What's going on???

Is it already the end of April? Am I really nearing the end of my first year of teaching? Is time allowed to move this quickly?

Spring has come- clear skies, a cool breeze, and sunny days. It's joyous to look out my window upon Diosd and know that I live in a sweet town in the middle of Hungary. This is home- I am so thankful for it. It's hard to comprehend that so much change is just around the corner- class changes, roomate changes, gaining and losing students. But, I'm determined to enjoy the rest of this year. We're in school until June 8th- so I actually have a little over a month left. But, when we take out holidays- surprisingly we have a few days off in May- weekends, and exams- the days remaining of class are limited. I feel the pressure to wrap things up in class, but I'm not ready to wrap up the wonderful relationships I've built with my students. I'm really going to miss my 9th and 11th graders as they move on. I think I'm realizing how much I appreciate them as I begin to accept the fact that I won't spend every day with them next year. But, the relationships that God has allowed me to build have been wonderful- and I plan on continuing them. I'm challenged to keep class intriguing. I long to ground them in the word and truths of Christ so that, as they move on, they aren't tied to me or this school- but to Christ. It's a big goal I know- but it's the desire of my heart.

Thank you for praying for me...it means so very much. I'll keep you updated on the last weeks of school. It's going to be crazy- but it's going to be good.

Spring Break: Educational and Fun

Spring Break 07- Germany and Italy

This Spring Break was probably the most exciting of my life. That's not an overstatement. I was blessed with the opportunity to attend ICEC, a conference for teachers at international Christian schools from around Europe. What an awesome experience to be with so many other people who share my love of education and are serving on the mission field. The greater experience was being with people from so many backgrounds, denominations, and countries. Truly a multi-cultural experience. The conference was held in Kandern, Germany at Black Forest Academy. The school was fabulous, the surrounding area was beautiful, and the knowledge I gained from experienced educators was well worth the 17 hr bus ride. I walked away really understanding Biblical Integration- for that I am thankful!

The second half of my spring break was spent in Italy. Even though we had a rough start with transportation, everything worked out to be a fantastic trip. We were able to see Venice, Cinque Terre, and Milan. The Italian people were so kind, the scenery was brilliant, and the history was more than I could possibly understand. I had a great time with Laura, Emily and Allison as we bonded over road maps, hundreds of stairs, and huge cathedrals. Please check out the pictures that correspond with this trip. God has truly created a world of great diversity and beauty. It may sound cliche, and it may be cliche, but being able to see more of the world has really challenged me to broaden my perspectives on life and especially on God.