Reorienting Reflections from the Movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

It's A Wonderful Life

Rescuing a drowning wingless angel begins George Bailey on the road to renewed life. Viewing his life from the outside looking in is weird enough as it is without the shock of “George Bailey” suddenly ceasing to exist.

The '90s pop, radio hit, captures George's realization: “you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.” Reflecting on It's A Wonderful Life is a powerful reminder that life is worth living in part because we do not have a clue what mark we leave on the people, places and circumstances around us.

So, we live.

We live to the full.

We live, knowing that God has us continue filling voids that are unique to us; someone else would pass it up.

But the heart, the passion, the drive, the sacrifice of one – of us – could be all that is needed for someone – anyone – to have a second chance at life and living.

And we may be just the ones to hand them God's key.

-Mi

Novemeber here and Student Spotlight: Introducing Josh and Josh

 

          MaugenHard Monthly Update -

               Greetings from Michelle Waters at Maugenhard!  The cold, damp winter weather is rolling in and kids are starting get tired of school and look forward to Christmas break in a little over a month.  The guys are making use of their two female RAs for Christmas Banquet girl tips and gifts.  It is touching to see how the guys are learning to honor the lady friends in their lives.  It is exciting to see how the guys are becoming more comfortable sharing themselves with me and the other staff.  I am encouraged by how I feel more confident in the cultural and practical responsibilities in the German community.  Soon I will be studying for my German driver's license.  In the meantime, I am continuing to do mom tasks and be available to students.  It is an honor to get to know the guys.  I want to share with you another two of my guys now:

 

Maugenhard Student Spotlight - Introducing Josh and Josh…

(Interested in reading more?  For security purposes, please email mwaters@teachbeyond.org to receive a 1-page doc. with their spotlight.)

Love, Michelle

Student Spotlights | John and Will

Happy October from Maugenhard dorm!

        Autumn is a festive time here. Apples and pumpkins are plentiful and provide surprising bonding opportunities with some of the students. When I first arrived in July, a fellow staff reminded me that the best way to connect with the male students would be through doing projects “side by side” with them. Some of the best conversations to-date have been while picking apples, driving places, or sitting around on couches before bed.

A Maugenhard Spotlight

         Since July you have heard about “Maugenhard” and “the guys,” but I would like you to start getting to know them more as individuals; for individual students make this place what it is. In order to do this, each month I plan to spotlight two Maugenhard guys, where they are from, what makes them unique, and some ways you can pray for them.

Introducing John and Will...

*For privacy purposes, I will not post the full newsletter here.  Email me at mwaters@teachbeyond.org if you'd like an attached 1-pg. student spotlight newsletter!

I look forward to hearing from you all!  Fill me in on life for you.

Peace be with you,
--
Michelle Waters

Photo-Journal: Goodbye, Summer

Photo-Journal:

"Goodbye, Summer!" Moments at

Maugenhard Dorm

Greetings from Deutschland!

How can I capture my world here?  Written descriptions seem trite and simplisitc, so I gather a gallery of visual stories, a few glimpses of faces and places that shape my world here in Germany (see below).

It is amazing that once you move to a different world, you'd long to relay stories to the people back home.  But, when I have breaks, I feel like sleeping, listening to music, walking, laying in the grass, zoning out - almost anything other than talking to people about what it is like here because life here is full and rich, forward motion, full of the joy and pain that comes with "parenthood."  Supposedly, these feelings are fairly normal for the adjustment to so much new at once.  Plus, I get the blessed privledge of being an instant new mother of 21 guys.  Suddenly new mothers make sense to me; who knew that one's heart can change in a moment?  I love the guys so much and their joys and pains are becoming my own. 

The lyrics of this song encourages my heart, when I struggle with wondering if the little things I do matter.   One Heartbeat At A Time - Music Video

You're up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
And you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Oh, maybe you just don't know
Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh, you, you may not see it now
But I believe that time will tell
How you, you are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"
Every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
They're just like the drops of rain over time
They become a river...

(http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=10430)

Simply put: "It was the best of times and it was the worst of time." (A Tale of Two Cities).    

Photo-Journal: September Flies In

The Annual football games - Maug dorm contra mundo (aka the other guy dorms): Corey, RA, gives inspirational speech

Saturday morning Crepe-making with a student from France (He is a good cook!)

