Let the Little Things Change you

September is basically over but the last exciting event that happened this month was our Staff Retreat. We spent two days out of Moscow at this beautiful resort where Fall was definitely in the air. The trees were orange, red, and yellow. Leaves were all over the place, the weather was a bit chilly, and it rained most of the time we were there. Staff retreat wasn't about the appearance of the place but the time of fellowship and bonding time among the staff. We had two full days of worship, fun games, discussion time, very meaningful sessions, amazing food, and a large area of nature and beauty to explore. I am blessed to be a part of a group of people who love God and each other so dearly. 

This coming week is Spiritual Emphasis Week at Hinkson. The elementary team decided that this year we are going to do something new, we are going to lead a VBS for all of elementary. The theme is called Kingdom Rock and it is going to be so much fun this week teaching the children new songs and having a time of Bible all together as a team. A plus to doing a VBS this year means,jeans and a t-shirt everyday of work. That works for me!! :) I look forward to sharing this new experience with all of you.

Kindergarten has been a learning experience but also a very exciting time. In September we had: the start of a new chapter, language barrier, tears, happiness, change, a birthday celebration, and a lot of learning experiences for everyone. As October is vastly approaching, we continue to press on with learning, laughter, and togetherness. Kindergarten is full of life and it is such a privilege to go to work everyday and love what I do. 

As teachers and staff in a school it is easy to become very tired, have little patience, and it is very common to ask ourselves, Why? Then there is a time when the brains click on, the "I can't" becomes "I did it," the smiling faces that come running into class, and the hugs at the right time of day - That is why we teach. We reflect on all of this every day of our life no matter how frustrated we get that, one child forgot his homework again, another child won't follow directions, another child just isn't getting it, or that child won't stop eating crayons. I know for me and all the challenges I face, I wouldn't trade what I do for anyone. I love my kiddos, I love my job, I love everything about what career path God led me to. No one can quite understand that you may be having the worst day ever until the first giggling, snotty nose, sticky fingers, happy five year old runs into your class and smothers you with hugs, it is then the happiest best moment of the entire day. 

I challenge each of you to embrace the life of a child even if they come running at you with snotty noses, sticky fingers, or a colorful mouth from eating crayons. What harm will it do to love, hug, and share the love of God with that child? The only harm that may be caused is if you don't do these things. Love the little children that God created. 

The Challenges and New Life Experiences

 With the two week delay of school starting, all of the teachers, staff, and admin were anxiously awaiting for the first day to arrive. During the two week delay, God continued to show us that He had everything in control. While we are preparing for Accreditation this school year, we were able to knock out quite a bit of things needed during the two week block that we had. We were able to focus in our classrooms, come together as one family, and prepare for what was going to happen at Hinkson this school year. The two weeks were up and it was time to welcome new and old students back to school. I have never seen so much excitement, from the teachers and students, to start a new school year.

Kindergarten is full of life and energy, but also some more difficult challenges this year. I am still a new teacher to Hinkson but also to the teaching world in general. This is my third year teaching since college and my second year at Hinkson. I have the perfect size class of eight. Now to some of you, you may think, 'Wow, that is nothing compared to in the states when you have 25.' In that sense, you would be correct but what some of you don't understand is exactly what I deal with on a day to day basis. I may only have eight students but my eight students come from, America, Africa, and Russia. Three of my eight came in with extremely little to no English. One of my students is fluent in English and Russian but has never had to control when to use either. Then I have three students who are American who know no Russian and can't communicate with the other students. Out of the eight students that I have, only seven of them are here right now. We are awaiting the arrival of one my students who is having some Visa issues back in the states. Please pray that she can get here quickly, for I have one lonely girl who is surrounded by six full blown energized boys until she gets here. My class definitely keeps me busy all day, everyday. I am constantly on the move to encourage the students to only use English as much as possible. At first, my non-native speakers did not quite understand this concept but we are getting it and now discovering how to communicate in the classroom. There are a lot of hands on activities, acting, tears, and frustration when it comes to learning in the classroom.We are now going into our third week of school and my class is still motivated and just as energized as the first day of school. We have been working really hard on classroom behavior, direction, listening, and simple things such as: how to write our name, letters, numbers, colors, and shapes.  As the teacher, I had to learn to be very patient and understanding of all of my students needs. By the end of the school day, I am fully drained but I still love my job.

