I have just returned from a trip to California. I was visiting California Lutheran University as their guest. Cal Lu is attempting to increase their enrollment of international students and overall quality of students and brought me and 25 other school counselors to campus in order for us to get a better feel of the campus. it was a great trip, not just because I was able to meet with representatives from Cal Lu, but also because I was able to get to California 4 days before the Conference at meet with four alumni from ICS. David at Point Loma, Hannah at Azusa Pacific and Sarah at USC.
Upon return I have found much work waiting for me. Noelle is also very busy with International Night, which takes place Friday night the 6th of February. Noelle is the teacher liaison with the Parent Teacher Fellowship in developing the International Night Program. She is very busy and has much work to accomplish today at school.
International Night is a time for our school community to come together and celebrate the diversity of cultures represented on our campus. We have 390 students (this # fluctuates daily) and approximately 25 different nationalities represented (primarily US, S. Korean, Indonesian, Singaporean). We eat finger foods , we watch performances and we play games from these and other countries and year after year it is an exciting time. This year we are doing it completely different, think of those makeover shows on TLC, that is what we are doing with Intl. Night. However, one thing that is not different is Noelle's involvement in the cultural performance segment of the show. For the third straight year Noelle will be performing Bhangra with her dance group. This energetic dance will surely bring much cheering from the audience.
Pray for us in this busy time of the year. After International night on Friday Noelle and I need to be at the school by 6:30 AM Saturday morning the 7th in order to administer the ACT for college bound Singaporeans.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
1st week of school
Today is the second day of the second semester. Yesterday was full of students wanting to change their schedules. Noelle substituted some during the day and enjoyed her first day back as our middle school students received combination locks for their lockers. I worked in my office till 3 when soccer started and then had only 10 of my 16 players show up. I guess Christmas break is a long time to remember the soccer schedule. Anyway, when the whole team is not there, it's difficult to feel like a team. This weekend Noelle and I will be hosting 13 teenagers at our place for a 2 day 1 night leadership retreat. We will watch a movie and process through the last semesters events. This is bound to be a good time and I am excited about encouraging them to step it up a little as leaders on campus.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year 2009
Last year Noelle and I were granted the ability and opportunity to many great things. However, I am reminded of Mother Teresa's quote, "There are no great things to be done, only small things with great love".
Noelle and I just returned from Indonesia with Verne and Rahel Ward (Verne and I housed together in college). We were their with 11 multi-cultural students to talk about adjustment back into home culture. We met, we played, we shared and we experienced much love. It was good to meet together and read through 2 Timothy together. Timothy was someone that the students were able to relate too.
Some of the greatest things that the students learned from this trip were
- To fan into flame the gifts that God has given you
- Life is difficult and you are not alone, it is important to ask for help
- I'm not alone in the struggles of identity and culture shock
It is important that we as adults learn from kids. They are very gracious to other and to them self, they enjoy having a good time and see good times as more important than meetings and they are willing to do what is asked of them, simply because we expect them to follow through (we often just get mad because it did not happen right away, or it wasn't perfect, but generally they do it and we often don't acknowledge their work).
Noelle and I just returned from Indonesia with Verne and Rahel Ward (Verne and I housed together in college). We were their with 11 multi-cultural students to talk about adjustment back into home culture. We met, we played, we shared and we experienced much love. It was good to meet together and read through 2 Timothy together. Timothy was someone that the students were able to relate too.
Some of the greatest things that the students learned from this trip were
- To fan into flame the gifts that God has given you
- Life is difficult and you are not alone, it is important to ask for help
- I'm not alone in the struggles of identity and culture shock
It is important that we as adults learn from kids. They are very gracious to other and to them self, they enjoy having a good time and see good times as more important than meetings and they are willing to do what is asked of them, simply because we expect them to follow through (we often just get mad because it did not happen right away, or it wasn't perfect, but generally they do it and we often don't acknowledge their work).
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Homecoming in Hong Kong
It took me a little by surprise to enter my hotel lobby and have a colleague tell me they had met someone from Nampa who knew me. I was taken aback, but managed to say George Zickefoose? Ryan Roberts? She said, "nope, a Waller".
