Man of Peace

During both weeks in Canada the concept of finding a man of peace was brought up. It was mentioned in Calgary and studied in Vancouver. I know that I prayed it over several communities near the churches we were working with. The awesome part of the whole concept is that I prayed it over the 8th grade hall and Lincolnton Middle School today as I explored my classroom.

Here's what I learned about men of peace. You can find them is Luke 10. Jesus sends out 72 of His disciples to basically be church planters in the neighborhoods where they live or travel. The first thing He tells them to do when they arrive in a new place is to find a man of peace. "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house." - Luke 10:5-7. The chapter continues on to tell you how to evangelize the community. It's really an awesome passage if you get the chance to study it sometime. You can also find a similar passage in Matthew 10. It's also what we were doing in Canada for the past two weeks.

I prayed today to find a "man of peace" at my new school this year. God has blessed me thus far in my career with good Christian colleagues and principals at times too. I prayed for God to open doors for me to build relationships with Christians already in the school and to be a good witness to both students and teachers a like. I am excited to be a part of the Lincolnton Middle School family and I look forward to getting started there (just not quite yet - still recovering from Canada). There is some of the Biblical base for what we did in Canada. I'll share more details later.

Vancouver Team

Here are a few pictures I've found from Vancouver. They can be found on the PowerPlant website. If you search hard enough you'll find where these are located. We were the only team in Vancouver this summer and the dates match up as well. The picture in the middle is obviously the Mt. View Team. The picture on the left is us girls moving into our homes for the week. That's me at the back of the procession with my body bag of clean clothes from Calgary. We were upstairs and had a grand adventure carrying our luggage up these stairs. The picture to the right is the pimpin' Explorer I was privileged to drive all week long. Yes, we had fun with the sun roof, especially since we had to drive through a tunnel each day on the way to our site. This car is probably worth more than I make in two years of teaching but it was SWEET to drive this week. Thank God that it handles U-turns pretty well because we did A LOT of them. Ronnie was upset because he got a "soccer Mom" van to drive for the week. I offered the Explorer to him but he wouldn't take it. There were moments last week when I contemplated sleeping in the car because it would've been more comfortable than sleeping in our rooms. We had 8 girls and one small bathroom. Four girls in each of two rooms with the washroom in the middle. We made do for the week and were not in our rooms very much anyways. I have been very glad for my bed the past few nights though. As more pictures are sent to me or found on the Internet I'll try to post them or link them so you can see them yourselves.

Finally home

I just wanted to put a quick post up to say that I am home...unfortunately at this time 9 members of my team are not home. I arrived with five other members of the team at Raleigh-Durham Airport at 11:30 PM. We waited an hour and a half for our luggage. I laid down in my bed finally at 4:30 AM. Saturday started at 2:45 AM (Pacific Standard Time). We came home via Toronto and almost had to spend the night there to arrive home at 6:00 PM today. The rest of the team almost had to stay in Vancouver until Tuesday! They caught a flight to San Francisco last night but didn't get on the red-eye into Charlotte. They are currently in the air now (2:30 PM) and should touch down in Charlotte at 5:30 or so. I'm exhausted and I have a "body bag" full of laundry to do. I will try to summarize Canada in a few posts this week once my brain catches up to my body. A few things I learned through this journey home:

1. Don't fly United
2. Don't attempt to fly through Chicago because apparently even in the middle of July they cancel flights because of bad weather (even the 6:00 AM flights)
3. Standing at a airline ticket counter for HOURS will eventually get you home (you don't even have to be nice for the entire time - just a majority of it)
4. Parents sitting at home waiting for their kids to get home are NOT helping when they call every five minutes because they found some other flight on the internet!
5. Sitting/sleeping/standing in the various parts of the airport is permissable and the teens from Mt. View Baptist Church turned it into an art form yesterday. My group did it three different airports and Jason's group did it in two (but for longer periods of time)

One of the biggest things I've learned in the past two weeks is how awesome being in a constant state of prayer is. It's nice to "Pray without ceasing" and to have most of the thoughts in your head directed to the One with all the answers. Even when my head finally hit the pillow my thoughts were going to the Father - thanking Him for my bed and praying for the rest of my "family" to find some rest in San Francisco while they waited for their flight today. I woke up praying for them too. I look forward to telling you more about Canada in the near future.

