So let's forget: whole note, half note, dotted half, quarter note, and eitght notes! Now we use semibreve, minim, dotted minim, crotchet, and quarves. Good grief, it hard enough to get kids to understand all the different notes and now I have to learn all new names too! oh well...
I'm off to a meeting, but I have plenty of strories from today, so I'll post them later.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
School Updates
Well, I've almost finished my first week of teaching a Tamaki Intermediate. I am finding that I have a huge range of students. Not only do I have the kids from Tamaki but I also teach kids from outside schools that come in for specials, which are called technology classes here. So my students come from many different types of cultures and lifestyles. My plans are going to have to change for the Tamaki kids because they do not follow instructions the same way the other kids do. I have to spoon feed them everything right now. I hope to get them past that and help them take some responsibility for their education.
As far as my daily schedule goes, it's not too taxing yet. But we do have block schedules so I have hour and a half classes, which can be too long sometimes. I have a lot to learn yet about how to plan for an hour and a half of class time.
Life is still going well and I am enjoying some absolutely beautiful weather. I love going for walks in the afternoon because I live near a wetland reserve and it is such a nice place to explore. We are supposed to be heading into the rainy season, so I've been taking advantage of as much sunshine as possible.
As far as my daily schedule goes, it's not too taxing yet. But we do have block schedules so I have hour and a half classes, which can be too long sometimes. I have a lot to learn yet about how to plan for an hour and a half of class time.
Life is still going well and I am enjoying some absolutely beautiful weather. I love going for walks in the afternoon because I live near a wetland reserve and it is such a nice place to explore. We are supposed to be heading into the rainy season, so I've been taking advantage of as much sunshine as possible.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Bewildered
Brent: So what are you feeling right now?
Sara: Bewildered! I can't believe everything God is doing!!
I have arrived safe in New Zealand. I've actually been here for about five days now. God is already doing so much that I don't know where to begin filling you all in. Today was my first day of school and it went fairly well. The kids are a bit rowdy but it will just take a little time to get the kids up to my expectations. It will definitely be a challenge, but one that God will encourage me through.
Transportation: Well, the plan to take the bus didn't exactly work out. I took an adventure on Friday and set off to find the school by myself. Haha....right, this city is like 1.2mil. and I def. got stuck in some random suburb. Well, God was watching out for me because as I asked people around how to find the school and/or what bus to take, I came across a family who lived near the school and they took me there. As I visited with this family and got to know them a bit, they offered to pick me up and and drop me off this week!!! Can you believe that? Some random people willing to bring me to school and back! It turns out that they are Mormons. I'm looking forward to possible ministry opportunities with this family. I've already been able to share a few stories of how I came to New Zealand and the blessings God has provided for me.
Sunday: I went to Redoubt North Wes. Church. This was one of the churches I worked with while I was here two years ago and I really feel a special connection to this church. I think I will prob. attend here while I'm in New Zealand. During the prayer request time, I mentioned that I was going to need a vehicle sooner than I thought. Immediately, someone on the other side of the room shouted, "You can have our Mercedes!" It turns out that Allen and his wife Glennis are going to Singapore for about two months and they are more than willing to let me use their car! But get this, it's a Mercedes bins! Yikes, I'm going to need to find some good insurance!
Saturday: I live with a Sri Lanken woman named Ferne. She is quite sweet and we get a long very well. On Saturday night she had a gathering of many believers in the Sri Lanken community for a prayer and worship service in her home. This was a celebration of two years since her husband has gone to live with the Lord. It was such an awesome blessing to worship with this community! We had a delicious Sri Lanken meal (traditionally eaten with your fingers). I was so blessed at this service. Toward the end of the evening the pastor came up to me and shared a Scripture with me, Ruth 3:11 "Do not fear my daughter, for I will provide everything you ask and this whole city will know that you are a woman of virtue." I've never received this type of blessing before and was overwhelmed with comfort from the Holy Spirit.
