Summer heading Back to School

Visits and Celebrations

Being in Canada was a restful and encouraging time. I was able to see many and even got to visit with some old friends I have not seen since my college and camp years. I was able to share with many about what God has been up to and have been encouraged by many prayers, gifts and support.

My last visit in the summer was 2020 and it was great to visit old friends and see some people I haven't seen in almost 20 years!

First stop 2 weeks in Edmonton

How fast the kids grow up. I stayed with the Buck family in 2020 during the first waves and lock downs of Covid. It was fun to come back and spend some time with these lovely kiddos and their parents.

Connected with some old dear friends that I haven't seen in about 20 years!

 

Spent a little over a week watching over my younger brother's place while they were on holiday.

Visit to the Shuswap - another one of my homes away from home.

Birthday celebration and visiting

Was blessed to have one of my old Prague flatmates and dear friend come up from the States to celebrate my birthday and do all the fun touristy things.

 

Nothing says Happy Birthday like pie and ice cream and time with family

THANK YOU!

I had a very successful information night in mid-July where I was able to share what God is doing at CISP. Many helped to sponsor purchases to help pay for supplies being brought over. Unfortunately I was so caught up in all the preparations, planning and sharing that I and my team failed to take any pictures of the event this year. We had just under 50 people in attendance and were able to raise over $1000 in one time gifts to help with purchasing books and supplies. We filled 3 suitcases with books and supplies. Many thanks for your generosity. I have currently reached my support raising goals and have been blessed beyond measure by the generous hearts and support.

Quick visit to my older brother's before heading back to my other home. Many who live abroad struggle with the question where are you from or where is home? I have many places near and dear to my heart and they each have a little bit of "home" attached to them.

Prague Adventures with Mom

For the first time since 2019 my mom was able to come back with me to help get things ready for school. It is great to have an extra pair of hands to do all the little jobs of sorting, tidying and organising. Time flew by quickly but we managed to make a couple of outings, seeing the beautiful city, paddle boating on the river as well as visiting some places we have never been. We ventured to Průhonice which has a lovely park and small palace, and we also went to a small Czech town called Mělník.

 

My mom makes friends wherever she goes!

What happens when you ask...

One of our last adventures was to a small town north of Prague called Mělník. Lovely little town with a small palace and cute little shops. We stopped by a cute café for coffee and a treat. My drink was served with a large spoon to help stir the ice cream  in the large cup. Mom liked the spoon and was curious if they would allow her to purchase it. One of my friends convinced my mom she should ask. The shop lady didn't quite understand her request at first, quite bewildered that someone wants to buy the cutlery. She offered it to us for the equivalent for $1.50 CND. Upon further discussion she discover Mom was from Canada and wanted us to sign her guest book. Later she came back with our money and claimed the spoon is a gift, souvenir. Upon further discussion we learned that our wonderful hostess is a believer and we exchanged contact info. Was a fun encouraging visit.

Trusting the Lord - There is No Plan B

I had two major prayer requests this summer: The first, I needed a new flatmate. This request was answered shortly before I left Canada when I got connected with a young lady just out of university who was looking to help at CISP with one class and get contracted, paid work as an ELL teacher to support her work here. She moved in August 1st and I arrived on August 3rd

My second major request was our need for elementary teachers, specifically we desperately needed a grade two teacher. We had stepped out in faith that we would find a grade two teacher and opened our enrolment to fill grade one and two. At the beginning of August we had over 10 kids in each class making a combination not possible. The need for a teacher was looming and decisions needed to be made. Many people were asking me what is plan B if we don't find a teacher. In all earnestness I stated there is NO plan B, I was clinging to God's promises and the faith that in his timing he would bring me exactly what I needed. It is so hard to wait and trust when all you can see is the giant mountain ahead of you, and seemingly no possible way to scale it. I was weighed down with discouragement anytime the discussion of "what if we don't find a teacher" came about. "We need to be prepared with a plan B," others would say. I honestly felt so alone some points clinging to the hope that my prayers would be answered. I have come to learn so much more about how God's ways are not our ways and fought with desperation to trust that this prayer, this need, would be answered. I will admit there were many tears and cries out to the Lord that these children need a teacher, and even through my doubts and my what ifs I became at peace with the knowledge that somehow by the 22nd all would be answered. Don't ask me where the 22nd came from, but it was on my heart that all the pieces would come together by this date.