Quick Update from Cochrane

I just wanted to say Hi from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada! I've got a few minutes this morning so I wanted to let you know I'm alive. Crazily enough, I've had two phone calls from principals this week that need middle school math teachers. I've had to politely but firmly turn them down. I am in full coach mode during T-ball camp here. We are working with 3-7 year olds and I'm loving it. I have all the girls in the camp in my group and they are doing GREAT! Coach Bo, who has very little voice, has been impressed with my coaching abilities (yes, Bo is about my age and available). We played a game girls against boys at the end of camp yesterday and had an absolute blast. These poor kids don't know where to go or what to do but it's amazing how much they've learned in the past two days. We taught them how to hold a bat and to hit on Monday. Yesterday was the throwing and catching day. The coaches all had to paint our noses blue so the kids would have a target to aim at. I went all out. My girls' team goes by the name of Wildcats, even though some of our members wanted to be the cheetahs or the horsies. Well I've got to go get ready for this day. Thanks to those of you who have been faithfully praying. God is moving through Canada and allowing us to be a part of that work these next two weeks.

Shortcuts to all you need to know

Here are several links to stay up-to-date on what we're doing:

Mt. View Baptist Church Webpage - see the Youth Alive Page in column on the left, click either Calgary or Vancouver Mission Pages - depending on which week it is

Southwinds Church - the church plant we're working with in Calgary

Power Plant - the organization we're working with in Vancouver, to the left there is a button for Daily Project Updates, I assume this will be updated daily once the project begins

Well I better head to bed. We leave for the airport around 9:00 and fly out around 12:30. Pray for us whenever you read this because I'm sure we'll need it. Thanks ahead of time for the prayers!

Slightly overwhelmed...

The time is drawing near for my departure to Canada. I thought I was going to have a pretty relaxing week, but each day has filled up with this, that and the other. I've had some good people time. I've had some good productive time. I've been busy most of the time but I've still got a pretty good sized list to complete by tomorrow. The packing is happening in phases...as I think of something to pack it gets thrown in my extra bedroom to be packed tomorrow. All of this activity makes me want to crawl in my hole and not come out. I'm just tired right now.

We spent several hours this morning getting ready for our Hickory Community Missions that takes place seven days after our return from Canada. We've been brainstorming for months but we finally got our "think tank" together to hash out details. I believe the mental work-out is what has worn me out. I haven't used my brain that much in weeks. Then I had to quickly transition from that to plans for Canada. I decided to go to Poolside tonight and had a long (and somewhat tough) conversation with a 13 year old. I love this girl to death and the issue we discussed is one that is "normal" for girls of that age, but that doesn't make it any easier.

I have to say the high point of the entire day was my Silas moment. He was doing his usual flirting with all the girls and clinging to his daddy (like he knows that daddy is going away soon). I was standing behind him talking to someone. He peeked over his daddy's shoulder and "checked" me out. Something connected in his little head that he did know me (we have a special relationship that goes back to our big road trip last summer). He started waving at me until I looked over at him. Then he gave me the cutest Silas grin and just kept waving. I think I'm still in love with that little man. He always seems to find me at some point at a youth event and give me that little grin that makes me melt on the inside. Well I'm off to accomplish something or maybe I should just go to bed early tonight. I've got a busy day tomorrow so the extra sleep won't hurt. I'd love to talk to you before I leave so please call at some point if you get a chance.

