Reflecting on God's Goodness

I am now into my second week of teaching 3rd grade and following a 6-hour long car ride (full of great conversation!) I was challenged by my brother Caleb to dedicate more time to the Lord and to set that time aside "non-negotiable" regardless of the busyness of my work. Since that conversation I've been waking up early going for a morning run and then spending ample time in the Word and in prayer. Not only have I spent spiritually energized but it has been tremendously rewarding physically as well since I am more rested on the whole. Please pray that I will continue to dedicate myself to the Lord's work as I teach and that he will be glorified through my teaching.

JBC
This past summer I co-directed Joy Bible Camp with my dad and we had a good turnout of kids and excellent staff this summer. We have been thrilled to see the growth in both the kids and the counselors and look forward to this coming summer of 2016 to see what the Lord has in store.

Summer Europe Trip
Following JBC I visited Tom and Linnea in Heidelberg, Germany and then visited a number of other countries while there. My travels took me from Tokyo to United Arab Emirates (a layover), Germany, Norway, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy and Vatican City. So, in all I was able to visit 8 countries and was blessed to be able to spend about ten days of my 3-week trip with Tom and Linnea.

Arc de Triomphe

At a monastery restaurant

Helping the Ellisons after JBC

Visiting the Aronsens in Drammen, Norway

Eating with Tom and Linnea's dorm

Eating dessert with our Swedish host Carl-Magnus

Visiting a museum with our French friend Tommy

At the Cluny Museum

Overlooking the Roman forum

Serious museum tourist

Traveling through the Swiss Alps

The Colosseum

Versaille gardens

Some places I visited:

• Heidelberg Castle
• the Oslo ski jump
• Vigeland Park
• Viking Museum
• Norwegian Holocaust Museum
• Palace of the King of Norway
• Norwegian Opera House
• Rosendal (Sweden)
• Berlin Wall
• Topography of Terror (Berlin)
• Jewish Museum (Berlin)
• Bodes Museum
• Pergamum Museum
• Checkpoint Charlie
• Versailles
• Arc de Triomphe
• Eiffel Tower
• Louvre
• Colosseum
• Ostia Antica (Rome)
• St. Peters

Teaching
In a span of four years I have now taught in three different divisions. I started at CAJ teaching high school Bible and then taught 6th grade, and now am teaching 3rd grade. The joke within our family has been that I have two options: 1) pre-K 2) administration! I have 25 students and it has already been a tremendous blessing (and BIG learning curve!)

KCC
Tomorrow is the first day of the KCC youth group and we look forward to another great year together in fellowship and learning God's word. I have also committed to preaching at KCC on December 13th and am excited for that upcoming opportunity.

Summer Reading
This summer I didn't do a lot of reading because I was traveling Europe and teaching a lifeguard course however I did manage to find time for three books:

1) The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad by Harrison E. Salisbury
A book that tells the fascinating true account of what later became known of as the "Leningrad Affair." The author spent 25 years researching and interviewing eyewitnesses before writing the book.

2) How to Read a Person Like a Book by Gerard I. Nierenberg & Henry H. Calero
A book originally written for businessmen to discuss nonverbal communication which could be helpful in knowing whether a business transaction will go through or not and how to make an effective impression on your clients.

3) Man of All Passions by Robert Hicks
A book I picked up in college in the college library book sale 5-6 years ago. I brought it all the way to Japan and happened upon it this summer. Excellent read and tells the life story of an Israeli IDF officer who felt like he could relate to King David very well.

Prayer Requests:
- Continued rich devotional times
- for wisdom in classroom management
- to get used to teaching 3rd graders and communicating effectively with the parents
- as I continue graduate coursework (which is sort of on the 'back burner' right now until I can get on top of my new position
- for the KCC youth group to thrive