Quite a lot has happened over these last ten days that I've been living back outside my country of resident. Some of these changes easy while others much more difficult. With the mixture of new faces, agendas, aromas, and thinking this new lifestyle is still in the clearest explanation and without one doubt, a fog to me.
Wednesday was my first day at the special education center where I will be assisting children and teachers (known as Auntys and Uncles rather than Mr. Mrs. or Miss) in various different ways that I have yet to all discover. The day begins with a time of praising God for His goodness, His providence, and His mercies, new every morning. Its been great to see the children's participation with their voices, bodies, and hearts.
The center is separated into 6 different levels based upon development rather than age and consists of roughly a half a dozen to a dozen kids per level. Teacher assistants and helpers are also in almost every classroom attending to more of the one-on-one needs of the children. A vocational training center is also present to better challenge the growth and development of those with more advanced needs. Some children who have been declined educational services in the public sector are also attending reading workshops here to train them how to read and write so they can successfully return to the regular school setting.
Their plot of land provides a beautiful overlook of the city and includes a wonderful open area called "the Field" where I have enjoyed playing "football" (American soccer) with the children and have been challenged to learn some of their favorites including "Fire on the Mountain" somewhat similar to a combined game of "Ring around the Rosie" and "Red Rover" which sure has a way of exhausting not only the kids but me as well!
Level six caught my eye immediately as the teacher has a lovely way of assessing the childrens' needs and attending to them individually. In the three days I have been there I have been able to guide them along in their Mathematics, assist them in learning how to more accurately draw their shapes, teach and discuss with them a lesson on "Jesus, the Light of the World" and humor them with my different style of correcting and usage of words. An eraser is now a cleaner and a waste basket is definitely not a garbage. :)
Several "news" for the past ten days:
*Words: "minerals" rather than soda or pop, "flash me" rather than call me or ring me
*Greetings: very little "hello's" and a whole lot of "good days" with the combination of "how are you, your work, your family, etc"
*Home: first a smaller, quite comfortably sized guest house then a larger home with the recommendation of a regular housekeeper to help keep things tidy and up to par and even to hand wash my clothes (talk about spoiled, eh? or a great way to uphold the virtues, talents, and gifts of others!)
*Foods: "masa" which is a rice cake like muffin, "pounded yam" described from me as a more solid form of a potato that is used as a handy dandy like chip dipped into a stew like mixture, "roasted corn" on the cob flavored similarly to popcorn or corn nuts
*Drinks: a whole lot of water, teas, and coffees along with powdered milk mixes and the typical fruit juices; lesson learned that soda bottle tops definitely do not twist off manually like on glass bottles in the States!
*Transportation: motor bikes everywhere with surprisingly no interest on my part or allowance by the missions :)
*Cooking: a gas stove, quite different for me yet just as sufficient and much more home made recipe living
*Weather: cooler days and nights with an unexpected chance of rainfall rather frequently for now
*Population: people 'everywhere', 1 in every 5 Africans is said to be a Nigerian
*Neighborhood: the missions compound made up of offices, homes, and apartment living quarters surrounded by cement walls topped with barbed wiring and gated for selective entry and surveillance by our well-trusted and friendly guards
*Lighting: the use of a generator and even a flashlight on a regular basis as electricity is less consistent and definitely not 24/7
*Police: an expanded role of what I call signal officiators rather than your "red, yellow, and green" lights or even stop signs
*Military stops: random and regular posted areas, my experience on day two intrigued me as one asked for a Bible in whom we gave a copy of "the Today" and another read my "faith, hope, love" tattoo and then motioned us to continue on
Memory flashes:
~The Amish more related to the smell and look of my guest house bathroom than anything, be reminded how closely I have held the Amish way of life to my heart and even promised my family that a dear friend & sister of mine would one day join the colony :)
~Nicaragua's mountainous regions with the rocky landscape along with the hustle bustle and rather chaotic street life, something I actually love and gave me a sense of "free at last, home sweet home" when I got out of the airport and saw this gorgeous Arab looking nation; did I ever mention I hate flights especially after a taking a nasty malaria pill that made me throw up on day one, praise God for the ability to sleep endlessly throughout that day of traveling!
