March 2018 Summary

Elementary Chapel: "Strengthening Friendships"

It was my privilege to be  Elementary Chapel speaker on March 8. My theme verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Encourage one another and build each other up." 

 

  

Having left the majority of my creative ministries resources in the U.S. this time, I was thrilled to find online the "Nose to Dog - Faithfulness" carton art lesson from the book "Dewey's Gospel Cartoon Chalk Talks" that I have in storage. Children dramatized "The Lion and the Mouse" with puppets to illustrate Matthew 7:12 - "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" and "The Tortoise and the Hare" demonstrated 

Ecclesiastes 7: 8 - Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.  My little friend "Dorothy" joined me in sharing the puppet skit, "Let Your Light Shine" based on Matthew 5:16 to emphasize letting the love of God shine through us in all that we do and say including with friends. 

The thank you letters with hand drawn pictures from Miss Winslow's first grade were delightful and much appreciated.

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 Women's Retreat 

On March 24th, Karen Lynip (front row, far right) spoke powerfully to this group on the topic "Come to the Wilderness Table."  Illness threatened Karen and Steve's several week return to the Philippines, but we are grateful they pushed on and for Karen's anointed words that spoke to various ladies in different ways.  There was a precious time of personal sharing and prayer afterward Karen's presentation.

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65 Years Young!

 A lovely tradition other staff and I have experienced at Faith International Academy is receiving a dozen red roses and some chocolates on our birthday (member care). My birthday was on the first evening of Easter break, but I appreciate these friends (including my housemate Naomi) taking the time to celebrate with me at dinner, complete with a "Happy Birthday" song. They sounded good!

 My Facebook post: "Wow! THANK YOU for EACH and EVERY birthday greeting! From across many seasons of my life, from four continents, multiple generations and nationalities of friends, family, former students… your greetings make my birthday week very special. I am deeply BLESSED."


Blasts from the past  arrived  via Facebook, Messenger, email, and LinkedIn.  Many came from the U.S., Cameroon, and the Philippines, but one even from a short-term student in Cameroon, now back in Poland. Facebook, especially, makes the world smaller and the years past seem closer to us. My heart was warmed and lifted. THANK YOU!

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The Whole30 Day by Day: Your Daily Guide to Whole 30 Success. Melissa Hartwig. 2017.  This is a daily handbook to keep you motivated, inspired, accountable, and engaged during your Whole30 journey. Hartwig coaches you one day at a time - sharing a timeline, personal motivation, community inspiration, habit hacks, meal tips, with clear guidance for self-reflection, food journaling, and tracking non-scale victories. She helps you plan for the introduction phase. 
          This  book was part of my new journey Whole30 elimination diet  (much free info & recipes online) that removes dairy, all grains, legumes, and sugar for thirty days...then reintroduces one food group at a time and waits several days to see how the body reacts. I am in the reintroduction phase now.
           PTL - I have lost a little over ten pounds! (My goal is 25 more). I have more energy, less inflammation and less brain fog. My housemate is on a modified version of the Whole30 with gluten-free foods for life because of her lupus and it is a blessing to do much shopping and cooking together. 

Refusing to Quit: True Stories of Women Over. Dr. Joyce Knudson. 2016. Redefine your retirement. These women have. Here are twenty inspiring examples of the power, perseverance and tenacity of women over sixty.


This is an inspiring read as I seek God's guidance for ministry and service with my own official retirement planned for summer 2019.  Currently I am reading biographies of children's authors from our school library. Especially inspiring to me was the one about prolific writer Beverly Cleary who was also a children's librarian and is now 101 years old. I strongly feeling God nudging me to prepare to take writing off the back burner. It was been a few decades since I've had anything published...a long time dream has been to write character building children's books that incorporate Biblical principles -  for use in public schools and public libraries. I am thankful for all the children's literature that already has strong moral messages which can be easily connected to scriptures for use in Christian education and children's ministry...and want to add to it.

February 2018 Summary

Teachable Moments

During a library skills session of "Dewey Charades" to review the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal Subject Classification system for nonfiction books, one fourth grader dramatized something in sign language for the 400's - Languages. I took it to another level by teaching the whole class to sign the song "Jesus Loves Me." We at Faith International Academy are to integrate Bible into our curriculum. The majority of these students are children of missionaries involved in various kinds of ministry. It was a joy to train them to assist their parents. 

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Around Faith International Academy Library...

FIA  Grandma Gracie after Quilt Story
After Kindergarten Literature Enrichment session related to their language arts story of the week, Abuela, my Grandma Gracie puppet gives high-fives to students outside the library. Inside I had shared a favorite story used in Cameroon and Florida libraries, "Grandmother’s Aprons," with colorful felt squares on a makeshift flannel board. If interested, see https://tickletheclouds.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/grandmothers-aprons-flannelboard/.

Middle Schoolers

A part of my service at Faith International Academy is checking out books to middle school students on Fridays.

