What's your purpose in life?

This past week I asked my students the simple question, "Why are you here on this earth?"  My students that are Christians began writing right away and had the perfect bible answer.  My Muslim student followed suit and had the perfect Koran answer.  My remaining students stared blankly at the board and greatly struggled with answering this question.   "What do you mean Ms. Johnson?  I am here because I am here."  One of my Korean students, who tends to be somewhat lazy, stated that this was a question he had never thought about and didn't know how to answer it.   I thought I would share some parts of their answers with you...

My ELL class waiting to get a tour of the Jewish Museum 

1. Non-religious, Korean - My purpose in this life is to enjoy life.  I think life is for fun.  Therefore, people should enjoy life.  People should do things that make them happy.  

2. Muslim, Pakistan - I am on this earth to make it a better world and to spread my religion which is one of the most important things.  To also become more knowledgeable about things and perhaps to create an invention to make the world better.

3. Christian, Austrian-Philo - Because I want to live a good life.  I think God created us to live on this earth to have a family and to do our own work.  

4. Non-religious, Korean - My mom and dad created me here.  I'm just living because I'm alive and to reach my dream, being rich.  Also, God (Jesus) made me and blessed me to live and believe in him.  Also, I'm here because I like earth.  I don't want to go outside from Earth.  

5. Christian, Korean-Austrian - I think and hope that God brought me in this wonderful, but sinful world.  I have the feeling that I could change the world.  I want to make it better.  I don't want to just live and then die.  I want to use God's gifts wisely and a Christian School is perfect for these things.  

6. Non-religious, Japanese - I am here on this earth because my mom and dad were on earth.  I don't think something will change whether I live or die but I am here as a human being.  Nothing happens after I die.  One human cannot do anything but all human beings create this earth.  I think I have a lot of meaning to be here on this earth, however, I don't want to learn all of it because I'm a bit scared.  

Please be praying for these students

These past few weeks I have been able to have many "religious" conversations with this class about their purpose in life.  I am trying to teach them that they are worth more than just what this world tells them and that there is more to their life than just making money, having a family and being happy.  While they kindly listen to my ramblings about how they were created by such a magnificent God that died for them, words just do not have the affect that they used to.  For this generation, they do not respond to words, but rather actions and evidence.  They need to see how Jesus Christ has changed this world.  They need to see evidence and proof of a God who loves them so much that He would send his Son to die for them.  The best thing that we can do is to constantly show them Jesus' love.  What is Jesus' love?  It's to forgive, love those who hate you, give money to the those who need it, be patient, be gentle, be kind, and choose to see people as Jesus does: someone worth dying for.  

I have come to love this class very much and it pains me to think that they might not ever believe in Jesus.  Please join me in praying for my students and that we can love those the way Jesus loves us.  

  

Romania 2013 Overview

We've returned from Romania (about a month ago now and I am terribly sorry this post is so late)!  In a nutshell our experience in Romania was incredible, surprising, blessed and fun.

Romania Team 2013

It was incredible because we accomplished so much work in such a short period of time, spent heaps of time with Romanian kids and their moms and saw the Holy Spirit work in such a unique and specific way.  

Teaching the kids Christian songs and fun dances

Performing skits for the kids

It was surprising to see how hard some of these students worked.  There had been a few rainstorms the week before we arrived and it was quite muddy to say the least.  These students continued to work hard through the mud and rain and accomplished more than I thought they would.  We apologize to all the parents that had to do their child's laundry after this trip! 

Teaching the kids how to play "Pin the Tail on the Donkey"

Playing "pass the egg on a spoon in your mouth" game (don't know the name but it was fun) 

It was blessed because we had been covered in prayer by people from all over the world for many months preceding the trip.  The Holy Spirit protected us and sustained us throughout the whole week.  In addition, many conversations were had with non-Christians (students and Romanians) about Jesus Christ. 

We brought kites and decorated them with the kids

We were able to purchase 4 bikes with the money we raised for the kids.  They were elated!

This trip was fun because everyone got along so well, worked really hard, encouraged each other and just laughed a lot.       

THANK YOU once again to all who supported this trip both prayerfully and financially!  God answered so many prayers and because of your support, the gospel was spread to the country of Romania through willing and eager teenagers excited about Jesus Christ.  

Theme Verse

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
    for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Psalm 115:1

Hope

This month we have been reading the novel Hatchet in my Intermediate Middle School ELL class.  For those of you who haven't read Hatchet, it's about a young 13 year old boy who survives a plane crash in the wilderness of Canada.  He is forced to survive all by himself with only the clothes on his back and a hatchet that his mother gave him.  While my kids believe the book to be boring, I find it quite intriguing.  

The main character, Brian, continues to believe that he will be rescued, which in return, gives him hope to survive.  I then discussed the idea of "hope" in someone's life and how devastating the absence of hope in someone's life can be.  Without hope in each of our lives, what is our purpose?

For a homework assignment I decided to have my kids answer the question, "What gives you hope?"  Their responses were interesting and I thought I'd share them with you.  Some of these students are greatly searching for truth and a constant hope in their lives.  Please be praying for them as we continue to discuss the idea of hope. These answers are all from the brains of middle school students.     

