Finally Some Snow!!!
We haven’t had a lot of snow this year and on Thursday we finally got enough to make a snowman and go sledding!
We were able to capture Kati sledding down a hill in our neighborhood. We took this on a digital camera and apparently it does not record any sound so it looks almost like an old fashion movie.
Elena was also bundled up but didn’t seem as impressed with the snow as Kati.
Kati Sledding from Eric McCauley on Vimeo.
Tags: family
Children’s Church at Gemeinde Kagran
Last year I,Eric, was asked to be in charge of our churches Children’s Ministry. I didn’t feel comfortable taking that kind of leadership positions since there were other capable people in the church. The church is 25 years old and we believe it is not our job to do the job but help Austrians do the job.
This is more tricky than it seems because it means sometimes taking on something in order to train and equip the right people but to do something just because I can doesn’t necessarily mean it is something I must do. Sometimes it means coming along side and helping where they have asked and other times it means standing even further back so others can step up. This last phase can be difficult for all involved because it is not very comfortable. This is a large issue any missionary and even anyone in ministry whether it is full or part time. Anyway, I didn’t mean to ramble on about missiological perspectives in church work.
I did however agree to help out wherever possible and as a consultant. As a result the ministry has been divided between two capable women.
The leader for the elementary age children had to have surgery in December and asked me to take her place until she feels well enough. I have stepped temporarily have been teaching once a month and helping out another teacher once a month. Most of the children are Christians but not all. It has been a challenge working with the curriculum.
I surveyed 6 churches 4 years ago about what they were doing for their Children’s Ministries and as a result discoverd that there is not one curriculum that is published or existant that goes from 5yrs-14 yrs old!
There are some curriculi that span 2 to 4 years but that have a concrete scope and sequence systematically covering the Old and New Testament from an evangelical perspective is not in existance.
One thing that I find exciting with our churche’s children’s ministry is that there are more men teaching and volunteering than women for the elementary ages. That excites me.
Pray that the Children’s Ministry would become a strong discipleship aspect of the Kagran church. To visit our churche’s website go here Gemeinde Kagran. Yes, it is only in German but you can browse the pictures to get an idea of the people in the church.
Eric
Facebook shrinking the world faster than the speed of light.
Yes, I am on facebook. Christy introduced it to me and I fought it for the longest time not wanting to waste my time. And yes, it can be a waste of time. I know some people who spend hours and hours on it texting, uploading so many photos, playing games etc… I thought it might be a good way to reconnect with those who are interested. Not that I am really chatty on it. I basically punch in what I am doing on a particular day and that is that. Sometimes I don’t go on it for days. Like one time I posted that I was reading a book to Kati and it was there for 4 days!
Yesterday, I was minding my own buisness trying to get some thank you notes written when Christy came to me and said have you checked your inbox on your facebook account. “No” I replied. “Well you had better take a look right now!” “Why” “Just do it Okay there is someone you want to see” So I opened it up and was amazed. Now I do know that it IS called the WORLD WIDE web, but really struck me at that moment.
Back in 1993-94 I spent a year in Stavropol Russia with the CoMission teaching teachers how to use school curriculum of Morals and Ethics based on the Bible. I was part of a team of 12. It was one of the hardest years of my life and one of the best years of my life. Anyway, as I opened up the Facebook Inbox I was reading a note from one of our translators from my time in Russia. Since then I have been finding others from my team on facebook.
I am finding rather fun remembering them and times we had together and wondering what are they up to now. I am sure I will be finding out more about them and they me in the coming weeks.
It also causes me to stop and think. How did have I grown since I have last seen them? How did I come off to others way back then, I turned 21 while there and was pretty young. Okay, enough facebook and blogging back to thank you note writing.
Have a good weekend.
Tags: family
GEM Austria 2009 Team
Here is the most recent picture of our GEM Austria team taken at last weeks planning retreat.
We have a really good team and am glad to be apart of what God is doing here in Austria.
Tags: Austria
