Remembering & New Beginnings

Wow. Five years. Where has the time gone?! In less than 50 days I will be leaving this country that I have come to love and have known as home for the last five years. Since I arrived in Kandern, Germany, in August of 2010, I have met hundreds of missionary kids, made life-long friends, experienced different cultures, and have learned and grown so much. I am so thankful for the opportunity to live and serve in this place. For those of you who have supported, prayed for, and encouraged me through this whole process, thank you! Here are some highlight moments from the past five years.

Hosting five Thanksgiving dinners! 

Dressing up for countless MS events!

 High School Christmas Banquet!

 Spending three Christmases in Germany!

Fun with students outside of school!

 Small Group 2011-2012!

 Teaching Guitar Class!

 Helping with Operation Christmas Child!

Small Group 2012-2013!

 Celebrating students at our MS Awards Ceremony!

 Leading worship!

Taking students to the recording studio!

Chrysalis!

Sharing fun moments with students!

Fun Fact Mondays!

Co-leading chapel band! 

 MS Overnight!

Taking the MS History Trivia Team to Paris/Rome to compete!

BFA Middle School 2011-2015

It's bittersweet knowing that my time at Black Forest Academy is coming to a close. It's incredible to think back on the last five years and all that God has done in and through me. Thank you for partnering with me in this journey to Germany!

At the end of June, I will return to Southern Alberta for a few weeks to spend time with friends/family, get reacquainted with life in Canada, and pack as I begin to move forward with the next steps God has for me. I'm very excited to announce that at the end of July, I will begin working as the Secretary of Global Ministries in the Christian & Missionary Alliance Canada office in Toronto, Ontario! It brings me great joy to continue working in mission and administrative work. God has made it evident that this is where He is leading me, as He is already beginning to open so many doors in this process.

Please pray for me - that in the midst of looking ahead, I will also finish well in this place that I am leaving. The end of the year is quite busy for me, as I prepare for not only moving but also our MS awards ceremony, 8th grade dinner, Chrysalis final activities, and training my replacement. There is a lot to do, but my hope and prayer is that I will take time to have quality moments with friends and students in these last few weeks. May God bless you as you continue to walk with Him!

Chapel Band Series // #4

"Why should others join chapel band?"

Chapel Band Series // #3

"What are some of your favourite memories from chapel band?"

Chapel Band Series // #2

"How does chapel band make you a better musician?" 

Chapel Band Series // #1

A few weeks ago, when we didn't have Friday chapel to prepare for, we took some special videos of our chapel band girls to help promote chapel band in the future. Over the course of the next week or so, I will post some different videos to give you a glimpse into why these students chose to be a part of chapel band. I hope you enjoy!

Lord, I Need You

Each morning this week I have pulled out my stack of blue absence sheets and started writing students' names as I received phone calls and emails from parents of sick kids. Our small middle school of 70 students has been hit hard this week by what seems like a never-ending illness. We were at a record high on Tuesday when we had 22 students out sick. Today, a friend and I were talking about how it is God's divine providence that we haven't reached this record with our teachers as well. We are all feeling pretty run down, but thankfully we are well enough to go to school each day. 

Music has always been an important part of my life, and I go through different seasons of favourite songs. I don't think it's a coincidence at all that the song I have on repeat right now is "Lord, I Need You" by Matt Maher. As we come to the end of a week of coughs, sneezes, and fevers, I can't think of a better prayer to sing than "Lord, [We] Need You."

Lord, I need You
Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense
My righteousness
Oh, God, how I need You

Operation Christmas Child!

Our 3rd Annual OCC Packing Party was a huge success! With the help of the BFA community, we were able to pack 116 boxes!!! Here are some pictures to give you a glimpse into our packing party that was run by our awesome middle school students.

We really got into the Christmas spirit! 

Everyone who participated got an OCC sticker!

Our box checkers made sure each box had everything it needed!

"Elf" was playing for those who were done packing their boxes!

These are just some of the students who came to pack a box!

Way to go BFA!