I´m back in Bogota; praise the Lord!
Hi friends,
It was nice to see so many of you during July, and I hope you are doing well. Thank you, as always, for your prayers, financial support, and spiritual encouragement. How is your summer finishing up? I´m back in Bogota, and it does not feel like summer; it´s cold! But even on cold and rainy days, God is still working in Bogota and around the world.
This summer was special because I came home with Santiago, age 8, and Juan Nicolas, age 11. We tried to fit an entire American childhood experience into a month while we were in the states, so it was fun but very busy. They enjoyed Camp Wightman, visiting parks, swimming, and eating lots of hamburgers. Thank you to all who blessed them this summer.
Back in Colombia, our teaching team is preparing for a year in which the school changes from good to excellent. We have a new high school principal with ideas to raise the standards of the school. This year I´ll be teaching two sections of chemistry, biology and physical science. I´m supervising student council this year, too, and our first event on Friday is to hang out with and welcome new students. Pray for the new students! Most importantly, I´ll also continue to minister to the senior girls in their small group and mentor three girls one-on-one. God has blessed El Camino Academy with 13 new teachers this year, most of whom are passionate about service and discipleship. I am praying that God continues to give us energy and correct motives as we help our students grow in Christ because one´s relationship with God is of eternal importance. Our senior class also had many ideas at the end of last school year to make the school a more Christ-centered community. I pray that they have maintained their fervor and can work cooperatively to implement their ideas.
In the past week, God has given me words about waiting on Him in my daily devotions, my church group and through a sermon. Ever feel like God is trying to tell you something? I´m praying that I can expect and hope for great things from God for this school year and future plans (medical school?) while remaining patient and trusting. I am so excited to see what God has coming up for us. And those who live expectantly in God´s timing will "... renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
Blessings,
Robyn
School´s Out!
Hi friends! How are you? School's out, and I've had more time to think and pray about many of you. Let me know how I can specifically lift you up in prayer. I'll be home in 2 weeks- from June 25 to July 26- so hopefully, I'll see many of you soon. Santiago (age 8) and Juan Nicolas (age 11) will be with me, and I hope they have a good experience spending their summer with me in Connecticut- a very different place than Bogotá. I pray that our travels and time in the states goes well.
School ended well. The last week of school was service week, and I went with the juniors to work for 3 days in the special needs orphanage we've been visiting one Saturday a month. It was great to spend lots of time with the orphans and my students. In the morning we put the kids in groups that passed through stations with crafts and games, and in the afternoon we did an activity with all 52 kids (i.e. presenting a skit with a Bible lesson and then playing kickball). We slept in a student's vacation house near the orphanage to keep the commute shorter, so in the evenings we shared devotional and worship times together, focusing on building Cross-centered community. When we returned from the trip we had a final day of school, then a teacher workday, and then a Saturday awards assembly. Saturday evening was the senior banquet, and Sunday afternoon was graduation. It was a busy week but provided good closure and transition time both for the graduates and underclassmen. The graduating class had 20 students who loved each other very much, and I know it is hard for many of them to say goodbye and move on to study or work in different parts of the world. I need to keep praying for them.
Last Tuesday morning I said goodbye to my roommate Katherine, who I had grown very close to in the past few months. I was sad to see her go (she's not returning next year), but I know we'll keep in touch, and God always provides for our relational needs. My other best friend here, Melody, is still around, and we have been spending a lot of time together because we are training for the Bogotá mini-marathon in August! It's fun to have more time for physical activity during the summer. And when I'm not running around the city, I've been studying for the MCAT. I'm feeling calm about it right now- I think while I'm on summer-relax mode God has opened my brain to understand some of the concepts better. I turned in my medical school applications last week (to matriculate in fall 2011), so I'm praying that the med schools look favorably on my application and that my MCAT goes well.
Overall, this has been a great year. I think I have improved as a teacher and mentor during the course of these 10 months, and I am constantly in awe of how wonderful God is that He provided this opportunity for me. I love the missionary community here and how they have challenged and encouraged me spiritually and professionally. And my students are some of the most spiritually mature, coolest kids I've ever met J Even in difficult or sad moments, God has blessed me with a lot of joy. I'm glad I'll be back next year.
Something I stumbled upon today: when King David is passing on the kingship to Solomon, he says "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? All that we have comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." (1 Chronicles 29:14). This reminds me of using my parents' money to buy them gifts when I was a young child; it was okay that they provided the resources because I turned it into an expression of appreciation and love. This is the way everything is with God, and I admire that you give back to God some of your time in prayer, financial resources, and other talents as love offerings. And though ultimately all things come from God, I thank you for being the instruments through which God provided for me this year in many ways. And I hope to take what God has given me- joy, some understanding of science, love from you and for students- and use it to honor Him as I serve another year in Bogotá. Praise the Lord.
The school year is ending...
Blessings, family in Christ,
How are you? I hope you are enjoying the spring weather. Write me to let
me know what is going on with you. A lot has been going on here with me, so
here"s a few highlight.
