The Minds of Middle Schoolers

ELL Bible Beginner

One of my most challenging and yet most rewarding classes has been teaching the Bible to a group of middle school students.  This class is made up of six students representing all types of nationalities and religions.  There is a Muslim from the Middle East, a Buddhist from South East Asia, two Christians from Nigeria and South East Asia, and a Catholic from Austria.  I am still unsure about the last student but he doesn’t speak English very well... yet.  

Since our school is a Christian school, we have the freedom to teach the bible from a Christian perspective.  It is quite fascinating to be able to teach these students the truth of the Gospel when they have grown up so differently.  The majority of my students have never even opened a bible before! 

Since it is an ELL class, their English is extremely limited.  The first half of the month was spent defining key vocabulary words about God. We are now diving into creation, the Trinity and the Spirits.  Some of these concepts are challenging for me to wrap my mind around let alone a group of non-Christian, English limited middle school students.  Nevertheless, those obstacles can’t stand in the way of our God.  I have been quite amazed at how the Lord has been working in the hearts of all these students and allowing them to understand the mystery of Christ.  Their questions are well thought out and are a challenge to me.  I’d thought I’d share a few of them with you below.  

1.     Ms. Johnson, does God love Buddhists?

2.     When we get sick, does that mean an Angel lost a battle against a demon and is no longer protecting us?

3.     Is Hell in the center of the world?

4.     Why did God let Lucifer rebel against Him?

5.     Why didn’t God just destroy Lucifer when he rebelled?

6.     Why does God give us choices when we could just be in heaven with Him?

7.     If I google the face of God and see it, will I die?  (after explaining how if we saw the face of God in all his glory, we would die)

8.     Ms. Johnson, is it OK if I write the word hell for the home of Satan?  (in a very whispered voice)

If you have some answers to any of these questions, feel free to comment below.  I'd love your input!

ICSV Eagles on FIRE

The month of September is always the busiest for teachers.  I had intentions of blogging every week this month, but unfortunately September went by too fast for me.  So here I find myself at the end of the month FINALLY blogging.  This post will be about my volleyball team and my heart for them.

Varsity team after winning their first game

 I am coaching the girls High School JV and Varsity teams again this year.  We have 10 girls on each team and they are a great group of girls.  They LOVE playing volleyball and have worked real hard.  The Varsity team just won their first game against the American International School of Vienna.  They were the only team we lost to last year during our regular season so I was very pleased with them winning.  The JV team is composed of many girls who have never played volleyball before.   They are excited to get better and have been working really hard.

JV team after their first game

Our theme for this year is FIRE.  I am still in the process of finding a verse for this theme.  I chose fire because there are many life lessons that can be used when putting this into our minds.  On the court, and in life, we will be tested and put through fire.  There are two ways that we can respond: be burned or be refined.  My prayer for this team is that they will become refined on and off the court as they begin high school and play volleyball.  Also, when a fire comes through, it leaves its mark and impression.  As we play other teams or encounter different people, we need to be able to leave our marks on their lives. Ultimately, my hope is they would leave the mark of Christ and ignite a fire in the lives of others. 

Not everyone on my team is a Christian.  Please pray that the Lord ignites His fire in their lives.  

Back in Vienna

Disclaimer:  This post should have gone out in August.

Last year at this time I was feeling pretty anxious and low about being back in Vienna.  I had just had a great summer at home with my family and friends and was feeling nervous about being in Vienna.  Some dear friends had left the city, I still couldn't speak German very well and I didn't want to leave my family.  However, as per usual, the Lord continues to take care of us, fight for us and bless us.

While it was hard to come back to Vienna for my third year, I was definitely more excited to come back to my new home.  I knew what to expect, how to prepare and had such a sense that the Lord has me here for His purpose.  Plus, living in a European country can be a lot of fun.  Becca and I tried to take advantage of this city before the school year started!

Becca and I jumping on some trampolines over the Danube River

Learned how to properly cut ribs at our annual staff BBQ

Got to visit with some graduated students

Celebrate a dear friend's birthday
Check our her blog here.

Biked from Vienna, Austria to Bratislava, Slovakia  (a total of 42 miles... ouch)

Reunited with the ICSV staff and met some new teachers

 

Check back in tomorrow for a post about my new students and how to pray for them!

Old Beginnings

Hello everyone!  I have started my third year of teaching at ICSV and it still feels like a dream job.  I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a great staff and be able to teach such wonderful students.

ICSV Teaching Staff

This year I will be teaching High School Spanish and Middle School ELL.  These are the same classes that I taught last year which is quite nice since I now know the curriculum.  The majority of my students are new to the school as well.  These students come from all parts of the world and only a handful of them have chosen Jesus Christ as their Savior.  I ask that you continue to pray for my students and that their little middle school hearts would be susceptible to the Holy Spirit's calling.  Here are some pictures of my ELL students so you can visualize who you are praying for and get to know my kids.  I will do a post about my Spanish students soon!

ELL Intermediate Class

ELL Advanced Class

ELL Bible Beginner

I am also the Junior Class homeroom teacher and will be leading, mentoring and spending time with these students.  I know I shouldn't have favorites, but they are a pretty great group of High School kids.  

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.