My immediate thought went to my former professor and pastor, Gary, but then I remembered what conference I was at, International Children's Educators Conference, and thought it would make more since if Dennis, the educator rather than Gary, the pastor, was at the conference. 30 minutes later I was at the conference registration table grabbing 28 name tags and welcome bags only to turn around and see Dennis and Linda Waller. I first met them at NNU while I was a student there in the Social Science Education Department.
However, they were not the only NNU people I was to reunite with. Ryan and George, mentioned earlier, administrators at Taejon Christian International School were also there. So there we were at International Christian School of Hong Kong 6 NNU alumni or faculty reunited (Noelle, Sam, George, Ryan, Dennis and Linda).
That alone would be a homecoming or sorts, but no, life had to get much more interesting. On the first day of the conference I lined up for lunch, which by the way was not the best meal I ever had (but they were cooking for 900 people so I guess I understand), and as I turned to see how long the line was behind me, I screamed, ok maybe screamed is a little exaggerated, but I did yell "Mr. Culp". that's right Mr. Culp, my high school chemistry teacher was standing right behind me. He had obviously participated in No Shave November as he was sporting a stylish beard, but I hugged him anyway, nothing wrong with two bearded men hugging when they haven't seen each other or heard from each other in 4 years is there?
Any way, Jeff (Mr. Culp) and I ate lunch with some faculty from ICS Singapore when Jeff preceded to tell them how great a student I was (oh, how quickly we forget) and I preceded to tell them how great a teacher he was (this is absolutely true).
It was pretty fantastic.
For now I will go, but plan to write again soon.
In Him,
Sam for us
My immediate thought went to my former professor and pastor, Gary, but then I remembered what conference I was at, International Children's Educators Conference, and thought it would make more since if Dennis, the educator rather than Gary, the pastor, was at the conference. 30 minutes later I was at the conference registration table grabbing 28 name tags and welcome bags only to turn around and see Dennis and Linda Waller. I first met them at NNU while I was a student there in the Social Science Education Department.
However, they were not the only NNU people I was to reunite with. Ryan and George, mentioned earlier, administrators at Taejon Christian International School were also there. So there we were at International Christian School of Hong Kong 6 NNU alumni or faculty reunited (Noelle, Sam, George, Ryan, Dennis and Linda).
That alone would be a homecoming or sorts, but no, life had to get much more interesting. On the first day of the conference I lined up for lunch, which by the way was not the best meal I ever had (but they were cooking for 900 people so I guess I understand), and as I turned to see how long the line was behind me, I screamed, ok maybe screamed is a little exaggerated, but I did yell "Mr. Culp". that's right Mr. Culp, my high school chemistry teacher was standing right behind me. He had obviously participated in No Shave November as he was sporting a stylish beard, but I hugged him anyway, nothing wrong with two bearded men hugging when they haven't seen each other or heard from each other in 4 years is there?
Any way, Jeff (Mr. Culp) and I ate lunch with some faculty from ICS Singapore when Jeff preceded to tell them how great a student I was (oh, how quickly we forget) and I preceded to tell them how great a teacher he was (this is absolutely true).
It was pretty fantastic.
For now I will go, but plan to write again soon.
In Him,
Sam for us
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
School spirit Week
I hope to post some pictures here tomorrow. But this is school spirit week at school
Monday- mismatch
Tuesday- Preppy
Wednesday-Twin
Thursday- Blue and Gold (our school colors)
Friday- class theme (some PJ's, formal, winter, hip/hop
When I get a chance I will throw some pictures in here. So far it has been fabulous.
Pray for us as staff are turning in their letter of intent to stay for the coming school year or to go somewhere else. We already know about some of the positions that will need to be replaced next year.
Monday- mismatch
Tuesday- Preppy
Wednesday-Twin
Thursday- Blue and Gold (our school colors)
Friday- class theme (some PJ's, formal, winter, hip/hop
When I get a chance I will throw some pictures in here. So far it has been fabulous.
