Kids are Awesome!

As a teacher, I love to jot down the funny things my students say or do that make me laugh. Here are a few this year so far. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

I have a Samsung tablet that I use as a reader and to stay in touch with those at home. One day I brought it to school and it was sitting on my desk. One of my students, Lucas, saw it there, turned, stopped and whispered in reverence “Samsung”. Between his adorable accent, the whisper voice and the look of awe in his eyes, I had to turn my head to conceal my laughter.

A couple of days later, the same boy, Lucas, said to me, “Miss Jorgensen, my nose is falling down.” It took me a second to realize he meant his noise was running. Some things get lost in translation. :)

Not only are my students funny, they are sincere and poignant in the most unexpected moments.

A couple of girls in my class were consistently talking when they weren’t supposed to be and distracting other students. You know, normal 5^th grade girl stuff. After a stern discussion and the loss of a privilege, their behavior was much better. Two hours later, after I had forgotten about the whole thing, they pulled me aside and asked if they could talk to me. In unison they said “ We are sorry and ashamed for our behavior. Please forgive us.” So sweet!

One morning my heart was burdened over something a friend back home was going through and I asked my students if they would pray. They responded with such concern and fervent prayers it nearly brought me to tears.

 I have a student from Ecuador in my class. She has a smile that lights up the room and a deep love for the Lord. Her parents are missionaries in La Paz and they pastor a local church. One afternoon I sent my students to Library; when Priscila returned she was clutching a book about Jim Elliot, a well know missionary who was martyred many years ago in Educador. Her eyes shone as she shared her excitement to read this book about a man who had served in her home country. When she came back to school the next day, she said her Mom had cried when she saw the book because one of her professors in college was Elizabeth Elliot (Jim Elliot’s wife). I have long admired the Elliot family and their intense passion, faith and sacrifice for the Lord. How profound to have a student in my class who is a part of the legacy they have passed down to generations. Jim Elliot was killed nearly 60 years ago, yet his love of the Lord continues to influence young and old.

It’s in these day to day moments, that I see and know the joy and love of the Lord. What simple moments is God using to speak to you?

Venturing

Tonight I ventured out into the city center alone. Some people I met at church were hosting a Bible Study and usually Katie, my roommate would go with me; however tonight she was sick. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal to go by myself, but the study was being held in a different area of town than I’m used to, at a place I wasn’t completely sure how to get to, and being that I don’t speak the language yet, I was a bit intimidated! But I knew I would be glad that I went so I pushed myself to go. (Well, actually I prayed that God would make me go. :)) Everything turned out great! The taxi driver and I had a bit of trouble finding the place initially (I ended up knocking on the wrong door and it was actually answered by someone I had met last week-random!) but eventually I ended up in the right place. Of course then I had to figure out how to ring the doorbell on the gate (who would have thought that would be an issue!)? I was standing in the dark, shining my cell phone on the gate, trying to find the bell; I’m sure I looked crazy! Once I got through the gate I was quickly introduced to a few people, one of whom was an American (better yet, a Texan in cowboy boots). I’m always a little unsure of how to greet Americans here. Sometimes it’s the traditional American handshake; other times it’s the Bolivian cheek-to-cheek kiss. Well I went for the handshake, but quickly realized he was going for the kiss and we basically ended up slamming our cheeks into each other. Super awkward! But it made for a good laugh, anyway. We studied John 18 tonight and it was a great time to study the Bible, pray together and just be in God’s presence with one another. I take great comfort in knowing that despite our different backgrounds and cultures, the commonality we have in the Lord is powerful enough to instantly make us feel like family. I’m grateful for this Bible Study and this group of people welcoming enough to invite me! I’m also grateful for silly little adventures in La Paz!

Blessings friends and family! I miss you all and love you deeply! Thank you for reading.

Can you see why I was intimidated?!

The First Day

And so begins the fruition of a dream God put in my heart nearly 7 years ago. It's funny how when  our "dreams" become reality they are so much like real life. Walking out a dream isn't usually romantic, it isn't rose colored, it isn't to the tune of a Hollywood theme song. It's nitty and gritty. It's feeling uncomfortable, uncertain and missing the known. But it's all part of the journey. The awkwardness passes eventually and you embrace the new role, the new adventure you are a part of. One of my teammates shared a quote recently that really resonated with me: "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kierkegaard) I like this because it is so true. We don't always understand the "why" or the "what" of things but yet we move forward by the grace of God as He directs us. We know that one day we will look back and we will understand, at least in part.

Yesterday was a difficult day for me. I have dreamed long and hard of the day I would stand in front of a group of students, in a different country, as a teacher, as a missionary. And suddenly, it was a reality. Instead of experiencing the emotion and the passion I had imagined, I felt the weight, the challenge, the unknown, the insecurity of being the teacher of these children. I hope this doesn't sound sad to you. I don't find it sad because I know one day I will look back, I will remember my first day teaching at Highlands, and I will smile because I will see how that one day was a significant piece in the puzzle that God is creating. I will smile because I will know that despite my humanness God was very much with me in the tough moments of that day and used those moments to teach me how to rely on Him and to cause me to grow closer to His heart. I will smile because I will be able to recall how the amazing days by far overshadow the difficult days. I will smile because I will think of the lives of students I saw transformed by the powerful love of our Almighty God!

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power 

is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
 2 Corinthians 4:7

An amazing group of students (missing three)!

Coffee in hand, let's do this!

Welcome!

Back to School

Buenos Dias from La Paz! The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of orienting ourselves to the city, preparing our classrooms and spending time getting to know new and returning staff. Tomorrow begins the first day of the 2013/2014 school year. Ready or not, we will have 200+ amazing students rolling into our beautiful campus. I was able to meet the majority of my students and their parents on Monday afternoon during our open house. What a fun, friendly group they are! I am so excited to begin getting to know them better and investing in these little lives. I have a feeling they will quickly steal my heart. I am looking forward to sharing photos with you of the first day! For now, please enjoy the photos of my classroom; it has been a lot of fun bringing it to life for the new school year.

Welcome to 5th Grade!

My little corner

I would love your prayers for the first day of school tomorrow. As usual, I have the “first day jitters” and am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of the work the first few weeks of school demand. Adjusting to an entirely new country and culture and being so far from home seems to only add to the pressure. However,  in the midst of difficulty, I’m encouraged by the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure…but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…On Him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” I’m trusting in our great God and continuing to set my hope on Him as he alone fills me with his strength, love and joy!

Blessings to you my friends and family, and thank you so much for being a part of this journey. I love and miss you all deeply.

An unexpected trek down the mountain from school! (No taxis available!)

Beautiful view on the way to school