updates and FYIs

Today is the first day of spring break, and I have placed under house arrest by my principal, Ruth. Over the last month sickness has plagued our school in various ways, and my usually impervious immune system has, in fact, been compromised. Last Friday I woke up with a sore throat, I coughed all weekend, and by Tuesday morning I had completely lost my voice. Against my better judgement I came to school every day, despite the fact that I could only whisper, and I couldn't stop coughing. My colleagues volunteered to sub for me, but there was just too much to do before break!! So now I'm at home drinking nasty tea with honey -- I hate honey! -- and praying that my voice comes back soon.

One might think that since I'm on break, I don't need my voice. On the contrary, this Saturday our school is hosting the International Christian Educators Conference, the attendance of which is mandatory for all BFA staff. Christian educators from all over Europe will be coming to BFA and my friend Katrina and I have been selected to lead a workshop that takes place on Sunday morning. So you see, it's actually quite crucial that my voice comes back in the next few days so that I can lead my workshop! Please pray for my cough to go away and for my voice to heal!

In the meantime, I am catching up on grading, blogging, and newsletter writing. I came to the embarassing realization that I wrote a newsletter in mid January that was never published. I suppose that's what happens when you are exhausted and life is moving a mile-a-minute, but there's really no good excuse for that! So, even though it's almost two months old, here is my February newsletter.

February Newsletter

And because the third quarter is now over, here is a very short March newsletter.

March Newsletter


You may or may not have noticed that my blogging has been very sporadic since Christmas, and I hope to remedy that during our last quarter. The main goal of this blog is to keep you, my friends, family, and ministry partners, updated on what's going on in my life and service at BFA. So, I apologize for my extended absence and hope to get back into my regular blogging rhythm in the last quarter!

In the meantime, if you want to #stepintomyclassroom more often, follow me on Twitter (@bertschirae) or friend me on Facebook. I post daily updates, quotes, and snapshots of a day in the life of Miss Bertschi. Every day is an adventure, and I invite you to join us!

coffee cupdate: whispered edition

If we were to sit down for a cup of coffee, I would have a lot to tell you.

You would probably notice right away that I don't have a voice. I would boast that I am usually an impenetrable fortress of immunity, but that the fortress has fallen, and I have succumbed to some form of sore throat/laryngitis. Then we would enjoy a good laugh as I try to speak and only manage to squeak out a few words. From here on out, I would be forced to whisper in order to be understood.

I would sigh as I wrap my hands around a steaming mug of tea (with lemon, to soothe my raw throat), thankful that there is only one more day of classes before spring break. I would try to explain that this quarter has been basically nonstop action from the very beginning, and how the days have raced by faster than I've ever experienced in all my years of teaching. You would probably ask me what my spring break plans are and I would tell you about the International Christian Educators Conference that our school is hosting this year. I might sheepishly mention that I have been selected to lead a workshop with my friend and colleague Katrina, and that we are both very anxious about it! I'd probably ask you to pray fervently that my voice comes back before then.

I might also mention that at the very end of spring break I'm running in the Freiburg marathon with several of my friends. Before you got too impressed I would promptly inform you that I am absolutely NOT running a marathon, but that I am just running one "leg" of a team relay marathon. I would admit that I am still quite terrified of race day, as my part of the race is 14 kilometers, a distance I have never run before either in training or competition. I'd share how I've been training for months with my best friends and gush about what a huge encouragement they've been to me as I've trudged along with them through snow, rain, mud, and on a few days, sunshine. I'd ask for prayer for the mental battle that is currently raging inside my head, as I desperately fight to believe that I can, in fact, run 14 kilometers. And I'd admit that the last few weeks have been discouraging due to fatigue, missed workouts, and just being caught in the "February Funk" that seems to get me every year, and now that the race is less than three weeks away I am begining to feel anxious.

What would you tell me?

find us faithful

Three years ago today, my great grandma Geraldine went home to be with the Lord.

As I think about her life, I can't help but marvel at the amazing woman that she was. She was a pastor's wife and mother to eleven children, and she devoted her life to encouraging and serving those around her. She was a fierce prayer warrior with a generous servant's heart, always prepared with cards in the mail for every birthday and anniversary. In her old age she developed hand tremors that skewed her beautiful script, voice tremors that distorted her speech, and Alzheimer's that twisted her memories. While I don't envy the trials that she faced in her old age, I so want to live a life that leaves a legacy like she did.

Our last family reunion together - Summer 2009

Let's start with the fact that she and her husband raised their eleven children to walk with the Lord, and they did the same with their children. Because of them, I have a tremendously rich and Godly heritage that not everyone can say they have. It brings new meaning to Paul's letter to Timothy, in which he mentions the young man's godly heritage (2 TIm 1:5): I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

My mom, grandma, and I on the day I left for Germany 

Second, consider the fact that she was so ready to go home that she basically planned her own funeral, long before her mind started to go. I have a photocopy of part of her prayer journal in my Bible, on it the lyrics to the Steve Green song "Find us Faithful" as well as Salvation Army Songbook song numbers and various scripture passages. Even in her death, she pointed people to Jesus. 

If I'm being completely honest, many times I feel myself wondering when will my life begin, much like Rapunzel in Disney's Tangled. Then I come to the startling realization that last week I turned 27 and remember that my life has definitely begun. I am not at all where I thought I would be at 27, but I am where I am supposed to be. I always imagined that by now I would have married and begun raising a house full of munchkins. After all, if I'm going to have eleven kids, I'd better get started early, right?

Um yeah, about that. God's definitely made it clear that mothering eleven children is not my calling. I do still feel a strong desire to raise a family, and I believe that it is still going to happen someday. But even if I never marry or have my own biological children, I will have had more "children" than any earthly mother can or ever will birth.

I refer to my students as my kids, even when they have left my classroom. I rejoice with them, I get frustrated with them, I carry their burdens home with me and I carry them to the Throne when they are broken. I laugh with them every day, I cry when they graduate from eighth grade, and I discipline them even though it hurts me more than it hurts them. They surprise me with their wit, intelligence, and deep understanding of humanity due to their multicultural upbringing. They humble me with their servant hearts and their pure faith. They challenge me with their questions and their eager minds waiting to be blown by the awesomeness of science. And I love them like they were my own.

They are my legacy. Even if they don't remember anything else about their time in my class, I want them to know that I loved Jesus, and that He loves them, too. I pray that when they look back on their time in the BFA middle school, that they find me and their other teachers faithful.


Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
[Steve Green, Find us Faithful]

thankful thursday: birthday edition!

This week I'm thankful for:

• A roommate who woke up early to present me with sweet sugar donuts for breakfast

• Peanut butter chocolate cupcakes from my "mama" Megan for second breakfast

• Students who filed into my classroom, each handing me an individually wrapped Thin Mint cookie and wishing me Happy Birthday, followed by a student presenting me with a carton of milk!

• Sweet surprises left by my colleagues

• Mint cupcakes and shakes for lunch

• An unexpected kidnapping that started with me having a literal panic attack over my "lost" (read: stolen) car keys and ended with me surrounded by good friends and basking in love

Not only my coworkers but my best friends, roommate, and small group coleader

• Friends who know me so well that they bought me THESE shoes, which haven't arrived yet...

• Countless Facebook posts, texts, emails, cards, and well wishes.
• And last but not least...a trunkful of balloons.

I am another year "older and wiser" and completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from my friends, family, and students on my birthday!