Pray for us as staff are turning in their letter of intent to stay for the coming school year or to go somewhere else. We already know about some of the positions that will need to be replaced next year.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
As of late
This past week has been enjoyable for Noelle and I. Last weekend we led 35 of our closest friends and co-workers to Telunas Beach, indonesia for a weekend of rest and relaxation. This was a great time for us to just sit and read, play some beach volleyball, and jump into the ocean. This week I finished a class on principles in counseling, which I thuroughly enjoyed.
This weekend
Friday we got together with a couple of families and had a wonderful Carbo-loaded dinner together as Saturday we competetd in a triathelon, don't worry, for those of you who know my swimming skills, I only did one third of the event, the biking. And the funny thing is, I only did one lap instead of two, and I was wondering why it was so easy :).
Then last night we had 14 8th graders over and Noelle talked with them about William Wilburforce, and then we watched the movie Amazing Grace. It was quite fun. What a great movie.
This weekend
Friday we got together with a couple of families and had a wonderful Carbo-loaded dinner together as Saturday we competetd in a triathelon, don't worry, for those of you who know my swimming skills, I only did one third of the event, the biking. And the funny thing is, I only did one lap instead of two, and I was wondering why it was so easy :).
Then last night we had 14 8th graders over and Noelle talked with them about William Wilburforce, and then we watched the movie Amazing Grace. It was quite fun. What a great movie.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Been too long
It has been entirely too long! Noelle and I have been too busy, and we have not kept our family and friends back in the states and around the world involved in our daily life here in Singapore.
Home:
So, here is a quick update on our life here in Braddell, our new home within Singapore. We have been blessed by our new home and the ability to open it up to missionaries in the area, friends and family. Sam's parents were here for two weeks, a missionary from France was able to get a necessary trip away from Indonesia and stay at our place. A couple from China was able to come here for a conference. A student from Mid America Nazarene University was able to stay here for a week in preperation for his semester in China, and currently some representatives from our home office in Southaven Mississippi are staying here while doing some member care work with our staff. We are truly blessed to have had church in our home numerous times and Noelle has been able to make some delicious food; dessert, dinner and breakfasts.
School:
Our school just had a spiritual life week where we brought speakers in from Senegal for the middle school and high school and brought in a children's pastor from Ohio to speak with our elementary students. This was focused on our theme for the year: TRUTH, LIVE IT, LOVE IT, LEARN IT, TEACH IT. We are praying that students will take steps towards God through meditation and prayer and that their lives will be transformed through digging into the word to counter doubts about Truth.
Prayer for us:
We are both extremely busy with new roles in the school and need prayer to relieve ourselves of responsibility. We also need prayer for strength because there are many things which we are doing where we need emotional, spiritual, and physical strength to complete. We have been teaching students to live lives of integrity and we pray that we will live this out as they look towards of as models of integrity.
Home:
So, here is a quick update on our life here in Braddell, our new home within Singapore. We have been blessed by our new home and the ability to open it up to missionaries in the area, friends and family. Sam's parents were here for two weeks, a missionary from France was able to get a necessary trip away from Indonesia and stay at our place. A couple from China was able to come here for a conference. A student from Mid America Nazarene University was able to stay here for a week in preperation for his semester in China, and currently some representatives from our home office in Southaven Mississippi are staying here while doing some member care work with our staff. We are truly blessed to have had church in our home numerous times and Noelle has been able to make some delicious food; dessert, dinner and breakfasts.
School:
Our school just had a spiritual life week where we brought speakers in from Senegal for the middle school and high school and brought in a children's pastor from Ohio to speak with our elementary students. This was focused on our theme for the year: TRUTH, LIVE IT, LOVE IT, LEARN IT, TEACH IT. We are praying that students will take steps towards God through meditation and prayer and that their lives will be transformed through digging into the word to counter doubts about Truth.
Prayer for us:
We are both extremely busy with new roles in the school and need prayer to relieve ourselves of responsibility. We also need prayer for strength because there are many things which we are doing where we need emotional, spiritual, and physical strength to complete. We have been teaching students to live lives of integrity and we pray that we will live this out as they look towards of as models of integrity.
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