In the first couple weeks of school, we already had some functions take place. The first Friday after school started we had our annual 'All School Picnic.' All of the parents brought a dish and we opened up the Gym and the Cafeteria (we had bad weather) and the school provided hotdogs and hamburgers. We were able to kick off the school year by getting to eat, mingle, and get to know each other a little more. Then a week after school started we had our annual PIE Night. (Partners in Education Night). The parents were able to come in the evening time and could attend up to four sessions including going to their child's class and get to hear more about what happens in the classroom. After all of the sessions were finished, we met upstairs and shared some tea and pie. It was a successful night for all. As we are getting into our third week of school, this week will be cut short, for the staff at Hinkson will be leaving for our Staff Retreat on Thursday afternoon. We will go out of Moscow and have a weekend of music, games, get to know each other, worship, and mini sessions. It will be a time of focus on what God has in store for us individually and as a Family at Hinkson.

I appreciate all of you who are faithful to reading and keeping up with this adventure here in Moscow. I ask for continued prayers for myself, the staff, the students, Hinkson community, and Moscow as we continue to pursue God's calling.

The Beginning of Round 2

          The joy of summer is over. The extremely hot weather and smell of Florida rain is no longer there. After an adventure of getting back to Moscow, I have finally made it here. I am immediately reminded of how busy this city is, how impatient people are, and that I have to look for a toilette, not a restroom. LOL 

I will return to work tomorrow to get things started in my classroom and then on Tuesday starts Teacher in-service. The children do not start back until August 20. 

While I start to prepare for this new school year, I find myself getting anxious to see my co-workers and new friends that I have made, again. I am excited to meet my new little ones that I will be responsible for teaching this school year. I am happy to see some of my old students move on next door to the first grade. So many emotions this year about being back in Moscow. 

This school year is going to be another incredible story to share about how God provides and uses his children to share the love of Him. I am so blessed to have the opportunity that I have to be a part of Gods calling and work here on this Earth. 

I would like to ask that all of you reading this Blog, please continue to pray for Hinkson Christian Academy as a whole: the parents, students, teachers, and admin. Pray that we have a safe, healthy, and successful school year, that we as the staff will be encouraged and help encourage these children that we come in contact with. I also would like to ask that you continue to pray for me and the financial burden that I have. 

If anyone would like to talk to me personally, please feel free to email me at : Clmacomber4@gmail.com

Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers! God Bless you all! 

It gets crazier from here...

As April approached as quickly as it did, it was time to prepare myself for a busy month. I started off the month with being an assistant coach to our middle school girls volleyball team. Being in Russia, we didn't actually play any games for volleyball is not a sport you can find in Russia but we taught the girls how to play volleyball and enjoyed teaching them skill. Every Monday and Wednesday have been extremely busy and exhausting for me. We had volleyball on these days right after school until 5:30 pm which had me getting home around 6 on Mondays and not until 10 on Wednesdays for I went to Bible study directly after volleyball. Volleyball lasted for the whole month of April so it really wasn't a long sport season but long enough to become wore out and ready for it to be over. I truly enjoyed being a part of the volleyball experience with these middle schoolers, it also helped me to become familiar with these students for I do not get to spend time with them at school during the week.

April 4th was a very special day for all of the staff at Hinkson. The admin held a Staff Banquet at a beautiful place here in Moscow. We all dressed formally and headed out after school to enjoy a beautiful evening with the people who we work with and uplift us daily in what we do. The food was absolutely amazing but there was so much of it. We had 4 courses, all of which were wonderfully done and looked so beautiful. Some teachers were recognized for their commitment to Hinkson for 3 years, 6 years, and 9 years. My roommate was one of those teachers for she has been here for 6 years. It was a beautiful little ceremony with a lot of laughter and memories to cherish forever. The people I work with are incredible and have such a passionate heart for missions and teaching. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to meet such great people and I now have friends from all over the world who have made some kind of impact on my life. 

