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