunities and a sense of availability these past few weeks to really talk with some of my precious students.

  1. I have been praying over a student all year who is struggling with friendships and learning how his past behavior has affected how his friends view him today.  There are areas of unforgiveness that have continued since kindergarten!  One day this past week, this student said a bad word in spanish when describing a soccer player and a few of his friends heard the word.  While he did not know what is meant, the student said that they did know it was a bad word.  We talked about what Jesus thinks about saying bad words and how we wants us to use our mouths that He created.  At first, this student seemed scared and did not want to admit that he really wanted to say it.  After encouraging him that we ALL have things we want to do but that may not be the best choices, he admitted that it was fun to say the word.  When he finally admitted that, I reminded him that that is exactly why we need Jesus!  God calls us to say encouraging things with our mouths because out of the heart the mouth speaks.  But, he sent us Jesus because he knows that our hearts are incapable of this without Him.  I could see the hope rush back into his face and we prayed and asked Jesus for forgiveness. What a teachable moment from God!

Here are some pictures of our Model Ear Science Projects!

2. Teaching my kids about realizing how they are treating each other when playing soccer has been a challenge.  Sometimes they get so upset when they play because someone kicked them or pushed them and they think it is on purpose.  They love to play jokes, but sometimes their jokes go to far and actually hurt another person without them meaning to.  God has provided many opportunities these past few weeks to talk with my kids during their Spanish class time so that we can talk through situations that happen when they are playing outside at recess.  I know God will use these individual conversations to bear fruit in their lives!

3. Getting to translate for 2 students who do not understand Spanish during our Health Classes with the school nurse was quite the challenge.  Translating is hard enough, but to do it SIMULTANEOUSLY while the nurse was speaking was even harder.  The students and I laughed as I tried to keep up and explain directions to them.  It was a great way for me to let my students see me using Spanish.  Everyday they are studying in a language that is not their first language and I sometimes forget how hard that can be.  We require them to speak in English while at school, but that seems like an impossible mission to some of my students.  The whole class smiled and seemed so grateful to hear their teacher translating and speaking Spanish.  What a teachable moment to make them loved and accepted for who God made them to be and be proud of the language God gave them.

4. I have one student from Korea who just started studying in English at ECA last year.  She has grown so much in her English and is such a joy to have in class.  Her personality is coming out as she is much more able to express herself with her new language.  During ECA Spirit Week, we had International Day where every class chose a country to dress as and celebrate that day.  I just had to choose Korea!!  My student had so much fun sharing about her culture and country with her friends.  She brought in many things to show them from Korea - dresses, silk clothes, masks, a mosquito/bug net, books, and a special Korean treat for everyone.  When she read a page in her book in Korean, my class sat so still just listening to her gentle voice read a language that they did not even know.  They all wanted her to keep on reading!  What a special opportunity to bring friends together and to understand each other more.  I am just so thankful to Jesus for the teachable moments of connecting with friends and the importance of learning about them and also celebrating our differences.

5. I have one student who has struggled with anger.  She has been laid on my heart heavily this week.  While her outward behavior has shown aggressive and power/control, I know there are deeper issues going on in her heart, partially related to her family situation.  While she has struggled this week (and have felt a heavier burden to do what I can to help her!!), I have also seen moments of what a sweet girl she is and the qualities of God that inside of her.  Being able to encourage her and tell her these qualities is helping me build a positive relationship with her.  My hope is in God alone to work in this little girls' heart.  

I was drawn to God's word where it talks about Jesus being the Good Shepherd in John 10 as I processed these situations and many more.  My desire is to cling to the Good Shepherd to help me guide and mold these young hearts for Jesus.  I take comfort in knowing that while my words or actions may not be perfect as I respond to them, my desire is to lay their burdens at the feet of Jesus and just watch him work :-)

"I am the good shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as they Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.  I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.  The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again.  No one takes if from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  "      John 10:14-18  

Prayers/Praises
One of my students who has been struggling with wanting to wear her new glasses in front of her friends overcame her fear and started wearing them!  Thank you to all who prayed for her.

Joseph Michael Russell

Praise for the birth of my 3rd nephew, Joseph Michael Russell, born on Sunday, February 15, 2015!!  I can't wait until I can hold him :-)  My sister and all of her family are doing well.  Joshie and Sammy are so excited to have their new little brother.

Please continue to pray for my decision for next year and all of the factors that I need to be considering.  May God make it clear for me of what next year holds :-)

Construction on the 3rd floor is almost finished and we should be able to start using the new rooms by the end of this month.  Praise God!!

Please keep praying for the work God is doing in my students' hearts.  Some of them are struggling with family situations, feelings and emotions, and their behavior.  God is bigger than what they are struggling with.  Pray for patience and guidance as I shepherd their precious hearts for Jesus.


