Use your god-given Talents and Professional skills to 去产生影响 为着福音的缘故

“Jess and I say that as dorm parents we are so fulfilled, so stretched, so dependent, so blessed to be part of the daily lives of these teenage guys, and doubly blessed to be partnering with their amazing families.”

“The first six weeks of first grade are not easy for me or my students. The kids are adjusting to the ‘big kid class’ – struggling to find their stamina and learning that reading and writing is actually really hard work. But as the year moves along it is unbelievable how much they grow, not only as readers and writers but as little human beings. They start to think about things on such a deeper level and by the end of the year I don’t want to see them go.

When I look back on how far they have come from the beginning of the year, I see that this is the year in kid’s lives where they get into their little rockets and take off for the moon. Even though I am the teacher, here are a few things that I have learned from first graders:

1.万事开头难。但只要你继续努力，尽自己最大力量。最终你的付出不会白费，你会获得丰沛的收成。

2.摇晃的牙齿分散注意力，但为终于长出来的牙齿庆祝也很有必要（即使只是生活中的小事，我们也应该为此庆祝。）

3.上帝对我们生活的每一个小小细节都很有兴趣。即使是我们的小狗抽动鼻子，或是我们的父母正飞往地球的其它地方，上帝也能呵护好这一切。

4.我们要像一年级学生那样去祈祷。他们满怀信心地祈祷，全心全意地相信上帝必会回应。（我们每天开始时的祷告时间是我一天中绝对的亮点）。

5. A little band aid and just some words to acknowledge their ‘owie’ can make such a difference. We need to remember that we don’t have to have all the answers but just a kind word to one another can make such a difference.

6.一年级的学生对一切都饶有兴致，并总能从小事中找到快乐，比如从大理石罐里抓满满一把大理石。哪些小事让我们充满感恩并找到喜乐？

7. Life is an adventure . . . there is so much to learn. Let’s always be lifelong learners.”

“I started working at Faith Academy in 2013 and my plan was to stay and teach for only a year, which became two, then more. I didn’t expect to meet my husband here, though! We taught next door to each other, became friends, and fell in love. We got married, and we love doing life as a family with our 11-month old daughter. We look forward to the day when she can attend Faith and be a Vanguard too!

A big part of what keeps us here is the community. The parents, staff members and students at Faith have demonstrated so much love and care for us, and we love investing in those around us. Also, our students bring many different experiences and backgrounds to school each day, sharing their unique gifts and talents. Our teachers are invested in developing students both academically and spiritually. I love seeing the small but significant steps of growth that happen each day!”

“Cheryl and I (Walt) Spicer met at Calvary University. I was an education major and Cheryl was a nurse. We believed God called us into missions, specifically in the support role of teaching missionary children. We joined New Tribes Mission (now called Ethnos360).

We believe that God called us to serve at Faith Academy and it has become our home: Cheryl grew up attending Faith Academy, starting first grade at FA and graduating from FA, having many fond memories of FA and the dorm; this is where all five of our children attended and graduated, and this is where we still serve–myself as the Deputy Head and Cheryl as a school nurse. It is only by God’s grace that we continue to serve, but we are confident in the school’s vision and mission. It is aligned with God’s Word and our calling in life–worthy to give our life for.”