Last week the cogs started being put together and began turning. It first started with a comment over dinner with my new flatmate when she said "I could teach grade two..." and it went from there. There were many meetings and discussions, as originally my flatmate had come to Prague with the intentions of doing contracted work with a business visa and volunteer on the side. Now she is on a new path of raising support and becoming our full time grade two teacher. There are many hoops to go through including getting her a visa; her visa appointment is on Tuesday August 22nd! Please pray for this expedited process as she works to double-time in raising support that most of us do over 6 months to a year in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Getting Ready for Back to School

School starts in 10 days! Currently I have a class of all boys! This will be a first for me and I am excited for the adventures we have ahead! I will be blessed by the help of one of my past student teachers who lives in Germany and doesn't start her last year of studies until September and has come for two weeks to help out and learn what is looks like to prepare for the school year. Normally student teachers do not get to experience what it is like to prepare a classroom for teaching and so she volunteered to come and help before she has to go back and complete her final year of studies.

Pray for us as we prepare for another great school year!

12 Years and Counting

Monumental Graduation

This graduation year has more meaning to me than years past. This year my first class I taught at CISP graduates. I look back on this journey that I started in 2011 and marvel at how far we've come in what seems like a short amount of time. I signed up with a two year contract for my overseas teaching adventure, never thinking that 12 years later I would still be here. It has been amazing watching these kids learn and grow over the years and it was a special moment watching them walk across the stage marking this achievement. Having a student go through our school from grade 1 to grade 12 is a rarity and to have a teacher here the same length of time even more so. I am so proud of them as they start out on their next adventure.

Adventure Activity Week

For the last couple of years we have finished off the school year with a smattering of field trips. It makes for a very crazy June but lots of memories are made.

This year we went to an adventure park, a rope climbing park, did a scavenger hunt in a nature preserve, made candles at a candle factory and jumped at a jump park. Fun was had by all.

Teaching Highlights

This year has been a unique year as we adjust to post pandemic life and seek to resume a new kind of normal. We are dealing with a new type of generation. One that during their preschool years they were cut off from socialisation and normal interactions with peers for 2.5 years. Some of my students never saw any other people other than their parents for at least a 2 year period. Problem solving social interactions became a huge learning curve for this group and we learned a lot about loving one another as God loves us. I think the words "Is it Necessary, is it Helpful, is it Kind?" were on repeat in my classroom. Although sometimes teaching this class was like a large version of whack-a-mole, (not whacking the children but whacking at solving problems as they popped up) it was amazing to watch God at work in these children's lives. The questions they would ask about heaven and God and the trinity were the questions that theologians have struggled with for decades. It was an amazing year of planting the seeds of the gospel this year and I look forward to watching how they grow.

Travelling Back to Canada for a Visit

This will be my first summer visit since 2020. I look forward to connecting with many friends and supporters while I am back. I was blessed with an upgrade to business class. Thumbs up KLM!
Thanks to those who prayed for safe travels.

 

Itinerary 

For those hoping to fit in a visit, here is where I will be and when:

Edmonton June 17 - 29

Enderby Area June 29 - July 7

Vernon Area July 7 - 30 *Czech in Event July 15 @ Emmanuel

Elkford July 30 - Aug 2

Flying Home August 2

Prague August 3

I will be having an information/ fundraising event on July 15th that if you are in or near the Vernon area you should check out.

Pray for Teachers!

We have many needs for next school year and at the top of the list is the need for another primary teacher. We trusted the Lord this year when we did enrolment and opened up the gates to allow for single grade classes. We are at the point where a 1/2 split class will not be possible and a teacher is essential. People ask me what plan B is if we don't find a teacher. There is no plan B. There is plan A, trust God will provide a teacher! God promises if you ask, it will be given, if you seek, you will find. We are asking and we are seeking and I pray you join us in our asking and seeking so that we will find and be given.

"“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” ~Matthew 9: 37b-38