It’s the second day of Semester 1- 4th year of Bachelor of Ed (Early Childhood). That’s right- 4th year which means my final!!! I don’t know how I feel about this. In some ways I like the comfort of just studying and doing assignments. Sometimes I don’t know whether I want to be a teacher next year and sometimes I get excited thinking about it. I’m afraid I’ll over stress next year as the first year out is always the hardest. I don’t want to neglect my family and friends over work. I don’t want to destroy my health.
Okay, I know some first year teachers get through their first year just fine. But, I know some teachers who had it tough in their first year and still know a teacher who stresses about her work and she’s been a teacher for a bit over 10 years now.
Anyway, this is the degree I chose because I think it’s what God wants me to do so I got to trust Him that He knows what He’s doing.
Motivation was really lacking for me yesterday – trying to get back into study can be difficult (but it was probably because I also had a busy weekend- Saturday I worked all day and Sunday went to church and hung out with friends). Today I don’t feel as tired and actually slept in until a bit after 7! So, I better make the most of it and get into my study.
Oh, last Friday Karl had the day off (RDO) so we went to Toowoomba and had a fun day. Karl bought me the FM Static CD titled Dear Diary and it’s great (was a wedding anniversary present to me:))! We also bought a book about men and women’s roles in the church: Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. We both look forward to reading it.
We’ve given up hosting/leading home group and haven’t had a leader for a few months now. But, God has provided and we now have a man in the church who’ll lead our home group.
I’m actually enjoying not being involved in any “official” ministry (does that make me a bad Christian? I don’t think so!) this year. Karl and I decided not to lead (well, he led the home group) the home group – the main reason being was that we weren’t studying the Bible together like we used to before we became involved in the Bible study and our relationship is more important than official ministry stuff. Also, ;cause Karl was getting rundown. We should’ve taken a “year off” official ministry in our first year of ministry- but we didn’t. Oh well, this will be our year off. It’s funny how many Christians expect you and feel expected to be involved in at least one ministry in the church (I know I have expected it and felt expected to). But, we become so busy with all these ministries within the church that we can hide in a bubble of it and forget to reach out to those around us (non Christians) in our daily lives (had a talk with my bro, Kim, about this yesterday).
It’s nice to just focus on building relationships with others rather than being so busy planning kids ministry stuff (and there is a need for this, but at the moment- I don’t think this is where I’m meant to be) and being too tired to be with friends and welcome others.
Well, there’s my scattered thoughts for today. I better start printing out uni assignment sheets now.
Your final year will fly by. First year of teaching is challenging but rewarding. You’ll find your feet quickly
By: K on March 2, 2010
at 7:56 am
‘bad christians’ forget to rest in God, and instead busy themselves with religious hubub and forget to relate with our Father.
Taking time out from *doing* churchy things is sometimes the best thing we can do, but make sure to build the relationship that matters most
As for getting through the first year of your job – you’ll smash it. I have no doubts.
Love J
By: bro on March 3, 2010
at 11:26 am
aww thanks guys:)! encouragement about next yr is good to hear! there’s kinda a lack of work for teachers around this area atm…but i got to trust God.
Yeah ure totally right, Josh. building relationships is so much more important is in a ministry in itself.
By: karin on March 10, 2010
at 11:20 pm