Hello all!
It has been a while since we have sent you and update on what is actually happening here in Diosd, Hungary. Here are some highlights:
I (Melissa) have been teaching 5th grade math this semester. I have really enjoyed it, though I have to admit that the kids have stumped me on a few problems...Sometimes I have to ask them how they arrived at the answer they did (I mean the teacher's book has the answers, but not always how to get it!). Right now we are learning fractions!
Brandon has been busy helping to coach the basketball team. So far they have won all of their 6 games. Next weekend they have a tournament in Vienna, so they will be making their way there.
Brandon has also inherited a new PE class. This semester, ICSB started their first Pre-1st grade class. They meet 5 days a week for half of a day. And at the insistence of a couple of the kids, they were granted one PE class with Mr. Wilcox a week! They are so little, but they have such a great time in there with him!
The high school has a Valentine's banquet coming up that Brandon and I are going to chaperone and we are excited about that! Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and your prayers as we maneuver through this semester.
Hope you are all doing wonderfully!!
Melissa
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Something I am Learning...
I am reading through a new book right now, and there are several things in it that have really challenged me. One of my favorite verses has always been Psalm 16:5: "Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure." I love the way that this author, Linda Dillow, explains this:
"God fills our cup with our portion, what he determines best. Our portion is our physical and emotional being, our abilities, circumstances, roles, and relationships. Sometimes we don't like what's been poured into our cup. [But] we either choose to grasp it by the handle and lift it to Him, saying, 'I accept my portion; I accept this cup,' or we choose to smash our cup to pieces, saying, 'God, I refuse my portion. This cup is not the right size for me and I don't like what You've put in it. I'll control my life myself.'"
How many times do we, consciously or unconsciously, let God know that we will be taking over from here? We don't think he has done a good enough job or he hasn't given us what we wanted, so we assume that we can do better. And yet, most of us know that God really does know better than us. He can see everything, and he knows what is best. We just have to let go and say, "I accept this cup. You have made my lot secure!"
And then we learn to live by focusing on the stars instead of the mud...
-Melissa
"God fills our cup with our portion, what he determines best. Our portion is our physical and emotional being, our abilities, circumstances, roles, and relationships. Sometimes we don't like what's been poured into our cup. [But] we either choose to grasp it by the handle and lift it to Him, saying, 'I accept my portion; I accept this cup,' or we choose to smash our cup to pieces, saying, 'God, I refuse my portion. This cup is not the right size for me and I don't like what You've put in it. I'll control my life myself.'"
How many times do we, consciously or unconsciously, let God know that we will be taking over from here? We don't think he has done a good enough job or he hasn't given us what we wanted, so we assume that we can do better. And yet, most of us know that God really does know better than us. He can see everything, and he knows what is best. We just have to let go and say, "I accept this cup. You have made my lot secure!"
And then we learn to live by focusing on the stars instead of the mud...
-Melissa
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Videos
There are some videos from December on our youtube account!
Here are the titles of the latest ones:
First Snow
Real Snow
Elementary Caroling
Elementary Caroling 2
(link to our youtube account is on left hand panel)
Here are the titles of the latest ones:
First Snow
Real Snow
Elementary Caroling
Elementary Caroling 2
(link to our youtube account is on left hand panel)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
For Him
Well school is back in session after a great break, and along with school comes morning devotionals. Three days a week the staff gathers together in the morning before school to spend some time together praying and growing in our relationships with each other and God. On Tuesdays, the men and the women split up to do a more personal and direct bible study. I know this isn't the usual blog etiquette, but as we grow closer with our friends here, we would also love to grow closer in Christ with each and everyone of you as well. Everyone needs prayer no matter where you are and what you're doing, so my challenge to you all is to comment on this blog or email either Melissa or I with your specific prayer requests. We would love to be praying for all of you in specific ways, and would love the same in return. Let me get us started with a couple specific things you could be praying for us for.
1. We are praying and weighing the option of coming back as missionaries for another year and would love prayer that we make the right decision and go do what God wants us to do. and
2. That we influence and leave a mark on these kids that will change their lives whether we are here next year or not.
Thank you all for the prayers and support. We look forward to hearing from you! Now GO BE CHAMPIONS FOR GOD!!
-Brandon
1. We are praying and weighing the option of coming back as missionaries for another year and would love prayer that we make the right decision and go do what God wants us to do. and
2. That we influence and leave a mark on these kids that will change their lives whether we are here next year or not.
Thank you all for the prayers and support. We look forward to hearing from you! Now GO BE CHAMPIONS FOR GOD!!
-Brandon
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New Beginnings
Happy New Year!! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and made the most of friendship and food!!! :) School started again for us today and we are getting back into the swing of things!
It's nice to be back in a routine, and I feel like things have started with a bang. A lot seems to be going on. One of the alumni students (graduated ICSB 3 years ago) was killed in a car accident about a week ago. This has been a traumatic time for many of the students and staff who knew him and his family well. His sister was on my volleyball team, and one of the girls that I have gotten to know. She will be returning to school next week and we are all praying for her. In light of this, I am going to be speaking to the senior class (her class) about helping her deal with her grief in a helpful way. I am a little nervous for this, as it's a hard thing to talk about, so we would appreciate your prayers for that and for the family!
I will also be back in the elementary classrooms this month for my monthly talk....AND I will be teaching 5th grade math all semester! I am NOT a math person, so I have had to review a lot, but so far, so good. I think we will have fun learning together! :)
Brandon is back at work coaching the varsity basketball team and they will begin having games this month. He is excited to be working with them and traveling around where their games take them! And of course, the elementary kids could not be happier that he is back.
Last month was a hard month for me, being homesick and not being home for Christmas, but I know that we are here for a reason and that it will get better.
We have a few prayer requests that we would like to put out there for you:
1. Our health...we have both been sick a few times and we are praying for health!
2. The family who lost their son/brother
3. Our jobs here at school...and the children/adolescents that we interact with each day
Thank you for all of your support! We appreciate it more than you know!
Melissa (and Brandon)
P.S. We just posted some new videos from December on our Youtube account!
It's nice to be back in a routine, and I feel like things have started with a bang. A lot seems to be going on. One of the alumni students (graduated ICSB 3 years ago) was killed in a car accident about a week ago. This has been a traumatic time for many of the students and staff who knew him and his family well. His sister was on my volleyball team, and one of the girls that I have gotten to know. She will be returning to school next week and we are all praying for her. In light of this, I am going to be speaking to the senior class (her class) about helping her deal with her grief in a helpful way. I am a little nervous for this, as it's a hard thing to talk about, so we would appreciate your prayers for that and for the family!
I will also be back in the elementary classrooms this month for my monthly talk....AND I will be teaching 5th grade math all semester! I am NOT a math person, so I have had to review a lot, but so far, so good. I think we will have fun learning together! :)
Brandon is back at work coaching the varsity basketball team and they will begin having games this month. He is excited to be working with them and traveling around where their games take them! And of course, the elementary kids could not be happier that he is back.
Last month was a hard month for me, being homesick and not being home for Christmas, but I know that we are here for a reason and that it will get better.
We have a few prayer requests that we would like to put out there for you:
1. Our health...we have both been sick a few times and we are praying for health!
2. The family who lost their son/brother
3. Our jobs here at school...and the children/adolescents that we interact with each day
Thank you for all of your support! We appreciate it more than you know!
Melissa (and Brandon)
P.S. We just posted some new videos from December on our Youtube account!
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