Painting a birthday banner with a student from Spain for Zach's (from the Middle East) 16th birthday

One of my favorite nearby trails that I use for a little bit of alone time on my afternoon breaks

The town where some of my Dad's Mom's family is from: Büche family

(For more picture albums of Maug life, see Mark Powell, FB)

August BFA Update

Hallo from Deutschland!


It is hard to believe that it has been 4.5 weeks since I moved to Germany.  Thank you for your prayer, encouragement and support!


Seeing that I connected well with the guy students and knowing that I expressed openness to serving in a guys dorm, the BFA residence life leadership placed me in Maugenhard.  It is the boys’ dorm here in Kandern, which is walking distance from Black Forest Academy and the village downtown.


What does a typical weekday look like at Maugenhard dorm?
7:15-8:15 - Breakfast (Tues - hot breakfast)
8:30 - Walk to school (except on days of extreme weather and then staff drives)
9:00-12:00 - STAFF: Res. Life Staff meetings/chores/shopping/food prep/laundry (various tasks)
12:00-15:50 - STAFF: Personal rest/correspondence
16:00-16:30 - After school snack
16:00-18:15 - Free time
18:15 - Dinner (staff picks up from central kitchen at school, except weekends which are made at the dorm)
18:45-19:45 - Gratis (chores)/Free time
19:45-19:30 - Study Hours
21:45 - Toast time (Snack)
22:00-22:30 - Prep for Bed (underclassman)
22:30 - Lights out (underclassman)



Within these hours there are many opportunities to connect with the students.  Our twenty high-school boys here at Maugenhard Dorm are dear [of course, I don’t say that to their faces :o) ]!  It’s been a little over a week living with them all; my heart overflows with gratitude to God that I get to serve here.


The guys are all so different; they have passports from countries like the USA, Malawi, South Africa, and South Korea.  The students in the school at large represent 54 countries.   I felt like a proud mother at BFA’s opening flag ceremony, where our 6 seniors and many others carried their countries’ flags.   We, here at Maugenhard, represent roughly 16 different countries of residence, such as Bosnia, Slovenia, Poland, France, UK, Korea, and many other places in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.   


Returning staff is amazed at the change in this year’s seniors at Maugenhard.  God is using them to influence the climate of the dorm.  Below is a free verse poem that I wrote upon reflecting on what God’s been teaching me through my observations in the dorm:


SEEING:  A Ministry to Their Peers


Realizing and admitting,
In a sense, “they don’t need me,”
Is immensely humbling.


Seeing
The steady stream of senior guys’
Quiet parade through the underclassman hallways,
Weaving in and out of each room
To deliver, “goodnight” wishes and hugs to all the younger guys.


Seeing
“Strong,” macho guys
Melt in the arms of their peers,
the upperclassman role-models.


Seeing
The dancing eyes of a junior tell “goodnight stories”
And zealously pray with the dorms’ youngest dorm brother
As he eagerly soaks up his every word.


Seeing
A couple seniors persistently
Entreating the staff to include
A former Maugie, who is now a “home student,”
(But “once a Maugie, always a Maugie”) in dorm bonding activities,
Knowing it would mean so much to him to be included again.


Seeing
The guys wait for the others to walk to school,
Making sure a struggling new student had adequate water
To ease his nauseatingly anxious stomach.


Seeing
The guys minister to one another
In a way I never could


So, I wonder, Why am I here?  
I am here
to encourage those seniors that what they do is not in vain
to sit silently alongside a juniors’ goodnight prayer
to continue fostering a safe and inviting environment, so Maugenhard can be a safe place, a haven
to minister mainly without words - at least for now.
to serve and love and continue to make myself available to listen or for God appointments


From seeing Maugenhard guys give to one another,
I’m learning what they need and how they need it.  
I see Jesus in them - actions, more poignant than words.  
I see Jesus in the love they have for one another - their brothers.  
This has to be what Jesus talked about all throughout the Scriptures - “love one another.  
They will know you are my followers
Because you love one another.”  
Ah, that must be it.


