Spiritual Emphasis Retreat

The first weekend of October was the Jr. High and High School Spiritual Emphasis retreat. It took place about 40 minutes away from AVA at the Palavra da Vida Seminary. It was what anyone would expect from a Bible Camp retreat-games, fun times in the dorms, good Bible teaching, and a chance to get to know each other on a deeper level. I was so blessed to be able to be a part of this significant part of the AVA school year.

I had four of my 9th-10th grade girls in my room, and also got to have small group time with them after sessions. The Bible teaching was lead by the husband of the 2nd grade student teacher, and we walked through the book of James, learning and reviewing many important lessons about our lives as Christians. I was so proud of the students, who lead all the worship for the weekend and were very respectful and responsible the whole weekend.

I was so blessed to get to build relationships with these kids, as well as all the Jr. High/High School staff.

Looking Back...

Hey everyone!
So sorry, I am actually back in the U.S. now, and I didn't keep up with blogging the last half of my time in Belem. So, with these next few posts, I am going to update you on a few significant events that happened within the last few weeks of my time in Brazil.
Hope you still enjoy reading them!

Julia

These days..........

So, I have one month left here in Brazil. It is very hard for me to believe all the time that has passed and everything that has happened during these last two months.

[Jr. High bake sale]

School is still going great! I've been learning so much between teaching early-American history, the Spanish-American War, and Canadian Geography. Teaching is so great and I love all my students so much. We've gotten to do some fun projects (being in a small school) and I've also gotten to know several of my students fairly well.

Being in Brazil has been great, I really like the city and am actually getting used to the heat! ( : The area we live in is such that we can't really go out after dark (just in generally but especially because we are Americans), but people over all are super friendly and helpful. Most are very patient with my lack of Portuguese skills and usually let me try a few words I have learned.

[Jr. High bake sale]

One way that God has really blessed me with here is encouraging fellowship with lots of other people my age, as well as below and above. Last Friday my roommate invited a group of the MK girls from her mission and others from the school for an all-nighter at our house. The girls were from age 7 to 15. We got to make food, play games, watch movies, and get some sleep. They are such awesome girls and it has been a blessing to get to know them and their families.

[World Religions Project]

Several of the teachers here at the school have been great mentors and encouragers throughout all the learning and teaching I have been doing. And my roommates and other young people have challenged me and blessed me so much!

[Wednesday nigh supper club!]

One month from today I will be home. As I think about that, I am excited to get home and see all of you. However, I would also say that I have met some very special people here and will be very sad to leave.

[my 9th-10th graders presenting their U.S. Landmarks project to the 5th and 6th grade classes]

[MK girls sleepover!!!!!}

Thank you so much for your continued prayers! for this week, I would really appreciate prayer for these things this week:

-For me this Friday as I lead highschool chapel

-For the school as we teach and minister to the students and their families

-For unity among the staff here at the school

Thanks everyone!!!!!!

The fullest blessings of Christ to you all! He is faithful! (Is. 40:28)

The Half-Way Point!

September 5, 2010
Oi! Tudo Bem? (Hi! How are you?)
Thanks for reading these sporadic blog posts! I have no excuse for not keeping up with these better. I miss you all and think about you, remembering you in my prayers and thanking you for the prayers you’ve been sending my way!

Here’s an update on life! Well, school is in full swing, and my teaching is getting into even fuller swing. I am basically full-time teaching now, designing my own lessons (with help from my amazing co-op Tara Gilpin! “beg, borrow, and tweak!”), and doing most of the teaching for 3 classes. Eventually it will include grading, I’m thinking. So, I am discovering the busy life of a teacher (hooray!) We’ve been having fun in class, doing skits and presentations, taking notes (so fun!), and getting most papers graded and returned to students! ( : Tomorrow my World Geography students have a World Religions project due, and I am very excited to see the results.

Other than school, I have been given all kinds of opportunities to meet new people and try new things. We have the funnest group of young adults here at the school as teachers and student teachers, so we have “supper club” together every Wednesday night. Monday nights I attend a small group Bible Study with my roommates and another teacher which is totally in Portuguese! As far as content goes, I’m not getting a lot, but it has been helpful for me to learn more of the language and exciting to interact with Brazilian believers. I got to play guitar for it last week and try to sing in Portuguese, so fun! Last week we also started a weekly Bible study for the women teachers at the school (which will be in English) so I am very excited about that.

On Sundays the school sponsors a church service in English that many Brazilians come to so they have a chance to hear native English speakers and to practice their English in conversation. My roommate Anna and I lead a discussion group after the message in which we get to practice conversational English with Brazilians. This is all done by discussing the message that was just preached, and God's truth and the gospel come up regularly in conversation, so it is a very unique opportunity.

