Black Forest Academy staff came back from spring break on Monday, and we started off with our all-staff breakfast. During this time, we heard about the direction the leadership is moving to bring improvements to the school and ensure it has good future serving missionary families and glorifying God through education. We prayed together for the families and individuals that are in the process of raising support to come work here next year and for the openings that have not yet been filled. We also prayed for a good finish to this school year. On Tuesday the school filled with students returning from break, and the fourth quarter began. This week I also began writing my third-quarter progress reports for each of my students, while sometimes this feels like a tedious project, today, I found I was enjoying reviewing how well my students have progressed and the opportunity I have to share this with their parents.
I love working with my students in the resource room. Here are just a few things I have heard from my students this year that have made me smile:
Me: "You just added fractions in your head!"
Student: "Oh, I didn't think I would ever be able to do that!"
Student: "Let's make this easier." (Applies a strategy we've just reviewed). "I sound like you, Miss Swanson."
Student: "Can I stay here in the resource room with you?"
Student: "Have you ever had malaria?"
Me: "No."
Student: "Oh, I've had it 12 times, that's normal."
These students have become so precious to me, and I love watching them make both big and small steps in maturity, understanding, and learning. And I have also learned something from each one of them.
Missionary Focus...
Thank you for all your prayers for BFA's missions trips!
2015 Black Forest Academy Spring Mission Trips: This year 28 Staff and 103 Students traveled to 9 countries to serve, teach, and share the love of Christ. Students and staff volunteered their time to work in construction, minister to children, teach English, and engage other cultures with the gospel. Four of my students participated in these trips. One student shared with me how much she loved serving in Portugal. Her team taught English to children who came from low income and broken homes. She said it was precious to see in their faces how much they appreciated the love and care that was being given by the BFA students. She also is considering whether it would be possible for her to raising money to go back to serve for a little while over her summer break. Another student shared about his experience in France during our first period devotions. He was excited to tell about a number of people accepting Christ as the ministered through drama, music, and a coffee outreach. A third student shared with me about his time in Greece where his team help repaint a school play ground and build new benches.
Side Notes...
My trip to Amsterdam with Jamie (the Physics teacher) was great. We visited a few museums the first day. The second day we went on a bike tour out to a dairy and saw how they made cheese and wooden clogs. Then we enjoyed an evening boat cruise on the canals. And on our final day we took the train to Haarlem and visited Corrie Ten Boom's house and then went to Keukenhof gardens. Upon returning to Kandern, we were greeted by beautiful spring weather and it is beginning to stay pleasantly warm through the days.
P lease Pray...
For my Grandpa, he was able to return home but is still weak and has some health issues with his lungs.
For the last quarter of school; I want to help my students finish strong as we close out the last two months.
For another Resource Teacher to be hired to work with me here at the high school next year.