Fortunately, Unfortunately.

Do you remember playing the game "Fortunately, Unfortunately"?  Everyone gets in a circle to tell a story.  Someone gives a one sentence story starter.
For example,
"One morning, Johnny woke up to start his first day of school".

The next person is to continue to story by adding a sentence beginning with "Fortunately, ......"

"Fortunately, he woke up on time and was able to have a good breakfast before he left."

The following person builds on the story by adding a sentence beginning with "Unfortunately, ...".

"Unfortunately, he took too long eating breakfast and missed the bus."

And the story continues.

Fortunately, Unfortunately.

Fortunately Johnny's mom was able to drive him to school. Unfortunately, she got lost.  Fortunately she had a GPS and turned it on.  Unfortunately, the GPS took them to the wrong school.  Fortunately the principal of that school could direct them to to other school.  Unfortunately they were very late.

You get the picture?

The story usually takes a number of twists and turns, with a lot of good laughs.  The story usually ends with some outrageous and complicated plot that is impossible to wrap up with a, "And they lived happily ever after."

I want to tell you such a story today.  But instead of using "Fortunately, Unfortunately" I will use "I look forward to", and "I am not looking forward to" as my sentence starters. 

So...here it goes!

Today I return to Nigeria.

I look forward to having all my bags packed. (A big thanks to those who gave money for me to pay for excess baggage so I can bring more teacher resources!)

I do not look forward to the LONG plane ride. (Ottawa-Frankfurt-Abuja (via Malabo) =  30 hours travel from doorstep to doorstep)

I look forward to seeing my friends!

I do not look forward to leaving my family.

I look forward to connecting with the teachers and schools I work with!

I do not look forward to slower internet and less than reliable electricity.

I look forward to spicy foods, pidgin English, and bright and colourful cultures.

I do not look forward to leaving the conveniences of shopping and driving.

I look forward to leaving the snow behind!

I do not look forward to humid filled days.

I look forward to sleeping in my own bed!

I do not look forward to leaving the cozy living room with the gas fireplace and blanket I am wrapped up in.

I look forward to new stories of how God is working in the lives of teachers and their students.

I do not look forward to news of security concerns.

I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me as I rely on Him!

Ok. So this part of the story doesn't share all the twists and turns, and all the good laughs.  But you can be sure that there will be plenty.  This story, my story will have some outrageous and complicated plot twists, and it will be impossible to wrap up with a, "And she lived happily ever after."

I would rather choose a different ending.  Something like, "And God said, 'Well done good and faithful servant.'"

I guess that IS 'happily ever after', isn't it?

In the News...

  I had the opportunity to be interviewed by a local newspaper this month:

http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/1303900--kemptville-missionary-walks-with-west-africa

  And then my mission wrote a blog on the article :)

http://network.crcna.org/content/global-mission/missionary-news

Family Time.

It has been a joy and pleasure to spend time with my family over the last few months.  Here are some of my favourite memories in picture form in no particular order.

Tile Rummy with Oma

My fabulously photogenic sister :)

 

Making apple sauce

Games, games, and more games :)

Decorating the Christmas Tree at Grandma and Grandpa's - Annual Tradition (this is year 25??)

Spa Day with the ladies

Sharing birthday celebrations with Allan

Good food and games and conversations around the kitchen table

X-Box games and laughs

Being in Canada.

Well, it has been almost 4 months that I have been back in Canada.  My friends and colleagues in Nigeria ask me how my "holiday" is going.  And though I have enjoyed some time connecting with friends and family, it has been far from a holiday!  I have enjoyed visiting supporting churches, meeting with groups and individuals.  I have been excited to share about what God is doing in West Africa.  Although I haven't taken my camera with me everywhere, I thought I would share a few shots of some of the learning that has taken place in various churches and communities.  If any of you have pictures to send me, I would be grateful!

Missions Emphasis Week

Lending a hand to the "Helping Hands" Group

Searching for countries where missionaries are serving

Let's play Mankala

Writing letters of encouragement to teachers in Nigeria

GEMS talk

Celebrating Nigerian Fashion

Note taking in Nigerian schools

Nigeria relay game

My Journey with Christian Education

Yes. It's been a while.  I won't make excuses, but I do hope I will be more regular at posting here...

Last month I was interviewed by Marie Cooper at Redeemer Christian High School.  She asked me to share my journey...and thought I would also share it with you!  Thanks Marie for letting me "reprint".  

  Enjoy.

 

Interview with Sheila Dykstra, by Marie Cooper

“Christian schools acknowledge Jesus as Lord over all creation”, says Sheila Dykstra, a graduate of Redeemer Christian High School, 1994. “Every corner of creation belongs to Him and our entire school curriculum is a study of God’s creation, be it science, math, English or music.”

Sheila certainly speaks from experience, having attended Community Christian School in Metcalfe for grades 4 to 8, Redeemer Christian High School for grades 9 to 12, and then Redeemer University College, where she received her Bachelor of Education in 1998, majoring in French and minoring in missions.  After university, Sheila taught for three years at Knox Christian School in Bowmanville before moving to Nigeria, Africa, where she taught for four years at an international missionary school and two years at an American International School.  Since 2008, Sheila has been serving as a career missionary in Nigeria with Christian Reformed World Missions as a Christian Education Specialist for West Africa.

Sheila firmly believes “Christian schools equip students to see the world from God’s perspective.  We can’t separate God from His creation and no knowledge is neutral or separate from God”.  Put simply, she  feels “our faith cannot be separated from how we do business, how we care for those around us, even how we drive our cars!”