So, I think this sums up my adventures in the first five days. I prob. left some stuff out, but like I said, I am just bewildered at what God is doing here and the doors He is opening for me. Praise the Lord and may His Kingdom be build up and strengthened!
Sara: Bewildered! I can't believe everything God is doing!!
I have arrived safe in New Zealand. I've actually been here for about five days now. God is already doing so much that I don't know where to begin filling you all in. Today was my first day of school and it went fairly well. The kids are a bit rowdy but it will just take a little time to get the kids up to my expectations. It will definitely be a challenge, but one that God will encourage me through.
Transportation: Well, the plan to take the bus didn't exactly work out. I took an adventure on Friday and set off to find the school by myself. Haha....right, this city is like 1.2mil. and I def. got stuck in some random suburb. Well, God was watching out for me because as I asked people around how to find the school and/or what bus to take, I came across a family who lived near the school and they took me there. As I visited with this family and got to know them a bit, they offered to pick me up and and drop me off this week!!! Can you believe that? Some random people willing to bring me to school and back! It turns out that they are Mormons. I'm looking forward to possible ministry opportunities with this family. I've already been able to share a few stories of how I came to New Zealand and the blessings God has provided for me.
Sunday: I went to Redoubt North Wes. Church. This was one of the churches I worked with while I was here two years ago and I really feel a special connection to this church. I think I will prob. attend here while I'm in New Zealand. During the prayer request time, I mentioned that I was going to need a vehicle sooner than I thought. Immediately, someone on the other side of the room shouted, "You can have our Mercedes!" It turns out that Allen and his wife Glennis are going to Singapore for about two months and they are more than willing to let me use their car! But get this, it's a Mercedes bins! Yikes, I'm going to need to find some good insurance!
Saturday: I live with a Sri Lanken woman named Ferne. She is quite sweet and we get a long very well. On Saturday night she had a gathering of many believers in the Sri Lanken community for a prayer and worship service in her home. This was a celebration of two years since her husband has gone to live with the Lord. It was such an awesome blessing to worship with this community! We had a delicious Sri Lanken meal (traditionally eaten with your fingers). I was so blessed at this service. Toward the end of the evening the pastor came up to me and shared a Scripture with me, Ruth 3:11 "Do not fear my daughter, for I will provide everything you ask and this whole city will know that you are a woman of virtue." I've never received this type of blessing before and was overwhelmed with comfort from the Holy Spirit.
So, I think this sums up my adventures in the first five days. I prob. left some stuff out, but like I said, I am just bewildered at what God is doing here and the doors He is opening for me. Praise the Lord and may His Kingdom be build up and strengthened!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Flying Across the U.S.
Today I am traveling to New Zealand. I started in Chicago and arrived in L.A. about an hour or so ago, I head off to Auckland in about 1.5hrs. While I was flying across the U.S., I was so blessed. There was so much diversity in landscape that it was just incredible. I saw the Mississippi, the Rockies, the desert, snow, barren land, the Grand Canyon, and much much more. I was reminded about how small I actually am and how big God must be. Praise the Lord for being so gracious to me and blessing my abundantly.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
God is so Good!
For the past week I have been covered in planning and preparing to move over to New Zealand. I have been doing my very best not to have a panic attack(haha) about everything that is happening and has to yet fall into place. I love preparing to go, but there are so many details that have to happen just right. I know God is working every single one of those things into place one at a time.
In the back of my head, I have been a little worried about how all of this was going to work financially, at least getting started, once I'm there for a month or two, I'll be fine. But I didn't want to worry about it, so I kept praying and trying to believe that God was going to come through on this detail too, just as he has with so many others.
On Sunday, I was challenged in giving. Not by the pastor, not by any person. I was moved by the Spirit. I knew God was wanting me to give financially to a ministry that was going to further is Kingdom. In my mind, I couldn't figure out how I could afford to do this, but in my Spirit there was no question. So I did. My plan was not to tell anyone about it and just let this be between the Lord and I. However, the Spirit didn't stop there...