For the sake of the gospel,
Carrie

Healing and Comfort from the Body of Christ

 The Gospel Coalition - The Gospel In Colombia - Here is a great article about how the gospel is spreading in Colombia.  Clink on the link above (The Gospel Coalition - The Gospel in Colombia) to hear about how Colombian churches are reviving a true evangelical Christian walk in the hearts of their congregations.  This is very true of my church here.  I have met many people here who claim to be Christian, but having lives truly changed by the gospel is still in progress.  This helps to know how to pray for the hearts of the people in this country.

Body of Christ here in Colombia
1. My teacher aide, Erica, was such a blessing from God these past few weeks.  Teaching without a voice is REALLY complicated and stretched my teaching ability and methods.  Learning to communicate without my voice included having the students help say things out loud for me or writing on a mini-white board to explain directions.  This was quite comical to me and my students, to say the least.  What really helped save my voice was a version of co-teaching with my aide, Erica. I re-designed lessons where they were so structured into a powerpoint that I had to point and have her read what was on the board.  We worked really well together and this method helped get us through the day.

Erica also was such a blessing with keeping my classroom running because she has been with me for the past 3 years.  All of the routines and details that no one else would know (or it would take forever to explain to someone else) were kept in place which made the students feel secure coming back into their classroom from Christmas Break.  Having her help made it feel as normal as possible for the kids.   One of the many blessings of the body of Christ here at El Camino!!!

2. Our literacy coach in elementary, Glenda, ended up subbing for me many times these past few weeks.  Her servant heart was a blessing for me who has trouble asking for help at times when I really need it.  She offered to teach lessons for me before I even reached out and asked because she saw that there was need.  My first day back after a few sick days, I still had very little voice.  By the end of the day, I had none.  Feeling overwhelmed at what to do, Glenda came in at that exact time and offered to teach my social studies lesson (which has a LOT of talking and story-telling.)  After teaching for a few days, the school nurse made an appointment for me to go see a doctor.  By the time I got back to my room to start getting sub plans ready, Glenda was already looking at my science and writing lesson so that she could teach for me.  Another blessing from the body of Christ!!!

3. Rosa is our community care person at El Camino.  Her job is to make sure the missionary teachers are comfortable, help them with apartment repairs and other situations, paying bills, and taking us to medical appointments to help us translate and navigate the world of Colombian health care.  What a blessing that she went with me this past Thursday morning to my appointment!  The whole healthcare system is different here and I would have been lost without a guide to help me.  She also helped get me the right medicine so that I can start to feel better.  The doctor diagnosed a sinus infection and laryngitis caused by reflux.  The medicine for the sinus infection is very expensive, but the doctor was able to get some from the lab (probably free samples that drug suppliers give to hospitals) at no cost to me.  What a provision from the LORD that I have the medicine that I need at very little cost.  Another blessing from the body of Christ!!

4. My roommates, Becky and Annie, have been really sweet and offered to cook dinner without requiring me to help at all.  Maybe it was because they didn't want to get sick, but it was really sweet of them to allow me to join them without anything expected back in return. :-0

5. My students have been super sweet, quiet and obedient knowing that I didn't have a voice.  They were incredibly flexible with many changes as we started back at school.  After having been gone for 3 weeks for Christmas Break, their normal teacher and normal routines were not there.  Having me gone for 2 days, then back at school but not being able to teach, many different subs, then me gone for 2 more days was a crazy start.  Erica told me that they really miss their teacher and I can't wait to finally be back with them (100% ready).  I am so proud of how they handled these crazy days and am so blessed by all of my compassionate students.

They sent me this picture while I was sick one day, just to say hello :-)

Learning to discern how to keep serving when I felt this way was a challenge.  Knowing that there are not many substitutes available, I felt like I would be letting the ministry team down if I didn't keep going and come in and work.  God is really teaching me about LETTING THE BODY OF CHRIST HELP YOU and not feeling guilty that you need that help.  There were other teachers also getting sick, and I thought that because I only lost my voice and didn't feel sick being at school that I should just deal with it and try to teach without it.  However, everyday that I continued to go to school was a day that I was not resting my voice.

Psalm 34 - 

Taste and See That the Lord is Good

"I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the LORD;

let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the LORD, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them."

As I have been recovering at home, I had had more time to spend reading God's Word.  This morning, I came across Psalm 34.  As I came to verse 7, I realized that a friend had sent me this verse earlier this week in an e-mail when I told her I was sick.  God willing, he brought this verse to mind again this morning. As I read through the whole psalm, it brought great encouragement to me.   There is nothing truer this week to me.  I have felt the LORD encamping around me (whether through the body of Christ or time to relax and just get rest), I am so grateful that the LORD hears and cares about each of his beloved children. :-)


Prayers/Praises:
Please pray that I would be fully recovered by this Monday!

