Returning for a third year and THANK YOU!!!

I would like to start this blog post off with a HUGE “Thank You” for your ongoing financial and/or prayerful support of my mission in Vienna, Austria.  The last two years have been some of the most rewarding years of my life and a large part of that is due to you.  Teaching in an International Christian School with a student body representing over 30 nationalities and languages has allowed me to share the gospel with several students who had never heard about Jesus Christ.  These students come from countries where Christianity is suppressed and oftentimes forbidden.

I have had the opportunity to teach these students how to read a bible, learn about the character of Jesus and even pray with these students.  Without your generous support, these students would not be able to hear this good news nor be introduced to Jesus.  Because of you, several young lives have turned their hearts toward Christ.  The hope of our school is that these students would then return to their home countries and present the gospel to their countrymen and spread the good news of Christ.  Teaching in an International School allows me to reach the nations for Christ in just one location. 

Christmas Party in my apartment

I want to inform all of you that after much prayer and careful consideration, I have decided to commit to another year of teaching at the International Christian School of Vienna.   I would like to ask for your continued support, both financial and prayerful, for the upcoming school year.  I am very excited about returning to Vienna and continuing my ministry.  I will need to raise $2,500 per month once again for the 2013-2014 academic year.  I would like to ask if you would consider continuing on or begin financial support for me for this upcoming school year, whether in giving a one-time amount or a monthly commitment.  Included is a commitment card that can be mailed with a check to RCE-International.  You can also give online at http://www.rce-international.org/.  If you are currently giving and did not originally indicate a specific end date, your EFT or Credit card commitments should automatically continue.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank you for partnering with me to reach the nations in Vienna!

End of the Year

Ending the year at ICSV is never easy.  Many students and staff members leave not only the school, but Vienna.  They are either returning to their home countries, attending University or moving away.  The question that dwells in everyone's mind is, "Will I ever see this person again?"  For Christians, we have that hope that we WILL see each other again in heaven!  Sadly, not everyone at our school shares these same views.  

Graduation is bittersweet at any school where students look forward to new challenges but look back on friendships made.  At ICSV graduation is a particularly melancholy experience.  Students leave to go back to their own countries and may never see their classmates again.  I had the opportunity to plan the 8th grade graduation and was able to have some good goodbyes with these students.  This year, over 50% of the 8th grade class was leaving ICSV.  I trust and pray that we have had some spiritual impact that they will take with them to plant seeds in their own countries.  Take a look at some pictures below to see the 8th Grade Graduation and High School Graduation.       

Students receiving their diplomas

8th Grade Graduating Class

One of my students who will not be returning next year :(

Incredible cake made by some alumni

High School Graduation

Becca planned the High School Graduation

Check our her blog here.

Becca and I are excited for these graduating students

Becca and I with one of the seniors.  Check out here amazing blog here.

My dear friend Kristi-Anna came and gt ENGAGED!  Check our her blog here.

Good friends celebrating the engagement :)

Weekend Trip to Poland 

Sad to say goodbye to some dear friends :(

Day trip to Auschwitz 

Auschwitz I

Train that would bring people into the death camp

Memorial dedicated to those who died at Auschwitz 

The Nazis destroyed the Gas Chambers right before the Russians came

Entrance into Auschwitz - Birkenau

It's hard to put into words what experiencing Auschwitz was like.  I am at a loss as to how so many people were treated like they didn't exist.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all those who were tragically affected and still being affected by this tragedy.

Why I NOW love teaching Middle School :)

When I was in college and fellow classmates or peers would ask what grade level I would like to teach, middle school was always at the bottom of the totem pole.  Why would I want to teach middle school?  They are awkward, smelly, little rascals who tell really lame jokes.  Teaching middle school students would be the last thing I would do on this earth... except for touching slugs or anything slimy.

When I accepted the job at ICSV two years ago, I was told that I would be teaching 4 different ELL classes to Middle School students and 1 Spanish High School class.  I wasn't particularly excited about teaching Middle School (to say the least) even though I acted like I was.  Nevertheless, God had called me here and I firmly believe that ALL He does is good, so this must be good...right?  On the first day of school I didn't know what to expect.  But then these kids walked in...

      

followed by them...

and soon my hardened heart softened and decided to make room for these mischievous, but adorable middle school students.  Plus, a very dear friend has the biggest heart for middle school students and her love for them was contagious.  She had started to rub off on me.  Check out her awesome blog here. 

                                          

Some of my Middle School Volleyball team

I soon learned that middle school students were not something to fear and be annoyed by, but just another chance to show love, grace, kindness and to learn some pretty cool jokes.  At our school, (and I assume at most schools), middle school is an awkward time where young teenagers are trying to find their place, learn about who they are and just wanting to be accepted.  They, too, need to be loved and cherished and listened to and I feel fortunate enough to be able to do just that.  In addition, I have learned much from these kids: there is beauty in innocence, never stop being amazed, it's OK to make mistakes and it's definitely OK to scream when I hear Taylor Swift or any boy bands on the radio.

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!