The following weekend was an eventful weekend for me but I enjoyed every minute of it. I was able to attend "Belle Notte" which is the concert that was put on by the high schoolers at Hinkson. The theme was a diner theme and the students sang songs from all of the decades from the 40's until now. They rocked the night with their talent and joy that they always bring across on the stage. On Sunday I was able to enjoy the day with one of my students and her family. We made blinis at their house and played games with the kids until it was time to go to church. I went to Moscow Protestant Church with them and had a great bible study before service and then was able to experience the service with great friends. After service my students family brought me out to dinner at TGIF and then I went home to enjoy the church service online. 

April came to a close just as fast as it came and we are now down to 5 weeks left of school and then summer will begin. I thought April was a busy month but it is only going to be busier for the next 5 weeks. We have: RCE Dinner, Russian Easter, Staff mtgs, Victory Day, English Picnic, Elementary Shine, MS/HS concert, Senior Banquet, Field trip to the Zoo, field day, exams, party's, and graduation... I am sure there is something else in there that I am missing but you get the point. It is going to be a fun month but an exhausting and busy one. All prayers are very much appreciated while my head may be spinning like crazy before these 5 weeks are over. 

Is it really Spring Time?

Acting is something I always have had an interest in but never pursued in it myself. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go and see the play "Mama Mia" done in Russian. It was a stunning performance! Absolutely loved it and really enjoyed dinner and my time with my roommate and a good friend from HCA. I also had the pleasure of watching our high schoolers perform their school play called, "The Importance of Being Earnest." Again it was an outstanding performance and we are all proud to be able to say these are the students we are helping grow here in Moscow. I get so amazed when I get to see all the hard work that people put behind what they love to do. You really get to see the joy and inspiration in them as they perform.

In the month of March, the theme of Kindergarten was, 'March into your imagination.' We talked about what imagination is, how to use your imagination, and we also practiced using our imagination in class this past month. I think the children really grasped the concept of imagination and used it very well. I love to see where the minds of five and six year olds can go. I had everything from talking buildings to chocolate cars and strawberry head Allison. The imagination all started because of Dr. Seuss's birthday celebration we held at Hinkson on March 1st. The kids were able to dress up as their favorite character (my class made Cat in the Hat masks) and we had a Dr. Seuss Assembly at the end of the day. We read all kinds of Dr. Seuss books and really engaged in the fun activities we could using rhyming words and such learning opportunities.

All of March was a very busy month as we prepared to end the third quarter and get everything ready for Spring Break. I felt like I was always running and barely had time to breathe but I managed to stay above water. I had one student sick for a week, one student was on vacation for two weeks, and another student was out for two weeks because she caught the chicken pox. I was constantly staying busy trying to prepare lesson plans with only having four students but also trying to keep in touch with these children whom were out. It was a huge responsibility to make sure all these students had all of their make up work and as much turned in as possible before the quarter ended...This definitely kept me on my toes the last week before Spring Break started. In the midst of the running, my roommate and I decided that we would host a "girls night" at our apartment on a Friday Night. We stuck with our plan, ordered pizza, had nice fresh fruit and vegetables, watched Les Mes', and really engaged in conversation before and after the movie with great friends that we work with.

During the first half of Spring Break I had the opportunity to go to Germany for the 'International Christian Education Conference' with about 17 other HCA staff. The trip to and from Germany was not an exciting one for me for I got extremely sick both ways. The conference was absolutely amazing and I had the best time getting to meet other teachers in MANY other countries all there for the same reason and that is to Serve God in these schools overseas. It was stunning to sit in a room with 300 other Christian staff all worshiping God. I attended six general sessions, seven workshop sessions, and one banquet all in four days! It was mentally exhausting but so worth it, there was so much that I walked away with from all of these sessions. Some of the topics of the sessions I attended were: "The Teachers Talk and Walk, Learning to Say No:Child Safety, Bad Behavior Begone, Facing your Giants, and Make your teaching Pinteresting." You could totally see God in each session and through each Christian Educator that I came in contact with (and I'm sure even the ones I didn't come in contact with) I am so thankful I had this opportunity to attend this conference, it was definitely worth it and I would most definitely consider going again. During this conference a lot of emotions were brought to the surface from all different aspects of being a Christian Educator Internationally and all the struggles along the way... but we sang a song that has definitely touched my heart and I want to share the chorus with you, it goes like this.....
                          "Never once did we ever walk alone
                      Never once did You leave us on our own
                      You are faithful, God, You are faithful"