Prayer: Please pray that

• The guys and staff will have a growing desire to know and love God; especially a hand full of students, who are more closed, and, the one student, who has expressed that he is not a Christian yet.
• I will be a humble learner and servant, who does not compare myself to others, and God will guide me as to what my specific role is within the staff and with the guys.
• I will be patient with the process of getting to know most of the guys; that God will supply discernment on when and how to enter into the things they enjoy when I need to as well as creativity to draw the guys to engage in other things at times.
• Additional financial support would come in.
• When relationship building proves difficult, God will remind my heart of what is true about Him and consequently about me.

Thank you for your prayer, encouragement and support!  
Peace be with you,
Michelle
I’d love to hear from you: mwaters@teachbeyond.org 

Week One in Maugenhard: Picture Summary

1st Campfire with Brother/Sister Dorm

School Shopping at a French "Super Walmart" type-place

Saturday Pancake Breakfast Prep

Successful shopping thanks to a French-speaking student

Fire-building in a wet season

Some of the dorm guy at an opening meeting

Fun times doing school lunch prep with one of my co-RAs

 

Corey (RA), Mark (DP), Sue (DP), Tiffany (RA), Michelle (RA)

This is our full Maugenhard boys' dorm staff -
A God-ordained mix of Ireland/Montana/Georgia/Tennessee/Germany/Canada/Indiana/Texas

The Boys Are Moving In!

The time has arrived! The new guys to Maugenhard dorm move in tomorrow! 
We are going to pray through the rooms tomorrow morning for the guys.  Please pray with us over them, asking God to draw them to Himself, grow them in maturity and develop an authentic community among them.


We will have 21 guys in the dorm and five staff members.  As I said in my welcome notes to several guys, I am excited for them each to be a part of Maugenhard dorm.  I look forward to getting to know them.  I believe they each have a great deal they bring to the dorm.  I am glad they are here. 

It is not an accident that this group of students and staff are here for this season.  May God be honored and glorified and the spiritual forces of darkness be resisted.

Please pray that I, the other RAs and dorm parents will abide in Christ and allow Him to do the work in and through us this year specifically.

Peace be with you,
Michelle
(email me at mwaters@teachbeyond.org)

A Brief Photo-Journal Survey of My Last 3 Weeks in Germany

A Brief Photo-Journal Survey

of My Last 3 Weeks in Germany

Holzen, Germany (location of Storch dorm): Where I stayed when I was in transition for the first 1.5 week, living out of a suitcase.  It was a time of serious culture shock and info overload but beautiful walks every once and a while.

I am mastering driving stick.  This is an earlier driving lesson.  Tomorrow I have my driving test in the vans to certify me to drive students.

BFA high school building!  - with one of my Co-RAs, Tiffany (but we didn't know we'd be together at the time of the photo)

Herr und Frau Fields, my Australian German language and culture teachers for the 1st week. They are great teachers and much fun!  We had field trips :)

Orientation each week has many topics to cover, so we have spent many afternoon in Storch dorm having ResLife meetings.  They are interesting  topics but a lot of information.  I am taking notes and hoping other people will remember, too.  We are a team.  ResLife here is full of quality people from amazingly diverse backgrounds.  It is neat to see everyone's uniqueness come out.  God has definitely put together the unique teams for a reason.  It is not an accident we are here.

Peace be with you,

Michelle

I've Been Placed: Maugenhard Dorm!

Michelle  (RA); Susan and Mark  (Dorm Parents); Tiffany (RA); Corey (RA) [unpictured]

Hallo!

I am ending my second week of living in Germany.  It has been an experience comparable to "drinking out of a fire hydrant."  Moving to a different country (learning to speak Deutsch, drive stick, do things differently) and becoming involved with a relational ministry (ResLife and support) therein is "different" (the word I am learning to say instead of "weird").  I've had numerous opportunities already to laugh at myself driving, speaking, and buying (i.e. I accidentally bought to two shampoos, thinking one was conditioner.)

The big news is:

I've Been Placed: Maugenhard Dorm! Click: Maugenhard Dorm

After a week of getting to know the other new and returning ResLife staff, I was assigned to Maugenhard BFA high school boy's dorm with RAs Tiffany and Cory!  I get to be a caring and involved older sister to the guys and support to the dorm family.  It was been a phenomenal opportunity as well as a definite growing experience to have 21 new brothers. :)  God said He will equip me for what God calls me to - even this!

