Art & Prayer Requests

Here's a peak into the second half of an art lesson in G1.1

The first step was to draw a picture on the black paper using liquid glue. The fun part was coloring inside the hardened glue lines with chalk!

The weeks have been flying by over here, which is why I've been a little absent on the blog. I also keep a classroom blog that I try to update for the parents, so that keeps me busy. I love it when I post a blog for them, and then I can copy it to share with you (like this one!).

But, Chris and I also have some prayer requests we'd like to share. . .

1. Our student groups have started up again for the year - Manturdays and GSG (girl's small group). As we build off last year, and also "start-over" we would like prayer for direction and meaningful times with the students. As I'm writing this, there are 10 rowdy boys in our living room still hanging out an hour after finishing. I love it. I went out to the living room after they were done, but have since retreated to our bedroom for fresher air :)  I had five girls over last night and we sat around our carpet and talked for two hours. Their conversations went from wearing make-up for the first time, to friendship troubles at school, to the pressures to diet and look "perfect". There are so many factors that make growing up harder now than it was for me in high school, and I've realized that being in Asia doesn't help. One of the girls shared that her dad tells her she's fat and needs to lose weight, and has also said that she should "play-up" that she has bigger boobs than the other girls. . . so she can get a husband. AHHH! If only some of these parents knew how they were affecting their kids! After she told me that, I tried to comfort her by saying that I'm sure he loves her so much and probably just wants what's best for her, but that he's misguided in the way he's trying to show/tell her that. It's hard to tread in that area. I don't want to disrespect their parents, but I feel like saying "your dad is an idiot, don't listen to him!" I refrained. So, your prayers for these groups in general or as specifically as you like, would be much appreciated.

2. Chris and I started our master's program a few weeks ago. Neither of us are jumping at the thought of it right now, and are really just starting it in order to keep our Oregon teaching licenses up to date. It's frustrating to be held to Oregon's standards when we aren't there, but are definitely getting experience and going through just as rigorous of trainings here that would count for keeping our licenses if we were in Oregon. We're only taking two classes, so it's not an impossible task, just nos something we're thrilled about adding to our plates. Please pray for good attitudes (especially for me - I'm SO over being a student), and that we can be good managers of our time with this extra commitment added in.