well this week was a atest in humility and a strethching in holiness as I was forced to face my most violent opponent...my mouth....you know that thing that often gets you into trouble! As I stretch forward to reach the prize at the end of this race to follow CHrist, I am forced to realize that living a lifestyle of holiness means putting into action the sccriptures and sometimes confessing and asking forgiveness for the things we do and say....its a delicate balance of humility and obedience and desire to be transformedin His image...
I realized the needto be right oropinionated can sometimes affect our witness and a non-belivers ability to see christ because they see hypocrocy. Wow, I never felt hurt or guilt like the hurt of disappointing the living god and though he willingly forgives and makes grace abound...it is challenging.
Anyway, this week was the seventh grade movie night and school family fair and many kids came out for food and crafts and sports(of course I was in charge of basketball and soccer) and now I look like a crisp french fry! It was a students birthday which we shared at the beach with her...not quite like in the states! All in all a good week.
Prayer request are for the decisions I have to make about next year and the ability to stay grounded and manage my time better in terms of prayer and work etc. Also pray for my roommate as she is trying to plan for next year as well. Pray for my students that their hearts would be open to the gospel as we wind down on our book about Jesus and finish our prep for our global warming debate that they wouold be strengthened. Specifically pray for Haiti as the food crisis there is out of control and people are in a bad way. That God would have mercy and partnerships would be formed with neighboring countries to supply the basics rice, beans, etc. There are 2 missionaries going there in the next few weeks to report on the situation. be blessed.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
hang with me people!
ok well to those faithful readers,
sorry its been a minute since I wrote. There is not much going on really only end of the year school projects and papers to grade and soccer tournaments to help coach and UN debate topics being changed and learned and.....so I guess you can see that life here is CRAZY!
My first and second graders are writing and practicing a hip-hop rap routine about Australia! Seventh grade is still in The Bronze Bow book about Jesus andlearning alot about their UN debate on Global Warming......basically business has honestly gotten me a bit distracted from my personal time of rest and reading so if you would pray for sustainance and refreshing that would be good....
I am refining and maybe redefining my plans for next year as God seems to be leading me towards a training program but it may be a different location and I will keep you all posted about that...I am trying to really go where HE leads so I have ti sft through a bunch of my own desires and thoughts to get to the truth and purposefor the next phase....
Prayer requests for a fellow teacher Jenn and my students and some high school students that I have been priviledged to chat with....that they would know HIm. Basically, that's all folks hasta luego.
sorry its been a minute since I wrote. There is not much going on really only end of the year school projects and papers to grade and soccer tournaments to help coach and UN debate topics being changed and learned and.....so I guess you can see that life here is CRAZY!
My first and second graders are writing and practicing a hip-hop rap routine about Australia! Seventh grade is still in The Bronze Bow book about Jesus andlearning alot about their UN debate on Global Warming......basically business has honestly gotten me a bit distracted from my personal time of rest and reading so if you would pray for sustainance and refreshing that would be good....
I am refining and maybe redefining my plans for next year as God seems to be leading me towards a training program but it may be a different location and I will keep you all posted about that...I am trying to really go where HE leads so I have ti sft through a bunch of my own desires and thoughts to get to the truth and purposefor the next phase....
Prayer requests for a fellow teacher Jenn and my students and some high school students that I have been priviledged to chat with....that they would know HIm. Basically, that's all folks hasta luego.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
A WOW week!!!
Testing and trials will come. Did you know the bible actually says that. Then why are we often taken a back by them? This week has been a dewsey in many ways but I am glad that the bible also says we can "finish well". So, here goes:
I have learned this week that faith often is strengthened by obedience and obedience without sight. I mean, when it hasn't been proven to you that something works or is the correct choice, how do you know to proceed or question? I believe you know by seeking the Word, and relying on that still small voice inside to confirm it.
Someone asked me if I would appreciate my time here if I never was priveleged enough to know exactly what it was all for....in my ignorance I immediately said " I would be upset to not SEE the fruit of my time here" But as I said I am realizing we are to live by faith not only by sight so if I believe that I was called by GOd to do something, and His word "can not return void, or without fruit" than I must be satisfied to believe that wether I can see the fruit or not, it must exist!
