You'd love my class of Chinese students. Right now there is about 12 of 'em. They are students from the Yunnan province in Southern China. These students study here in an exchange program, some studying Thai some studying English. All of them have English names that some English teacher has given them along the way. Names like Sabrina (sounds kinda Russian to me) and Eva and Lane. I do try to learn their Chinese names. This leaves me humbled under the weight of Long Qi Ping. When Q, X and Z are some of the letters most often used to transliterate a names into English, we have suddenly gone to a whole new level. They forgive my bumbling tongue, and we go on.
Last week we studied Romeo and Juliet. Okay, it is a dumbed down version so that we all can follow along a little easier. First we read the drama, thanks to Oxford's English learner books. I take the major part of Romeo because they need to hear my accent and because the persona of Romeo fits me so well (as I am sure you have already discerned). They take the minor parts, oh and the most vocal girl usually takes the part of Juliet. This reading of the play provides me with an outlet I need for my untapped dramatic abilities. The students generally catch on to the spirit of the drama about half way through. Thus, we usually end up with a roaring fight between Tybalt and Romeo and a sobering death scene as Juliet plunges the knife into her belly. All the while we are pickin' up techniques of English usage and English vocabulary.
The lesson ends with my explanation of the story. I love this part. We discuss how the great dilemma of the story is the family feuding which keeps our lovers from each other. Unfortunately it takes the death of the young lovers to bring peace between the families. I don't know if Shakespeare would agree with my conclusions, but I make it quite clear to these students that this death of our lovers reveals how peace follows the death of the "innocent." At this point the conversation flows into a discussion about a family or, if you will, a people at odds with their maker. As I explain the story of Jesus, the students recognize that the death of this innocent one, Jesus brings peace to our conflict with God.
I am amazed at how our human stories so often point to "The Story." Even a sappy love story like Romeo and Juliet provides fodder for a blazing discussion about the necessity of the death of Christ for the sins of humanity. With these students I have seen Jesus' uncanny ability to reveal the truth of His story. Our discussions become quite interesting as the Holy Spirit is present and convicting hearts of the truth in the story of Jesus. I'd love for you to be there with me and see the looks on their faces. Hearts penetrated by the beautiful story of Christ's death. Jaws set. Eyes wide. It can get rather intense. This group has yet to make a commitment to His story, but the Holy Spirit sees to it that the seed is planted deep. Intense? yes, and this is absolutely the nature of Christ's story! Only two options are available to any of us..."Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
Next up, Hamlet. Ohhhh, we are all in trouble! Truly, there is something "rotten in Denmark." Pray that God will have us "Broken to Pieces."
18.11.08
19.9.08
Welcome Back (to me and to you)
We are back in Thailand, and I thought I would celebrate our arrival with a posting on our blog. This blog is definitely travel weary and looking for some attention. Glad this blog is a low maintenance blog site. Some of you we have just seen a few weeks ago, some a little longer. My writing will focus on the "good vibes" during our 2 and a half months in the states and share the "What is next?" stuff as well.
While in the U.S. we were able to visit family and friends in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. It is a unique blessing to get to see all of your family in a couple summer months. Everyone is very gracious and giving to us, even though I think many people were a little disappointed we could not spend more time with them. It is a bit difficult emotionally when you want to spend two months with everyone you see, but also need to spread the time around. SO we choose to remember how blessed we are to have had the sweet opportunity to walk into houses of people who love us so well and consistently.
Highlights:
Everybody meeting Jak and this kid finally becoming officially Samuel Jakkarin Pennington;
I will not teach at Rajaphat University for another month. This is partly in order to wait for the beginning of the coming semester and partly in order to rest my voice. I still need to heal as much as possible. To be honest, I wish my voice was coming along a little better. I don't really have a great teaching voice yet. It still is horse and pretty soft. I have nothing in terms of loudness. A speech therapist in Abilene, Brenda Bender, blessed me with some voice training before I left. She let me know I will have to be patient. A better voice may take a few months. Keep praying for my voice. Oh, and ask God to make me patient...ugh.
Meanwhile, we have the opportunity in Sept. to take a course in Chiang Mai on church planting movements. It will be a two week course, so I will be away from Julie and the kids for a bit (bummer). Right now I am doing some pre-reading and prep. for the course. What a great opportunity to learn under some people who are seeing movements where churches plant churches and masses of people are coming to Christ.