Please pray for the marriages of the El Camino families to be lifted up to Jesus, centered on Him, and strengthened by His love.  I often hear of parents fighting or separating, which breaks my heart.  Pray for their children, who endure hearing their parents fight and the emotions that come with them divorcing and separating.

Blessings,
Carrie

Blessings of the Body of Christ

Oh, what a blessing it was to be with the body of Christ at the Orchard Evangelical Free Church while I was home!  To be welcomed back in the life of this church for three weeks was just what I needed.  Even when I had problems with receiving my prescription medications on the last day before I left on the plane, there were so many who prayed and expressed their sincere belief that God would work it all out.  While I did not fly back with the exact prescription I would have liked, God provided a different medication to get me through until June :-)

So, allow me to share 3 opportunities I had while home to experience rejuvenation and refreshment from the body of Christ at my home church in Chicago!  With such encouragement, God has readied me for the next 6 months of ministry here at El Camino.  Bring on the students once more!!

1. Awana Club

What an encouragement for me to have the opportunity to actually visit IN PERSON the Awana Club at my church who supports my ministry in Bogota.  These precious kids were such a blast to hang out with, had LOTS of questions for me, and were so willing to pray for me and my students.  Many of them are my former Sunday School or Awana students, so it warmed my heart to see them again.  During the night, I told them a prayer request I had for one of my students.  They could relate to this student and were so excited to pray for her.  A mom later told me that she had just prayed with his son and put him to bed.  All of a sudden, her son jumped up and exclaimed, "We didn't pray for her!"  Confused, the mom asked who her son was talking about.  He told her, "Miss Bergmann's student!  We forgot to pray for her!!"  Love their excitement and enthusiasm for praying for the gospel to spread in Colombia.

2. Leadership Community - I was able to attend a Leadership Community even at my church while I was home.  Our pastor used John 10 where Jesus talks about the Good Shepherd and shepherding his flock.  We compared this to the qualities that we should have as ministry leaders and the flock that God has given us to shepherd.  The one quality that stuck out to me the most is that a shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know him.  The Good Shepherd has ESTABLISHED ROOTS where his sheep are.  In verses 4 and 14, John says that the sheep follow him because they know his voice and because the sheep and shepherd know each other.  This cannot happen if in ministry we are constantly moving around.  How will ever know who we are ministering too if we always move on to something else?

These past three years, I have had a hard time feeling like I have established roots somewhere.  Being caught between 2 worlds (in a good way) has made it difficult to feel like my heart is fully in one place or another.  But, these words from my pastor are words to meditate on and really ponder as I think about continuing in ministry here.  I am grateful that I have had 3 years of establishing roots here in Colombia and we will see, through prayer, if those roots are to go even deeper :-)

Pumpkin Spice Latte and the book of James on my plane ride home for Christmas :-0

3. Women's Retreat - I was able to attend a women's event that focused on the Fruit of the Spirit.  We were given an hour and 1/2 of quiet time to reflect on the fruit in our lives and where their source is truly from.  Time to reflect on which fruit were present in our lives and which were not.

I ended up getting blasted on how much I need to grow, but so grateful that it is Christ in me that is growing me each and every day as I seek his Word.  At first, I was uneasy coming out of my quiet time.  Was it just me that was lacking some fruit in my Christian life?  Then, listening to what the other women were sharing and then talking to a friend the next day at church, my friend said that she got blasted, too.  Praise God for time with these women and for the chance to encourage one another in faith.

Let me end by sharing a song that has been an encouragement to me lately and I hope it is for you, too!

Oceans - by Hillsong

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find you in the mystery

In oceans deep

My faith will stand

I will call upon your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and you won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

What stood out to me is the last few lines.  It's a truth that I need to remember over and over - that if we trust God, if we desire to follow him, if we desire to surrender our whole lives to him and follow him deeper than we ever have, then MY FAITH WILL BE MADE STRONGER because MY SAVIOR IS WITH ME!!!  Hearing this song recently just deepened my belief and desire to go out among the water (with crashing waves) where my trust has no boarders or limitations because Jesus is worth going anywhere to follow.

Pics from Christmas and New Years with my family :-0

Prayer/Praises:
I have been sick with a really bad cough and head cold, which caused me to miss 2 days of school this week.  Most of you who know me know that I NEVER take a day off of work.  Please pray for healing soon, as I am still battling the last of a nasty cough and would love to be able to teach my class on Monday.  SO thankful for all of the El Camino teachers who stepped in to teach for me while I was gone.  Also, my students were very sweet the one day I was able to teach them because they knew I was not feeling well.

I will be leading a bible study on the book of 1 John with some of the teachers from El Camino this semester.  Using Kay Arthur's method of inductive bible study, I am truly over-joyed to share with my friends here in Colombia a bible study technique that was taught to me and really helped me grow closer to the Lord.  Pray for our group that will be meeting on Thursdays.

Please continue to pray for my decision for next school year.

Blessings,
Carrie