I found a church!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone! Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. Whenever I get on the Internet, I just mainly check my e-mail and talk with friends through Skype or MSN messenger. I've been keeping pretty busy here. I have so much on my mind right now that I would like to share, but I will try and keep it short...short but sweet.

This morning, I visited a new church and was in awe after the service. The majority of churches that I have gone to here have messages that are "on the surface." I've been wanting something deeper. Something more challenging. This morning was that and more. It's a newer church here and God used the pastor in some pretty a-mazing ways! The singing was also good and the people reached out in such a way that my colleagues and I felt like part of the church family. I will most likely attend this church regularly now....yay! I was kind of getting tired of "church hopping."

The message this morning covered 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5. The pastor talked about Paul's priorities as a leader. He talked alot about the evil kind of boasting (pride in ourselves) vs. the good kind (boasting in the cross of Christ). He also talked about seeking joy and delighting in rewards for whenever we boast in the Lord. In this particular scripture, Paul boasted in the fact that God used him to share the message with others....this was a priviledge to Paul. The pastor talked about how it's better to endure affliction than to run away from it. God tests our faith because, as humans, we are slow learners. We are destined to affliction, not the wrath of God. Only mercy comes from God. God is the only one who destines; there's no such thing as luck or fate.

Those were just some of the truths that were discussed in church this morning. If I went into more detail, this post would be extremely long, but I hope that you got something out of the above, even though it's not very detailed.

As I mentioned in the last post, this month is Kindness Month at our school. The students have to do about 15 kind acts in order to go to the Fall Festival on the 30th. I'm making my students work for their stickers. At first, they were coming up to me and saying that so-and-so let them borrow a pencil and many other silly simplistic things. I know all too well that all my students have at the minimum 3 writing utensils each. So, I told them that they had to go out of their way to be kind to one another because I want them to learn what it means to be kind. I can see a change in some of thier behaviors; others don't seem to care as much. So, please continue to keep them in your prayers. The hatred between my students is getting better and I am getting a new 4th grader tomorrow!

Also, pray for my family. My great-uncle (he's 92 years old) just passed away about 12 hours ago from when I'm writing this. This is hard for me to be thousands of miles away from my family. I wish that I was there to be of some comfort and to spend some time with my uncle, whom I have looked to like a grandfather.

Thanks for all your prayers! God Bless!