1) The science fair was last week. It was a little bit of a headache for
me, getting all my students" projects and an elementary scavenger hunt in
order, but it was definitely worth it. I think my students learned a lot,
either designing and conducting experiments or writing research papers. And
the younger students had a blast seeing all the projects. One of my
students made a Van der Graaf generator- one of those metal balls that makes
your hair stand up straight when you touch it- so that was a big hit.
2) My elementary dance class danced in chapel and at our school"s music
academy recital. They did a great job!
3) On a day off, I took some students from my environmental science class
(seniors) on a hike through a cloud forest outside the city. We walked to a
waterfall, ate lunch beside peacocks, and almost got run off the trail by
llamas. It was enjoyable to share the experience with students.
4) On my birthday, my senior class surprised me with a Mexican fiesta. We
broke a piñata and ate tacos during class. I"m not sure if I should be
flattered or suspicious that they just wanted to skip class for a day. But
when they showed up with tex-mex and sombreros, I had no choice but to go
along with it J
5) A week after my birthday was my friend Melody"s birthday. A birthday
tradition here is to hire mariachi bands, which we wanted to do until we
realized how expensive they are. So instead, we made mariachi costumes and
convinced some guy teachers to wear them and surprise Melody with a song or
two. I hadn"t laughed that hard in a long time: picture gringo mariachis
singing Backstreet Boys songs. It was great!
6) Could you pray for my future? I started filling out my medical school
application, and I can turn it in in June. For several years I have wanted
to be a doctor, but as I"m filling out the application I"m a bit nervous. I
want to do only what God is calling me to do, so I want to be sure this is
His plan for my life. I"m praying about decision making, MCAT studying
(July 8"s the big day) and drawing nearer to God through the process.
7) I"m looking forward to things coming up! I"m chaperoning the junior
mission trip to an orphanage we"ve been visiting one Saturday a month.
After
final exams we"ll spend one day team building followed by 3 full days at the
orphanage. I pray that both we and the children we serve will be sensitive
to what God wants to teach us. Then graduation is June 6, and I"ll be in
Bogotà until June 25. I"m bringing Santiago and Juan Nicolas (the boys I
live with, ages 8 and 11) home with me for a month this summer. We"re
spending a week at family camp, doing vacation Bible School at Second
Baptist, and possibly signing the boys up for soccer. So keep us in mind
this summer because we"d love to spend time with you!
8) I"m finishing up the Bible Study my friends and I are doing on the
apostle John- his life and writings. A cool thing I learned recently was
that in OT times, the temple had the holy place and the most holy place. In
the original Hebrew they were labeled as "holy" and "holy holy." In
Revelation, God"s creatures sing to God, "Holy, holy, holy." God is on a
level by Himself. So let the holiest holy be real in your life today.
A Note from my Mom
Bogota, Columbia (Think about it!)
Cindy and Steve arrived in Bogota on Sunday April 17th and were greeted by Robyn, Marlene and Mauricio, our hosts. We were told our house is your house, and that is truly how we were made to feel. The next day Robyn had us on a bus to a small church about 1.5 hours from where she lives to a small church where her missions team to the Amazon spoke.Three of Robyn's students shared their experiences and Robyn delivered the sermon in Spanish. She preached on the feeding of the 5,000. She feels that God has given her 5 fishes and 1 loaf of bread, but with His blessing is able to do so much more. We all are given some gifts, which God can multiply. We met the pastor and his family afterward for a chicken dinner. Later we went to our host family's big church for another rewarding experience. It was a lively service, and although we couldn't understand much, we felt God's spirit there too.
The rest of the week we either visited Robyn at school or went site seeing. Bogota sites are easily accessible by public transportation. Mount Maseratte provided an excellent view of the city. Over our last weekend we went to Prado, about a 5 hour drive south of the city, or if you go with Rafa, then it is about 3.5 hours. Prado has a beautiful man made lake in the middle of the Andes mountains. This is Robyn's happy place where we all enjoyed God's beauty. She learned to water ski and we got to see her in action with her friend Melody. We also enjoyed being with Nico and Santi, the two sons of Marlene and Muaricio. We can report back that Columbia and Columbians are very beautiful people, inside and out and that Robyn is part of a wonderful Christian community. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornments... instead it should come from that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit." 1 Peter 3:3 - 4
Dios Bendice
Cindy and Steve
I went to the Amazon Jungle
Happy Easter; Christ is Risen! I hope you all had a meaningful weekend, remembering and celebrating the death and resurrection that gives us undeserved life. I missed sharing the holiday with you, so write if you have time. I spent Easter doing laundry and cleaning, which was a nice break after last week. We had a week off from school, so I spent 6 days with a group of students visiting missionaries in the Amazon jungle (based in Leticia- see map). It was an unforgettable experience.
