GATE

It's summer now in the Philippines, and this summer has been filled with special events. Lots of retreats, trainings, and gatherings. I have been a bit overloaded on special events lately! What I am really in need of, now that the school year has ended, is some quiet uninterrupted days in my office, to organize things, to catch up, to clean off my desk, plan for next year. I am LONGING for some quiet days like that.

That is why, when the G.A.T.E. Seminar came along, I had NO interest in it. Of course I want to improve my teaching skills . . . but not this month! So I had to be dragged, kicking and screaming (so to speak) to this seminar. All of our IGSL Faculty were required to attend. So I did.

G.A.T.E. stands for Global Associates for Transformational Education. Their focus is on helping seminary educators teach more effectively for lifechange. It was GREAT! I learned a lot about how to effectively engage adult students, and how to motivate students to want to change. Now I am really excited about the next class I will teach. It was worth it.

But, I am still longing for some quiet days in the office.

Aaaahhhh, Rain!

Temperatures all week have been in the high nineties . . . these days you have to talk yourself into going outdoors to do anything. Some new students arrived at IGSL this week from India, and as I oriented them I found myself assuring them (repeatedly!) that it's not always this hot in Manila. I think I was just trying to assure myself! I told them it will probably be this way till June, when the rains come.

Then, suddenly today . . . it rained. Not just a little shower, but hours of fresh, cooling rain. What a gift! Love it!!!

It's been a strange week. Each day I thought it would be impossible to accomplish everything on my list. But each day God was gracious and I could see His hand ordering my day and seeing me through. The week included thorny personnel issues at work, praying with sick students, three job interviews, working on a talk for an upcoming retreat, English practice with two of my favorite students, eating too much Bengali food, and a trip to the ER with two-year old who broke his leg.

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The endless variety of my job is always a blessing. When one part makes me tired, another part always makes me smile. Tonight, the rain is making me smile. And whenever I think about my dear Michelle expecting next December, that makes me smile too (SOG with smiles). It was a tiring week, but a good one.

SOG with PIP

My mother used to carry around a small green photo album imprinted with the words "SOG with PIP". Inside the front cover it said "SOG with PIP stands for Silly Old Grandmother with Pictures In Purse".

On Easter Sunday morning, Michelle gave us the exciting news that she and Jim are expecting. They are going to become parents in December! Woohoo!!! We are totally thrilled.

I am going to become a Silly Old Grandmother! But I don't know if I will start carrying around a small green photo album in my purse. I will probably just post photos on my blog. I will be SOG with Blog!