I am really loving it here at the school. It is hard to believe that I am half-way finished with my teaching! The kids and teachers are all so great. I am still trying to watch and listen, to see why God has place me here for now, but I know that it is according to His purpose.

Thanks so much for all the prayers. If you would, please pray for:
-me, as I learn to be a good teacher through discipline and creative planning ( :
-My students, that they would be blessed and would see Jesus in me
-The English service here at AVA, that lives would continue to be changed
-The rest of the staff and teachers here at AVA, that we would be lights for Christ (unity of mission)
-for plans for my trip to Curitiba to visit Bible School friends

May you all be filled with His peace every day and be used to serve Him.

In Christ alone,

Julia Osthus

Roommates and everyday life in Belém

(notice, my procrastination has rendered this "new" post about a week old, sorry, I'll update soon!)

Thanks everyone so much for the prayers! I am having a wonderful time here in Brazil and am being very blessed as well as challenged.
The first thing I need to do is talk about my living situation and my amazing roommates! My two roommates are Nova Glass from Virginia and Anna Hatchette from Alabama. They are here in Brazil with the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist convention as “journey-girls.” They have committed two years of their lives to serve the Lord as missionaries, specifically in the field of education. Nova teaches 1st grade and Anna teaches 4th grade. They are my wonderful encouragers, my comic relief, and my tour guides/Portuguese translators. I am so thankful for them and cannot even express how much they have already been such a tremendous blessing to me.
The rest of the IMB missionaries and the family of staff at AVA have adopted me and have made me feel so welcome. We are now in our second week of school, and things seem to be moving along smoothly.
The school days start with teacher-prayer meeting at 7am, and first hour begins at 7:30 am (my family and past roommates will be proud to hear that I have not slept through a single meeting yet!) Because of the small size of the high school, I only teach the first 3 hours of the day. This gives me time to do planning, grading, and any other preparations for the next day. I have also been attending one of the Portuguese classes at the school, which is a huge blessing, and I am hoping to learn a lot while I am here! Two days a week I am also helping teach an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) class that the school opens up to the community. I co-teach with two of my high school students. It has been very fun, but it is definitely different to teach English in a country where it is a foreign language. ( : Good TESOL experience though!

Here are some prayer requests for you prayer-warriors:
· Me as I learn to teach, plan, and manage a classroom.
· My co-ops, Mrs. Tara Gilpin and Mr. John Moon.
· The students, that I would teach them well and be Christ to them.
· Amazon Valley Academy, as they deal with accreditation and location issues.
· The English service held every Sunday on campus. (I’ll write more about that next time!)
· That, God willing, I will be able to visit southern Brazil before I come home to see AFLBS friends.
Would love to hear from any of you if you have the time, I will do my best to write back!
Go with God every moment of every day.
In Christ’s love, Julia

Life at AVA

Hi there!
We have been having some internet difficulties here, which is one of the reasons why I have been slow to update this blog. I do not have any pictures right now, but thought I would write a little bit.

This week was the beginning of school at Amazon Valley Academy (AVA). It is a Christian International school that started out (from what I understand) as a school for missionary kids, but now it is becoming more of a school focused on teaching Brazilian kids in English. The atmosphere of the school is very unique, and the small-ness of the school adds a closeness amongst the students.

I am working in the high school history classes, 7-8 World History, 9-10 Geography, and 11-12 American History. This week has been a lot of observing and getting to know the students.

So far I am loving living in Brazil, loving the Brazilian family (of both Americans and Brazilians) God has placed around me, and am looking forward to the challenges I know will come to me in the classroom.

Thanks so much again for the prayers! I do not know what I would do without you all! I will post pictures soon! (I hope).

In Christs view,

Julia

First week in Belem

Hello everyone!
Just so you all know, I did make it out of the airport and have been in Belém for a week now. I am living with Anna and Nova who are missionaries with the International Mission Board who also teach at Amazon Valley Academy. They are so sweet and have been wonderful friends to me. This week I have been spending most of my time with them and the other IMB missionaries here learning about Brazil and the city of Belém. I have gone out into town a few times (they have an amazing Pizza Hut!), both by car and bus. Belém is a city of 2.5 million people, we live kinda in the suburb area of the city.

On Sunday we went to church with two of the missionary families. It was so great to be with Brazilian believers, but still difficult for me not knowing Portuguese. I hope I will continue to learn as I am here and I spend more time with people.
I start teaching next Monday. This week will be full of preparations for school next week. These days I am helping with pulling curriculum, decorating classrooms, and doing whatever is needed for the beginning of school.

So far my student teaching experience has not found me teaching yet, but I am so thankful for the time to adjust, and when I get worried I’m remembering Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.