While we were gone in Germany the snow in Moscow never stopped and when we returned to the school on Wednesday evening the snow was piled up everywhere and almost over the fence! Moscow definitely welcomed us back, but I wouldn't say it was a "warm welcoming." LOL As we head into April, the snow still  covers everything around us but the sun is out and the birds are chirping, there is a sign of SPRING coming!!!

~Love is in the Air~

    February has been a very unusual month of Craziness. I don't think there was much down time for me this whole month. The month started out with me still recovering from all the doctors visits and trying to regain my health and stabilize my heart rate. An update about my health, I am now on a heart rate medicine to help try to regulate my heart rate as well as anxiety medicine to keep my body calm more than what I can control. I have been on my heart rate medicine for a little over 2 weeks now and have only had 1 episode where my heart rate was really high. I think the medicine is definitely helping. I have only been on my anxiety medicine for about 5 days so it will take a little more time for that to really sink into my system and for me to start seeing it work.
  For the 100th day of school, I only made it for the parade and then I had to leave to return to the doctors office. It was such a joy to see all of the elementary students dressed up to represent something of "100." My children represented 101 Dalmatians and very cute Dalmatians might I add. At the end of this week I was able to return back to work and my kids welcomed me with open arms and lots of love and happiness. I have never been made to feel so loved. It is reassuring to know that I must be making a true influence in my students lives for them to miss me that much when I am out. The school had an Elementary Movie Night after school on a Friday. We ordered pizza, sang some silly songs, watched a movie, and enjoyed popcorn together. The kids had a blast and I think the teachers and parents did as well. It is always nice to be able to give to the kids fun things to do outside of the school day but to enjoy it with their friends and family in a safe environment.
   The most exciting week in a school year, I think, is Spirit Week! It is a time for silliness, creativity, and imagination to run wild. The first day of Spirit Week was Twin Day. All of my kids dressed like someone or something and I dressed alike with the 2nd grade teacher. Next was Character Day, this was a huge hit with the kids and trying to figure out who everyone was through out the day was a bit of a challenge. I sank into my childhood and was Junie B. Jones (from a book series) Everyone's favorite day including the teachers was on Tuesday and that was Pajama day! As much as I love this day I also despise this day because I get so tired being so comfortable and warm through the entire day, it makes it hard to teach. The last day of Spirit Week was the most absurd. Wacky Tacky Day is always a hit and a lot of students enjoy this day to for they do not have to match anything they are wearing. I got really involved in this day as well. It is so fun to bring out the inner child and craziness in the teachers. It shows the kids we really do know how to have fun and be "cool" in their eyes. Spirit week came to a close when we wished the basketball players off to Budapest for the tournament and we ended the week with Valentine's Day Parties.
   I titled this particular entry, "Love is in the Air" because Valentine's weekend I had a chance to be a part of the English Cafe Retreat again. A group of about 40 of us, Russians and Americans, left Moscow for the weekend to become more acquainted and help the Russians with their English  It was cold, very icy and snowy, but we had a blast. We played games, sang songs, watched a movie, had discussion groups, and thoroughly enjoyed each others company. We all learned new things about ourselves as we all took the 5 love language test. We discussed relationships (bf and gf, friends, family, etc) and even had a devotion time on Sunday morning for all who wanted to attend. We do not push religion or things on these people for we aren't trying to turn anyone away but to help improve their English, build relationships, and in the end, hopes that they would be willing and initiate the move to learn more about Christ. What a great time of fellowship it was. On a side note from this weekend, I had the opportunity to walk around outside in the snow and ice to take pictures of my bosses daughter who is a senior. On our journey, I stepped through snow and ice and was stuck in a river. It was only about a foot and a half deep but was enough to soak me past my knee and freeze my toes and leg through my pants and boots. Needless to say, I still have all of my toes and Alisha and I just created some very humorous memories that will never forget.
    February has slowed down a bit since Kindergarten met their last obligation for the month. Kindergarten and first grade lead chapel this past Friday and did an outstanding job. We sang some old fun songs and performed 2 skits. We talked about how Jesus is the only way to Heaven and also performed a skit about Zaccheaus. The children memorized scripture and even learned a whole praise and worship song in Russian. It was a very beautiful chapel and I am one proud teacher! My children were rewarded also on Friday after chapel by having a, Friday Fun Day. We left the school and went to a park for a little over 2 hours. We played on huge mounds of snow, went sledding, and painted the snow! When we left the park we were all cold and tired so we made our way back to the school and watched a movie while we ate popcorn and drank hot cocoa. The kids absolutely loved such a wonderful fun filled day. I am definitely looking forward to the last few months here with these kids before we all set off for the summer!
   

