For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
I finished my meeting with another Resource teacher just as the final school bell rang. We chatted casually for a few minutes until her husband entered and let me know there was a student waiting outside my office. "Oh yeah!" I thought to myself as I said good-bye and headed next door. I pulled out an unfinished German test and allowed my student to complete the last section. After about 10 minutes, he handed me the finished test and said farewell. I walked the test over to the other building in hopes of finding his German teacher. Luckily, she was still in her office and I could drop off the test. On my way out, I noticed a few staff members gathered in one of the classrooms waiting for their own German lesson to begin. I walked back through the student center but stopped to chat with one of my seniors. She showed me her art piece for her AP Art class and we talked about how David's head is not actually proportional, Michelangelo's David that is. Then she showed me her new tattoo. She had the outline of a triangle on her wrist. She explained that she picked the triangle to symbolize the Trinity and also to symbolize being a TCK (third-culture-kid). She told me that the outline reminds her that God is surrounding her and is her strength. She also explained that she wanted a simple tattoo that others might ask about so that she could use it as a way to share her testimony. While I am not a fan of tattoos, the amount of thought and planning that she put into this was impressive. After our conversation, I headed back toward my office to pack up for the day. I could hear the sounds of basketball practice coming from the gym, and as I passed the auditorium I noticed the final play rehearsals were still underway. Outside a student was kicking around his soccer ball. He was wearing the Sports Leadership class shirt, a class offered to high school students in which they learn how to teach and coach through providing instruction for our middle school P.E. classes. The sun was still shining and the weather has been unusually warm for February. A few students were gathered at the picnic tables chatting and studying. My hallway was almost empty by the time I returned, and as I reached my office, I considered how blessed we are here at BFA. Although there are hard things surrounding us and vying for our attention, God has given us overwhelmingly good gifts and on this particular afternoon, I was incredibly thankful to be here and to have noticed the little things that show his blessing all around our school.
In the Classrooms
I was invited to be a guest in Piano 1. The teacher was beginning a unit on Minuets and Waltzes and wanted to help students gain a better feeling for the music. She invited me in to teach the basic step for each dance and talk about how dance connects to the time signatures in music. It was fun branching out into another department and teaching a little dance again. We all had a great time.
Resource has continued with its ups and downs, struggles and triumphs. I have enjoyed getting to know a few new students this semester. I am working with them to find ways to help them overcome their challenges. My favorite subject to work in is still math. One student in Algebra 2, meets with me twice a week. We are working on helping her develop skills to acquire the vocabulary of math so that she does not continue to misinterpret questions on her tests and quizzes.
Please Pray
For high school retreat: that the speaker would know what message to share with the students, that the students would draw closer to God, that each of the small groups would build stronger relations, and for safety.
For our school's accreditation process
For my small group girls, that they would draw close to Christ and seek him in all things
For the students' parents: I met with several families this month as they came to visit their children, some came for a sports event, the high school play, or just to shorten the time of being away between Christmas and Spring Break
For continued strength, last week I was more fatigued, but this week has been better
For my parents as they wait for their move
For Bridget and others who are raising support to come work at BFA next year