Love is a Universal Language : October 2022

English Class - Level 1

We finished our theme about the Park in Level 1 English Class, and the kids loved the last couple lessons! They learned vocabulary for ways to get to the park (roller skates, bike, scooter, and skateboard), though the favorite lesson was definitely "park games!" We practiced the words "tag, hide-and-seek, hopscotch, and dodgeball" by actively playing the games! It was a perfect ending to the park theme. Since more and more little friends want to keep joining this first level class, I have decided to split the group into two in the new year. I am looking forward to adding the new students and getting to work with more individualized groups. This group can easily catch "contagious giggles" as we read our Elephant and Piggie story each week, and I think there isn't a more wonderful sound than 20 little giggles erupting together!

Uncovering ways kids travel to the park

Hopscotch Races

Playing "Tag"

English Class - Level 2

My Second Level Group finished their theme about Autumn. We closed out by learning vocabulary to describe the changes to leaves and trees in autumn. Since many Czech families heat by wood-burning fireplaces in the winter, we also learned the words "log, stump, and stick" as some of my students have been helping their parents get the wood ready for winter months. I really enjoy watching this group become close friends and the excitement they have to come each week to English Class. After one of the lessons, one student came to gave me a hug and clung on tight as she said, "Kendra, can we please have English Class everyday?" They know I love teaching their class as much as they love learning, and these comments from the kids and emails from the parents saying how much English Class has boosted their child's confidence have become a wonderful normal part of my week.

Practicing vocabulary. The students really enjoyed the "Tree building" game. They took turns rolling dice to add onto their tree, but when they rolled a "lumberjack" they could "cut down" their partner's tree!

English Class - Homeschool Group

In our English Homeschool Group, we finished our theme on directions by learning compass directions. We followed a map around Letovice and used compasses to describe the way we were going and record it on the map. The students and I had a really good time outside on this warm autumn day, and in the end, I was carrying an armful of discarded coats and sweatshirts back to our classroom. We also practiced retelling stories and sequencing events by using vocabulary "first, then, next, after that, and lastly." These skills are asked of the students when they go in for their English exams as homeschoolers, and they were thrilled at how well they could describe their regular events of a day or retell a simple story by the end of the lesson.

Following the map, using compasses, and getting distracted by cute kittens who follow my group of loving, gentle students...

Little Linguists

It's a close toss-up between the moms and toddlers for who is more excited for Little Linguists each week! The moms tell me that their toddler will regularly ask "Kendra?" on mornings in hopes that they will have Little Linguists that day. Theses moms love all the different games and activities just as much as the Littles - I even got them excited with a theme about bugs! One mom is a biologist and excitedly said she has pet cockroaches at home she could have brought to show the kids... of course that would be really great for the kids to have some living hands-on experience, but I was personally really okay with the plastic ones! The Littles couldn't get enough of our song about a ticklish spider; it's definitely a favorite to repeat later.

(1) finding the flies on the magnet board to hit with the flyswatters! (2) making bug imprints in Play-doh.

(1) creating a sticky spider web with yarn and insect pictures. (2) going through the "spiderweb" without getting stuck.

We also had a theme about Autumn as we sang about the falling leaves. There is so much for these Littles to explore as they rearranged the colorful leaves on the tree, collected mushrooms, cozied up in the cottage, and fed the squirrel for winter.

(1) As big as the tree! (2) feeding chestnuts to the squirrel

(1) balancing on the mushrooms at the cottage. (2) moving around the falling leaves

Kid's Club - Letovice

At Kid's Club, we had a couple days where we invited students for waffles and to compete to see which homeroom class would have the most students at club. The winners received a basket filled with goodies and treats to share! It was so fun getting to know new kids and showing them around the club. We are hoping that these students will want to keep coming to club and that we will be able to continue investing in a new generation of youth.

(1) these two are quite special to me - they are both Ukrainian refugees in our community, and I loved that they ran into club yelling "Kendra!" and nearly toppled me over with hugs! (2) It's always fun when former club kids stopping by to see club and reminisce about their club memories.

Playing our new favorite game "Animal Upon Animal" - and yes, we use two sets to play all together.

Youth Group & ELSA

We are in a theme at youth group titled "Who is Jesus?" We have looked at how Jesus was a carpenter and a teacher, and then I taught about Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It was a fun lesson with the group as I tied in Jesus's parable of the lost sheep with a real story of a lost sheep toy that had recently happened. We also looked at qualities of a good shepherd that King David describes in Psalms 23 and how that relates to the good shepherd in the story of the lost sheep.

Youth group watching a short clip of a shepherd helping a sheep out of a canal.

We took our Elim Leadership Academy (ELSA) students away on an overnight for their final ELSA lesson of this season. It was fun talking about our favorite things we did in the program, what we learned, and how we will continue to apply it. I can see how many of these students have grown so much in their leadership abilities through this program. It has been fun to see their skills in leadership at LetFest, in clubs, and at youth groups. Yet, one of the more amazing things that came out of this first season of ELSA was the bond that this group made together. I've seen them encourage each other, stand by each other, and support one another through some more difficult "middle-high school" experiences, and this commitment to friendship really shows their growth in leadership.

(1) guarding the American brownies I baked "with her life!" (2) Autumn hike with the ELSA students

Outreach

Over the summer, I had been hoping to help at a VBS style camp where I had served the previous year; however, I had gotten pretty sick and was unable to go help. Since I had been looking forward to seeing the kids, I made a trip out to the Czech border to see them one weekend! It was fun seeing these kids and friends again and sharing in their ministry joys. The church has taken in many Ukrainian refugees, and I really loved meeting some of their children through Sunday School. It is such a wonderful opportunity to share Jesus's love with these kids who are living right at the church building.

Playing with the kids after Bible Study

With new and old friends

Thrive Retreat

At the end of the month, I attended the Thrive Conference, which is a retreat for North American global women. I had such a wonderful time, and in a group of 70 women with the same heart desires, passion for global outreach, and all having roots in USA or Canada, I found I could easily connect with every person I met! It was really exciting meeting others who are serving in the Czech Republic and knowing it is really possible to meet these women again. I also had a great time getting to know others who live in different countries but have similar fields of work as I do with youth students in small towns. I really connected with my roommate (we were essentially "twins" in that we were the same age, in similar walks in life, both in children's/youth ministry, and both living in Czech - we would even automatically switch up languages as we used "czenglish" to communicate!). The retreat speaker was exceptional and had me on the edge of my seat and in laughter many times throughout the week, and my discussion group was an amazing mix of women who I loved getting to know. The volunteer staff blessed us in so many ways! I especially loved the American treats they brought, the deep discussions, and their giving hearts as they pampered us throughout the week. It was a week to remember for sure!