Lord willing, the RAs will move in this Wednesday after the summer English Camps are finished with the dorms.  The students then will start returning around August 21st.  Until then we will continue with staff bonding and meetings as well as additional ResLife and German culture training.  It has been fast, fun, challenging, but good.

I am excited to share a short video and more pictures with you soon about life here and the staff I get to work with.  Keep posted to my blog for more of these things.

For now, "Tschuss" (bye) - and please share this update with your church family as well as any others you think would want to know.

 Peace be with you, Michelle Waters (I'd love to hear from you - email me at mwaters@teachbeyond.org)

A Village of Storks and Apple Groves

Hallo! from Deutschland:

Orientation starts tomorrow after church, but new and returning staff have been arriving the last couple days.  It has been great to see friends from TeachBeyond orientation. Even though it is not official training yet, I am learning a lot through talking to staff and observing things.  My first times at the stores and walking have been funny. :)  Everything takes longer, but it is interesting.  Since I am jet-lagged, I feel like I am walking in a dream.  I can pick up on some German, which is neat. 

Because English camps are still going on in the other dorms, we are all living in Stork dorm in Holzen, Germany, until next week when we are placed in our dorms.  This town is smaller than Kandern and is known for its rehab for storks --- the birds.  They are everywhere with large nests in this town.  Apple groves are over the hills.

It has been good to have a few transition days to acclimate because it is similar to the States in some ways, but in most ways it is very different.  More to come, Michelle

Finally!!!! Deutschland -bound!

Friends and family!

I am finally Deutschland-bound!

I am leaving for the airport now on my way to Germany.  I fly out of Louisville at 1:30pm; then after Chicago, London and Basel airports, I will drive 30 minutes into Germany, Lord willing.  Thankfully, I have some people I know on the long flight, which is a blessing.  I hope to be in touch after I get settled in the next several days.  Training for language, staff relations, ministry with the students, driving, etc. will be the first 3 weeks or so.  Then the kids come!  Feel free to email me how you all are and any prayer requests, too: mwaters@teachbeyond.org. 

Peace be with you all, Michelle Waters,
Resident Assistant at Black Forest Academy for Missionary Kids (http://underglassmw.blogspot.com)

6 Days: Prioritizing and Preparing for the Long-Haul

Dear friends and family,

MY SCHEDULED DEPARTURE: 

Wednesday, July 27 at 1:30 P.M., EST, 

from Louisville.

 

Knowing I have 6 more days in the States for a while has led me to think about what really matters and what are my priorities. I am grateful for people encouraging me along the way to prepare in advance for goodbyes, so that they are not crammed last minute.  Thankfully, I have been intentional to find closure for myself and others as much as possible.  I am grateful that I have gotten to talk to many of you before I go.  I am excited to share this journey with you!

I've found a great deal of perspective in these last weeks from the book of Hebrews, particularly 11:9a, NLT: 

"And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith - for he was like a foreigner, living in tents...."    

God has grown my faith greatly since I began the journey with TeachBeyond and preparing for Black Forest Academy in October 2010.  The Holy Spirit has exhorted me that the need for faith does not stop once my funds come in and my support network is built.   The reality is that in order to be sustained through God's ministry at BFA, I must continue in a life of humble dependency on the LORD and interdependence on others.  May the words of this song encourage you in your trust in the Lord for wherever you find yourself as they have me:

"God Is In Control" - Twila Paris Lyrics
This is no time for fear

This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together

God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control

 

Financial Update:  I have only $551/month LEFT to RAISE: :)

Which is only 11 more people committing to $50/month or some variation of that. 

Prayer Update: Please pray that God will continue to grow my roots down deep in Him and enable me to discern and follow God's priorities for me before I leave this Wednesday, July 27th.

 

Thanks for your care, prayer, support and encouragement!

Peace be with you,

Michelle Waters

I'd love to hear from you: mwaters@teachbeyond.org 

3 Weeks Bridge the Gap between America and Germany

Just three more weeks, Lord willing.

Just three more weeks bridge the gap between America and Germany for me.

