How Do You Counsel Non-Christians

I very much enjoyed this 7 page article about how to counsel non-Christians. It's worth the read if it interests you, and it's honestly a good practical guide to communicating with unbelievers regarding their  lifestyles, relationships, & behaviors.  

That's all for today.

Locked In

The High School Lock-in was such a success this year.  A lot of detailed preparation has gone into it over the past 2 months, but it had definitely paid off.  We even did an Amazing Race game (created last minute and it went over fantastically).  The kids had a great time, and albeit exhausting, it was a really great time of bonding with the kids on the student council.  

Enjoy some pictures (via Ben!)

All of us, being silly before the event begins!!!

Julia playing some soccer

Hydrating after setting up the Lock-in
for 4 hours with student council.

Glow sticks make anything fun!

Sports games to get the evening going!

Chris & Bean ready for a grand ol' time
of staying up all night!

The back of our student council T-shirts!
A doodle design by our 10th grade rep.

Damian & Donald ready to play games!

Student Council President explaining rules to the game

Playing "I Have Never"

Staff watching the games from the balcony

Selling Snacks at the Student Council Shop

Eating Free Food!!!

From left to right:
Back: Kevin Kang, John Kim, Jina Song, Sara Baik, Sarah Im, Jane Lee, Stephanie Soh, and me
Front: Eric Kim, Andrew Thompson, Eddie Lee, Jessy Kil

Prayer for Vida

I don't have much time to write, but I would like to ask for your prayers for the Vida retreat for our high school students.

Vida is a very intentional and spiritual retreat that happens once per year for ISC schools.  It's a program that is done for youth all over the world, and we are very excited to offer this retreat to our students.  This year, we have more first-timers than ever, and we have many student leaders who are willing to give up their weekend to lead groups of students and do much work behind the scenes to make the weekend a well-oiled machine.  

The first-timers will get many opportunities to hear the gospel through student and staff testimonies.  They are challenged to make choices in their lives that they know are necessary for growth.

The program utilizes multiple learning intelligences and intentionally includes student leadership, service learning, and spiritual encouragement.  The weekend is largely student led and the students are given the opportunity to minister to their peers through many different activities.

It is loud and fun; quiet and reflective.

In all this activity there is a very clear focus: “The Son did this… so what’s your response?" 

The leadership team leaves tomorrow afternoon to prepare, and the first-timers will come on Friday afternoon and stay through Sunday afternoon.   

Thank you for your prayers...

• For the first timers 
• (many of whom are not believers and have not grown up in Christian homes)
• For the students and staff who are leading 
• (It's an exhausting and emotional time for those who are up from 6 a.m. until 11:30 pm Thursday-Sunday)
• For my heart as I am taking up a large, detailed, managing role for the first time 
• (I have lots of support, but my heart is also heavy with many things. Pray that the Spirit works through me, despite my human-ness)

October Holiday

October holiday without school work or conferences means there are a lot of opportunities to have fun with my best friend and try new things!   Wednesday held a lot of "new things" and a lot of laughs.  In the morning, we had a pancake breakfast with our friends Beth, Janet, and Lisa.  We couldn't stay long, but it was an awesome way to start the day.   Afterwards, we taxied with Marivic & Blake and their kids to eat a traditional Chinese lunch at Ben's TA's mother's house.   Her mother made a mountain of delicious food...culturally, the host makes more than enough food.  There must be leftovers.  If everyone finishes the food that is on the table, it means that the host did not cook enough and it is an embarrassment to the family.

The food she made was a wide variety and most of which I had never tried or seen before.  But I tried everything on the table... except what Ben is holding here.... 
















Close Up!

There was many dishes of sea food.  GaLa - Which are clams or oysters, are a really good dish, that I have eaten at restaurants before.  Hers were tastey, but a bit of sand in the mix. ;)

And then there was fish.  I tried, although Ben's TA knows I don't like fish.  It had a nice texture, and didn't smell fishy.  Therefore, I liked it.  

After the lunch, Ben and I went down to the harbor and met Damian to go sailing!  This is our first time sailing and Qingdao, and it was a beautiful day for it!  Here are some pictures of our fabulous time out in the sea!

Explaining the rules of the boat.

Just get on the boat without falling in the water. That's the goal.

