Almost done with a year!

It’s amazing that almost a year ago I graduated from MNU, not exactly sure where I would be in a year – and here I am!!

We have only 4 more full weeks of school left, and then it’s back to the states on June 1st. We are in the thick of hot season, and as it is such, it makes it harder on the kids. With the heat of hot season comes extra crankiness, lack of sleep, etc. Plus we have the extra bonus of it being almost the end of the year. Some kids are already checking out mentally and some are anticipating transition time of going home on furlough next year or leaving the Philippines for good. Some teachers are thinking and anticipating the transition of going home for the summer, or on furlough. It’s a hard time of the year in many respects. I would so much appreciate your prayers for the remaining weeks.

Secondly, I would like you to pray for one of my colleagues, Linda Berg, the Elementary music teacher this month. Here is part of her newsletter that she sent out:

Dear Ones, May 2008

May begins my adventure as a traveling music teacher. The last four weeks of school I will teach music in many different classrooms. My present classroom is in shambles as I write this because the construction crew is breaking down walls and ceilings to revamp the present basement of Lambert Hall to become a full new High School science wing. I have had some sadness of seeing my first music classroom as a teacher (and student, long ago) disappear. Yet I am looking forward to the new location I will have in August. I have been working with others on designs for the classroom which will replace the old AV center.

I had promised to be out of my classroom by

4pm yesterday and can happily say I reached my goal an hour early, thanks to the incredible helping hands of fellow teachers and students who offered to get involved. It was a joy to see 30 + fourth grade students happily pick up instruments, boxes, music stands, etc. and carry them across campus for temporary storage. The graciousness others have shown in the process as I’ve skittered around campus trying to find the answers to “where” and “how” has been wonderful. I owe great thanks to all who helped.

The last couple of weeks have been hectic as I have taught my current classes while working on the move. My health has been a struggle. There are still no answers to some new issues that I have had further tests for. My spirit has had moments of discouragement too as my heart has to let go of desires. I trust that God will continue to sustain me and give me peace in the unknowns.

Here is a link to all the Elementary staff, if you would like to put faces with names:
http://www.faith.edu.ph/index.php?page=esdstaff

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support!!

God bless,

Betsy

Note from a parent…

Hi! We are “An” family, Korean missionaries serving the urban poor in Towerville, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines, which is at the outskirt of Metro Manila. Our target people are those forcefully relocated to Towerville by the government. They come from all over the Philippines. Their houses had been destroyed, so they are striving to start a new life in Towerville.

Our ministry focuses on starting the Bible Study in an area where there is no born-again church. When the congregation is gathered after a few years, we start the church. We ask for God’s guidance and wisdom so that our ministry involves community development. Due to specific conditions and circumstances of our target people, it is essential that church in Towerville work closely with the community. Currently, we are working for and with Filipino congregations in three churches located in different parts of Towerville. Our ministry and missions invlove feeding, giving alms, livelihood program, scholarship, free music and English tutorial for the youth, and of course, most importantly, propagation of Gospel through worship services, house visitation, Bible Study, outreach, and various community-related activities.

Our only son Andy goes to Faith Academy and he is under Ms. Barfield’s care. It is very comforting to know that Andy is good hands. Knowing that Andy is happy and well taken care of at school greatly helps us concentrate on our ministry. We know that Ms. Barfield is doing something right and wonderful from the glow and smile of our child every time we pick him up from the class. He exclaims, “I love school! I love Ms. Barfield!” every so often. We are just very blessed to have such loving, beautiful, and excellent teacher like Ms. Barfield. Our son’s favorite time at school is story time and chapel time. The songs Andy learns from Ms. Barfield have been wonderful blessings. Andy, as a child worship leader in our mission field, was able to share it with children in our Sunday Schools. Now we can hear the children in Towerville singing and dancing “arky arky,” “Father Abraham,” and “Joshua beat the battle of Jericho.”

Praise the Lord who is doing the good things through His followers! Praise the Lord for He is good!

Mr. and Mrs. Kwang Taik An (Daniel, Jamie, and Andy An family)

lapses in faith?

None of the “heroes of the faith’ described in Hebrews 11 was perfect. They all had lapses in their faith…When we realize our faith is faltering, we need to go back to our Bethel, to our place of commitment, and call on the name of our Lord.

The Christian statement George Muller was a spiritual giant, but this is what he once said about his faith:

“My faith is the same faith which is found in every believer. It has been increased little by little for the last 26 years. Many times when I could have gone insane from worry, I was at peace because my soul believed the truth of God’s promises. God’s word, together with the whole character of God, as He has revealed Himself, settles all questions, His unchangeable love and His infinite wisdom calmed me. I knew, ‘God is able and willing to deliver me.’ [Romans 8:32].”

~ Dr. David Jeremiah

Prayer Requests

Hello all! I hope you had a wonderful Easter. I celebrated with 9 others by having a potluck lunch and sharing how God has been ‘real’ to us the past few years. Also, what made my day was when I had the opportunity to sing the Hallelujah Chorus up front at church. I just wanted to share with you a few things you can be praying about:

1) There is a kid in my class that could use prayer. His name is Hamin. He needs a change of heart. He’s been bullying some of the others kids and thinks that if he says he’s sorry that he can do anything he wants. I hope I can guide and direct him, but more importantly I pray he will see for himself that he shouldn’t be treating others like he does. He’s a smart kid and when motivated and focused does awesome in reading and writing. He also helped illustrate a book we made as a class. Pray I can work with his parents and that we will start seeing a change.

2) We just elected a new field director for First Love here in the Philippines (the previous was someone serving as an interim field director). We (all the First Love missionaries here) are also going to start meeting together once a month to share what we’ve been doing in our ministries and to encourage each other. I’m hoping this will help us to grow to be more of a team and that I may hear of opportunities to help the other First Love missionaries occasionally with their work.

3) Pray that God would raise the support I need for next year, whether it’s through a renewal of the monthly commitments I have this year, or God bringing about others to support my ministry here.

Well, thanks for your prayers,

Betsy

Hello!

I wanted to let you know how I’m doing and what’s been going on lately.

This past week has been a little stressful. My kids and I were preparing to present in chapel yesterday, the 7^th. Our theme was dependability and how we can be dependable to others: our parents, our teachers, and God. As I was thinking about the different stories we could tell from the Old Testament, Hebrews 11 came to mind. I used that chapter as my overarching theme.

 

It is through having faith in God and doing what he asks us to do, that we can be dependable servants of Christ.

 

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” ….

 

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going” ….

 

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they marched around it for seven days”…

 

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.” Hebrews 11:7, 8, 30, 32

We had a skit to tell the story of Noah and Samuel, then sang “Arky, Arky”, “Father Abraham”, and “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”. It was a lot of fun, but stressful because at the last minute my best actor was not able to be there for chapel. So the day before chapel I had to teach his lines to another little boy. Which, on the day of chapel I had to feed him his lines, but he was cute. Another boy had a high fever the day before chapel (he was narrator), but he came for chapel the next day after all. I’ll have to post pictures when I have them.

 

I’ve been thinking more and more about coming back to the Philippines next year. After praying about it and talking to my parents and others, I’m feeling more and more at peace at coming back next year. I feel God would have me here again next year. I definitely found a place in ministry here – that’s my life here. I’m growing a lot spiritually, in my teaching, as an adult (in living away from home and doing my own cooking, etc.). This has just been a great experience. I love how I’m using my ability to help the missionary community and how I can be involved here. Also, I think it would be wise to do my second year of teaching in the same place instead of going somewhere else and having to start all over again.

 

I want to commit to another year of teaching here at Faith Academy. After my second year, my plan is to return home to the states. In order to teach here another year, I want to ask you all to commit to supporting me for another year here. Please start thinking and praying about it.

 

“For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.”

1 Chronicles 29:14

 

God bless,

 

Betsy

So much happen’ lately…

So much has been happening lately! Midway through January, Sam and I started weekly pre-K on Wednesdays (my usual planning day). The pre-K went for 4 weeks, allow us to assess the children to see if they would be ready to start Kindergarten the following year. It was a lot of fun, but was exhausting since we had the kids for a full day (6:45-2). The same week pre-K started for me, I also got involved in Swim club, which meets twice a week for Elementary and 3 times a week for Middle School/High School. I’ve been going on Mondays and Wednesdays after school to help with that.

I have lots of pictures and figured out a way to show them to you, I hope. First off, February 5th was our 100th day of school and I took pictures of the kids doing different activities. This link: http://mnu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011128&l=ed98b&id=162800020
will direct you to that album with the 100th day of school and my trip to Manila Bay that following weekend.

That Saturday I also visited the island of Corregidor: http://mnu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011129&l=bb0fd&id=162800020

Then, the following week (which was last week, the week of Feb. 11th) was Filipiniana Week, celebrating the culture and arts of the Philippines. http://mnu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011144&l=56854&id=162800020

Last week we also took an all Elementary school field trip to 3 different places: Paper Village (to see how paper and soap is made), Mystical Cave, and the Blanco Family Art Gallery. Thursday was the field trip and Valentine’s day, Friday was the Fiesta (which I have no pictures of), and then Friday afternoon till Sunday afternoon I was gone on a women’s retreat. To view this album: http://mnu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011054&l=fb87f&id=162800020

You can see I’ve had a busy month and a half!! Well, starting this week I won’t have pre-K anymore, but still will have plenty to do. I would appreciate your prayers as the past week I’ve had to send a couple of boys to the office a couple of times. One of them has been particularly disobedient and bullying other kids. Please pray as I continue to teach, take proactive steps, and talking to parents. Thanks!