The Hoopla since the New Year

     I have been really bad about sitting down and actually writing out how things have been going here in Moscow lately and I apologize. Please bare with me as this second semester is only going to get more crazy and busy but I will do my best to keep you all up to date.
     In the month of January I have been trying to get my kiddos back into the swing of school. It has been another adjustment period for these kids especially because I had kids travel all around the world for Christmas Break. My kiddos have surprised me though with how much they remember and being so eager to be back to school and learn. We enjoy each others company and knowledge in my classroom. I love being a part of what the Lord is doing each and every day through me for these kids. I am so blessed to be able to say that I work at Hinkson with such wonderful staff and very special children. As the days went on in January so many things took place at our school. We had the opportunity as a school to help pack seeds to send to families who are less fortunate or who are struggling. We packed 1,004 bags of 7 different types of seeds in each bag for families in need. This was such a wonderful experience to be apart of in helping Moscow community. I love the outreach ministries that I can be a part of while working here at Hinkson.
   Here in Moscow it has been so beautiful with all of the fluffy snow and crazy amounts of it as well. I had the opportunity to go sledding with Karen, Alisha, and Haley. We took a walk through a beautiful white covered park and made our way to some slopes to go sledding. This was my first time ever and it was one of the best days ever, despite the frozen legs and soreness afterwards. Sledding down the hill to get to Karen at the bottom was a blast, going forwards, backwards, on our stomachs, and also trying to race each other was so much fun. We laughed, face planted in snow, rolled off sleds, threw snow at each other, and tried catching snowflakes in our mouths. So many memories were made on this wonderful Saturday with special friends, including stepping into knee deep snow, getting stuck, making tunnels and so much more. My boss Karen made hot chocolate and when we returned to her house she had some very delicious hot soup ready for us as we sat around and had wonderful conversations.
     Our school has been taken over by sickness and a lot of the students and staff were out with some kind of flu and other sicknesses. I had 2 students gone for over a week straight. It is so nice to have my class back to school all together  and still just as excited as the first day of school. Now that my whole class is back together I have been out of work for a week now. I have been battling hot flashes, heart races, dizziness, headaches, and chest inflammation which causes chest pain. The dr said I was very dehydrated and have a viral infection. I am under drs orders to stay home, drink lots of fluids, and rest. All of my blood work came back normal so he is unsure why some of these things are still happening and causing pain. I will call the doctor again on Monday and we will discuss further investigation. I appreciate all the prayers as we try to determine what is really going on here.
     As January has come to an end we prepare for so much excitement and new adventures in February and the months that follow. The 100th day of school is on Monday and I am very excited about seeing my Dalmatians trot through the whole school in our elementary parade. We are also getting ready for our Elementary Movie night at the school, spirit week, valentine parties, winter break, Chapel presentations, and Friday Fun Day in Kindergarten. SO many things to look forward to but with all of this comes a lot of planning and preparation. I hope and pray we can all stay well and enjoy the time we have with each other. Take care friends and family, know you are loved and miss all the way in Russia.