Big Plans

I have had a good day so far today and it's not even 10:00 yet! I slept great last night after a wonderful conversation with a good friend very late. I talked to several good friends over the phone last night. I finished a very good book this morning. I received a phone call from my new principal and am going to be teaching 8th grade this year! That's exciting and scary at the same time, but basically I get to be an algebra teacher (which I've wanted to do since I started in high school). I am heading to the good old Asheville today. One of my favorite places there is the Arboretum. I've had many good times there, but sadly they started charging to park there a few years back. I woke up this morning with the thought that I wanted to go to the Arboretum while I was up there this afternoon/evening. I don't have any extra money right now so I put the thought out of my head. Then I remembered that there was one day a week where you can park for free. Praise Jesus that day is Tuesdays!!! So I'm going to putter around my house some (and work on my secret project) and then I'm heading to spend some God time at the Arboretum. After that, it's off to dinner with two old friends to celebrate our freedom from the state of North Carolina (we've all fulfilled our NC Teaching Fellows commitments!). I'm off to work...feel free to call...

Burn or Keep

Today I am wearing one of my most comfortable shirts. The problem is that it hurts me to wear this shirt. I have debated throwing it out a few times, but something in me always prevents me from doing it. Now that I'm typing about it, another shirt has just come to mind that hurts me more to wear. I've only worn that shirt once but it is most definitely not going to ever be burned or taken away. Sadly enough (the phrase of the week) I have a drawer full of shirts like the one on my back. When you coach middle school sports you end up with quite a few t-shirts. This one in particular is older but one of my favorites. The memories that are associated with this shirt are bittersweet, but a big part of who I am today. It reminds me of my roots in this chosen profession. Like all trees, they sometimes have to be trimmed back or replanted. It hurt to be uprooted but my new soil gave me the strength to not abandon my tree altogether. Now I am looking at new soil yet again. This new soil seems a little rocky but I think I can carry some good nutrients from my previous soil into this new ground. No matter where I'm planted for the rest of my career I'll always carry a little of the soil from each place in me. That is why I can't burn or get rid of these shirts. They represent that soil and many more good times than bad were had at that particular place. So I will continue to wear my shirts, with not so much pride as before, but with comfort that I did good things there. Hopefully somebody is wearing this shirt themselves on occasion and will remember how much I care about them and would give them the shirt off my back if only they would ask.

Calgary Planning

I am spending my evening planning some options of how to fill our free day in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am excited to be returning there this summer. I am currently examining the transit maps to determine how we can get around town without having to drive through downtown (especially since the Calgary Stampede is wrapping up that weekend). I believe we are going to spend some of our free time in the beautiful town of Banff. We missed it last year but are a little more free with our time on this Saturday. Everyone says that if we are this close, then we definitely need to go. So far, I'm not sure what the big deal is except that it's very pretty. It's more of an outdoorsy kind of town with lots of hiking and such. I'm sure Brent and Melissa would love it there! Did you know that there is a Lake Louise in Banff?

I did a little research about the church we are going to be working with in Calgary this year (both the "big" church and the church plant). Here's their websites:
Trinity Baptist Church (yes, they are related to Henry Blackaby)
Southwinds Church (we're running the t-ball camp and helping with the block party on July 15th)
Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary (where we'll be staying for the week)

This morning we had a "big" meeting about last minute details. We discussed passports and what to do if the three or four still do not arrive. Luckily, we have a connection in Washington DC, but there is still quite a bit of prayer going into this one. I realize there are ways around this for this summer, but it would be a lot simpler for everyone to have their passports. Our longest discussion probably involved the size of our suitcases. We have youth issued duffel bags that are available to us, but some of the "newbies" feel they need to cram their suitcases full of stuff. Now granted some of us will be in Canada for two weeks, but we will do laundry and the duffel bags are more than sufficient in size. One year we managed to zip one of the smaller youth into the bag! The final say is you can bring whatever you need but you have to be the one to carry/roll/drag/haul it! Then came the discussion of carry-ons. I can't imagine what some of these kids are bringing for all their questions. We're going to a country that has most of the same luxuries we have here. We may not find Walmart but I'm sure that Canada will have it's own version of the store. Well I better get back to my planning. I have to discover a grocery store close to where we are staying and how to get there because Lord knows that Jason would get lost in his own house without Krista and the kids!

It was a glasses day

Most of you know that days that I where my glasses all day are days that are one of these three options:

1. I'm super tired

2. I'm angry/upset/stressed

3. I'm sick

My students always knew that if I came in with my glasses on then they needed to be on their best behaviour or face the wrath of Ms. Procita. Well I believe I can add a number four to the list. Since I began wearing my new contacts that stay in all the time, I haven't had a glasses day in quite awhile. I have to take them out once a week to give my eyes a rest or so says my wonderful optometrist. My number four on the list would be pure laziness. I opened my eyes and grabbed one of my books this morning, spent quite some time playing video games and almost had myself convinced I wouldn't even have to leave the house today. By the time I did join the land of the living, there was no good reason to put contacts in for the day. Sadly enough though, my glasses are not the correct prescription and I do have a headache from wearing them all day. I guess that would fall under option #3. I'm going to get new glasses as soon as the next pay check comes in, but until then I just don't plan on having another glasses day.

Just so you know, I did leave the house briefly and confirmed my love of all things book related. You know what I mean when you can pass an hour in Barnes and Noble without even realzing it or spend thirty minutes just browsing the kids' section of the public library. I honestly think I got my new library card so I can stay up-to-date on some of the series of books my kids have gotten me addicted to over the years. I currently have two books calling to me so I must go answer the call of one of them before they wake the neighbors.

Big word post

Do you ever wonder if life is just passing you by? I had way too many hours in the car today and precious few cell phone minutes to occupy the time. That henceforth led to much thinking and processing of things that probably don't need to be brought into my consciousness. I did manage to distract myself for an extended period of time with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as well as The Horse and His Boy. Both very good C.S. Lewis books on CD. I think my favorite part is that it's narrated by C.S. Lewis' step-son, who always gives some anecdote about the book before it begins. I've learned a few interesting things. I really think some of this over-thinking is due to the fact that too much has changed or is changing. Any time I try to sort out my emotions and reactions to it all, I get distracted by something (by force or by choice) before I reach a conclusion. Much to the chagrin of my closest companions, I am not much of a verbal processor. I'm also bad at giving myself time to process everything. Plus, the blood tests say I'm all out of whack inside anyways. I just need to learn what Paul says in Philippians about being content no matter what. As always, a little sleep never hurt anyone either. One more discovery of the day, it's amazing how therapeutic plastic bubble wrap can be in releasing stress.

Never a simple task

In my experiences, some of the most simple tasks become grand adventures. For example, my quest to put up the new ceiling fan and light fixture I've had for my office for almost two months now. I put up my first fan/light fixture in my extra bedroom about three weeks ago. It was a learning adventure, but I was confident I could do it simply this time. After spending a hour reading and an hour playing Nintendo this morning, I began my quest. To make a long (somewhat funny story) short, after two trips to Lowes, lots of encounters with some interesting "old" folks, very sore arms, a few moments of thoughts about shocking myself and lots of almost falls from my perch, I now am enjoying the cool breeze and soft light from the latest update to my house.

This put me in the mode to work on organizing and cleaning my office. I managed to put some happy pictures on the wall and cleaned out one of my desk drawers. I'm pretending I don't see the boxes from my classroom strewn throughout the room. I reaffirmed my lack of ability to hang pictures straight and even with the pictures around them. My mathematical, linear mind has a hard time with it but my beautifully painted walls don't need any more damage. I'm attempting to work up the courage to drill some holes in my walls to put up some cool bookshelves that I have. On these bookshelves I plan to show off the accomplishments of my teams over the past four years. I hope to find a good Duke patterned material to put underneath these items on my shelves as well.

So not much else is going on...sadly enough I believe I will see a 4th of July with only the fireworks on TV to entertain me. Last summer we were in Washington, DC - sitting behind the Washingthon Monument - to see their fireworks. I guess I'll just have to watch it from the comfort of a couch this summer. I'm off to make another dent in my Artemis Fowl book. One of the main reasons I like these books is because one of the main characters is named Holly.

