Gratitude Attitude 101...

I had the privilege to share again in chapel today. The message ... Gratitude Attitude 101 (adapted from a challenge shared with our mission board by our missionary pastor, Ron Koteskey, during his recent visit) ... was about living within an attitude of gratitude in all circumstances as Paul commands in I Thess. 5:16-18. We only have 2 more chapels as the school year is quickly coming to a close. Our school director, Steve Swope, will be sharing next Wednesday, and the seniors are in charge of chapel for our last time together on the 14th of May.

ACSI Re-accreditation visit...

The staff and administration of the Learning Center have been going through a re-accreditation self-study this year to continue their accredited status with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). This week is the culmination of the study with a review board visiting the school, going over the study, doing interviews and looking over the general "health" of the school.

It has been a very long process for those involved and we would appreciate your prayers this week as we finish the task.

Pic It...

Friday, we had an excellent turnout for our Junior High Pic It (Picture Scavenger Hunt). We split into 5 groups and headed around the city for pics. The challenge was to capture as many pictures from a given list and get back to my place within a given time frame. All the teams did a great job and had an awesome time!

These guys took goose chasing very seriously...This team decided to take a break in a local park...

We don't have telephone booths, but "guard shacks" do work too...

Yes, a "Chinese Fire-drill". Don't worry, I drove after too...

Junior Senior Banquet...

Our juniors host a banquet each year in honor of the seniors. This year's Junior/Senior was held on Saturday evening, April 19. It was a formal gathering with a wonderful program and great time of fellowship. The juniors asked me to help with part of their presentation and so I've been involved with video shooting and editing over the last several weeks. I then helped during the program with some of the "technical" logistics. They did an awesome job and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Here I am with senior & friend, David Lotz (heading to Purdue in Indiana)

Several of our freshman are aspiring to be Mariachi...
This is Roxy Jien...I'm really going to miss her wonderful smile and great attitude when she heads off to the University of Arkansas this Fall.The new Men-in-Black... David, Paul, Kyle & Tim...

Mission Meetings...

One of my responsibilities on the field is participating on the Bolivia WGM board as "first member at-large". Don't really know what that means...but it incorporates my involvement in board meetings and then helping out at field events.

I attended a board meeting on Friday, before making it back out to the Learning Center to meet with a few students. After school, I helped to set up for our staff meeting to be held the next day. Then I went to the gym to cheer for our Varsity Boy's basketball team as they won their semi-final game. Finals will be held on Tuesday, May 22.

Twice a year, we have a day-long conference/meeting called "Mini-Staff" which includes all WGM-Bolivia missionaries. I helped the Assistant Director, Rick Lampen and his wife Lori, with some of the logistics for our April 19 time together. It was a great time together, including teaching from former missionary and current university professor, Ron Stansel. His sharing on cultural issues and the impact it has on ministry was enlightening.

Chapel: "God and..." or Just "God" ...

That was today's theme for chapel. John 15:1-8 talks of Christ being the Vine and we are the branches. Josh, a senior, is representing the vine, while seventh graders, Caleb and Felipe are the branches. Here, the girls are holding cups which represent the fruit that comes out of our lives after the Lord fills...

The overall theme centered on making God our source of joy, wholeness & fulfillment with all other things being directed through Him, rather than puting them equal to God. It seemed to be a good chapel and, as always, I enjoyed sharing the challenge!