Exploring

During fall break two teachers from the International Christian School of Budapest came for a visit. So we played tour guide and took time to see the gorgeous city we live in.

 

 

Thanksgiving Take 2

Celebrated American Thanksgiving with some of our school families and staff.

        

 

            

Black Friday - Went to Dresden, Germany for the opening of their Christmas Market.

 

Found a restaurant called Ontario. Even had a Mountie in the logo :)

   

  

 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
People have asked how is Prague... How are you doing? Often I am at a loss for words because there never seems to be an eloquent concise way to express what my life is like.  This is why I love pictures. They can say so many things that I just can't find the words for. So here are a few snap shots of my Prague life over the past few months.

School Life

It is really different having a smaller class but what they lack in numbers they make up for in personality! Teaching four is like having a small group all the time. What I love most is you really get to know your students. There is so much more time you can devote to each one and no one can hide. Everything goes faster: prep, planning, marking and even photo copying. We are a small family with a very unique blend of language and culture. Each day they are teaching me something new.

Below is some of their work they did for the new Christian International School of Prague Website (which will hopefully be officially launched in December) Students were asked to share their favourite thing about CISP.

My favourite part of CISP is my students and that I get to teach them about the love of Jesus. What I love about teaching grade one is getting to see the children grow so much over the year. The growth in their writing, reading and speaking is amazing to watch.

Learning about our 5 Senses using a pumpkin.

Day Trip to Kutna Hora
On one of our Czech holidays In October  6 of us took the day to venture outside of Prague and took a train to a the small town of Kutna Hora. Known for its silver mine and for having a church nearby that is decorated in bones.

   

When you ask for hot chocolate that is what you get! Hot melted chocolate!

   

Let it Snow

Let it Snow!
Our first snowfall of the season! My students were excited and talking of snowmen and igloos and all the wonderful things one could do with the small ice crystals tightly packed together. Yet to much disappointment the snow was gone before we had a chance to enjoy it. We talked about thanking God for the snow and one of my students asked if we could ask God for more. Up till now we have been learning to pray by thanking God for the gifts he gives us; the idea of asking God for things was a new novelty. I explained that prayer wasn't like making wishes and that sometimes God answers our prayers by saying no, or not right now; but that does not mean we can't ask. So they prayed for snow so that we can make igloos. It made me think as to how many times I treat prayer like a wish list, hoping for my wishes to come true. Or pray with the thought that I am asking for too much and to not be disappointed when God doesn't answer. Though I should not be surprised that I have a creator that cares enough about the child who longs for snow to fall.

Between Here and There

It's a Zoo Out There!

Between time teaching and planning I have had the opportunity to explore Prague and the beauty it has to offer. At the end of September we had a Czech holiday (Czech Statehood Day celebrating St.Wenceslas) It was also the 80th anniversary of the day the Prague zoo opened, so I took the opportunity to explore the Prague zoo. It was a wonderful time seeing some of God's most amazing creatures up close and it never ceases to amaze me how creative our Creator is.

I am Canadian

Currently I am the token Canadian on staff at our school. In honour of Thanksgiving I invited 7 of my American friends to join me in celebrating a Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. Turkeys are not easy to come by so I opted for chicken. I did manage to find a pumpkin in order to make pumpkin cheesecake, red cabbage for rotkohl and a jar of cranberry sauce. Was nice to celebrate a little taste of home.

Blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving! I always enjoy this time of year. The crispness in the air, the pumpkins in the market, and that reminder to take time to reflect on what we are thankful for. I am thankful for so many things! Ultimately I am thankful for such a faithful God. So much has happened in the last few months and is amazing to see God's fingerprints shine brightly on all the things he has touched in my life.

I have an ever growing list of things to Thank God for and if I were to write it all down I would never be able to get to bed. I think the top things on my mind have been how thankful I am for God's faithfulness, that He fulfils his promises and that He listens to the prayers of His children. A big answer to prayer has been that my long term Visa has been approved! Praise the Lord!

I have been blessed beyond belief and overwhelmed by God's love and blessed to see answers to prayer.

Praise God from whom all Blessings flow!