Brave

Happy Easter! Frohe Ostern!  It is safe to say spring has arrived in Berlin and the winter won't be coming back any time soon.  Happy dance!  After another half term filled with storytelling and puppet shows, I am now well into my two week spring break.

On the last day before the holiday break, I raced from school to the airport to fly to Siena, Italy.  Siena is a very small close-knit community and I enjoyed my time there making new friends, walking on the cobblestone streets, and eating delicious Italian food.  One sunny day, we decided to climb up the Torre del Mangia, a tower in the middle of Siena with spectacular views of the town and the Tuscan countryside.  I could only imagine taking my mom and her two sisters up this steep 500 stair climb to the top of the tower.  The combination of their fears of heights, birds, and confined spaces would be lethal!  At one point, as we cautiously paced back down the narrow steps, a pigeon flapped right past our faces.  I'm pretty sure you could hear our screams throughout the entire tower!

My mom's worst nightmare!

Worth it! View of Siena, Italy

Once I returned from Italy, I quickly repacked my bags with sports gear, hiking boots, and trail mix and set off by bus to the border of Germany and Czech Republic.  I spent two days exploring through and climbing mountains in the Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz.  I was in my element!  To sum up this trip in one word: Breath-taking. We climbed a trillion stairs, went up steep ladders, and wedged between rocks in order to have endless views of sandstone cliffs and German farmland and countryside.  Again, I thought of people who would miss out experiencing this absolute splendour because of their fears.  Pictures just don't do it justice!

One of the less scary ladders we climbed

Bastei Bridge

Narrow paths between the sandstone rocks

I have recently been reflecting on the time when I first moved to Berlin.  Not going to lie, it was scary and stressful.  The weeks leading up to the move and the first weeks in Berlin were frightening.  I didn't have a clue on how to do things like set up a bank account, find an apartment, navigate the train systems, or register for a work visa and residence permit among other things in a foreign country.  I was basically stranded in my apartment for the first day as I had no internet, phone, map, or way of communicating with those around me.  Some people back home told me they wanted to live vicariously through me for they would be too scared to ever do something like that themselves. They called me brave.  Heck no!  I did not feel brave.  I would say a greater hand was guiding me through what seemed like an impossible task at the time.  I had a tremendous amount of peace that the Lord would provide for me and He did. BIG TIME!

Here are some present day examples of bravery from many different people in my life:

- those who will be moving or have moved to foreign places like Guatemala, Uganda, Costa Rica, and China longterm to disciple the nations, bring justice to the poor, and love their neighbours

- those who are fighting through difficult seasons with the trust and faith that good things will come out of it

- those who are just about to get married or have children

- those in full time ministry who solely rely on financial support through the generous donations of others

- those who ALWAYS tithe and give offerings faithfully and generously on a consistent basis

- those who are just beginning their faith journey

There are moments when I don't feel audacious or confident, my fears get the best of me and I'd rather hold onto my comforts in my own little bubble.  Then I think of my walk of faith and how through Jesus, I have been moving toward being more courageous rather than timid every day.  The things that us Christ followers do that seem adventurous, brave, a little out there  or *cough* CRAZY reflect God's goodness and the favour He wants to pour out on our lives.  When you live out His will over your life and rely on His strength and promises (not your own), amazing things you never thought possible could happen.  This post is inspired by Bethel Music's new single, You Make Me Brave, from their soon-to-be released album.  

You make me brave

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the promises you made

You Make Me Brave - Bethel Music ft. Amanda Cook

You can also listen to the full album here

Peace & love

It's a Mystery to Me

Yes I know I haven't updated my blog in months.  I do apologize that I haven't shared bits of my life on here.  Quick update, I had a great Christmas with my family who came to visit me.  I had fun watching my Dad's fascination with the train systems in Europe and my brother's fascination with the gross Bier in Germany.  Needless to say, school has consumed my life in the beginning weeks of this new term.  I probably should be doing something on my massive to-do list rather than writing this blog such as writing report cards, planning a class assembly, or organizing a school charity event.  I have been laying low over the last month but here's a note to say that I'm still alive and kicking.

Last week, I was sent home sick for two days.  I left suddenly without informing my students of me being ill.  As soon as I left, rumours spread like wildfire in my class that I had gone back to Uganda.  (Not a bad assumption.  Just a little farfetched).  The following day, word had it that I was sick... with the Ugandan flu.  (I will give my students credit for understanding how much I love Uganda).  From all of this, I have come to the conclusion that my students find my life incredibly enthralling.   I beg to differ but evidence of their intrigue in my personal life proves differently.

I have had many encounters of genuine yet intrusive questionings with my students in the last while.  They are smart enough to know I don't live at the school (even though some days that seems to be the only place I find myself at).  I don't blame them for their curiosity though.  I mean I spend a lot of time with them.  I always was excited to see or hear about my teachers outside of school life.  I remember when my elementary school music teacher was on my parents' baseball team.  It was like heaven coming to earth.  Coolest thing ever in the eyes of a six year old.  Wouldn't my students want to inquire into the mysterious life of their teacher just a little bit? I mean, they are at an IB school after all.

Here are some prodding interrogating scenes from my life as a primary teacher:

The Classic:  "How old are you?"
I have managed to keep this one a secret and intend to keep it that way.  They have tried to ask me what year I was born but they are smart enough to calculate that out now.  Guesses range from ages 16 to 38.  My partner teacher was not so lucky on this one.  One teacher let it slip in front of some students and by lunchtime all the kids had it stamped into their brains.  She received  a lovely card reminding her of her age on her birthday in big bright numbers!

"Do you live in a house or in a hotel?"

"Are you married?"
Now imagine getting asked this question while in the middle of leading a whole school assembly by yourself, with parents present.  THAT HAPPENED!

"But I thought you were a mom?"
Me:  "Where on earth did you get that absurd idea from?"
Student:  "You showed us pictures of your son."
Me:  (pause) "Oh, you mean my sponsor child."
Student:  "What is a sponsor child?"
Me:  "It's where I give donations to a child in another country who needs some help to live.  So I guess he is kind of like my son.  I see what you mean now."
Student: "But he came from your tummy right?"
Me: (face palm)

So this might be hilarious and all but it does give us a bit of a lesson, doesn't it?  Clearly my students are watching my every move.  It reminded me of a professor I had in University.  She once asked our class what we thought her religion was.  After an uncomfortable silence, my classmates began to shout out "Buddhist", "humanist", and "Atheist" among other things.   A shock to some, the woman shared with us that she was a Christian.  No one guessed that.  This got me thinking what would happen if I were to ask this question to anyone I knew.  Would they confidently be able to tell me that they knew I was a Christian?  Is it easy to see through my actions and words, that I live a life that reflects the very essence of Jesus and His ministry on Earth?  I wonder if there is a huge question mark when it comes to how I live my life.  I would be devastated to think that no one outside of the church knew what I believed.  It would be as if I was missing the whole point all along.  To follow Jesus is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Jesus. (Micah 6:8).  It is to freely forgive one another and offer grace and mercy where you might think it shouldn't ever be given. (Ephesians 4:32) It is to turn the other cheek when you are being persecuted for what you believe in (Luke 6:29).  It is to step away from the things of this world and draw close to those things that are good, perfect and acceptable (Romans 12:2).  It is to live in utter surrender to a God that is both an almighty protector and a gentle compassionate friend  (Deuteronomy 33:27).  It is to not partake in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them and be a lamp that shines Light into those dark places (Ephesians 5:11 & Luke 8:16).  A life of following Jesus should not be a mystery and that's my application for you.

Peace & love