First, let me give you an objective account of what we did: Day One we helped out in an orphanage and then rode motorcycle taxis to Brazil to watch the sunset on the Amazon River. Day Two we took a boat 4 hours down the Amazon to an indigenous Ticuna community called Zaragoza. We set up our tents in a school, and in the afternoon our kids did children´s programs or house visits, some teachers gave haircuts, and I, with the school director, gave a presentation to parents about health and hygiene and then talked to some of the adults in the community. After dinner we made popcorn and watched the Jesus movie. Day Three started with a walk through the forest to see where they grow their crops, followed by a swim in the Amazon River, and then lunch. In the afternoon we did more children´s activities, and I went with a local missionary on house visits. They took me to the houses where they knew kids were sick- we shared what little medicine we had and prayed for them. In the evening we presented choreographies, skits, and testimonies- I got to dance. In this village of 500, 20 go to the church, so the idea was to encourage people to seek Jesus. Day Four: Back in the boat for a few hours (on the way we saw dolphins!) to a village in Peru called 2 de Mayo. More house visits, children´s programs and health presentations. At night we showed a movie. Day Five: We visited their local school and I gave a little nutrition/anatomy lesson and reviewed with kids how to brush their teeth with their new toothbrushes. Then the local kids showed us the tree they use to jump into the river, so we splashed around with them. We read the kids stories, had lunch, did more haircuts, shared with their youth group and at night repeated our presentation again in this new village. Day Six: Back in the river to the missionary base in Leticia, showered for the first time in a week, and flew home.
So that´s the facts, now here´s my thoughts: The beauty of the jungle is stunning. The poverty in the jungle is incredibly sad. It broke my heart that children were sick with very preventable and curable diseases, and since most are subsistence farmers and fishermen and earn no money, they have no resources to invest in medicine or hygiene. Even when we offered to pay for them to visit a doctor in Leticia, they were untrusting and fearful. What they need is a doctor who lives among them that they learn to trust, and how I wish I could fill that role right now. (This trip made me think a lot about what God might have for my future). Next time we go, I want to bring more children´s Tylenol, parasite medicine, Clorox (to purify water) and antibiotics- and a doctor or nurse. Other thoughts: dancing before God in the jungle, under the stars, was one of the coolest things I´ve experienced spiritually. We knew domestic abuse is a problem in the villages, but glimpses of the Holy Spirit experienced there give me hope. Also, my students are incredible- they are extremely mature and desire that God use them. Watching them selflessly serve the communities, pray with people, and publically share their testimonies gives me hope for the future generations. They were able to encourage the Ticuna people, who had heard of Jesus, to make life changes and follow Jesus, seeking God with their hearts, minds, and souls. My students are also a lot of fun (I couldn´t take any pictures, but somebody sent me the two I´m passing on to you).
For those of you who have been on missions trips, you know that when you go back to life as usual, part of your heart can´t stop thinking about or praying for the unusual experience you had. That´s where I am right now. We had a few days between our return from the jungle and school starting again, so the school director invited a few of us to rest by a lake outside the city, and it was helpful to verbally process many of our experiences together. Back at school I´m keeping busy. My kids are starting their science fair projects, so I´m trying to help them refine their ideas. And in two weeks, my mom and dad are coming to visit! So next weekend (April 17), could you pray for safe travels?
1 Corinthians 3:7 says "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." I realize that in all ministries, especially short term trips, we only plant or water. Praise and trust the Lord who makes us grow.
Love,
Robyn
Seeing the Light
Lately I´m learning that, while teaching is lots of work, some days it is very rewarding. Last week it was so pleasing to walk around the room and hear kids say, "This is so cool!" as they observed different salt crystals under microscopes. I also had my kids do presentations where they dressed up and pretended to be scientists- the creative students had a moment to shine. Lastly, in my physics class we are learning about light and color- the kids loved splitting light with prisms and learning about what causes color. We tried to make connections between the physical properties of light and what the Bible tells us about light- light is good (Genesis 1:4), God is light (1 John 1:5), and Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). How can what we know about photons help us to think about Jesus´ characteristics from a new perspective? When God created light, doesn´t this simply mean he started vibrations of electrons? One advantage of working in a Christian school is that you can challenge students to think critically about the way that their faith and intellectual knowledge complement each other.
I´ve been keeping busy outside of school, too. Last weekend I got to go hiking to a waterfall in a cloud forest outside the city. God has blessed us with such beauty and purity in creation. Also, a new thing this month is that I found a ballet studio in Bogota, so I´ve taken a few classes there. And I´m getting to know more people at my church here; we´ve even started an English club to help some friends that want to practice. One friend from church is a doctor, and her goal is to better her English so she can serve on a hospital boat in Africa (Mercy Ships). Her heart of service is very encouraging to me.
As always, keep in touch (robynsmith@eca.edu.co). I appreciate keeping up with the ministry you are doing and was especially blessed to hear about the Dominican Republic and Biloxi trips. You cannot image what a support you are to me, those in our community, and others around the world: "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints." Colossians 1:3-4. Let´s keep praying for each other!
Feliz Año Nuevo
Feliz Ano Nuevo!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are enjoying being back in your usual routines. I apologize that I haven't sent an update in a long time, but now that I'm back in Bogotá and more or less back in my routine, I'm excited to be back in touch with you all. It was wonderful seeing most of you over break, so keep writing me so I know what's happening in your life and how I can pray for you.
