I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:1-3
Do you feel like a prisoner right now? Or do you know someone who feels isolated and "in prison" because of this present crisis? Many of the BFA students feel they are in a personal prison, either locked away from family or locked away from friends. Paul knew what it meant to be a prisoner and from this place, he wrote to encourage the church to bear with one another, to be patient, to be gentle, and to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
As hard as this all is, it is a reminder of why we have BFA and why many families still need a school like BFA. This week another staff member reminded me of the purpose of BFA as we discussed how many students are struggling academically and emotionally at this time. BFA is here to support missionary families and the students who need a schooling option: beyond online learning, a schooling option with peers, a schooling option to enjoy developing their talents in art or music, or sports. While the current crisis has taken this away, it is a reminder of why we have this school and the need it fills for so many students and their families!
Alles Wird Gut
"Everything will be okay," say all the signs around our little town. I hope everything will return to normal, but I think it will never be quite the same. Hopefully, though, we remember that everything will never be OK here on earth before Christ's return. It is easy to get settled in here and to make plans for a happy life, but we should be careful not to get too comfortable and not to forget our true home is in heaven. May God use this time as a reminder, we were called to be aliens and strangers who work to build his kingdom and not our own.
Update
Some of our juniors and seniors have been allowed to return to campus for classes. We practice certain hygiene measures in order to be able to have them here. However, it still feels strange without the underclassmen, without the students who are now with their families, and without the staff who are working from home due to being in an at risk group. Currently, I have two students on campus and the others I meet with remotely. I also supervise a class period for a teacher who is working from home. Each student is handling the situation in a different way. Some are rising to the occasion and showing growth in their independence, while others are becoming overwhelmed as they struggle to hold on and finish out the year. While my teaching role often feels like it has aspects of counseling involved, it is even stronger now as I try to help my students navigate through this and hopefully reach the end of the year with success.
Over this past weekend, Christian and I realized that for now, we will have to cancel any reception plans for our wedding. We will, however, still be able to have our church ceremony on June 20th with his family present. We plan to Livestream the service so you are all now cordially invited (the link will be shared closer to the wedding date). We hope to plan some celebrations with family and friends in the future.
Please Pray...
Praise God that we do not have any Covid cases right now, in our BFA community
Praise God for how technology can keep us connected in this time
For continued health and protection in our community
For strength for staff and students in this last month of school
For opportunities for myself and other staff to connect with students and speak gospel truth into their lives
For the seniors who are away from the school and may struggle with the loss of good-byes and closure at the end of the year
For provision for students and staff who need to travel over the summer
For my own emotions in this time of crisis as I grieve losses and celebrate new blessings
Blessings,
Becky
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