What we learned this year!! 3rd Grade Student Perspective

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who 

persecute you."     Matthew 5:44

Student Perspective: Here are some wonderful words written by my students about what God has taught them this year and what they really believe about Jesus.  These just melt my heart!!
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"What I've learned from God is to love even if they do bad things to me even if they say bad things of me, I'll ignore them and love my enemies."

"What I've liked of this year is my teacher.  Why?  Because she has been there when I needed her."

"I learned in Bible this year that God loves us even when we do bad things.  Also, that God gets sad when we lie to someone or to him."

"God teach me:  I discovered how he is so amazing and he loves us so much.  He died for us.  I knew that Jesus died for me but I didn't know why.  I can't believe how he can be so patient and loving with us."

"To me, the death of Jesus means that know we can be with him in paradise and he take away our sins.  So we can be with him, even the sinners.  I am happy because I know God and I can trust him."

 "God taught me to be thankful for everything even if you don't like it.  At least say thank-you or no thanks."

"This school year, I have learned a lot about God and one thing is that I have more time with God.  I learned that I need to tell the truth or you can get in more trouble and that I need to be nice with friends.  God saved us from are sins.  If wouldn't send his son, we would be in darkness.  Thanks!!!!"

"Jesus died on the cross for our sins and he loves us and if we believe in God we will be in heaven and have eternal life, but if we reject him we will have condemnation and we will go to hell.  That we deserve death and hell but we receive grace and mercy."

"Here is what I learned this year:  That God always helps me.  God gives me everything I need.  God always loves me and teaches me.  God has a special plan for everyone."

"God teached me and helped me with patience, friendships, and he helped me a lot with my behavior this last part of the year.  Thank you, God!!!"

"God gave us eternal life so we can be with him and believe that he is the mighty king.  He died on the cross to save us from our sins."

"God teach me this in this year that sin came into man, man knew he was naked.  God teach me patience.  I didn't know God killed Jesus.  That was a surprise!!"

"My response to Jesus is I want to know more about him and I feel worried if I do love him like from really inside my heart and I just want that to really happen that I want to have a really good relationship with God.  I do believe he is my Savior, but I am confused between if it is because my parents told me of I really believe it.  His death on the cross means a lot to me.  I want help from God to help me really believe!"

"Jesus died for me and that means to me that he loves that he is my father.  I love him.  He died for me because he didn't wanted to me to have sin.  He didn't wanted me to go to hell.  He didn't wanted me to go with the devil to be so bad, to be someone not to think only of myself but to think about Jesus and what he did for me.  I love him!"

"Jesus died on the cross for me.  For me, Jesus is everything.  I love when he do miracles and how he acts for us.  He acts mercifully and loving.  Sometimes when I feel alone, I discovered that I'm not.  I'm with God and I rest in his arms."

"What it means for me?  It's really important because if he would not die I will be crucified."
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So, my wonderful friends, what do YOU really believe about Jesus??

Prayers/Praises:
There will be a barbeque at my parents house on Saturday, June 14th from 3-6 pm.  There will be some Colombian food to try and an update on ministry at El Camino.  Please e-mail me - carebear3883@gmail.com - if you are interested in coming :-0

Safe travels back to the States on June 7th.  That this summer would be a refreshing time to regain some energy and spend time with family and friends.

Processing all that God is teaching me this year -  that my heart would come to fully know that God is glorified and trustworthy through all the challenging spiritual lessons he has brought my way :-)

Please pray for figuring out why I have been really tired lately - I am seeing some doctors this summer to try and see if it is my thyroid, vitamin D deficiency, or just that ministry and teaching is very tiring :-)

Can't wait to see you VERY soon!!!
Love,
Carrie

Creation Reveals It's Creator :-)

Chapel Songs: Please enjoy these videos of our worship time during elementary chapel.  Click on the two links below.

1. Speak to me, Lord - http://youtu.be/4h1gofzrU7g
2. Trust in the Lord with all your Heart - http://youtu.be/se4xQsXn1G8

Loving God's Creation - We visited a place called BioParque - a natural/biological reserve to help the students learn all about Colombia and the everyday creatures they might encounter.  My students loved being out in God's creation.  The Biological park is set up so that you walk through different areas that are natural habitats for the animals.  There were secure doors you passed through to keep the animals safe inside the designated area.  It was neat to see God's creation up close - including coati, owls, turtles, and many birds.

Watch out for carnivorous plants!

With the end of the year coming up so fast, there are so many things to be done and that are on my mind to finish the year strong.  Feeling a little overwhelmed with everything on my "To Do" list has caused me to be a little stressed and in need of a mental break :-)  As we walked around BioParque, it was so nice to be outside of the busyness of the city life and to take a day away from school to learn in this natural environment.  One my students came up to me and said, "Isn't it nice to be outside, looking at God's creation, and not having to worry about school?"

Worry?? - yup!  I have been doing a lot of that lately :-)  Thanks for the reminder kid to look at God's creation and to just stop in all of the busyness of life and enjoy it!

"Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?  or What shall we drink?  or What shall we wear?"  For the Gentiles seek after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  

Matthew 6: 25-33

Coati

"WHOOO" can spot the Owl??

Our friend, Tour Guide, the Turtle :-)

What a good reminder from these verses to "Seek First" God's Kingdom and His Righteousness.  When our first love and passion in this life is truly seek out God and His plans, then everything else all of a sudden takes it's rightful place.  There is a burden that is lifted when our eyes are on Our Creator.  Why?  Because we know that He is lovingly taking care of all that he created - including his dearly loved children :-0

Water Party - My "CHAMPS" earned another party!  This time, we decided to play with water.  I had such a good time just enjoying being with my students and getting to "play" with them and get them all drenched :-)  Enjoy some pictures of our fun in the water!!

Slip n' Slide!!!

Getting "drenched" - one of our vocabulary words!!!

Bobbing for Apples

Drip, Drip, SPLASH!!!!!

Prayers/Praises:
Volunteer opportunities at ECA - we would love for you come down!!! -  http://eca.edu.co/get-involved/vacations-with-a-purpose

Please pray for some of my students who feel lonely and are dealing with sadness of their parents separating or fighting a lot.  I only have a few weeks left with them - and I am praying that God would use this time to still work on their hearts.  May they personally find comfort in Jesus in these tough times.  Also, pray that I would be the hands and feet of Christ to minister to them in their hurt.

Please pray for our needs for next school year.  The biggest holes are the Computers teachers, School Psychologist, High School Principal and Academic Director.  If you or any you know is interested, please feel free to e-mail me and ask questions :-)

Elementary One elementary teacher

Middle School Math Computers

Secondary Science Math Computers

General Art Special Ed. School Psychologist/Counselor Administrators: HS Principal, Director of Academics

Safe travels for me as I fly home June 7th to spend time with ALL OF YOU!!  Please look ahead for possible times for hanging out with supporters for IN PERSON updates :-)  Hope to see all of you while I am home.


See you soon!
Carrie