First, I have to share with you the way that God took care of me during my travels home. Remember the blizzard in December on the east coast? The day I was traveling home, there was snow from North Carolina to New Jersey, so they cancelled my flight from Atlanta to Newark. My parents were planning on driving 3 hours there to pick me up. However, instead the Lord inspired the nice folks at Delta to let me take a flight to Bradley airport, which is a quick 10-minute drive from my house. I felt a little guilty but also very excited about how that worked out.
Once I got home, I had a wonderful time seeing friends from high school, church, and college. I spent a relaxing Christmas with my family and New Year's with Messiah friends in Washington D.C. I did a lot of driving around the northeast United States to see a lot of people I love, and I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with everyone. With mixed emotions, Shannon and I left for Bogotá on January 8.
Yes, my sister was able to visit me for a week and a half during her Christmas break from college! Here's another cool airplane story. When we booked our flights, it was cheapest for her to get a round trip from New York to Bogotá. But it was significantly cheaper for me, buying a one-way ticket, to start in Boston and meet Shannon in New York (who knows how airlines decide on prices). However, the night before, another snowstorm hit, and guess which flight got cancelled? Yup, Shannon and I got to start our journey together in New York. Again, I felt a little guilty that the snow had probably inconvenienced a lot of people, but I couldn't help but feel grateful that things worked in my favor.
While Shannon was here, I played science teacher by day and tourist by night. It was so fun to have her here. We went to visit places I had been to and enjoyed in the city as well as beautiful parts of Colombia I had never seen. Shannon has promised to put pictures up on facebook of our adventures to art museums, Bogotá's historical district, a cathedral carved into a Salt Mine (it's enormous- we spent 2 ½ hours underground!), mountain vistas and a water park. It was fun to share my beautiful city and community with her and be with people I love from both of my "worlds;" I only wish she could have stayed longer!
Furthermore, this past week at school God blessed me with renewed energy for teaching. At the end of last semester I was tired and a little discouraged by my students' performance. At home during the holidays it was great to rest and think about my classes, and it has been fun to be back in the classroom. My seniors are starting chemistry, and thanks to my grandparents' and parents' Salvation Army hunting, they now have "lab coats," or the best we could find. The kids feel very special wearing them, and after using them two days in a row to do an experiment, a few of the boys put them on at the start of class the next day even though it was just lecture. I enjoy chemistry, I hope I haven't used all my good material at the beginning- this week we've exploded sugar and are getting ready to tie-dye shirts. My physics class is learning about waves, so pray for a few of them that are struggling with this especially challenging unit. And my biology students- praise the Lord- have completely changed their behavior. I was very discouraged with the disruptive and disrespectful behavior of a few at the end of last semester, but since we've started up again they've turned around 180 degrees. I pray that this continues. I can't stop praying for my kids once it seems like God has "fixed" a problem. My kids, like all of us, need someone to intercede for them and bless them.
So, as always, I appreciate your prayers that support and bless me here. I can sense your prayers supporting me. As you talk to God this month, could you keep in mind:
- 1) Haiti. I think we're all praying for the situation there. Our school is raising money for a sister school there that is currently being used as a shelter in its community
- 2) My self-discipline. My two new year's resolutions are: 1) to practice dancing again. I miss it, and I want to be ready for opportunities in the future when I might be able to bless others with dance. I bought an MP3 player so I can do exercises and stretching in my room. 2) My other project this year is to keep up with MCAT material. This summer I need to take the med school exam again, and my goal is to improve my score by two points.
I love you all and would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading this long email. Hopefully future emails will be more frequent and shorter (nerdy observation- if emails were waves, multiplying their frequency by their length would give you their speed! High school physics, anyone?).
God bless,
Robyn
Feliz Navidad
¡Feliz Navidad!
Hola hermanos en Cristo. I apologize that I have not written in so long, but I appreciate those that haven´t forgotten about me, praying for ECA and keeping my inbox full. I´ll be home Dec 19, so let me know when I´ll be able to see you when I´m home. Do you all have busy Christmas seasons?
I´ve been busy, which is why I haven´t had time to write. Here´s a quick overview of some cool opportunities God has blessed me with in the past few weeks:
1) Chaperoning the high school retreat! The high school students and staff spent a weekend outside Bogota learning and playing together. It was fun; I got to race some of my students in slip-and-slide! A youth pastor from the states led us in 4 sessions with the theme "In His Majesty´s Secret Service." He reminded us of what God´s says in Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth." It´s not enough to like Jesus, we have to give our lives passionately and wholeheartedly to Christ. I saw God moving in me and a lot of the kids that weekend, calling us to be "hot," so that is a great praise.