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Friends, Food, and Fellowship 
So enjoyable to fellowship with friends and get acquainted with other persons serving in or supporting Bible translation. Jacqueline Huggins (2nd from left) and her assistant Melanie (center) were in Davao from Palawan for a workshop. 

Jacqueline shared her testimony during high school chapel, a shortened version of what she shared at Urbana 96 posted at https://vimeo.com/84328661. Inspiring! I love her easy-going boldness in sharing her faith.

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Golden Apples for Golden-Agers: Devotionals Written by and for Seniors

by Leroy Brightup and Eva M. Brightup.  This book shares what old age is like from those who have experienced it firsthand as Christian writers reflect on finding spiritual meaning in their golden years. Christian seniors reveal their experiences and feelings and how they cope with aging. Each devotional includes a Bible passage, an inspirational reading, a related song, and prayer.

I am finding this book encouraging  and I want to get back in mindset again of writing devotionals. It's been several decades since I have written and had devotionals published. This is on my projected list after full retirement next year.

January 2018 Summary

Happy New Year!

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Prayer and Fasting Week

A period of prayer and fasting is a wonderful way to start any new year...something I've done many times over the years with various churches. Usually I do some variation of the "Daniel Fast." 

This January I chose the first option presented above by our pastor at Christ Fellowship Church in Davao City, Philippines  -  NO MEAT. NO JUNKFOOD. I was already working on no gluten, sugar, or dairy to deal with inflammation. All of this took some creative thinking.

There were evening intercession prayer meetings Monday-Friday and we each received an interactive "Prayer and Devotional Guide" with many scriptures to read and reflect on. This was such an enriching week of scripture study, prayer and group intercession.

LEARNING TO RECOGNIZE GOD'S VOICE:

KEY 1: IS IT CONSISTENT WITH THE BIBLE?

KEY 2: DOES IT MAKE ME MORE LIKE JESUS?

KEY 3: DOES IT CHALLENGE ME TO BECOME STRONGER IN FAITH?

KEY 4: DOES MY CHURCH FAMILY CONFIRM IT?

KEY 5: DOES IT CALL FOR COURAGE?

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Videotaping Book Trailers (Commercials)

A special library project at Faith International Academy with grades three, four, and five was guiding small groups of students to create a trailer or commercial to encourage other students to read a particular book. Some students used my puppets, others included special props such a live puppy, two live rabbits, gummy worms, or stuffed animals.Videotaping was completed in January. The high school yearbook staff will compile the book trailers into a video to be shared with the Elementary School.

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Cat Puppet Arrives in January

I missed having a cat puppet assist with multiple stories, but not any more.  I so appreciate various friends offering to transport items (some needed-library supplies and lightweight compression socks; some items were desired like this feline) in their luggage.

 After this first grade class enjoyed Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, Becky volunteered to demonstrate the proper way to pet a cat - from neck on back...Dewey in the book based on a true story liked to be petted.

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Weekend  House  Guests

  

It was great to have my friend and former assistant library branch manager, Evelyn Nofuente, plus her sister, brother, and sister-in-law visit me the second weekend of January. Of course I gave them a brief tour of Faith International Academy (FIA) and the elementary school-middle school library where I spend most of my time at FIA. We visited People's Park that had been recommended to me many times, but I had not slowed down to enjoy my surroundings much. We also visited San Pedro Cathedral, a mall, several restaurants, and had a relaxed breakfast at my home Sunday morning before church. I enjoyed meeting Evelyn's family and catching up on her life and many mutual library friends.

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Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.  Francis Chan. As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit--the Helper--so that we could be true and living witnesses to Christ. Chan gets at the true source of the church's power--the Holy Spirit. He contends that we've ignored the Spirit far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Through scriptural support and compelling narrative form Chan's invitation to stop and remember the One we've forgotten, the Spirit of the living God.

This is the current study book for the Redman Life Group with Newark Naz in Ohio. It was my privilege to be part of this group while staying with a sister during my furlough and cancer journey. I thank God that they are prayer and financial partners in my Philippine service as an educational missionary supporting Bible translation and other ministries. In this pic I hold a photo of the group made into a Christmas card, several cards from individuals, and wear an OSU scarf they sent in a care package. I enjoy staying on the group's email and Facebook list and try to read/listen to books the group studies on my Kindle. This is one of my favorites.

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How to Build Self Discipline to Exercise: Practical Techniques to Develop a Lifetime Habit of Exercise. Martin Meadows.

This is a concise, practical guidebook on how to introduce and keep exercise in your life. It includes how to overcome procrastination; how to find time despite a hectic schedule; practical tips and tips to stay motivated forever even when you encounter obstacles; how to prevent injuries, improve recovery, and handle the inevitable soreness, how to enjoy exercise while still getting the out of it...and more. The audiobook version is practical for handy review and encouragement after stopping exercise to recover from respiratory infections, or whenever.