Julie is diligent in bringing about a great start to the FLC school year. Her dedication to directing the elementary and teaching makes it so children from various backgrounds receive a quality education (including our kids). Missionaries in the area are thankful to have this place to send their kids. Literally, Julie's service is quite literally a service to orphans and the poor of Chiang Rai. "She is large, she contains masses," to quote Whitman.
The kids are back to studies. Ben and Kate are happy to be with their friends and they are working hard. Ben is taking woodworking and making a pencil holder while Kate continues with dance from our sweet Taiwanese dance teacher. Jak's months of full-on English in the States left him with some confusing looks on the first day of school. He keeps trying to get other kids to speak English, but he is slowly realizing he has little peer buy-in. School seems to be a fun and encouraging place for them all. We are all thankful.
Keep Praying, specifically these 3 things:
1. Pray the Brent's voice heals so he can teach and talk and tell people about Jesus.
2. Pray for Julie and the kids to do well at school. Pray some prayers that Julie can balance her schedule where she can administrate, teach, mother and rest effectively. Pray that the school would have all the resources necessary to continue developing into a great International Christian School for all the missionary, international and Thai kids.
3. Pray that the movement at Rajaphat University with Thai and Chinese students will continue and grow. Pray for leaders in these groups to receive Jesus and pray for help to evangelize the students and faculty of this campus. Pray that this would turn into a movement that effects the specific areas where these students come from.
We miss ya and love ya tons.
Peace of Christ to you,
Brent, Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak
While in the U.S. we were able to visit family and friends in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. It is a unique blessing to get to see all of your family in a couple summer months. Everyone is very gracious and giving to us, even though I think many people were a little disappointed we could not spend more time with them. It is a bit difficult emotionally when you want to spend two months with everyone you see, but also need to spread the time around. SO we choose to remember how blessed we are to have had the sweet opportunity to walk into houses of people who love us so well and consistently.
Highlights:
Everybody meeting Jak and this kid finally becoming officially Samuel Jakkarin Pennington;
Camp cousins at Mama Ann and Papa Jack's house;
Mom and Dad's backyard fort in the Colorado Mountains with cousin Corbin;
Below freezing camping in Colorado (not a fav of some warm blooded Thai bodies, but I liked it);
Below freezing camping in Colorado (not a fav of some warm blooded Thai bodies, but I liked it);
4th of July, actually in America where it counts, at the Coxes in Denver;
Table fellowship at Ash and Mike's house in Lubbock;
NASA and the Wii at Andy and Cheryl's in Houston, Ethan waiting on us, and Maddie taking Julie shoppin;
Laughing hard late at night until we couldn't talk (oh I couldn't talk anyways) at Jackson and Erin's in Waco;
Winter Park just Brent and Julie for 2 days;
Being challenged, filled up, and served at the SLNI retreat in the New Mexico mountains;
Mountain Biking...with Russ in Palo Duro Canyon, with Chris in Ft. Worth, with Reg in Colorado, with James in New Mexico, and with my kids in Abilene;
A weekend date in Dallas with Ang and Tim (quite a rarity for them and us not to be with kids);
A weekend date in Dallas with Ang and Tim (quite a rarity for them and us not to be with kids);
Little Jackson's (who is gradually becoming big Jackson) baptism and Papa Jack's prayer over him;
A quick catch up and overnight with friends in the hill country;
A quick catch up and overnight with friends in the hill country;
Seeing Russ, Tracy and cousins' new life in Amarillo;
Worship with our church in Fort Worth;
Worship with our church in Fort Worth;
Being prayed for by Highland church leaders;
The Griggs family get together in Ruidosa which meant lots of hikes,some fun fishing and good food by Mama Ann and Joe;
Getting the growth that was blocking half of my windpipe yanked out by my kind friend and Doctor Trudi in Greely, Colorado;
Breathing again (no exaggeration);
Getting the growth that was blocking half of my windpipe yanked out by my kind friend and Doctor Trudi in Greely, Colorado;
Breathing again (no exaggeration);
Catching trout with Dad the day after my surgery (no talking aloud);
Seeing Native American ruins in New Mexico and a fun day in Santa Fe;
Seeing where the Browns live and love people in Como and having fun with them at Lake Brownwood;
Shuffleboard at Aunt Susan and Uncle Bobby's house (as Jak says, "He's the Man");
Going to the potter's house and making pots while learning about Jesus (thanks Lucas and Heidi);
Dates with the Albrights, the Guilds, the Browns, the Stegs, the Penningtons, the Martins, the Roberts, the Presleys (and gaining all ten of those extra pounds...most of it coming from Mexican food that you made me eat...ha);
Seeing where the Browns live and love people in Como and having fun with them at Lake Brownwood;
Shuffleboard at Aunt Susan and Uncle Bobby's house (as Jak says, "He's the Man");
Going to the potter's house and making pots while learning about Jesus (thanks Lucas and Heidi);
Dates with the Albrights, the Guilds, the Browns, the Stegs, the Penningtons, the Martins, the Roberts, the Presleys (and gaining all ten of those extra pounds...most of it coming from Mexican food that you made me eat...ha);
Seeing both Julie's and Brent's grandparents;
Staying with and visiting so many different fun people;
We finished out the trip with a 3 day stopover in San Francisco where we ate clam chowder, saw the John Muir's great redwoods, played in the ocean, drove the crazy S.F. streets, and watched the Olympics.
