What an October!
Baxter, the Angora rabbit, continues to be loved and cared for by the 5th graders of room 201. What a cutie!
The Middle School Retreat, October 5-7, was a rip-roaring good time. It was especially sweet to connect with the 6th graders, who are my former 5th graders from last year.
From October 7-13, I was in Antalya, Turkey, again for the CIS Field Missionary Retreat for the Church of the Nazarene. While we had meetings every night at 8:00, a day of meetings on Wednesday, and touring on Thursday, the main emphasis of the retreat was to rest. Boy, was it ever needed! In addition to swimming in the Mediterranean, para-sailing, running and walking along the beach, reading, writing, and eating delicious meals, a lot of my fellow missionary friends went down the water slides repeatedly (yes, it was 80s and sunny all week :o). Pictured above is what we called the "toilet bowl".
Linda Russell and Davide and Tanya Cantarella - fellow missionaries in Moscow. Linda is a former school teacher who followed God's call to come to Russia over ten years ago. Davide is a dear friend of mine (30) and is the North Russia district superintendent. His wife Tanya is the pastor of Moscow First Church of the Nazarene. I love them dearly!
Bob and Colleen Skinner - what a wonderful couple! Bob is our fearless leader and Field Director for the CIS, and his wife is such an encouragement to all. They have three boys and live in Kiev, Ukraine.
Aaron and Ira Petersen, also volunteer missionaries in Kiev.
A view of the Mediterranean Sea. It was so peaceful to walk and run along these shores. Especially memorable was a late-night walk I took one evening.
Walking through the market in Antalya.
Davide, Joshua Skinner (5th grader in Kiev), and yours truly...enjoying the sun :)
On the day we went to the Turkish market, we also took a boat ride along the Mediterranean coast. In addition to diving off the boat into the water, we saw this beautiful waterfall.
Well, my kitten (the product of Sasha, who has found a new home, and Ira) has also found a new home. I wanted to get a picture with her before she left last Friday, and in the process, I discovered that she has one blue and one hazel eye! Now it's just Ira and me - I just love her company! (She's sitting on my lap as I type this :o)
Last weekend, at Moscow First Church we celebrated our 15-year anniversary. It was quite a two-day celebration! In hearing the stories of the church founders and the testimonies of others in my local body of believers, I was profoundly impacted by the amazing ways in which God's purpose for our church has been so evident these past 15 years.
Posing toward the front of the sanctuary with the harvest celebration decorations. On the stage is where I have the privilege of singing 8-9 songs in Russian every Sunday morning. It's a humbling experience, but very healthy for both my soul and mind. While I often don't know what I'm singing about, I know my God does!
Last Friday the HCA staff had a teacher inservice with Dr. Kathy Koch, founder and president of Celebrate Kids. Wow, was it ever awesome! We spent considerable time learning about and discussing the 8 Multiple Intelligences of learners (word, logic, picture, music, body, nature, people, self). What I learned in the seminar was a refresher of what I learned at Olivet, and it fired me up to teach my students how they are all brilliant in different ways. (The question is not, "How smart are you?" but rather "How are you smart?") Thus, a bulletin board was created over the weekend, and the kids were pouring over it today!
Four students who finished their math assignment early worked together to complete a math puzzle that I created back at ONU. It involved using multiplication and factors to make the full Superman emblem. Lots of fun!
Ironically, while I'm living in a city of near 15 million people (according to some estimates), I still have never had so much time alone. Especially this year, I've found it absolutely necessary to connect with others on an intentional basis. Hence, today after school, David Bray and I went to a food court to eat and talk about life. David's a student teacher of English who will be here for only three more weeks before flying back to the U.S. He and I have formed a strong friendship in the short time he's been here, and I'm going to dearly miss him.
Last Thursday, at the end of my third consecutive week of crazy-busyness at school (a week preparing to go to Turkey, a week recovering from being gone, and a week finishing up grades, etc.), my students performed a talent show. It was one of those moments as a teacher where you step back and realize that all the long hours and preparation and planning and encouragement haven't been in vain. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my teaching career so far to witness each student perform for fellow classmates, parents, and the school community with their individual gifts (tae-kwon-do, piano, violin, percussion, skit, choreography, card tricks, drawing, raps, and Mr. Hays' basketball drills).
One final word for now. Throughout this difficult month of October (many stresses from within and without), I've once again discovered how invaluable song is. Life here in Moscow leads through many paths that are unknown to the sojourner before he/she reaches them, and "tough" doesn't seem to quite capture their entire essence. Life can be downright overwhelming for me at times, and this month, oftentimes. I've had to learn how to cope though. One simple, yet very effective method/tactic/battle plan I use multiple times a day is to sing. Some songs have become a part of my routine, while others have seemed to become in many ways theme songs for my journey here. In singing, the mind clears as words proceed from the mouth. It's as if singing creates a vacancy in the the heart and mind that joy can then fill. I was reminded of this as I was studying Ephesians recently:
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:19-20).
There are a number of ways you can pray for Hinkson/Moscow/me:
- Praise God for continuing to provide all needs each day. While many circumstances have combined to make October 2007 one of the toughest months I've ever faced, God has drawn me especially close at this time.
- Praise God for continued grace, effectiveness, and connections within the classroom. Feedback has been constructive and good from parents, especially at yesteday's parent-teacher conferences.
- A new visa law has just been issued by the Russian legislature, and the impact on the missionary community is not yet known. However, it is quite serious and could greatly affect the functionality of the school because of the impact on the length of time ex-pat teachers, parents, students, etc. can stay in the country. Please pray for God's will to prevail in this situation.
- HCA's calculus, physics, and chemistry teacher will be leaving at the end of this semester most likely. His wife and young daughter are in the States right now, nursing the health of a Downs Syndrome baby who is in the womb and is due in February. Please pray for this family, the baby, and for a replacement for Mr. Crawford.
- HCA is still in need of a computer coordinator. We trust God to provide.
- My Great Aunt Kathy just died last Saturday. Please lift up my family in prayer (the Weisgerbers...Grandma Hays' side - Kathy was her youngest sister).
posted by Luke Hays @ 9:52 PM
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