1. "It gives me hope by just thinking about all the good things.  And trying to be brave and stay strong. Trying to encourage myself.  And pray to God." 

2. "God gives me Hope.  I know that God is with me and that I will be protected.  Even when I'll die I would know where I go.  I would spend my life with God and I wouldn't be depressed."

3. "I get hope from my friends.  This is because friends help me when I had a hard time.  They make me feel good also when we chat.  They also make good memories because we played for a long time."

4. "My hope is found in my health.  This is because if your health is bad, you will die.  Being healthy saves you money.  Also, if you are healthy you can do more things."  

5. "My parents are my hope.  They help me with my homework.  They brought me to this school.  I'm really happy about it.  Also, my friends give me hope so if I am down, they bring me up again."

6. "My dreams when I get older give me hope.  I don't know will happen when I get older, but I think I will find new hopes.  I am alive to go to school, because I have hope that my future will be awesome if I study a lot.  I sometimes think that I don't have any hope for living.  However, I am greedy so I don't want to lose my life."

7. "My hope is the phone and my future.  My phone makes me do many things such as call, messenger, SNS, listen to music, internet and some kinds of connection.  Also, in my future I hope to have a great job."

  

What gives YOU hope?

Psalm 39:7

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

    My hope is in you.

Prayer

Good evening (or morning depending on where you are in the world) :).  For this post I'd like to share a few prayer requests for various events, conversations, students etc.  I know I have many friends that are prayer warriors and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your consistent prayers.  The Lord has continually showed his faithfulness and answers said prayers.  

Prayer Requests:

1. Leading a group of 41 people (31 students/10 adults) to Romania for a mission trip during Spring Break

2. We are still in need of a 7-passenger van to take everyone and hoping the Lord provides soon

3. Started mentoring and discipling a group of girls 

4. I have received many new non-Christian students in my classroom and hoping their hearts are softened to the message of the gospel

5. Decisions about the next school year and to be obedient to the Lord.  

Thank you and let me know how I can pray for you!  

Romania 2013

Last year I led a team of 20 students along with 9 other leaders to Cornesti, Romania.  We went to serve a missionary couple, Doug and Roberta Moore, who had started a home, River of Life, for abandoned women and children.  While there, we laid a cement driveway, a foundation for an addition to their home, leveled their fields and put on a kid's program for the children of Romania.  It was an incredible experience and I have decided to lead this trip again!

This year we are taking 30 students as well as 10 adults for a total of 40 people!  We have a lot of excited students and adults who are ready to serve these people again.  This year we have chosen a theme for our trip titled Not to us.  We were inspired by the verse in Psalm 115:1 that says...

Not to us, Oh Lord; but to YOUR name be the Glory.  

We want this trip to be about Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ.  We have a handful of non-Christian students that are coming and my prayer for them is for their hearts to be softened to the love of Jesus Christ.  

Our work projects will be a little different this year.  We will be laying some more foundation for some elderly homes, building a secure fence and putting on our kid's program again.  It will be hard work but we are excited to help these missionaries.  

Doug and Roberta Moore's ministry is based off of support and therefore money has always been an issue for them.  The Lord has continued to provide for them in miraculous ways which just gives more testament to the greatness of God.  However, we still wanted to help them as much as we could.  Therefore, this past Friday night our Romania team threw a Fundraiser Event at our school, The International Christian School of Vienna, titled ICSV's Got Talent.  Over 120 people showed up to our event and we raised approximately 1.200 euro.  Check out pictures below!

Our Romania team would greatly appreciate your prayers as we continue to prepare for this trip.  Pray for unity amongst the students, preparations would continue to go smoothly and for hearts to be softened to the love of Jesus Christ. 

 

I made my creative students make the backdrop during class

Some students who helped plan the event 

Girls getting Henna done at the Henna table

Getting our photo with the mascot

ICSV students enjoying the event

I work with such talented people

Middle school students who wrote, sang and performed their own skit

A successful event!  

A Sweet Reminder

A colleague shared this verse with our staff last week and I was reminded once again as to how GREAT this God we serve truly is.  In the midst of sin and tribulation, God continues to share his grace and love to such a depraved generation.  Never give up hope for those who are lost.  The grace of Jesus Christ is mighty to save all those who call upon His name.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

A January post that should've been in December

This Christmas I received the best present of all! Well, three gifts actually.  My family came to Vienna to spend Christmas with me!  We had a wonderful time touring Austria, munching on kepabs and Schnitzel, drinking glühwein whilst exploring Christmas markets, taking pictures, laughing and creating incredible memories.  It was wonderful sharing my "other" life with my family and allowing them to experience what I do everyday.  They even came to my school on the day they landed (jet lagged and all) to meet some students and fellow colleagues of mine.  Check out some of our pictures below!

Ornaments at the Christmas Markets

On the train to Hallstadt and Salzburg

Hallstadt

Showing the fam how to eat fish

David and I 

Acting out scenes from the Sound of Music tour 

Mis padres :)

City of Salzburg

Exploring the Salzburg Castle

:)

Sweet sunset on Christmas Eve

:D

David ran into some old friends in Salzburg!

Last day in Vienna with my family