.... Made it!

Ben, looking all serious as we leave the harbor.  Below he is steering.  We found out quickly that he is very good at it... 
and I am not. :)

Joel, Damian, and Ben, 

hanging out while the wind is perfectly taking us where we want to go.

Making faces at the camera while Naomi (Joel's Wife) and I chat about her Chinese classes.  The sun begins to drop, and the wind chills a bit; the late afternoon is just perfect for being out on the water

"Er, where are you going?"

"I don't really know."

"Well, you see that wall ahead of us?"

"...Yeah..."

"Let's not hit it."

"Good plan."

What a blessing to enjoy such a lovely day!

Chuck a Sickie... and other Aussie Thingos

As it turns out, I learned that the book I'm reading is one of the best books by one of the most popular authors in Australia.  I mentioned it to my boss the other day, and he was giving me some insights into what the setting and culture is like in the area where the novel takes place.  As I read, I'm running into words I don't know (like "windcheater" which is actually pronounced windchitter, but when I tried to repeat after Damian I'm pretty sure I said windshitter.  After which I couldn't stop laughing long enough to get it right).

It's coincidental that I picked up this book recently.  At the end of October, our school hosts a "Global Village" day where each of the schools will be focusing on a different country.

The Early Childhood Center is Germany.

The Elementary is The Philippines.

The Middle School is Malaysia.

And the High School is Australia.

In my planning and research for Global Village, I've had many conversations with a teacher who is Indian, but grew up in several different places, including Australia.  She sent me some great activity ideas for the day, and also sent me a list of Australian slang vocab.   I enjoyed reading it and talking about it further with her.   Check out the list below--it's really interesting, and makes a lot of sense as I look back at my conversations with my boss.  He does say some of these words from time to time. Although, if I tried to incorporate them into my vocabulary, I'd end up saying something like wind-shitter.

Arvo = afternoon

Barbie = BBQ

Bathers = Swimming Suit

Beaut = beautiful, (eg: if looking at a car you might say, “Isn’t she a beauty!”)

Bikkie = biscuit

Bloke = a guy

Bogged = stuck in mud (like a vehicle stuck in sand or mud)

Brekkie = breakfast

Bush = the outback, not city area

Cark it = cease functioning, it’s dead

Chewie = chewing gum

Chockie = chocolate

Chook = chicken

Chrissie = Christmas

Chuck a sickie / Sickie = have (or having) a day off because you’re sick

Cockie = Cockatoo (bird)

Digger = a soldier

Dinkum / Fair Dinkum = true, genuine, real

Dob = tell on someone

Dobber = a person who dobs

Down Under = Australia and New Zealand

Dunny = outside toilet (or sometimes just for any toilet)

Fair go = give someone a fair chance

Footy = Australian Football

G’day = hello

Good onya = Well done, good on you

Heaps = a lot (eg: thanks heaps)

Lollies = sweets, candies

Maccas = McDonalds

Mate = a friend, buddy

No worries / No drama = an answer to an apology meaning no problem

Outback = interior of Australia

Plate (Bring a Plate) = means to bring a food dish to an event like BBQ or picnic

Prezzy = present, gift

Ripper = great, fantastic (What a ripper!)

Roo = Kangaroo

Road Train = big truck that travels across Australia

Rock up = to turn up, to arrive

Salvos = The salvation army

Sheila = women

She’ll be right = It’ll turn out alright (eg: She’ll be right mate)

Sook = a person who is soft, weepy (eg: if someone is crying we would say, “Don’t be a sook” but meaning sarcastically)

Sunnies – sunglasses

Tea = supper, dinner

Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit

Truckie : truck driver

True blue : patriotic

Tucker : food

Ugg boots : Australian sheepskin boots worn by surfers since at least the 1960s to keep warm while out of the water. Also worn by airmen during WW1 and WW2 because of the need to maintain warmth in non-pressurized planes at high altitudes.

Ugh : ugly. hence Ugg boots

Uni : university

Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck

Vedgies : vegetables

Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)

Waggin' school : playing truant

Walkabout : a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time

Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found

Whinge : complain

Woop Woop : invented name for any small unimportant town - "he lives in Woop Woop"

Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal

Yakka : work (noun)

Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights")