Bonjour mes amis :)

Thought I'd spice it up with some french! This is a tad late, but I have just found some time to complete this post J

Enjoi!

 

One full week has come and gone with the kids and by the end it was such a rewarding experience!!! The week was difficult at some points but truly on the last day I saw the fruit of my teaching throughout the week! My kids did a phenomenal dance that me and Cat, my TA choreographed for them! At first it took a lot of prompting to get them dancing. Me and Cat pushed through all week to get them going and by the end they were actually wanting to do it. It makes me think of some things in life, sometimes we just have to persevere through that tough thing to make it through to the finish line to know it was worth it. Throughout the week I was prompting the students to keep dancing, although it was painful at times to be so persistent, the sense of accomplishment that I felt when all was said and done was incredible. The dance felt like my biggest accomplishment with my students this week. At the end when all the kids were dismissed, my students came up to me in a large group with a card my TA bought and got them all to sign! I was so surprised, thinking these kids I told to be quiet over 100 times and taught all week, actually liked me! The fact they didn’t want to leave right after they were dismissed, was a compliment to me. They wanted to stay around and talk! My heart was happy!

I also was incredibly blessed by another fellow teacher Olivia! She had her students individually write out letters to me! Some of them were so cute! Some phrases they used in their letters were,

“Dear Miss Cecchi, You’re the most funniest Canadian I ever seen. You’re a really nice person too, you don’t get mad, so we will miss you for everything”. –Sindy

Here are also some photos from the letters: I think you can click on them to enlarge and read them :) 

       This one was pretty cute: “Your smile like a sunshine, very nice, warm, and very sweet”. –Oscar

                           It was so encouraging and nice to receive these letters from the kids J

This was my first class last week :) 

I have a hilarious video of me, Kait and the whole school doing the "Cha Cha Slide"! I can't upload it to my blog for some reason but I will try to post it on Facebook. I also have the video of my kids dancing!

----------This week---------- :) 

Hmmmm this week indeed looks a little bit different. Have you ever seen the movie Finding Nemo? When Dory tries to speak whale? This clip will help you out, if you haven’t J

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqDZf3smobI

            After watching, my explanation of sounding like whale to these kids is pretty accurate. It doesn’t mean that is a bad thing. I feel bad in some ways because my English is really confusing for these kids because they are not entirely sure what is going on because of their low English level. It also doesn’t mean that their “disobedience” is actually because they want to not listen. They just don’t understand things that I am instructing, which prove it to be difficult at times. I sure am learning to practice grace this week!

Refinement

            You know how I blogged about refinement? I feel I have been tested in a variety of ways this past week or so. Feeling challenged on many levels. My reaction is my biggest insecurity in some ways, when a lot of things feel like they are going “wrong”. I ask myself again, “Am I thankful.” Faced with situations that I’m in a loss for control, classroom management, ordering the wrong thing, stress and so on. The school I have been working at this week has variety of inspirational quotes on the walls. I love each and every one of them!

Below are some photos of them:

My good friend said these words to me in a conversation this evening to, “embrace the inconveniences”. Living each day thankful for what lies ahead even if its difficult. With Christ’s help we are more than conquers over the little inconveniences in our life. Got to stick to this when things get tough.

To end on a hilarious note, I have a story! I went swimming with a few of my teammates the other evening. First of all to set the tone for the story, Hong Kong is a VERY crowded place. People don’t have spatial perception it feels like constantly. Your walking or waiting in line at the store and people walk in front of you or even better, they stand so close to you, that they either rub up against with a nice sweaty arm or you can feel their breath. It’s funny, most the time ;). So a few of us were at the pool around the corner from where we are staying. We were swimming and there were about 70 people in the pool I would say. We were floating in the water in a group of 4 and all of a sudden….we sort of yell as we almost get smoked in the head with this women’s arms, doing the back stroke! We quickly try to swim out of the way, as she is oblivious to all that is going on and we are all laughing hysterically as we watch her in the pool for another 10 minutes going back and forth doing backstroke lengths amongst kids and families. As she swam, she would clear people out of her way. It was like the parting of the red sea, people would see her coming and try to run for it before she hit them. It made us all laugh really hard because there was another pool to do lengths but this woman chose to do lengths in a pool with many people. I wasn’t the slightest mad, I was humored by her! Hope you can laugh as much as I did through this story!

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”. -Romans 8:13

Be blessed,

A

This song is on repeat: CLICK HERE  :) 

It's all about the adventure...

Ordering food in Hong Kong is pretty much a surprise most the time. I order something that looks yummy and usually I end up getting an extra drink with it or some sauce that I'm not sure of the flavour...or even a funny taste of fish perhaps? Don't get me wrong though, I have been loving all the different tastes of food here! I have not hesitated much to order whatever I see and give it a try! My modo is if you don't try the food, than you won't know if you like it or not! I have learned to not go for the vegetarian dish that includes tofu by trying everything. I felt like I was eating rubber hahaha! I have been having a hard time receiving my veggie and fruit intake here. A lot of food to eat around my area has a lot of meat and rice! Which I love but I miss my big salads and yummy squash recipes. Ooo how I long to cook something tasty in the kitchen right about now :) 

Another fun fact: Going for runs here feels like you went and jumped into a swimming pool! There is a beautiful park nearby that has a track to run on with basketball, tennis and soccer courts. There are lots of trees there and it is pretty peaceful to go there. About a 10 minute walk from where we are! I am trying to get enough courage up to play some basketball with people who play each evening! I think tonight I will go with my friend Meghan and try to get in on a game! Girls don't entirely play lots of sports here so it will be interesting :) I think I may get a laugh but I'm sure it will be fun! I'll keep you posted! 

My first day of teaching was yesterday and it was WONDERFUL! I loved it! Besides the fact that my voice felt hurt a bit after speaking all day and my body felt like jello from the long day. I absolutely loved teaching and playing fun games with the kids throughout the day! What an incredible opportunity I have here! The kids are really funny. After just a day, they are pretty comfortable around me! I know this because I was standing at the computer during break and looking at what the afternoon lessons would be. A girl than came up to me and had something in her hand! She put it on my desk and to my surprise it was a COCKROACH! It was only plastic ;) BUT....my eyes got big and my jaw dropped in shock as I laughed! I think I can get a high five for not jumping 10 feet high :) 
My kids also have made up a name for me, different than Miss.Cecchi. In the morning we were going through our favourite foods. I told them one of my favourite foods is PIZZA! Later on in the day I probably heard them call me Miss.Pizza about 5 or so times. I just giggled and said, "Ok, sounds good :)". HEYYYY....they learned the word pizza :)! We took a picture for our scavenger hunt later on and they had to draw on the board my name and what they liked about me. This picture below describes what it says: 

                            They wrote on the board behind us: "I like Miss.Pizza because she is pretty" 

This was half of my class. I usually will have around 20 students. One day down and a few more weeks to go! Please be keeping all of us girls in your prayers :) For energy, health, safety and to be the light of Christ in these schools we are able to go into! 

As I was riding back on the bus yesterday with our group I was reminded of this song by 

‪Jonathan David Helser called "Abba"‪. 

You can find the song here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GeVf1XQOPg&list=RD-GeVf1XQOPg&index=1

A beautiful reminder of His love for us. Being here in Hong Kong this past week or so, I have reflected on how busy life can be. Wanting to find time for the Lord but always coming back to it's a daily and consistent relationship. It should not be confined to always a set time that I spend with him but it should be throughout my everyday. Last night I sat at the soccer park around the corner from the University we are staying at. I watched a large group of people play soccer and as I was looking at the court I was in awe of how large this soccer court was. To others, it may be a simple fact that soccer courts are large in size, but to me in that moment of sitting there I was drawn to a parallel of how vast the Fathers love is for each of us.  My prayer for you is that in the simple things of life you would see Jesus in them. 

Kindly,
A

p.s. Jonathan Davis Hesler also has some other really good tunes to check out if you would like :) 

Are you thankful for refinement?

     These words echoed in my head on one Sunday evening as I was in a worship service recently at church. I felt God speaking to me saying, "Alivia, are you thankful for refinement?" A tug at my heart compelled me to really ponder this question. Am I truly thankful for times where I feel lost, challenged, struggling, and questioning. Am I thankful for all of those not so warm fuzzies in those difficult times in life. Warm fuzzies was a term my math teacher used in high school that still sticks me with. A cute little 70 year old women named Mrs.Bailey. She was a gem and had a super kind heart. So as I am asked this question, of thankfulness in the hard times, I am reminded of these verses:

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance" -Romans 5:3

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."  -2 Corinthians 12:9

      When I look into the Bible and realize that these trials on earth that I have to go through, along with being faced with the unknown of what am I do to after I graduate, I am reminded that I share with Christ in my sufferings. I need to be more thankful in the refining times, knowing that my faith is being strengthened. Knowing my character is being grown in Christ.

On another note....

:)

Holy Living

   I have been coming back to the idea of blogging on and off lately. Having numerous amounts of thoughts and not always good conversation to entertain the ideas. I figure I can blog out some of these pondering thoughts and hopefully inspire and encourage those who wish to read. Maybe it is the Lord prompting me to write out my life a little bit. I know I love sharing with other people and I hope you all may enjoy.

        I want a lot of my writings to reflect the character of Christ. His steadfast and enduring   love. So lets get to a topic lately that I've been wrestling with: "Getting too comfortable in our everyday life." Not being overly accustomed to the things around us that are of this world. What kind of living are you being called to?

A beautiful hymn comes to my mind:

Click here to listen :) 

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."

     I find my heart restless often times. Craving more of Jesus. This verse resonates with my heart: 

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:25-26 

Although the Bible talks about things growing strangely dim, my heart is sadenned when I can't find my place because the corruption and misconceptions of daily living. The way society tells you what beautiful is or the culture of music that degrades women, or talks further about unhealthy relationships and sexual relations. What fulfillment is there in this? I think the biggest test for me is, as I draw closer to Christ I get frustrated at the ways of this world. This is where my next section on Holy Living comes in. That the things of this world upset me sometimes. Instead of getting upset I need to be praying into these things and asking the Father to intercede. I am left with this song with words that go like this, 

"I am a sinner, if it's not one thing it's another, caught up in words, tangled in lies, You are a Savior and you take brokenness aside and make it beautiful, BEAUTIFUL!"

 - All Sons and Daughters 

I know that my satisfaction alone is in Christ. My hope is in Him. My anchor needs to be rooted in Him. 

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrew 6:19 

        I want to strive to step out daily and breathe the life of Christ in my actions and speech. It is so easy to get upset at the little things in life. I've been noticing this a lot lately as I worked in a customer service job when I was home. I've also been the person who can get upset because I demand something in that moment when my needs are not getting met. I find when people get really upset and demand that often times their expectations on you as a customer service person are too high. This can happen because they have deep rooted personal issues that are coming out when you can't deliver properly their product or needs. I'm getting a little side tracked here. My thought is this, what if our perception of what we want changes to, what does the situation really entail?  Thinking in terms that the current situation is the opportunity or chance to act differently than others would. For instance I have some examples: 

        Forgetting to do your laundry the evening you needed to do it, losing your wallet or your night being ruined because the waitress spills water on your lap by accident.

How do you perceive the things around you when they go "wrong". What is your standard of living when things don't end up how you expected or thought they should have. Do you have too high of expectations? Should your attitude change if something doesn't go the way you had hoped. I think this all ties into Holy Living and how your representing the King. 

       WHAT IF...you forget to do your laundry but you have a relaxing evening instead and maybe that is just what you needed. WHAT IF....you lost your wallet...BUT by losing it, all the people you have to talk with and go through to get your photos redone, plus the papers signed etc -Through this you are able to make an impact along the way by your kindness in the process of frustration. WHAT IF...the waitress spilling water on your lap was the given opportunity to extend the hand of grace when you have needed it extended to you in the past. 

If in the end Christ is glorified, than this gives me comfort. 

Therefore I will hope in Him evermore, that when I fail I know He is gracious with me. 

This quote was written down amongst other quotes I have in a book. I'm not sure where I received this, but I find it encouraging to read :) 

"We have been entrusted with each other..we are each others opportunity to show our love, faithfulness, commitment, patience, discipline, etc....and when we love, as God first loved us, we can endure any trial and tribulation." 

Amen.

-A

                      Love this photo of the kids running through the water in Hong Kong :)