Only after realizing this, I was so priviledged to have had a 3 hour conversation with my roommate who is a new believer, and she opened up to me about how she views me and how her life this year has seemingly been changed by all she has seen and learned from me.....dude, this was heavy cause I never realized that people are most affected by how you live and not what you say....and my class, I am seeing the light bubls go on as I teach them about rabbis and disciples and law versus grace....it is the fruit I have been waiting for to SEE all of this and KNOW that I am here because He said GO....but I must not forget and be humbled by the question, if I never saw,or knew,would I be satisfied that His word says so??? WOW
The Word is the beginning, middle and end of everything and I am realizing that being in it answers questions, but breeds even more questions and maybe in this is the vitality of life that you always hunger for more? WOW
Another analogy ofthe week has come outta running....to be honest,I hate running! But I am doing it for physical exercise and everytime I start running it is like a conversation with GOd....a spiritual analogy, that you could never run a marathon the first time out because physically you are not conditioned to run, you don't have good breathing patterns, your muscles are week and then they get stiffand soon....it is a practice of endurance and discipline, and you cannot get prepared for it the day of the big race.The preparation comes before when there is no glory,no honor, but what? PAIN that's what.
Well, spiritually I am learning to exercie as well. This life is a race and I can not have it all figured out day one. When you start there is imminent frustration and then maybe success and stiffness where you feel stuck, but when you realize you must pace yourself, and that the whole body has to work together mind, body, spirit. Daily do one thing right, then another, then another and you build your muscles and as the days go on, you endurance and ability to withstand more in trial.....if my knee hurts, maybe it is the weak link and I need to strengthen it for the whole leg to function well.....so, if my attitude stinks, I need to strengthen it so my compassion and gentleness and grace can work well towards others!!!
I am tellin you, without training we are weak and unprepared and in the battle is no time for training....so before the honor and glory, there is sweat! this is WOW and I will keep running to build muscle even when it is not enjoyable!!!
I have learned this week that faith often is strengthened by obedience and obedience without sight. I mean, when it hasn't been proven to you that something works or is the correct choice, how do you know to proceed or question? I believe you know by seeking the Word, and relying on that still small voice inside to confirm it.
Someone asked me if I would appreciate my time here if I never was priveleged enough to know exactly what it was all for....in my ignorance I immediately said " I would be upset to not SEE the fruit of my time here" But as I said I am realizing we are to live by faith not only by sight so if I believe that I was called by GOd to do something, and His word "can not return void, or without fruit" than I must be satisfied to believe that wether I can see the fruit or not, it must exist!
Only after realizing this, I was so priviledged to have had a 3 hour conversation with my roommate who is a new believer, and she opened up to me about how she views me and how her life this year has seemingly been changed by all she has seen and learned from me.....dude, this was heavy cause I never realized that people are most affected by how you live and not what you say....and my class, I am seeing the light bubls go on as I teach them about rabbis and disciples and law versus grace....it is the fruit I have been waiting for to SEE all of this and KNOW that I am here because He said GO....but I must not forget and be humbled by the question, if I never saw,or knew,would I be satisfied that His word says so??? WOW
The Word is the beginning, middle and end of everything and I am realizing that being in it answers questions, but breeds even more questions and maybe in this is the vitality of life that you always hunger for more? WOW
Another analogy ofthe week has come outta running....to be honest,I hate running! But I am doing it for physical exercise and everytime I start running it is like a conversation with GOd....a spiritual analogy, that you could never run a marathon the first time out because physically you are not conditioned to run, you don't have good breathing patterns, your muscles are week and then they get stiffand soon....it is a practice of endurance and discipline, and you cannot get prepared for it the day of the big race.The preparation comes before when there is no glory,no honor, but what? PAIN that's what.
Well, spiritually I am learning to exercie as well. This life is a race and I can not have it all figured out day one. When you start there is imminent frustration and then maybe success and stiffness where you feel stuck, but when you realize you must pace yourself, and that the whole body has to work together mind, body, spirit. Daily do one thing right, then another, then another and you build your muscles and as the days go on, you endurance and ability to withstand more in trial.....if my knee hurts, maybe it is the weak link and I need to strengthen it for the whole leg to function well.....so, if my attitude stinks, I need to strengthen it so my compassion and gentleness and grace can work well towards others!!!
I am tellin you, without training we are weak and unprepared and in the battle is no time for training....so before the honor and glory, there is sweat! this is WOW and I will keep running to build muscle even when it is not enjoyable!!!
Monday, April 7, 2008
The next step...
HOla all
well I have begun taking spanish classes again finally and it seems that the opportunity to teach my seventh graders about Christ is going well.Today we learned about Jewish customs and that the first 5 books of the OT were known as the Torah. They were amazed that people lived to read scriptures and that kids their age actually memorized 39 books of the OT.....so I am hoping to have a chance to testify more as they begin to be more aware and as the book carries on with the power of Jesus. Maybe (and I hope) I will have the chance to lead them in prayer even! i started tutoring a boy in my class with homework and stuff cause since his dad died2 years ago he is sorta sad and unmotivated. I am hoping to have an open door to witness to him as well.