As a teacher herself, Sheila explained that “Christian schools teach and model for students what it means to have a vibrant relationship with God. Each of us is on a journey to know God and make Him known to others.  How a Christian school teacher teaches, how we relate to students, how we deal with pain, sin and disappointment must always point students to the saving knowledge of Christ.”

Truly passionate about Christian education, Sheila feels Christian schools engage students to fulfill their God given roles as citizens on earth and citizens of heaven. “God has called each of us to the tasks of caretakers and developers of His creation. We live the redemption message through every part of our lives. As architects, bankers, teachers, parents, pastors, lawyers and engineers, we are salt and light through words, thoughts, and actions. Christian schools equip students for this great task of living out their faith in every aspect of their lives.”

Sheila feels her current position in Nigeria as a Christian Education Specialist is a culmination of all the experiences God has given her up to this point in her life: a variety of Christian education experiences, a love for Africa and African culture, the ability to communicate in French, a love for teaching and children, and the opportunity to serve and walk with national teachers and friends.

“I love what I am doing now,” says Sheila, “and I find great fulfillment in seeing teachers who were struggling implement things they have learned, resulting in happier and more engaged students in their classrooms.”    

When asked about her dreams though, Sheila said “Someday I’d like to be part of a school project that implements best practices in teaching from an African Christian worldview – embracing and using the great things about African culture as learning and teaching tools, like community learning and storytelling. I’d love to see a school that is built and run and funded by Africans for Africans, where all students can attend regardless of their economic or intellectual abilities, where there is a teacher training component and people can come and learn and dialogue, where students and teachers all have a deep sense of justice and integrity, and where everyone leaves empowered and implements what they have learned in each sector of society God places them.”

When I initially contacted Sheila about doing a story on her for this newsletter, she gave me copies of some articles she had written about her life and her experiences.  As I read these, strong themes emerged.  First, I noticed Sheila’s gratitude that her parents chose to give her a Christian education.  Secondly, I saw Sheila’s desire to really live in the story of God’s love – this is her motivation for loving and serving others. Thirdly, I read about her passion for teaching from a very young age, and her realization that for her, as a teacher, it is important to be able to lead her students into the light of God’s world and word.  And lastly, her writings revealed her passion for missions.

In one of her articles, Sheila wrote “God has a plan for me and it is greater than I could ever imagine. His strength will be made perfect in my weakness.  It’s all a little exciting and a little terrifying at the same time, but with the King of heaven and earth at my side, who am I to be afraid? I’m eager for what the future holds!” May we all share the confidence that God has a plan for each of us and an excitement to see it unfold.

We are thankful Sheila was happy to share just a bit of her interesting life story on her visit home to Canada. We wish her God’s blessings as she returns to Nigeria after Christmas where she’ll continue to work with Christian school teachers.  Anyone who would like to know more about Sheila and her experiences may contact her directly via e-mail: sdykstra@crcna.org

Transformation of Teachers – the Tiny Steps

Tosin

 

         I have been really encouraged by the small changes I am seeing in the lives of teachers that I have been working with.  Tosin talks about how she viewed biblical integration before (adding a moral to a lesson) and after (a deeper concept acknowledging God as Creator).  Doris has a box of activities for the students to do when they are finished their work, and a tin of pencils already sharpened in an attempt to both engage students and make the most of every minute in her classroom.  Jennifer has set up centers in her Kindergarten class.  She borrows books regularly and attends seminars paying out of her own pocket.  Ego shares how her perspective on children has changed (see January blog).  Bell-Gam came in this week to share about how it went when she tried to make her students talk more in class.  Spencer and Ngozi have gone to other schools to lead trainings on Christian Education. Praise God for tiny steps!

Doris

 

Jennifer

Spencer

 

Making the most of unexpected school closures.

The month of January brought about serious disruptions for education in Nigeria. Due to voter registration for the upcoming national elections in April – all schools were closed for the entire month of January. I decided this was an opportunity God could use, and I just HAD to take advantage of it.

So for one week, we had practical teacher workshops here at the Daniel Center. Approximately 115 teachers from about 20 different schools came to attend one or more of the workshops.

Topics included:

Monday: Bulletin Boards with a Purpose

Tuesday: Teaching and Learning Through Games and Play

Wednesday: Classroom Management Techniques and Alternative Discipline Techniques

Thursday: Calendar Activities

Friday: Two different Workshops: 1)Alphabet Strips and Cards 2) Math Can be Fun!

Teachers were excited and engaged. New techniques and ideas left them challenged and inspired to try new things as they returned to their classrooms. And I had so much fun! I love teaching, and this was an opportunity for me to take time to do this too.

One testimony from Mrs. Ego Salami:

I have never been inspired like this in my entire life in the area of teaching. I learn a new way of “correcting” my pupils in the class. I felt so bad and guilty after the teaching on “Classroom Management Tips and Alternative Discipline Techniques” on Wednesday. I actually realised I had been unfair to my kids. Instead of scolding and shouting on them, I should have trained and prepared them so well to behave in a mature way. I asked God to forgive me.

I have learnt a new way of loving them and I believe God will give me the grace to love them more.

Thank you Miss Dykstra. I pray that God will continue to use you to help more people to realise who they are and what God has called them to do.

Thank you once again.

Salami, Ego (Mrs.)
Safe Hands School, Abuja