Hi everyone!
It is now official… I received my contract, have signed it, and have turned it into the office. I definitely had some mixed feelings about it. Signing this contract was a lot more difficult than the first one. So many things will be different next year. My brother Sam will be attending IWU (!), my little sister will be a senior in high school (!), my best friend and roommate here in china will be leaving to attend grad school, our school will have moved to the new location (still waiting on the final word), etc…
It is now official… I received my contract, have signed it, and have turned it into the office. I definitely had some mixed feelings about it. Signing this contract was a lot more difficult than the first one. So many things will be different next year. My brother Sam will be attending IWU (!), my little sister will be a senior in high school (!), my best friend and roommate here in china will be leaving to attend grad school, our school will have moved to the new location (still waiting on the final word), etc…
For Christmas, Christy gave me the book Streams in the Desert. I thought I would share with you the portion I read just after signing my contract. – Mat. 2:13 Stay there until I tell you…. (hmmmm…..)
I’ll stay where you’ve put me; I will, dear Lord
I’ll stay where you’ve put me; I will, dear Lord
Though I wanted so badly to go;
I was eager to march with the “rank and file”
Yes, I wanted to lead them, you know.
I planned to keep step to the music loud,
To cheer when the banner unfurled,
To stand in the midst of the fight straight and proud,
But I’ll stay where You’ve put me.
I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I’ll work, dear Lord
Though the field be narrow and small,
And the ground be neglected, and stones lie thick,
And there seems to be no life at all.
The field is Your own, only give me the seed,
I’ll sow it with never a fear;
I’ll till the dry soil while I wait for the rain,
And rejoice when the green blades appear;
I’ll work where You’ve put me.
I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I will, dear Lord
I was eager to march with the “rank and file”
Yes, I wanted to lead them, you know.
I planned to keep step to the music loud,
To cheer when the banner unfurled,
To stand in the midst of the fight straight and proud,
But I’ll stay where You’ve put me.
I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I’ll work, dear Lord
Though the field be narrow and small,
And the ground be neglected, and stones lie thick,
And there seems to be no life at all.
The field is Your own, only give me the seed,
I’ll sow it with never a fear;
I’ll till the dry soil while I wait for the rain,
And rejoice when the green blades appear;
I’ll work where You’ve put me.
I’ll stay where You’ve put me; I will, dear Lord
I’ll bear the day’s burden and heat,
Always trusting you fully; when sunset has come
I’ll lay stalks of grain at Your feet.
And then, when my earth work is ended and done,
In the light of eternity’s glow,
Life’s record all closed, I surely will find
It was better to stay than to go;
I’ll stay where You’ve put me.
Staying was not an easy decision for me, yet I know it is the right one. Please lift me up as I begin the transitions that are ahead of me. (new roommate, missing out on events in my family’s lives, missing friends, new co-workers and students, students leaving, etc.) Lift up that I will finish this year strong and return after the summer ready to begin a new year)
It is getting to the busy time of year! This weekend I went to Beijing for a women’s retreat. (my first one…) While we were there, Christy and I were able to visit Lisa, one of our friends that came over with us. Lisa teaches in another city, but was in Beijing b/c she just had a baby!!! Christy and I were able to meet Ethan and spend some time with Lisa as well.
Always trusting you fully; when sunset has come
I’ll lay stalks of grain at Your feet.
And then, when my earth work is ended and done,
In the light of eternity’s glow,
Life’s record all closed, I surely will find
It was better to stay than to go;
I’ll stay where You’ve put me.
Staying was not an easy decision for me, yet I know it is the right one. Please lift me up as I begin the transitions that are ahead of me. (new roommate, missing out on events in my family’s lives, missing friends, new co-workers and students, students leaving, etc.) Lift up that I will finish this year strong and return after the summer ready to begin a new year)
It is getting to the busy time of year! This weekend I went to Beijing for a women’s retreat. (my first one…) While we were there, Christy and I were able to visit Lisa, one of our friends that came over with us. Lisa teaches in another city, but was in Beijing b/c she just had a baby!!! Christy and I were able to meet Ethan and spend some time with Lisa as well.Last weekend, Christy and I climbed FuShan (Mt. Fu) with some of our Chinese friends. It was an easy hike compared to the last mountain I climbed in China! (This time there were no stairs! I was very thankfulJ ) We enjoyed the view of our city from the top and then sang some songs together (All in All was the only English song. They sang some *W*songs in Chinese- Amazing Grace was one of them…)
On our way home, christy and I found pineapple on a stick! One of our favorite after mountain climbing snacks.
After climbing Mt. Fu, We met up with friends to celebrate Kristen's birthday! We had a great time bowling and then went back to the apartment for some bday cake! (Somehow it turned into a small food fight! :) fun times!
Earlier this month, Christy and I went over to our friend Diana's apartment for dinner and games. Diana and Kathleen cooked tons of food! fried shrimp, spicy shredded potatoes, tofu, cabbage.... Afterwards, Christy and I taught them all how to play Skip-bo! A highlight of the evening was giving our friend Melissa a phone call! (We were talking to her when we took our group picture! Melissa was a teacher here in Qingdao for 7 (?) years) 
PTL's and requests
Please continue to lift up the school land and all the details that go along with that- I am sorry that I do not have any news to share about this right now...
Future plans- living arrangements, i will be teaching 4th grade again, but the other 4th grade teacher is not returning, I will also be having a student teacher next year, transitions in
Please continue to lift up the school land and all the details that go along with that- I am sorry that I do not have any news to share about this right now...
Future plans- living arrangements, i will be teaching 4th grade again, but the other 4th grade teacher is not returning, I will also be having a student teacher next year, transitions in
general....
Parent teacher conferences start Thursday
PTL- new fellowship I am attending. I have been able to hear encouraging stories which I look forward to sharing with you all.
Parent teacher conferences start Thursday
PTL- new fellowship I am attending. I have been able to hear encouraging stories which I look forward to sharing with you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment