GOD IS SOOOOO GOOD!
I have only a moment to write as there is no light and my battery is nearly dead, but these past days I have often been reminded of how great God is and wanted to share my thoughts with you.
These are very busy days; we have only about four and half weeks of school left and in about five weeks the kids and I will be visiting my family in America.
As busy as these next weeks are, I trust God will guide me to get everything done and still remind me to take time for myself.
As a teacher, and now even more so as a mother too, it is very easy to get busy taking care of everyone and forget to make sure I get a good night's sleep, allow myself to have a few moments of pleasure with a novel or a moment to gaze at the trees blowing in the wind or the welcome rain pouring down.
A few years ago we had thieves twice in a few months and after that I found myself having to begin each night sleeping with the children. I found that the extra sleep did wonders for my mindset and gave me more energy to be creative at school. Reading novels helps too; when my mind and soul are fed by novels or sharing in the Word I find it much easier to deal with challenges I meet in the classroom or at home.
I pray that, no matter how busy you find yourself and how much you feel you must do, that you too will take time to ponder on God's word, stare in wonder at His creation and just relish the gifts he provides and the many ways He shows His care and concern for you and those close to you. God is good! (At church the congregation always responds, "All the time!") May you fully enjoy God's goodness!
Dorthea
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
GOODBYES ARE NEVER EASY...
Progress reports are due on Monday, that means the quarter is running down and we only have about four weeks of teaching and then exams left. The last few weeks are always so full and stressful.
At a school like Hillcrest we not only have to deal with wrapping up the curriculum and have end-of-year activities like student council elections, awards ceremonies, and graduation itself, but we also have to deal with saying farewell to the graduating class and others that are leaving for good, or at least furlough.
I've only taught four years at Hillcrest, but goodbyes are never easy. In fact, I think saying goodbye is one of the hardest parts of being a missionary. First you have to say goodbye to family you leave behind and then there are frequent goodbyes on the mission field as other missionaries and their families are always coming and going.
Sometimes it makes it hard to want to get close to people, especially if they are only here a short time.
Marrying here, having my own family, and being part of Niger Wives, other women married to Nigerians, has made it easier, but I don't look forward to the next time one of my kids has to say goodbye to a special friend. I guess that's why I go through times of not wanting to reach out to people beyond my family and school, it's not easy to stretch oneself.
This week I am remembering the life of one of my Nigerian fathers, Dr. Rekab Bongi. Dr. Bongi died last week after being ill for some time. His wife was my principal and has been my Nigerian mother since I was teaching in a Lutheran Nigerian secondary school. When he retired from an administration post at a post-secondary training school they started a school for children of special needs, the first in the capital of Adamawa State. (This was in addition to the Lutheran Junior Seminary that Mrs. Bongi has run for over eleven years.) His leadership in that community will be sorely missed.
My husband will represent our family at the funeral. A part of me feels I should go, but mostly I am thankful that both my husband and Mrs. Bongi understand it is hard for me to get away. At the same time, I realize how easy it is to keep a degree of distance from the challenges of life and death in Nigeria. My work at Hillcrest allows me a kind of buffer from so many challenges people face here.
I believe that one day God will call my family back to work in Adamawa and I pray that I will be ready to face those challenges in a new way when the call is there; it can be very exhausting and the challenges are numerous. But at the moment, I am called to teach and disciple the students where I am and to see that our children have a chance to get a great education.
So for now, I deal with progress reports and saying goodbye to those God has called me to teach at Hillcrest. Next year there will be a great turnover of staff so I know that my being a source of continuity for my returning students and the school at-large is important.
I'd appreciate your thoughts and prayers during these next weeks. I have just recovered from a bout of malaria and we are at the beginning of rainy season and Nat and my husband Amson are both suffering from colds/allergies. Pray for our health and that God will see us through the end of the school year with its many year-end activities. Then, in the end of May we fly to US for almost two months to visit my mom and family in the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, there is MUCH to do, both at school and to prepare for our travels!
Dorthea
Progress reports are due on Monday, that means the quarter is running down and we only have about four weeks of teaching and then exams left. The last few weeks are always so full and stressful.
At a school like Hillcrest we not only have to deal with wrapping up the curriculum and have end-of-year activities like student council elections, awards ceremonies, and graduation itself, but we also have to deal with saying farewell to the graduating class and others that are leaving for good, or at least furlough.
I've only taught four years at Hillcrest, but goodbyes are never easy. In fact, I think saying goodbye is one of the hardest parts of being a missionary. First you have to say goodbye to family you leave behind and then there are frequent goodbyes on the mission field as other missionaries and their families are always coming and going.
Sometimes it makes it hard to want to get close to people, especially if they are only here a short time.
Marrying here, having my own family, and being part of Niger Wives, other women married to Nigerians, has made it easier, but I don't look forward to the next time one of my kids has to say goodbye to a special friend. I guess that's why I go through times of not wanting to reach out to people beyond my family and school, it's not easy to stretch oneself.
This week I am remembering the life of one of my Nigerian fathers, Dr. Rekab Bongi. Dr. Bongi died last week after being ill for some time. His wife was my principal and has been my Nigerian mother since I was teaching in a Lutheran Nigerian secondary school. When he retired from an administration post at a post-secondary training school they started a school for children of special needs, the first in the capital of Adamawa State. (This was in addition to the Lutheran Junior Seminary that Mrs. Bongi has run for over eleven years.) His leadership in that community will be sorely missed.