God bless,

Betsy

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.

 

*******

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

 

******

 

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

Christmas – missionary style

Things are going well – I’ve just been VERY busy. I’m on two Christmas party committees (one for all staff and one for just the Elementary staff), I’ve joined the “choir” that is going to sing for the all staff Christmas banquet, and I just finished the grade reports for this semester. Plus I added a student to my class about two weeks ago. It’s been a challenge to incorporate him and bring him up to speed (because he hasn’t had any Kindergarten at all until this point) – because we have made SO much progress ourself as a Kindergarten class! Then, over Christmas I’ll be losing two students (going home on furlough) and I’ll be gaining another one. It’s a Kinder class full of transitions!!

This Christmas season has definitely been busy so far. Our first Christmas party (for Elementary staff) we met in the Library and cooled it down to 16 degrees Celsius, wearing our scarves and hats. We played a delightful game of “pass the parcel” – which is a tradition I’m thinking of starting with my family. It was great fun. Today’s Christmas celebration is going to be completely different. Our theme is “Christmas Down Under” – celebration Christmas in the same way they would celebrate it in Australia or New Zealand, or even South Africa for that matter. We are going swimming and playing cricket before the banquet. The banquet hall will be decorated like it is a beach scene, we’ll have BBQ or as the Australians call it “Barbie”. Then we’ll round it off by singing Christmas carols and hearing the Christmas story. It’ll be definitely different, but fun. I’ll post some pictures after.

God bless and have a wonderful Christmas!!

Betsy

The weeks go by so fast! This is a picture taken of me with one of my students (Grace) during International Week. Each grade level studied a different continent. Kindergarten was learning about Australia and New Zealand. We learned about all the animals in those countries, heard the sounds of the kookaburra, painted boomerangs, and participated in many more fun activities. On International Sports day, the kids got to rotate from place to place in the playground area, playing games from all the continents! The last day we had our International Parade – where everyone dressed up in a traditional costume from their native country!! Then at chapel each grade level performed a folktale from a country in their continent. Our folktale was “How the Kangaroo got its pouch.”

 

10-minute interview

Are the children you teach missionary kids (MKs), and if so, what kinds of things are the parents doing? Are they boarding students or do their parents live in Manila?

Yes, several of the children I teach are MKs. Several of the Koreans are pastors/associate pastors at churches nearby who are working to bring relief to the poor rural areas of Manila. They are involved in
feeding programs (to bring physical relief) and also work to spread the gospel. One of the parents of a
student of mine has medical training that he shares with others to help the poor in Manila. These missionaries are hoping to encourage church growth in the Philippines and their vision is for the Philippines
to become a great sending nation of missionaries. Another couple is the SIL (another name for Wycliffe) field directors in the Philippines. None of the students in middle school or below are boarding students – only the high school allows boarding.

Are you involved in any other ministries in Manila at this time?

Actually, I’m in the process of looking for another ministry to be involved in (besides teaching). I would like something that would not take me away from my teaching duties, somewhere that God could use my abilities, and somewhere I am needed. There are so many options it can be overwhelming, but I am looking for the best. I would appreciate your prayer in this. I don’t have a car, so I would need to be involved in a ministry nearby or with someone else who has a car.

What is the most important thing you have learned since leaving the US – how has your perception about world missions changed, or has it?

I have been realizing that there is a bigger world ministry out there. I can see how world missions requires a LOT of missionaries and a lot of work behind what we see on the surface. There are a LOT of workers here, but much work to be done. I have also been seeing how Korea has quickly become the second-largest missionary sending nation and the number of missionaries from Korea is still quickly growing. Koreans have flocked to the Philippines because it’s a cheaper country to live in which they can
learn English.

How can we be praying for you?

- Classroom management, especially in regards to the Korean boys I have. Korean parents usually wait till children are school age and then allow the teachers to teach them how to behave and to discipline them. I’m also trying to teach them the skills of sharing and not competing so hard for first place that they injure others.

- Continual health and safety!!

- Praise – parent-teacher conferences went very well!!

- Praise – I now have Vonage (long distance calling via the internet) in my condo!!! God has provided the funds ($27/month) and I think I have money in my budget for the $20/month for internet service. This will enable me to better communicate with everyone at home!!

Thanks so much for your continual prayers and support!! It is much needed and is helping to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world!

God bless,

Betsy (1 Timothy 1:15-16)