Matko

This year we had a boy in first grade named Matko. Matko was a very special boy and stood out from day one, when he returned the pencil that the principal had given him during the opening ceremony for the school year. We all laughed about it later saying, "He looks like trouble." Little did we know.
Matko's issues when way beyond that of a normal child. In fact, none of us had ever encountered a child quite like him. No diagnosis quite seemed to fit - not ADD, ADHD, autism or anything else I am aware of. He was literally uncontrolable and it only got worse. Slowly but surely, he would be removed from lessons, and asked not to come back until finally, he spent his whole day out of his classroom, with teachers who had a free lesson. During the times he should have been in English lessons (5 hours a week) he would be with me.
Matko had free reign of the school (or so he thought) and you would often see teachers chasing him down the stairs and through the hallways, including me. Sometimes I could get him to work but many times it was just a struggle to keep him in the room. The farther in the year we got, the more of a struggle it became. And then, he started turning on the teachers, especially the Christian teachers. HIs comments were strange for a six year old to be making (much too mature) and were hateful. He would tell his religion teacher that the Bible was lies and that she was teaching lies.
Throughout the year, Matko had been on my prayer list. And as the year went on, he became a normal part of it, almost as if he was there. We all just knew we had to pray for him, without being asked. Then in May, things escalated and his behavior got so bad that there were only a few teachers who could (or were willing) to be with him. Some of the English teachers got together for an evening of cooking and fun and started discussing Matko. We all felt like we needed to do some serious praying for him. Not just our normal prayers but a day. So we decided to do a day of prayer and fasting for Matko. There were 8 or 9 teachers who participated and we also asked some of our friends and families to pray with us.
The change in Matko was amazing. Almost overnight he changed. He was still an overactive crazy kid, but his lashing out at teachers stopped, as did his hatred of all things Christian. In fact, he asked his religion teacher if she could pray for his mom and dad and later he asked her to pray for his cousin. There was a real change in him.
Now, Matko will not be at our school this year, as his problems are real, and he will be going to a school designed to work with kids with behavioral issues. This makes me a little sad, as I would love to see what else happens in his life. But I will continue to pray for Matko and trust God, knowing that he has a plan for this little boy and that he loves him so, so much.

End of Winter in Narnia

So, one of the things that I have been praying for (individually and also with a group of Narnia teachers) is for our vice-principal, Dasa. Working with her over the last four years has been difficult to say the least. She is moody, unpredictable and hard to please. The first two years were not so bad as I didn't have much contact with her, but after I started to head up the English department, I had to spend a lot more time with her and life became more difficult. I always tell people that Narnia is not a Christian school, but a school started by a church - a church school. This means that students, teachers and even administration are not Christians. One reason for teachers and administrators not being Christian, is that we are striving to stand out as an excellent school that provides one of the best (if not the best) elementary education in Bratislava. And so to do that, we hire the best teachers we can, who don't always happen to be Christian. And to be fair, I would say that at least sixty percent of our staff is, but not all. Now with administration, this has always bothered me, because it means that the leaders of our school are not all on the same page, or even the same book. With Dasa, I think she belongs to a different library even. It seemed that the longer she was there, the more her goal became to take over the school. She seemed to be the White Witch of our Narnia, bringing the cold winds of winter with her. Teachers formed groups, those with the White Witch and those opposed. The bitter cold of winter seemed to much to bear and I really didn't know what to do. So, I prayed. Constantly and consistently. Our Monday prayer meetings, I always mentioned Dasa by name, although often not more than, "Pray for Dasa." I really didn't know what to pray.
As summer vacation loomed and temperatures outside increased, inside Narnia, it was the coldest winter ever. Dasa seemed intent on taking over as the principal or destroying our school. And at times it seemed like it might work. But, amazingly enough, the White Witch was dethroned, relieved of her position and sent away from Narnia for good. The battle was not easy, and many were the wounds and scars inflicted on our Narnia. The White Witch fought bitterly to the end, telling lies to all she could, teachers and even parents. Many sided with her and we lost several teachers over it. But, God is good and merciful and summer has again returned to Narnia.
We started this year with four new administrators, two of whom are strong believers (which means that four of the six are believers now, compared to three last year). The new teachers we have hired and the ones who have stayed, seem to be forming strong bonds as colleagues and friends.
In all my prayers last year, I never thought that God would answer my prayers this way. I had hoped that Dasa would soften, that she would be more agreeable, easier to work with, but I never thought that God's way would be just to remover her, and those who stood with her. God is so faithful in answering our prayers in ways we can't even imagine - bringing summer to Narnia.