Promoted or Demoted?

So I got a call today that I might actually be going up to 8th grade math instead of going back to 6th grade math. Being me, I told them that wherever they needed me the most was fine by me. 8th grade math is hard but not impossible. I have my work cut out for me in preparing but at the same time the beginning of the year would be a review of 7th grade stuff (which I just finished teaching - successfully). We'll have to wait and see what the principal decides.

Today was a productive day. My one complaint of the day would have to be my dinner. I've had this recipe for Mexican Meatloaf that I've wanted to try for quite some time. During my last trip to the grocery store I gathered all the ingredients to make it. It's a Crock Pot meal so it was made at 10:00 this morning. Little did I realize how smelly this Mexican recipe was going to make my ENTIRE house. Let's just say after smelling it most of the day I was not really wanting to taste it at dinner time. I did eat some of it, but I think I overcooked it because I had to crunch my way through the outside layers to get to the good stuff. It was good and a little less cook time would have made it better. The even more "exciting" part is that I now have 7/8 of a meatloaf left and no real desire to eat it. Maybe if I drown it in some gravy it will be better tomorrow.

I took advantage of the BEAUTIFUL North Carolina weather. I don't think we broke 80 today, so naturally I did my outdoor chores today. I played some Nintendo in between, but I tried to limit myself somewhat. My big trip out of the house today was to the library. I forgot what a wonderful place the public library is. I found some books for a secret project I'm working on and checked out some just for fun books too. Is it bad that I found more books to read in the children's section then in the adult section? Well I'm going to go start reading into the night...the book of the night is Artemis Fowl - The Lost Colony.

(which I will add to my collection in paperback)

PS

I realize that I can be rather long-winded in my posts, but that's just the writer in me trying to break free. The book has a beginning and a table or contents. Hopefully, some of the chapters will be completed this summer. I'm a stickler for details and sometimes probably share too many. I appreciate you taking the time to read them. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of my posts!

The Gamer Comes Forth

Yes my friends I admit that I am a gamer...

By definition, a gamer is someone who sits in front of a TV or computer screen and plays games for hours on end. My brother helped to feed my weakness by letting me borrow his Game Cube for the summer (and maybe longer). I am super excited because the Nintendo Game Cube has the ability to play old and new Game Boy games (which I am the proud owner of an original and GBA). Joe also brought me his old Game Boy games. I have enough gaming options to last me for months! I forget how addicted I get to these things until two hours have passed and I'm still playing the same round of Tetris Worlds! I do have to admit that playing these games definitely dries my contacts out but that's what glasses are kept around for, right?!

So "anywho" it was good to get back to church today. We had a few moments of silent prayer in Sunday School this morning. It was great to approach God with such reverence in that room. I know God has me in this class for a reason and I believe He's starting to show me glimpses of the bigger picture through these ladies. I'm excited to see where we go with these ideas floating around in my head. The Men's Quartet sang a stirring version of "Victory In Jesus" that made me want to get up to dance (but I can't do that because I'm Baptist). Our Revelations Bible study met today and determined that we're going to have to meet another week. I've loved exploring this rich book with these teens and hearing their insights. I've even been able to answer some of the questions, even though I'm just learning much of this stuff myself. Tonight in youth we had small groups, literally. We split up between girls and guys and talked about Job and his three friends. It's a really interesting read and makes you think about how it is you're supposed to "comfort" your friends who are suffering. We had some good discussions, even though we were small in number.

I don't really know what this week holds for me. I've got plenty to do around the house (both inside and outside), but I've also got to fight the temptation to give into my gaming addictions. I might need some help with that one! I'm hoping to experiment with a few new recipes this week because I'll actually be home to eat them this week. I tried a new peanut butter pie this weekend. It tasted good but not nearly as good as Melissa's. OK, I'm out for the night because my contacts are dried out and my eyes are tired. Have a great one wherever you maybe be reading this!