~Grandma Smidstra's cactus plants as some places outside of the city here even use this sort of technique as fencing barriers
~Toilet paper can be flushed unlike my other "outside of the States" experiences!
~Snow days back in Iowa just as here some days call for a little less "going outs" due to a different sort of precautionary
~Training in Michigan, religious/political/ethnic discussions back in NW Iowa and at the refugee center in Sioux Falls
~Shetek Baptist Camp and Rock Rapids Kids Club, need I say more?
From 4HIM's "Back to the Basics" lyrics I pray that I would "get back to the basics of life to a heart that is pure and a love that is blind, a faith that is fervently grounded in Christ, and a hope that endures for all times" as I serve, learn, and observe the way of the native people as well as the North American and European missionaries living here.
Please continue to pray for me as I learn how to better build relationships with the many gracious arms around me as well as the people with whom I work and my other contacts here that I have gotten from friends back home. Pray that I would have the patience, endurance, and wisdom to sit back and observe without growing tired and weary from the newness of my surroundings and the gap of my loved ones and Christian family back home.
Thanking God every time I think of you,
- BRose
Father show every reader how little we are and yet how significant we are in Your eyes. Teach us oh Lord to remain humble and aware of ourselves yet sensitive, respectful, and courteous of the thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of those with whom we interact, observe, and/or guide. Help us refrain from judgement and the natural desire to resist that which is different whether by customs, personality, priority, character, religion, ethnicity, interest, or culture. And even greater keep us oh Father from the temptation to plan and control that which is Yours to sustain, direct, and ultimately hold. May Your ways become our ways that your plans and steps would be sufficient and enough. Give us the courage to recognize that we are the key to nothing and yet the strength to see that through You, we have access to the key to everything. And Lord as the anniversary of 9/11 draws near oh Father protect and guard us from the fears that are so common to men and show us how to boast in the power and protection of Your name alone, Amen.
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11
Wednesday was my first day at the special education center where I will be assisting children and teachers (known as Auntys and Uncles rather than Mr. Mrs. or Miss) in various different ways that I have yet to all discover. The day begins with a time of praising God for His goodness, His providence, and His mercies, new every morning. Its been great to see the children's participation with their voices, bodies, and hearts.
The center is separated into 6 different levels based upon development rather than age and consists of roughly a half a dozen to a dozen kids per level. Teacher assistants and helpers are also in almost every classroom attending to more of the one-on-one needs of the children. A vocational training center is also present to better challenge the growth and development of those with more advanced needs. Some children who have been declined educational services in the public sector are also attending reading workshops here to train them how to read and write so they can successfully return to the regular school setting.
Their plot of land provides a beautiful overlook of the city and includes a wonderful open area called "the Field" where I have enjoyed playing "football" (American soccer) with the children and have been challenged to learn some of their favorites including "Fire on the Mountain" somewhat similar to a combined game of "Ring around the Rosie" and "Red Rover" which sure has a way of exhausting not only the kids but me as well!
Level six caught my eye immediately as the teacher has a lovely way of assessing the childrens' needs and attending to them individually. In the three days I have been there I have been able to guide them along in their Mathematics, assist them in learning how to more accurately draw their shapes, teach and discuss with them a lesson on "Jesus, the Light of the World" and humor them with my different style of correcting and usage of words. An eraser is now a cleaner and a waste basket is definitely not a garbage. :)
Several "news" for the past ten days:
*Words: "minerals" rather than soda or pop, "flash me" rather than call me or ring me
*Greetings: very little "hello's" and a whole lot of "good days" with the combination of "how are you, your work, your family, etc"
*Home: first a smaller, quite comfortably sized guest house then a larger home with the recommendation of a regular housekeeper to help keep things tidy and up to par and even to hand wash my clothes (talk about spoiled, eh? or a great way to uphold the virtues, talents, and gifts of others!)