My husband will represent our family at the funeral. A part of me feels I should go, but mostly I am thankful that both my husband and Mrs. Bongi understand it is hard for me to get away. At the same time, I realize how easy it is to keep a degree of distance from the challenges of life and death in Nigeria. My work at Hillcrest allows me a kind of buffer from so many challenges people face here.
I believe that one day God will call my family back to work in Adamawa and I pray that I will be ready to face those challenges in a new way when the call is there; it can be very exhausting and the challenges are numerous. But at the moment, I am called to teach and disciple the students where I am and to see that our children have a chance to get a great education.
So for now, I deal with progress reports and saying goodbye to those God has called me to teach at Hillcrest. Next year there will be a great turnover of staff so I know that my being a source of continuity for my returning students and the school at-large is important.
I'd appreciate your thoughts and prayers during these next weeks. I have just recovered from a bout of malaria and we are at the beginning of rainy season and Nat and my husband Amson are both suffering from colds/allergies. Pray for our health and that God will see us through the end of the school year with its many year-end activities. Then, in the end of May we fly to US for almost two months to visit my mom and family in the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, there is MUCH to do, both at school and to prepare for our travels!
Dorthea
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Christ has Risen, He has Risen Indeed! I pray all reading this have had a blessed Easter.
I really enjoyed the service today. The pastor that preached is a former student of mine and shared a very strong message. One new thought he shared was about the rolling away of the stone.
He pointed out that the angel didn't roll the stone away to let Jesus out, Jesus had already risen. Instead the angel rolled the stone away so that the women could see for themselves that Jesus had risen.
I love the idea that after the angel rolled the stone away he then sat down on the stone and chatted with the women. He must have loved that moment. Not only was he probably thrilled to share the news with them, he also knew that by sharing the news first with them he was raising the level of women for all time to come. He even went on to tell them, the women, that they should go and report the news to the disciples. They were to tell the men! How revolutionary! To top it off, Jesus appeared to the women before he appeared to the men. Those women must have loved the honor and cherished those moments for the rest of their lives!
Another part of the service I really enjoyed today was how every time someone prayed, or before the gospel text or announcements were read, someone would begin a chorus of praise and everyone would join in...sometimes even with echoes or harmony! It was beautiful! Two lines that really jumped out for me were these...
"Jesus is Alive!...Though I may be tempted, there is no turning back!"
"You are more than people can conceive!"
Easter is a time of joy and I praise God for his great sacrifice for all of us!
My kids have had fun today too. Until this year we never had Easter Egg hunts, but my home church sent us an Easter care package some time ago and we managed to hold on to eight plastic eggs. First I hid them with some sweets inside for Annette and Daniel, then they hid them for me, then we hid them for their Aunt Kauna, Aunt Keziah and Uncle Pwakatti. After that we hid for Nat and Ephrim. Then they hid for Jide and David. It has been fun seeing them share the fun over and over again. We even had a few Swiss chocolates to hide that Pastor Musa, who works for the Lutheran World Federation in Switzerland brought last week. (The kids used to think he worked for a chocolate factory because he always brings chocolate when he comes to visit!)
I pray that your Easter has also been filled with moments of Easter Joy and that you too might rediscover the Joy of God's love for us over and over again.
Easter Blessings!
Dorthea
I really enjoyed the service today. The pastor that preached is a former student of mine and shared a very strong message. One new thought he shared was about the rolling away of the stone.
He pointed out that the angel didn't roll the stone away to let Jesus out, Jesus had already risen. Instead the angel rolled the stone away so that the women could see for themselves that Jesus had risen.
I love the idea that after the angel rolled the stone away he then sat down on the stone and chatted with the women. He must have loved that moment. Not only was he probably thrilled to share the news with them, he also knew that by sharing the news first with them he was raising the level of women for all time to come. He even went on to tell them, the women, that they should go and report the news to the disciples. They were to tell the men! How revolutionary! To top it off, Jesus appeared to the women before he appeared to the men. Those women must have loved the honor and cherished those moments for the rest of their lives!
Another part of the service I really enjoyed today was how every time someone prayed, or before the gospel text or announcements were read, someone would begin a chorus of praise and everyone would join in...sometimes even with echoes or harmony! It was beautiful! Two lines that really jumped out for me were these...
"Jesus is Alive!...Though I may be tempted, there is no turning back!"
"You are more than people can conceive!"
Easter is a time of joy and I praise God for his great sacrifice for all of us!
My kids have had fun today too. Until this year we never had Easter Egg hunts, but my home church sent us an Easter care package some time ago and we managed to hold on to eight plastic eggs. First I hid them with some sweets inside for Annette and Daniel, then they hid them for me, then we hid them for their Aunt Kauna, Aunt Keziah and Uncle Pwakatti. After that we hid for Nat and Ephrim. Then they hid for Jide and David. It has been fun seeing them share the fun over and over again. We even had a few Swiss chocolates to hide that Pastor Musa, who works for the Lutheran World Federation in Switzerland brought last week. (The kids used to think he worked for a chocolate factory because he always brings chocolate when he comes to visit!)
I pray that your Easter has also been filled with moments of Easter Joy and that you too might rediscover the Joy of God's love for us over and over again.
Easter Blessings!
Dorthea
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