I am extraordinarily humbled and excited by the generous financial and prayer support of my friends and family over the last weeks.  I am amazed by the ways individuals, families, and churches have given sacrificially, reminding me of the widow whom Jesus praised in the Gospels (Mark 12:43-44).

In the last weeks, I've gotten a poignant picture of what the Body of Christ ought to look like - her members using their various gifts in the same mission to honor God.  

I am reminded of an art exercise in my senior counseling course where I had to depict "where I was at" holistically at that point as well as "where I wanted to be." [The result was the picture on the right.]  Despite all the unknowns of my then impending graduation, I felt two things strongly: 

1. I had to remain rooted "in stream of living water"        (Psalm 1:3)
2. I had to be a part of a team of people on the same mission for Jesus, serving with their various gifts while valuing what the others contributed              [represented by boat in tree].

As far as support-raising and preparing to serve at Black Forest Academy, I need people with various gifting and in different seasons of life to contribute what God has given them to use.   
I am blown away by how much "little things" to some people are big things to me and bless me beyond words:

• Some cannot give $, but they are fervent prayer warriors and passionate advocates
• Some give of their time to help with administrative tasks and prepare for support development
• Some email me advice on how to prepare and encourage me with what God is teaching them

For all those using their various gifts and resources to partner with me - I am deeply grateful and overflow with thanksgiving to God for His graciousness.  May God continue to be honored!

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, NLT).

Peace be with you,

Michelle

I'd love to hear from you. Email me at mwaters@teachbeyond.org.

4 Weeks Until Take Off!

Dear friends,

DEPARTURE COUNTDOWN:  My estimated departure date                

 - July 27^th - is 4 weeks (or 28 days) from yesterday!

PRAYER UPDATE:  Please pray that God will…

·         Grow my love for Him and desire to dwell in prayer and the Scripture

·         Strengthen my courage to speak the truth in love and invite people to know and serve God with me

·         Connect me with those whom God wants to be a part of my financial and/or prayer support team

·         Continue to bring healing to my body after being sick with the flu

·         Bring healthy closure with my family and friends here before I move

FINANCIAL UPDATE:  Thanks to all of you who have already given!  As of the beginning of the week, I am currently at 37.84% of monthly support raised for the two years.  With my one-time gifts and my monthly pledges ($537.00/month) I have a total of $626.94 for 2 years, which equals out to be 37.84% for 2 years. 

If you are interested in being a part of my financial support team, please contact: http://www.teachbeyond.org/donate and “download pledge form.”  If I had 21 more people giving $50/month, I would be fully supported.  Please email me if you would like to know more: mwaters@teachbeyond.org.

TEACHBEYOND ORIENTATION UPDATE: Several days ago I returned from the Chicago area after visiting dear friends, presenting the BFA ministry, as well as attending the TeachBeyond orientation.  I was touched by the hospitality of so many people who opened their homes and hearts to me.  God knew I needed that encouragement.  

After spending a week of orientation with the TeachBeyond staff and new appointees (like me), I grew to deeply respect and appreciate the TeachBeyond family.  It is clear from their words and deeds that they care about us each like family and pray for us as individuals.  They wanted two copies of our picture prayer cards: one for the Canada office and one for the US office, so that they could put our cards around their world map and pray for us regularly during lunch time. 

Some of these appointees in training with me will be going to Black Forest Academy, too!  It was neat to start bonding throughout the week and in region, job, and gender specific breakout sessions.  I really enjoyed those times.  

A highlight of the day was the evening testimonies, where affinity groups (dorm parents, counselors, resident assistants, nurse, etc. were primarily in mine) had five minutes to tell briefly about how God has worked in their lives and brought them to this place; then we prayed for them.  These staff members are from all over Washington, California, Canada, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama, Germany, and beyond, and are going to serve in Germany, Czech Republic, Central Asia, Budapest, Philippines and beyond.  

ENCOURAGEMENT:   After I shared my testimony, BFA man came up to me and said, “Two words. Hold fast.”  He went on to explain that if he were to get a tattoo, it would be of the words, “hold fast,” across his knuckles because he knew the sober reality of being tempted to reenter our former, destructive ways of living.  

So, friends, be encouraged by Hebrews 10:35, NLT, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.  Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

Peace be with you,

Michelle