2) Chaperoning a mission trip over Thanksgiving break. I have been helping with the school´s "creative outreach team," and we spent 4 days cleaning and painting in a poorer church in south Bogota. They just bought a garage that we turned it into a cheerful Sunday school area, and in the evenings we lead worship services- see picture. It was my favorite thing I´ve done so far in Colombia, and at the risk of offending my family, I´ll say that it was probably the best Thanksgiving I´ve ever had. I love ministering WITH my students- God is really doing cool things through them. In Spanish, Thanksgiving is translated "Day of action of thanks." That´s really what it was for me this year- an action of thanks. The trip was spiritually and emotionally refreshing, and I felt like I deepened relationship with some students. And don´t worry, the Tuesday before the trip I did try make "Thanksgiving food" for the Colombian family I live with. I don´t think they especially liked the stuffing, but the apple pie was a hit. They had never had apple pie before, so I had to rectify that unfortunate situation J
3) Helping out with medical brigades. A friend from school introduced me to people at her church that organize "brigadas" in areas around the city. This weekend I went with doctors, dentists, an optometrist, psychologists, a lawyer, and some evangelists to minister to a poorer neighborhood outside Bogota. The ministry set-up and the economic environment of the neighborhood reminded me very much of the Dominican Republic. For most of the time I helped in the pharmacy, and yesterday afternoon when the doctor asked for a helper I eagerly volunteered. Bogota is a city with rich and poor, and it was cool to see Christian professionals from Bogota serving their Colombian brothers and sisters. This group goes out about once a month, so I´ll probably keep going with them when I can. God is so good- I feel so blessed that He is providing me with an opportunity to do medical ministry here.
4) School! Classes have, for the most part, been doing well. My seniors have been working really hard on physics problems that involve trigonometry because SohCahToa will be on their entrance exam for Colombian universities. Also, someone recently donated 2 flip-cameras (very basic video cameras) to the school, and I used one to make a "video test" for my physics class. They watched video word problems on a computer for part of their test, and their scores were the best they´ve had. I´m trying to make more video word problems for their final. Biology just finished a unit on genetics, and now we´re studying cellular respiration. Anyone remember ATP? Also, last Wednesday I was the high school chapel speaker. All of our students come from Christian families, so I talked to them about figuring out what they personally believe so that they can be more committed and fruitful Christians.
Like I said, I´ve been busy! But you have been so faithful in your prayers, and I praise God for that. In the last few weeks, could you help me pray for:
1) My heart to stay in Bogota. Christmas makes me want to be home, but God still has work for me here for two more weeks. Also, I pray that Christmas can be a time for us to celebrate Christ, not just presents, lights and cookies.
2) My kids as they finish the semester. Exams are Dec 16-18, and some need to do well to pass.
3) Safe trip home! I´m flying home Dec 19. As I said, let me know if and when you want to get together. I´m thinking about having Colombian chocolate and arepas one day after church to get a chance to catch up with my Second Baptist family.
I love you and miss you all. May you find tidings of comfort and joy this Christmas season as we celebrate the coming of Immanuel!
Love,
Robyn
Dancing in Bogota
Happy (late) Halloween! Last Friday, the elementary students celebrated "Christian Character Day," a holiday our school invented to replace Halloween. The second grader that I live with dressed as David, slingshot and all. In the afternoon we had a festival where each middle or high school class had booths to raise money for class trips and ministries. Then on Saturday night, Colombians trick-or-treat in stores, not households. Seeing all the kids dressed up brought back fun memories of trick-or-treating around Suffield and costume parties at Messiah. I hope everyone had a fun weekend. As always, write me to let me know how you are. This week I was a homesick, so I looked at pictures of some of you on my computer J I feel so much better now, though. God is good.
Last weekend, the teaching staff from school had a retreat in a town outside Bogotá. I got to do all of my favorite things in one weekend: worship, playing cards, visiting a market, swimming, hiking, eating ice cream, jumping off rocks into a river, playing in the mud in the rain, and dancing. Yes, for the first time in months I got to dance in worship, and it was wonderful. Dancing is probably what I miss the most from home.
These past two weeks had some ups and downs. In my last letter I asked for prayer about finding a small group at church, and I have started attending a connection group for people my age. After my first meeting I was very encouraged and met some godly people, but it made me think a lot about church and asking God if this is where He wants me to worship and learn about Him. I realized that I am going to be here for two years, so I need to think about what kind of people I want to form relationships with, where I can serve, and where my spiritual home should be. The church I´ve been going to is huge and has wonderful, but sometimes "performancy" worship. Yet on the other hand, this might be a great opportunity for me to humble myself and be challenged to grow. And the family I live with attends there and are excited to see me involved with their church. So I'm praying about whether I should find a more service-oriented, smaller congregation (like I'm used to), or whether I should stay where I am and seek relationships with Christians who have different ideas about church. Prayers and advice are always appreciated
My students are doing well. Right now as a staff we're praying for the 10th graders because, as a group, they struggle to respect each other and teachers. I'm also praying for wisdom about how to balance my time between school, outside ministries I could take part in, and having a social life. It would be a blessing if you could pray for both of those things as well. I'm also thanking God for so much right now: I'm doing a Bible study with teacher friends about the book of Daniel, and I have been blessed with what I'm learning. I also had wonderful experiences on the teacher retreat and with people I met at church (see why I'm not sure what to do about church?) that have given me renewed energy for teaching. I am enjoying teaching dance to some of the elementary school girls, too, and that is this week´s picture. God is so good.