Antic-dotes from Prvy Stupen

So, this last week, I have had the opportunity to teach elementary school again. I was able to teach about 15 hours with our 1st and 3rd graders. (Side-note: This year I am teaching all middle school, and while I like the challenge of it and the ability to speak normally, I have missed being with the little guys). On Thursday, two funny things happened.

Third graders are studying about volcanoes. They have been learning vocabulary about them, reading stories, and even making their own paper-mache volcanoes. On Thursday, we had a little quiz about volcanoes that they did in groups. We made it into a fun race/game. Each question was multiple choice and had one silly answer along with the right answer and a false answer. One of the questions was, "What is magma called when it erupts out of the volcano?" The answer is lava. But, when we were reading them over and seeing who had the right answer, I said the was A) Joseph. One group of students, instead of laughing at how silly I was, just looked at their papers again. Then one little boy turned to his partner and said, "I told you we should have picked Joseph." Whoops! So, easy to forget that humor is so much harder in a foreign language.

First graders are learning their first clothing words: t-shirt, trousers, skirt, jumper, shoes and socks. They are also learning the prepositions of place: in, on and under. So, I asked a volunteer to come to the front and said, "I need your shoe." Then I placed the shoe on the chair, under the chair and in the box, and we practiced saying, "Ema's shoe is on the chair." With the next volunteer I asked for their jumper (jacket) and repeated the same thing. Then, I asked the next boy for his t-shirt. His eyes got really big and he shook his head while clamping his arms close to his sides. I then pulled out a huge t-shirt and said, "Adam, is this your t-shirt?" To which we all laughed, before continuing putting the t-shirt under the chair. Last I called up Sara, and said, "Sara, I need your trousers." Without a moments hesitation, she started to unbutton her trousers! Whoops again, as I pulled out the pair of trousers I had ready for our little game and stopped her from going any farther. Oh, kids!

Teaching Teachers

Every year, our English department offers to teach English lessons to teachers who would like to learn. It is not a part of our duties, but is a way for us to minister to and build relationships with our Slovak colleagues. I try to encourage new teachers to be a part of this ministry as it is a great way to feel connected and involved.

This year, we had an overwhelming number of teachers ask for lessons. And due to circumstances, I found that I was the teacher who could teach most of them. At first, I wasn't too pleased as it added an extra 3 or 4 hours to my already full week and I wanted to encourage the new teachers to build relationships. But I have learned that God's plans are bigger and better. Teaching teachers is the highlight of my week. It has opened up topics of conversations that I would never have had otherwise. I have been able to share my faith as well as sharing teaching ideas and strategies. Friendships have been formed through shared laughter and learning. It is amazing to see these teachers struggling to speak, understand and improve their English. And it is humbling to see how something native and simple for me is worth struggling for.

In January, we went out for Sushi, a not so common food choice here, as it came up in one of our lessons. The teachers all spoke in English as we tried to figure out what to order and shared everything that we did order. We are planning to go out for pizza this month. Please pray with me that God will provide opportunities for sharing my faith as well as my native tongue with these wonderful women.

Teachers I teach - Petra, Katka, Dana, Dominika, Dasa, Miska, Valeria and Milina

Modlit sa Mondays

One of the most amazing things about the English department at Narnia is that the majority of the teachers are Christians. Strong, Christ-following women who want to serve God by serving the children of Slovakia. Wonderful women I am proud to call my friends, colleagues and fellow soldiers. And we have felt like soldiers this year. The persecution and attacks from the enemy came strong and fast at the beginning of the year. I came home several times and would ask my roommates to pray with me about one situation or another. And then, God poked me. With all these amazing women, why aren't we praying together.