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to buy the Nooma DVD series to use for ministry over in New Zealand. I think they will be a great tool to help teens get who Jesus is and His desire to have a relationship with them. So I researched buying the entire set. My plan was to spend about 150.oo bucks on the set. However, when I called Mars Hill, they put me in connection with the distribution center. I went up to Grandville to pick up the series and found out that they were going to give it to me for 75.00 usually this is a 150.00 dollar value from them or close to 200.o0 dollars at a Christian book store!! How awesome is that? Way Awesome!! God is so Good!!!
But the blessing doesn't stop there. Last night I received a phone call to tell me that my initial financial needs were going to be provided for in any way I needed. Wow!! Looking back on what God has been trying to teach me about obedience in the past few years, is now coming to the forefront of my everyday life in Him.
"Praise the Lord oh my soul, All my inmost being, Praise the Lord!"
In the back of my head, I have been a little worried about how all of this was going to work financially, at least getting started, once I'm there for a month or two, I'll be fine. But I didn't want to worry about it, so I kept praying and trying to believe that God was going to come through on this detail too, just as he has with so many others.
On Sunday, I was challenged in giving. Not by the pastor, not by any person. I was moved by the Spirit. I knew God was wanting me to give financially to a ministry that was going to further is Kingdom. In my mind, I couldn't figure out how I could afford to do this, but in my Spirit there was no question. So I did. My plan was not to tell anyone about it and just let this be between the Lord and I. However, the Spirit didn't stop there...
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to buy the Nooma DVD series to use for ministry over in New Zealand. I think they will be a great tool to help teens get who Jesus is and His desire to have a relationship with them. So I researched buying the entire set. My plan was to spend about 150.oo bucks on the set. However, when I called Mars Hill, they put me in connection with the distribution center. I went up to Grandville to pick up the series and found out that they were going to give it to me for 75.00 usually this is a 150.00 dollar value from them or close to 200.o0 dollars at a Christian book store!! How awesome is that? Way Awesome!! God is so Good!!!
But the blessing doesn't stop there. Last night I received a phone call to tell me that my initial financial needs were going to be provided for in any way I needed. Wow!! Looking back on what God has been trying to teach me about obedience in the past few years, is now coming to the forefront of my everyday life in Him.
"Praise the Lord oh my soul, All my inmost being, Praise the Lord!"
God is so Good!
For the past week I have been covered in planning and preparing to move over to New Zealand. I have been doing my very best not to have a panic attack(haha) about everything that is happening and has to yet fall into place. I love preparing to go, but there are so many details that have to happen just right. I know God is working every single one of those things into place one at a time.
In the back of my head, I have been a little worried about how all of this was going to work financially, at least getting started, once I'm there for a month or two, I'll be fine. But I didn't want to worry about it, so I kept praying and trying to believe that God was going to come through on this detail too, just as he has with so many others.
On Sunday, I was challenged in giving. Not by the pastor, not by any person. I was moved by the Spirit. I knew God was wanting me to give financially to a ministry that was going to further is Kingdom. In my mind, I couldn't figure out how I could afford to do this, but in my Spirit there was no question. So I did. My plan was not to tell anyone about it and just let this be between the Lord and I. However, the Spirit didn't stop there...
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to buy the Nooma DVD series to use for ministry over in New Zealand. I think they will be a great tool to help teens get who Jesus is and His desire to have a relationship with them. So I researched buying the entire set. My plan was to spend about 150.oo bucks on the set. However, when I called Mars Hill, they put me in connection with the distribution center. I went up to Grandville to pick up the series and found out that they were going to give it to me for 75.00 usually this is a 150.00 dollar value from them or close to 200.o0 dollars at a Christian book store!! How awesome is that? Way Awesome!! God is so Good!!!
But the blessing doesn't stop there. Last night I received a phone call to tell me that my initial financial needs were going to be provided for in any way I needed. Wow!! Looking back on what God has been trying to teach me about obedience in the past few years, is now coming to the forefront of my everyday life in Him.
