Tag: Grace Page 5 of 19

Welcome to Our School

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On August 22, 2014

In Other

So this is how you know that your child’s uniform shirts were not manufactured in or for America: 

Doesn’t even bother with “Tumble Dry Low.”  

Lily’s kindergarten teacher is Tanzanian.

Josiah’s first grade teacher is American.

Grace’s third grade teacher is British.

And she is totally back in her element.  

And I am in my happy place.  

It was strange being “just a parent” on the first day of school, after 10 years of ministry there.  My responsibilities included getting a good breakfast into my kids, making sure they didn’t forget their water bottles, and meeting new parents.  My name is no longer on a box in the staff room, I had no photo-copies to make, and Gil was not speaking on the first-day assembly, like he did for 8 years.  I came home to a quiet house and had a Swahili lesson and then went to a meeting with our new partners in ministry.  It felt weird.

But I can’t tell you how grateful I am that we still get to be a part of Haven of Peace Academy, that my kids get to attend here and learn from all of these amazing people.  The very existence of this school enhances our new ministry in every way.  

And if you haven’t watched this video yet, please do!  Not only does it give a great picture of HOPAC, it also features Mark (our new co-worker) and our new ministry training Tanzanian church leaders.  (And it’s only four minutes long!)

Eight

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On January 6, 2014

In Other

She’s halfway to 16.

But how is that possible, since it can’t have been eight years since this?

She’s my good-natured, easy-going, happy, friendly, sweetheart.  She’s a peacemaker, a hard worker, and she leads by enthusiasm.

We celebrated with miniature golf and rock climbing with her friend Kylie.  Later we celebrated with family and a chocolate-peanut-butter cake that she was thrilled to make herself.

She’s God’s Grace to me.

She’s a fragrance of Grace to everyone she meets.

Here’s to the next eight years.

The Wonderful Life of Grace Medina

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On April 1, 2013

In Other

When you’re seven years old, growing up in Tanzania….

 

….not only do you get to spend a few weeks learning about the Masai tribe, but then they visit your class and teach you how to kill lions and jump really high.

 

(and yes, Lauren Clarke, that is Flat Stanley!)

 

 

….you organize the neighborhood kids into races, using everything in our yard that has wheels. (Maybe we need more bikes?!?)

 

 

 

….you swim in HOPAC House competitions.  Go Green House!

 

 

….you get to cheer on the Tanzanian national soccer team (definitely the underdogs) when they BEAT Morocco 3-1!!! 

…and you even get to sit on your teacher’s lap, ‘cuz she came too.  And she even let you paint her face. 

7, 5, 4

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On February 14, 2013

In Other

 

Perler Bead Mania

By

On January 26, 2013

In Other

This was Grandma’s birthday present to Grace.

 

If you could be a fly on our wall, on many hot afternoons when Daddy comes home, you will find us all holed up in our bedroom, the only room with an air conditioner.  Mom reads from the Narnia books, and the rest of the family engages in what has become somewhat of a Family Obsession.

Daddy is the Master Designer.  And Grace has always been one who would do crafts all day, every day, if we let her. 

But this little guy has given us the biggest surprise.  This is the five-year-old who just developed the small motor skills to write his name a couple of months ago.  The one who hates coloring and drawing, and school work only comes along with a great deal of bribery encouragement.  The one with energy coming out of every pore of his body.  Focus and concentration have never been his strengths.   

 

But somehow these silly little beads have captured his imagination.  And so he sits, every day, for hours at a time, creating. 

And as every parent knows, you’re happy with whatever you can get.  Right? 

 

 

This is really only a small fraction of what has been created in the past month.  The rest have been given to poor, unsuspecting friends who have to pretend that they are just so excited to receive one of these plastic creations.  Good thing we have nice friends.

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