And so, I mentioned one Monday, that I would like to invite anyone who wanted to come, to join me after school and pray. I committed to being there every Monday, even if I was praying by myself. And each week, teachers have come. We don't spend a long time, but we pray.

One of our colleagues, who I am unsure if she has a relationship with Christ, although she regularly attends church, comes to our prayer meetings. She doesn't say much or pray aloud, but she comes faithfully. I am hopeful that she sees in us, something different, something new, something she wants.

The lady who cleans our school. Last year, I was regularly berated in Slovak for any windows left open in my department, for trash on the floor and chairs not put up on desks. I felt that she hated me and I cringed every time I saw her coming near. In our second month of praying together, I invited her to join us, as I know she is a powerful prayer warrior. She came. And now she is holding us accountable to pray on Mondays. She prays passionately. She prays constantly. And she has changed towards me. She now greats me with smiles and hugs. We converse all in Slovak, but her patience with my fumblings has soared. It is a beautiful thing to be a part of on Mondays as prayers are said in Slovak and English. No translation required.

My Girls

In my 6th grade class, there are 15 boys and 9 girls. The boys are loud, wild, crazy, fun-loving and did I mention, LOUD. There presence alone demands that everyone pay attention to them. They always have a comment to make, a cause to fight for or an action to defend. The girls are not quiet, sweet and timid, they are just overshadowed by the boys. While they are twelve and thirteen, they are not that into all that "girly" stuff. They have discovered makeup, but not short skirts, heels and revealing shirts. I often feel unsure of how to reach them, how to connect. But recently we had a break-through. Somehow, we started talking about having a special "girls time" and next thing I knew, I was hosting a girls sleepover at my house. We had a blast. There was pizza and karaoke, games and movies, massages and snacks, sleeping bags and sleepy faces. In the morning, we topped it all off with pancakes and frisbee. To me, it seemed like this would just be a good time of bonding and connecting with my girls. Little did I know that it would lead to so much more.

All students have a course called "občianska náuka." As best as I can translate it, it is Civics or Ethics. I got roped into teaching it and have struggled with finding subjects and good material. Until the sleepover. Then came the fabulous idea to divide the class into groups by gender for a month or so. So now, each Thursday, I meet with the 9 girls from our class.

Because we are divided by gender, it gives me a chance to open up and talk about sensitive issues. We started out simply talking about things such as hair care and proper dental hygiene. We are moving into more embarrassing topics such as how our bodies develop and change. And while some have laughingly asked to go and join the boys, they are listening, asking good questions and participating, even though it is uncomfortable.

My goal is to open up some more difficult topics in the future, such as eating disorders (a huge problem here in Slovakia), sexual purity and self image. Please pray with me that the girls would have open hearts and ears and that I would have the right words to say.

My girls - Ema Z, Ema R, Martina, Justi, Tina, Dorota, Lucia, Ronja and Zuzana

An Unwritten Life

An Unwritten Life.

A phrase I am borrowing from a movie. In it, the character asks to be released from his brother's plans and dreams for his life. To be released from the script that he feels he is constantly living in, trying to live up to someone else's ideals. To have an unwritten life.

Now as an adventurer, traveler, full of wander-lust, this feels like the perfect phrase for me. I want to be released from the expectations of others. Not tied down to a place or a job or a cause. To be free to live in the moment. Unwritten.

But as a Christian, Christ-follower and go-er into the world, I wonder if this can be. God clearly states in his word that "I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," and "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." So, how can I long for this unwritten life deep within my soul, and still know that God knows all my days. Faith, hope and love. My mantra, my motto for life. Faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen - or in my case, unwritten. Hope, that the God who knows me better than anyone can know the desire of my heart and fulfill it. Love for the life I have and willingness to trust that whatever God has planned, written for my life, is because he loves me best.

I am not sure how clear this all is... but these are my thoughts. Written.