I attached pictures below of some of these events and there are lots more pics at flickr (if you are into pictures of us for some reason). To get to flickr, just click on any of the pics on my blog and explore the flickr sight.
Staying with and visiting so many different fun people;
We finished out the trip with a 3 day stopover in San Francisco where we ate clam chowder, saw the John Muir's great redwoods, played in the ocean, drove the crazy S.F. streets, and watched the Olympics.
I attached pictures below of some of these events and there are lots more pics at flickr (if you are into pictures of us for some reason). To get to flickr, just click on any of the pics on my blog and explore the flickr sight.
Now, what is next? The kids started school and Julie has been helping get everything ready to go at the school from the day we arrived. Julie will continue to coordinate the elementary program at the kids school and teach in the mornings. Jak started back at his Thai school. It was a bit emotional for him. I think he got used to us being all together most of the time. You should see Jak's teacher. She is a gift from God. She is maybe two feet taller than Jak, but she can take him (which says a lot cause some times he takes me out) She really cares for him and is quite determined to see him fit in. She also seems to appreciate Jak for his energetic self and fun loving personality. Thanks Jesus for Teacher Oat!
I will not teach at Rajaphat University for another month. This is partly in order to wait for the beginning of the coming semester and partly in order to rest my voice. I still need to heal as much as possible. To be honest, I wish my voice was coming along a little better. I don't really have a great teaching voice yet. It still is horse and pretty soft. I have nothing in terms of loudness. A speech therapist in Abilene, Brenda Bender, blessed me with some voice training before I left. She let me know I will have to be patient. A better voice may take a few months. Keep praying for my voice. Oh, and ask God to make me patient...ugh.
Meanwhile, we have the opportunity in Sept. to take a course in Chiang Mai on church planting movements. It will be a two week course, so I will be away from Julie and the kids for a bit (bummer). Right now I am doing some pre-reading and prep. for the course. What a great opportunity to learn under some people who are seeing movements where churches plant churches and masses of people are coming to Christ.
Julie is diligent in bringing about a great start to the FLC school year. Her dedication to directing the elementary and teaching makes it so children from various backgrounds receive a quality education (including our kids). Missionaries in the area are thankful to have this place to send their kids. Literally, Julie's service is quite literally a service to orphans and the poor of Chiang Rai. "She is large, she contains masses," to quote Whitman.
The kids are back to studies. Ben and Kate are happy to be with their friends and they are working hard. Ben is taking woodworking and making a pencil holder while Kate continues with dance from our sweet Taiwanese dance teacher. Jak's months of full-on English in the States left him with some confusing looks on the first day of school. He keeps trying to get other kids to speak English, but he is slowly realizing he has little peer buy-in. School seems to be a fun and encouraging place for them all. We are all thankful.
Keep Praying, specifically these 3 things:
1. Pray the Brent's voice heals so he can teach and talk and tell people about Jesus.
2. Pray for Julie and the kids to do well at school. Pray some prayers that Julie can balance her schedule where she can administrate, teach, mother and rest effectively. Pray that the school would have all the resources necessary to continue developing into a great International Christian School for all the missionary, international and Thai kids.
3. Pray that the movement at Rajaphat University with Thai and Chinese students will continue and grow. Pray for leaders in these groups to receive Jesus and pray for help to evangelize the students and faculty of this campus. Pray that this would turn into a movement that effects the specific areas where these students come from.
We miss ya and love ya tons.
Peace of Christ to you,
Brent, Julie, Ben, Kate and Jak
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