Personally, I am hangin in learning about the power of my words and the power of knowing the scriptures so when "things happen" I can be encouraged and strengthened by the word of faith!
I have started running again last week so I hope to get into shape and maybe climb Pico Duarte which is the highest mountain (11,600) in the carribean. Basically, that is it.
OK ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT:
I have decidedto apply to a training program with a US based organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). They are in 190 countries around the world working with kids and families in need by bringing the gospel and relevant activities and needs to them. Here in DR there is a training site in a mountain city called Jarabacoa. They have a 5month program where you get trained on organizational things for missions work as well as bible training and training for rural, urban and other settings.
Since coming here I have realized to be effective as a missionary you MUST be affiliated with a group for help, accountability and knowledge. So, whatever happens after this, community center, other nations etc. this training will be very valuable.
The program consists of 3 months of classroom style learning, and working in the immediate communitie, as well as campo style living on the YWAM grounds. Then for 2-3 weeks we will go to another nation either Haiti, Peru, China (not sure yet). The purpose will be to see the needs there and visit organizations and help as they address the needs of the people there. The final 1 1/2 months will be spent back in the DR working with an organization as a leader or program director gaining experience and cultural understaning. It will be from AUG-JAN 2009. So, the current challenge after I apply is going to be funding because like a school, you pay to attend and live there etc. The cost will be about $3500-3700 for the whole thing (this includes the trip). I am coming home to work in the summer but I know it will be tough to earn this much money.
Below you will see my mom's address. If you would like to help me financially please send a check to me Jaime Simeonidis. In the margin you can write YWAM. I am not sure about how to get a receipt yet for tax purposes as a donation, but I will look into it. If you can not help financially, please pray that I am hearing God's voice for the next step, and that I will be fully funded in the manner He provides. Thanks for all your love and support. p.s. if you want to go onto the website go to YWAM Jarabacoa and click DTS training.
Jaime Simeonidis
7 Racquet Rd.
Wall NJ 07719
well I have begun taking spanish classes again finally and it seems that the opportunity to teach my seventh graders about Christ is going well.Today we learned about Jewish customs and that the first 5 books of the OT were known as the Torah. They were amazed that people lived to read scriptures and that kids their age actually memorized 39 books of the OT.....so I am hoping to have a chance to testify more as they begin to be more aware and as the book carries on with the power of Jesus. Maybe (and I hope) I will have the chance to lead them in prayer even! i started tutoring a boy in my class with homework and stuff cause since his dad died2 years ago he is sorta sad and unmotivated. I am hoping to have an open door to witness to him as well.
Personally, I am hangin in learning about the power of my words and the power of knowing the scriptures so when "things happen" I can be encouraged and strengthened by the word of faith!
I have started running again last week so I hope to get into shape and maybe climb Pico Duarte which is the highest mountain (11,600) in the carribean. Basically, that is it.
OK ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT:
I have decidedto apply to a training program with a US based organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). They are in 190 countries around the world working with kids and families in need by bringing the gospel and relevant activities and needs to them. Here in DR there is a training site in a mountain city called Jarabacoa. They have a 5month program where you get trained on organizational things for missions work as well as bible training and training for rural, urban and other settings.
Since coming here I have realized to be effective as a missionary you MUST be affiliated with a group for help, accountability and knowledge. So, whatever happens after this, community center, other nations etc. this training will be very valuable.
The program consists of 3 months of classroom style learning, and working in the immediate communitie, as well as campo style living on the YWAM grounds. Then for 2-3 weeks we will go to another nation either Haiti, Peru, China (not sure yet). The purpose will be to see the needs there and visit organizations and help as they address the needs of the people there. The final 1 1/2 months will be spent back in the DR working with an organization as a leader or program director gaining experience and cultural understaning. It will be from AUG-JAN 2009. So, the current challenge after I apply is going to be funding because like a school, you pay to attend and live there etc. The cost will be about $3500-3700 for the whole thing (this includes the trip). I am coming home to work in the summer but I know it will be tough to earn this much money.
Below you will see my mom's address. If you would like to help me financially please send a check to me Jaime Simeonidis. In the margin you can write YWAM. I am not sure about how to get a receipt yet for tax purposes as a donation, but I will look into it. If you can not help financially, please pray that I am hearing God's voice for the next step, and that I will be fully funded in the manner He provides. Thanks for all your love and support. p.s. if you want to go onto the website go to YWAM Jarabacoa and click DTS training.
Jaime Simeonidis
7 Racquet Rd.
Wall NJ 07719
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