"Praise the Lord oh my soul, All my inmost being, Praise the Lord!"
In the back of my head, I have been a little worried about how all of this was going to work financially, at least getting started, once I'm there for a month or two, I'll be fine. But I didn't want to worry about it, so I kept praying and trying to believe that God was going to come through on this detail too, just as he has with so many others.
On Sunday, I was challenged in giving. Not by the pastor, not by any person. I was moved by the Spirit. I knew God was wanting me to give financially to a ministry that was going to further is Kingdom. In my mind, I couldn't figure out how I could afford to do this, but in my Spirit there was no question. So I did. My plan was not to tell anyone about it and just let this be between the Lord and I. However, the Spirit didn't stop there...
Yesterday, I decided I wanted to buy the Nooma DVD series to use for ministry over in New Zealand. I think they will be a great tool to help teens get who Jesus is and His desire to have a relationship with them. So I researched buying the entire set. My plan was to spend about 150.oo bucks on the set. However, when I called Mars Hill, they put me in connection with the distribution center. I went up to Grandville to pick up the series and found out that they were going to give it to me for 75.00 usually this is a 150.00 dollar value from them or close to 200.o0 dollars at a Christian book store!! How awesome is that? Way Awesome!! God is so Good!!!
But the blessing doesn't stop there. Last night I received a phone call to tell me that my initial financial needs were going to be provided for in any way I needed. Wow!! Looking back on what God has been trying to teach me about obedience in the past few years, is now coming to the forefront of my everyday life in Him.
"Praise the Lord oh my soul, All my inmost being, Praise the Lord!"
Friday, April 06, 2007
Big Move in the News
Well, in my last post, I was slightly disappointed in the direction that my life was moving. Aka..I felt like it wasn't. In the past week, I have been offered a job in Auckland, New Zealand. I'll be teaching music at an intermediate school. I have applied for and received my visa to work in NZ, found my HS diploma for the New Zealand Qualifications Assessment, found housing near the school I'll be teaching at with a Christian woman no less!! God is moving. In my prayers, I think God knew that I was at my max for frustration with all of this, that I was truly desiring to seek Him fully and follow His leading. I am praising God for how He is working out all the details and sending Him all the glory possible for this opportunity.
Date of departure: April 17, 2007. Yes, I realize this is like a week and a half away. Yes, I am a little stressed and covered in paperwork. But I definitely know God is at work here and preparing the way for me. The other night as I was going to bed I had a Scripture from Isaiah running through my head all night. "You shall go out with Joy and be led forth in Peace." I know that I can make this move because Christ is going with me and has gone before me. What an amazing thing this is. I guess this expedited departure means that my road trip is off for the third week of April. But I do plan to go to Indiana on Sunday, April 15. I'll be attending church at first Baptist and I'll be getting to see a couple of friends before I head off on Tuesday.
I covet all of your prayers as I make this transition to another season of my life and follow the path that the Lord has set before me. Please specifically pray for my students and the times that I will have to show them who Jesus is. Please also pray for all the paperwork that is still in process and that has to get worked out in a hurry. Thank you and many blessing on you.
Date of departure: April 17, 2007. Yes, I realize this is like a week and a half away. Yes, I am a little stressed and covered in paperwork. But I definitely know God is at work here and preparing the way for me. The other night as I was going to bed I had a Scripture from Isaiah running through my head all night. "You shall go out with Joy and be led forth in Peace." I know that I can make this move because Christ is going with me and has gone before me. What an amazing thing this is. I guess this expedited departure means that my road trip is off for the third week of April. But I do plan to go to Indiana on Sunday, April 15. I'll be attending church at first Baptist and I'll be getting to see a couple of friends before I head off on Tuesday.
I covet all of your prayers as I make this transition to another season of my life and follow the path that the Lord has set before me. Please specifically pray for my students and the times that I will have to show them who Jesus is. Please also pray for all the paperwork that is still in process and that has to get worked out in a hurry. Thank you and many blessing on you.
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