We Just Can't Stay Away

Our fourth graders (minus 2) on a very sunny day

 There is reason to, as the psalmist said, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth."  Ps. 100:1

Now well into our fourth stint of serving where we trust the Lord wants us (we just can't stay away!), we continue to witness reason to shout for joy.  Though our bodies are aging and our skills limited, we are in awe as we see God working in the lives of the next generation. What a treat to pray with our fourth grade students without any fear of persecution and without concern for being offensive.  There is no wall of separation at GDQ Int'l. Christian School.

sweet voices lifting prayer and praise

Class guiding verse in students' artwork

The psalmist continues in verse 2: "Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." 

Each Thurs. morning we gather with 45 grade 3-5 students for a chapel service, where much joyful singing takes place.  Such cherubic joyfulness needs to be tempered a bit in the classroom, where we realize their halos aren't quite complete (and neither are ours).  They are still children after all, and we love them.

Head of Lower School leading chapel singing

Our class of 15 claim Korea, Guatemala, USA, England, and Albania as home.  We squeeze with them into a room once limited to 12 students, so we are elbow to elbow most of the day.  Add to that their reputation for being the noisiest class in the school, and we end up with a lively classroom.  They have good hearts and are on their way to controlling the chattiness, which increasingly endears them to us.

Verse 4:  "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise..."

As we re-connected with our little church, Kisha Bibla Flet, it became clear that the young men being taught and shepherded by Pastor Dennis are growing in faith and wisdom.  They are beginning to take on leadership roles in the church, preaching, leading worship, and handling administrative tasks.  If church planting is the initial focus of missionaries here, the goal is to work themselves out of a job, such that Albanians can become strong enough and confident to sustain the church themselves.  Kisha Bibla Flet is moving in that direction.

Vero and Saimir preaching and translating

God is blessing us abundantly, and so we close with verse 3:  "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever.  His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Prayer Requests:

* health and strength for us to continue,  such that we can fulfill our commitment to teach 

   through Jan. 23

* a 4th grade teacher to step up to take our place (if you know of anyone who might be

   interested, please let us know)

* other teaching needs at GDQ to be met (EAL teacher, middle school math teacher)

We love to hear from home, so send those emails when you have time.  God's blessings and our love to you all,

Bob and Judy