Chinese teachers

There are Chinese teachers visiting our school Jan. 25-Feb. 5. They are from a school in China established to aid underprivileged teenagers. Their mission in teaching is to provide a positive role model for their students. (Two of the teachers are not believers.) Our hope at Faith is that (like last year’s visit) the teachers would be able to experience Christian education in our cultural context.  Last year, Faith had teachers come and several of them became believers. We hope their visit while make a deep impact on their spiritual lives.

Please be praying for their visit! Thanks!

thoughts

These are some thoughts I had one morning a couple of days ago:

 

Lord, what do I do about next year? What is Your will? Wendy and Bonnie were saying how they would really love me to stay next year, but of course they also said they weren’t God and if He wants me to go back to the states I should. There are no teaching applications turned in for next year and so many teachers are leaving to go home on furlough. God does provide, but am I one of the teachers He is providing for next year?

 

*sigh* What to do. I feel maybe it would be best to stay, specifically since I don’t have a specific job or course of action in the states. I’m interested in Library Science, or taking courses to be a Reading Specialist, or just continue teaching – it’s hard to decide. It would be a huge sacrifice to stay away from family and friends for another year though. I know now exactly what it entails to move on the other side of the world from all family and friends. But I do have friends here now. I could make it, with the Lord’s help. Is that Your will? I need to hear or read some kind of confirmation, Lord, cause it’s a big step.

 

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January 12 – Struggles to Strength

 

“Recall the former days in which…you endured a great struggle with sufferings.”  Hebrews 10:32

 

The cocoon of the emperor moth is flask-like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, the moth must force its way through the neck of its cocoon with hours of intense struggle. Entomologists explain that this pressure is nature’s way of forcing a life-giving substance into its wings.

 

Wanting to lessen the seemingly needless trials and struggles of the moth, an observer said, “I’ll lessen the pain and struggles of this helpless creature!” With small scissors, he snipped the restraining threads to make the moth’s emergence painless and effortless. But the creature never developed wings. For a brief time before its death, it simply crawled, instead of flying through the air on rainbow-colored wings! If only the moth had been allowed to finish struggling, its life had been transformed into beauty. Similarly, sorrow, suffering, trials, and tribulations are wisely designed to grow us into being like Christ.

 

Today’s temptation can become tomorrow’s strength; today’s trial, tomorrow’s triumph; today crisis, tomorrow’s crown. Christians suffer from spiritual atrophy when they are not strengthened through struggles. The refining and developing processes are oftentimes slow; but through grace, we emerge triumphant.

~ Dr. David Jeremiah

 

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I just realized the other day that I spend 10 hours a day at school: from 6:30am-4:30pm. I put in 50 hours/week and then more if I go in on a Saturday (which I sometimes will). Though it doesn’t seem to be 50 hours/week. Next week I will add more to my schedule. I am going to help out with after school swimming club 2-3 days/week and then on Wednesdays I have pre-K class (for 4 weeks). I also really want to visit Jeff Long’s children’s home and the squatter community – look for news on that later!

 

God bless – thanks for all your prayers!!

 

Betsy