Content in all Circumstances
Last week was our time off from school when I was in the Dominican Republic. It was a wonderful change of pace, and I got to spend a lot of time with the friends I met there two years ago. Praise God for smooth travel days and safety while I was there. The team from MMI worked in a small rural hospital doing surgeries: fixing hernias, removing lipomas and doing hysterectomies. I helped in pre and post-op. They were short on nurses, so they taught me to how to take vitals and take out IV´s. I loved being in the hospital and listening to doctors and nurses discussing patient care. This trip motivated me to continue studying for the MCATs again in the spring and made me excited for what God might have for my future. After last week, I understand better 1 Thess 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I enjoy the community I have in Colombia and thank God for the opportunity to teach. However, I am also excited to pursue a career in medicine in a couple years. In other words, I am happy where I am and where I am going.
Back in Colombia we have started our second quarter. I have the biology kids growing plants at home, and the physics students are designing balloon rockets. My senior class is doing physics this quarter, so we´re beginning with a unit reviewing forces. This weekend we have parent-teacher conferences, so I´d appreciate prayers for wisdom in dealing with parents. I´d also appreciate prayer as I´m trying to find a small group to attend at my church so that I can meet Colombians my age. I also continue to praise God for the community and support He has given me, both here in Colombia and at home. I always enjoy emails and skype chats with family and friends at home :)
Have a great week. God is good and answers our prayers.
Joy comes in the morning
Happy Día de Amor y Amistad! Colombians celebrate this holiday of love and friendship during the month of September, so it often has me thinking of you, my friends back home. This holiday is similar to Valentines´ Day, but groups also play "amigo secreto," which is like secret Santa. I´m in two pools, with the teachers and with the senior class, and a couple times a week you "sweeten" your secret friend with candy or other small gifts. Every time I get an email or note from friends back home I feel "sweetened" because I always love hearing from you! (yes, that was cheesy, I know, but keep me posted with what´s new with you at home.)
Here in Bogota, the first quarter is ending. That means tests and project to be turned in, grading to be done, and report cards to set up before next Saturday when I leave for the Dominican Republic. I can´t believe we´re already one quarter of the way through our school year! Some highlights at school have been: dropping books and water bottles off the roof in physics to determine if they reached terminal velocity, listening to a week of seniors´ presentations on genetic disorders, and making DNA models out of candy that the students are selling as a fundraiser. On the other hand, two difficult times were giving two detentions for plagiarism. Also, two weeks ago they cancelled school for two days because too many teachers and students were sick. Feeling healthy and blessed, I went with three others to spend a night outside Bogota. It was hot and unpolluted; we walked around a lake and went to a swimming pool. I attached a picture of me with the 4th grade teacher, Giselle, by the lake.
Last weekend I chaperoned the 11th grade class when they volunteered in an orphanage. Each class at El Camino partners with a ministry on the 3rd Saturday of each month. It was wonderful to see my students thrive in an out-of-the-classroom, service setting. Since this is their second year going there, many of the orphans recognized them, and my students inspired me with their love for the kids. It was heartbreaking to leave because many kids tried to hide in our van or jump on the back bumper to come home with us. Even though I´m nowhere near ready to be a parent, part of me wanted to take one of these kids home to give him or her the love children deserve. Can you pray for these kids?
Also, can you pray for next week? I´m really nervous about my last biology unit with the senior class: evolution. This can be a sensitive subject, especially at a Christian school. Also, next Saturday (October 3) I have a 2 pm direct flight from Bogota to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I have been praying a lot for the people that we will serve and my friends who work for the medical ministry. I have also been praying a lot for friends at home. A praise has been God is helping me with Spanish. Sunday during church I resolved to think and pray that day in Spanish. After church we went to lunch with my family´s aunts, uncles and cousins- a large, loud group that had intimidated me. This may seem silly, but I was happy on Sunday when for the first time I contributed to their conversation!
Let me share with you something I journalled about this week: Psalm 124:1-5, 8 says, "If the LORD had not been on our side- let Israel say- /if the LORD had not been on our side/ when men attacked us, / when their anger flared against us, /they would have swallowed us alive; /the flood would have engulfed us,/the torrent would have swept over us,/ the raging waters /would have swept us away. ..Our help is in the name of the LORD, /the Maker of heaven and earth." Yes, if the LORD had not been on my side, when homesickness and speaking a new language have overwhelmed me, when unruly students were in front of me, when so many teachers and students were sick, they would have "swallowed me alive." Instead, God is so good, and I often wake up experiencing the deepest joy I have ever felt in my life. Thank you for your prayers- PLEASE keep them coming!
PS I put pictures up: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2068872&id=55302022&l=2f659aee21
Two Answered Prayers
THANK YOU for praying for me. In my last post, I asked you to pray for my senior class, and yesterday God reminded me that he does hear and answer prayer; God is awesome. I had been feeling frustrated last week about how to get them to behave, telling God in my prayers that I didn't know what else to do and needed His help. Thursday was especially frustrating, and I even found a note dropped on the floor after class that one boy had passed to another asking him to put a stuffed ferret (which I had confiscated during class) on another girl's shoulder when I wasn't looking. Yesterday I came to class ready to give them a talking to and punishment. Yet, one sentence into what I had planned to say, one of the boys raised his hand and asked if he could say something. He said that in homeroom that morning they had talked together as a class and realized that their behavior in science was disrespectful. Individually and on behalf of his classmates he apologized and asked for forgiveness about the way they had been acting. I almost fell out of my chair! The best part was, each individual behaved perfectly for the rest of class. So keep praying, because prayer works. An eloquent confession from a 17 year old boy to his science teacher can only be an act of God. This made me think of Ephesians 3:20, that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." There was nothing I could do to make these students behave, but the Holy Spirit worked their hearts to change their behavior. This incident reminded me that I am not in charge of my classroom- God is. Praise the Lord for this confession, and I pray that the seniors and I can continue to respect and love each other.
Also, I have other news to share with you about answered prayer. Most of you know I was not able to return to the Dominican Republic this summer as I had the past two years. The past few weeks as I have been praying, I have been thinking a lot about MMI (the ministry I worked with) and my friends there. I looked at their calendar of projects and my school breaks, and the only time this year when the two overlap is during the Colombian school holiday in October. Last Saturday I attended a small group meeting at the church I have been going to, and they talked about God's timing. Whenever I hear about "God's timing," I always equate this with asking for patience: God acts perfectly, but often later than we expect. However, I learned this week that God's timing might be faster than ours, because He's sending me to the Dominican Republic in October! Praise God! I am so excited to see friends and take a week off from educational ministry to do health care ministry. This is one of my prayer requests this week, that the details of this trip will fall into place.
Other things you can pray for (since you all have proved to be excellent at this!) are for some of the teachers who aren't feeling well, the teacher retreat next weekend, and the family that I live with- their grandfather had pancreitis and is improving, but still has a long way to go.
I miss you all and I'd love to hear from you. As soon as I figure out how to get pictures off my camera, I'll send a picture of my friend Suzette, the kindergarten teacher, on her birthday. We couldn't find frosting, so we decorated her cake with jelly and "whipped cream" (which looks like toothpaste and tastes like salty cheese). It was surprisingly delicious!Teaching in the Mountains
Hi friends! I hope you are all doing well. I heard that I’ve been missing some very warm temperature at home. If any of you need to escape the heat, you can come visit me in Bogota, where it’s usually 65 degrees year round :)
Thank you all for your prayers. I think my Spanish is improving, and we sprayed the bed to get rid of bugs; just pray that they stay away. As of today (Saturday) I’ve been here a month. I’ve been so busy it feels like I’ve been here much longer, and I know this is exactly where God wants me to be. You are all a huge blessing; El Camino Academy would not have a science teacher without your prayers, love and support.
I’ve been teaching for two weeks now, and most of the kids are great. My biology and physics students are very eager learners. After we did a lab with microscopes, some of the boys in my biology class asked if they could look at more slides during study hall- I was thrilled! My physics students ask lots of questions and keep me on my toes! I could use prayer for my senior class. There’s no curriculum; so I’ve been a little unorganized and disappointed with the work they’ve been doing. I’m going to talk to them on Monday about my expectations, and hopefully that will help.
Living with my family has been great. They’ve been very welcoming and helpful. Since August is kite month in Bogotá, last Sunday we went to a park north of the city to fly kites and have a barbecue with their extended family. I enjoyed the grilled corn on the cob, plantains and potatoes with guacamole. I passed on the grilled cow intestines and blood sausage, though.
The weekend before last some of the teachers and I went to Mont Serrat, a mountain surrounding Bogotá with a Catholic church at the top (see picture). It was a great view of the city. I enjoy hanging out with the other teachers because we’re all very similar. I praise God for the great community He has created and given me here. This morning Melody (the first grade teacher) and I took a bus to Bogotá’s central park to go running. It was beautiful.
Last weekend I also got to see my friend Nancy, who is in Colombia on an educational tour. It was fun to see a good friend and hear about what she’s learning.
One of the things I enjoy most here is going to church. If I feel homesick or lonely, church reminds me that God is everywhere and unchanging. I can close my eyes and worship the same God I worship in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, knowing my friends and family there are doing the same. A scripture that has meant a lot to me here is Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?” Bogotá is surrounded by mountains, so every day I lift up my eyes and remember, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (vs. 1-2,7-8)
Praise God!
I survived my first day of school!
Today was our first day with the students. It was fairly easy because the high schoolers had an assembly, homeroom, and a picnic. Monday I´ll actually start teaching, but I feel prepared. We´ve had lots of work time during teacher orientation the past two weeks, and I´m excited to actually start meeting more students. The past few weeks were full of teachers´meetings, cross-cultural orientations and devotional/prayer times. I´ve also been cleaning out the science lab- see the "after" picture.
It´s been fun to get to know the teachers and staff here during our training. Last Friday the McCollums (the family I stayed with when I first got here) invited a group of new teachers to their house for pizza and brownies. We sat around talking and laughing for hours; it was a great time. On Saturday I got to see a classmate from Messiah, Farrah Amin, who was visiting her family in Bogota. On Sunday I went to church with my host family and then hung out with their extended family at their grandparents´ house. The church was so popular that people wait in line for three blocks until the service before it let out. Then people filed in and filled every seat. They had us jumping up and down and shouting praises to God- it was really cool.
My family has been really great. We eat dinner together every night, and the boys love to play games. I brought them the game ´Trouble,´ and we played one night for a few hours. Most of you know I like to stay active, and it´s safe for me to run around their neighborhood as long as I take their dog with me. He and I have become good friends.:) Thank you so much for praying for me! God has been so faithful in answering my prayers. I can tell that He has a plan for me here, and your encouragement has been wonderful. If you could pray this week for:
-My first teaching day on Monday, that I make a good first impression with the kids
-I have bed bugs! That we can find a way to deal with that
-That I keep my focus on Christ and His purposes for me here.
I miss you and appreciate you all!
Welcome to Bogota!
I´ve heard this so many times in the past week! I arrived in Bogota on Wednesday night around 11 pm local time (they´re an hour behind the east coast), and for the first few days I stayed with the McCollum family. They are missionaries from the Chicago area; Bob is the high school principal, Vicki is a high school math teacher, and their girls are in 3rd and 6th grade. It was wonderful to spend time with them because, first of all, they are wonderful, loving people, and also, they showed me around the area. The first day I was here, my first task was to get my blood typed because I need that for my Colombian ID card. The McCollums also brought me to the mall to get money and other essentials (like shampoo!). For dinner we ate in a Colombian chain restaurant called Crepes and Waffles (which also serves great ice cream for dessert).
The next day I came to school and started organizing my classroom. I have a big room with desks in the front and lab tables in back. Right now it's a mess because I´ve been sorting through supplies and books and praying it can be painted before school starts. Besides cleaning my room, I´ve also been coming up with lesson plans now that I have my curriculum. I´ll be teaching sophomore biology, junior physics, and a senior capstone science class. Yesterday and today have been new teacher orientation days, and starting tomorrow (Wed) most of the other teachers will be back. We start school Aug 7. So far, all of the teachers I have met seem wonderful, and I can tell it will be easy to make friends.
This past weekend the school´s director and her husband took another rookie teacher and me out of town for Colombian breakfast at a panaderia (bakery). We had hot chocolate with cheese (yes, in the hot chocolate- it was actually tasty!), arepas and different types of rolls. Then in the afternoon the McCollums took a few new teachers to a well know mall in Bogota built on an old ranch property. After dinner we met up with the director for dessert. On Sunday I went to church with the McCollums, and they had a guest speaker and his band. It was wonderful and lively. Sunday night I moved in with the family that is hosting me, the Cardenas´. They had been on vacation when I got here. They are very sweet and welcoming. I can tell that they want me to feel at home and part of their family. Last night the boys (Juan Nico is 10 and Santiago is 7) tried to teach me to play their video games. I´ll try to post a picture with them soon on my church´s blog: http://www.secondbaptistsuffield.org/ under "Missions."
Right now, could you pray for:
-My Spanish to improve, so it is easier for me to talk to the Cardenas´
-Being ready for the first day of school
-Praise for safe travels and excellent first week J
God is so good, and I feel very at peace. God´s comforting and protecting Spirit is very present here. I feel so blessed that He provided this opportunity for me and provided all of you to help me get here. Many blessings!
Bogotá Missions Blog
Dear friends,
My name is Robyn Smith, and I recently graduated from Messiah College (near Harrisburg, PA) with a major in Biology and a minor in global Christian ministries. I grew up in Suffield at Second Baptist, and on July 22, I move to Bogotá, Colombia to begin ministry with El Camino Academy. I have accepted a two year volunteer position teaching high school science: physical science, biology and physics. I am also excited to teach a dance elective! My classroom will be 71% Colombian, 6% American and 23% other nationalities; I will teach in English. Since El Camino is a Christian school, I see my role as educating and mentoring the next generation of church leaders in Colombia. For more information about the school, please see their website: www.eca.edu.co
Second Baptist Church is endorsing my ministry and will commission me as a volunteer in ministry on Children's Day on June 14 at 10 am. God is so good, and He has used friends' and family's love and encouragement to teach me that ministry is always a community effort. I praise God that so many friends and family have been very generous in their financial and prayer support.
This is where I will post updates and prayer requests. Right now I taking care of details that come with moving to another country (getting a visa, figuring out cell phones, ect), working on ideas for lessons, and raising support. As I get ready for this new type of ministry, could you join me in praying for:
- Preparing my heart for teaching and the situations I will encounter in Bogotá. I pray that I can reflect Christ's love in all situations.
-My students, that we can grow closer to God through studying science!
-My church family at Second Baptist as they partner with me in ministry
-Safety and health as I travel
If you have any questions or would like more information about my ministry, I'd love to talk to you. My email is rs1288@messiah.edu
íHasta Bogotá!
Commissioning Prayer on June 14, 2009
Children's Day 2009 Printer Friendly Format