*Foods: "masa" which is a rice cake like muffin, "pounded yam" described from me as a more solid form of a potato that is used as a handy dandy like chip dipped into a stew like mixture, "roasted corn" on the cob flavored similarly to popcorn or corn nuts
*Drinks: a whole lot of water, teas, and coffees along with powdered milk mixes and the typical fruit juices; lesson learned that soda bottle tops definitely do not twist off manually like on glass bottles in the States!
*Transportation: motor bikes everywhere with surprisingly no interest on my part or allowance by the missions :)
*Cooking: a gas stove, quite different for me yet just as sufficient and much more home made recipe living
*Weather: cooler days and nights with an unexpected chance of rainfall rather frequently for now
*Population: people 'everywhere', 1 in every 5 Africans is said to be a Nigerian
*Neighborhood: the missions compound made up of offices, homes, and apartment living quarters surrounded by cement walls topped with barbed wiring and gated for selective entry and surveillance by our well-trusted and friendly guards
*Lighting: the use of a generator and even a flashlight on a regular basis as electricity is less consistent and definitely not 24/7
*Police: an expanded role of what I call signal officiators rather than your "red, yellow, and green" lights or even stop signs
*Military stops: random and regular posted areas, my experience on day two intrigued me as one asked for a Bible in whom we gave a copy of "the Today" and another read my "faith, hope, love" tattoo and then motioned us to continue on
Memory flashes:
~The Amish more related to the smell and look of my guest house bathroom than anything, be reminded how closely I have held the Amish way of life to my heart and even promised my family that a dear friend & sister of mine would one day join the colony :)
~Nicaragua's mountainous regions with the rocky landscape along with the hustle bustle and rather chaotic street life, something I actually love and gave me a sense of "free at last, home sweet home" when I got out of the airport and saw this gorgeous Arab looking nation; did I ever mention I hate flights especially after a taking a nasty malaria pill that made me throw up on day one, praise God for the ability to sleep endlessly throughout that day of traveling!
~Grandma Smidstra's cactus plants as some places outside of the city here even use this sort of technique as fencing barriers
~Toilet paper can be flushed unlike my other "outside of the States" experiences!
~Snow days back in Iowa just as here some days call for a little less "going outs" due to a different sort of precautionary
~Training in Michigan, religious/political/ethnic discussions back in NW Iowa and at the refugee center in Sioux Falls
~Shetek Baptist Camp and Rock Rapids Kids Club, need I say more?
From 4HIM's "Back to the Basics" lyrics I pray that I would "get back to the basics of life to a heart that is pure and a love that is blind, a faith that is fervently grounded in Christ, and a hope that endures for all times" as I serve, learn, and observe the way of the native people as well as the North American and European missionaries living here.
Please continue to pray for me as I learn how to better build relationships with the many gracious arms around me as well as the people with whom I work and my other contacts here that I have gotten from friends back home. Pray that I would have the patience, endurance, and wisdom to sit back and observe without growing tired and weary from the newness of my surroundings and the gap of my loved ones and Christian family back home.
Thanking God every time I think of you,
- BRose
Father show every reader how little we are and yet how significant we are in Your eyes. Teach us oh Lord to remain humble and aware of ourselves yet sensitive, respectful, and courteous of the thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of those with whom we interact, observe, and/or guide. Help us refrain from judgement and the natural desire to resist that which is different whether by customs, personality, priority, character, religion, ethnicity, interest, or culture. And even greater keep us oh Father from the temptation to plan and control that which is Yours to sustain, direct, and ultimately hold. May Your ways become our ways that your plans and steps would be sufficient and enough. Give us the courage to recognize that we are the key to nothing and yet the strength to see that through You, we have access to the key to everything. And Lord as the anniversary of 9/11 draws near oh Father protect and guard us from the fears that are so common to men and show us how to boast in the power and protection of Your name alone, Amen.
"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11
Beth,
ReplyDeleteIt's quite an adventure you are on! I'm so glad to hear about the way you are making a difference where you are.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jewlz