BFA Grad 2015

I had the awesome privilege of passing through Kandern for a few days on my way home from Spain in mid June. Part of my reasoning for this detour was so that I could drop off the majority of the luggage I'd taken to Spain with me, and the other part was to take some dedicated time to say goodbye to some very special people. It was such a gift for me to be able to surprise the middle schoolers at their year-end awards ceremony, attend graduation and watch my first seventh grade class turn their tassels, and have some time to say goodbye to the friends of mine who will not be in Germany this August when I return. I enjoyed running the old familiar trails of the Black Forest with my friends, and I also had the opportunity to hep students study for their finals and participate in several planning meetings for this upcoming school year.

Surprising the middle schoolers! (Photo: Heather)

Running in the forest - I've missed this!

Reunited with my best friend after a year apart

A special family I've taught - the first of this "Kingdom" to graduate!

What a joy to have known and loved these girls since they were in seventh grade! 

The first of my reigning "Dynasty" to graduate!

My small group girls graduated this year!

The first of this "Kingdom" to graduate!

These grads (along with several others not pictured) were in my very first seventh grade class at BFA.  Words can't express how grateful I am to have been able to stick around to see them graduate!

thankful thursday

This week I'm thankful for:

Good days with my 8th grade pre-algebra class. I've written about them a lot lately because they have been my most challenging class to teach. The majority of first quarter I felt like a total failure, but lately things have been looking up. Their attitudes have been improving and they have even said things like, "This is fun!" and "Whoa, this is so easy!" in the last week. Tomorrow is their first quiz of the new chapter, and I am very hopeful that it will go well for everyone...

EasyJet. Without it, I would not be able to travel to Germany so cheaply to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my "family." 

Rest days. As I mentioned in this week's Hello Monday post, I started doing Les Mills BodyCombat again. I'm currently following their recommended schedule for two rest days a week. So after three consecutive days of intense workouts, my shoulders are sore enough to make holding my hairdryer uncomfortable, and every time I sit down I feel the burn in my quads. There's something wrong with the fact that I am more sore after three workouts than I ever was after running a half marathon! I've even been taking the elevator because I just can't bear climbing the stairs up to the third floor! I know it's a good thing and my body will thank me for it later, but for now I am thankful that today, Thursday, is a rest day.

Chocolate croissants. I have a love/hate relationship with these bad boys and they have become part of my daily routine. The best ones are obviously in Germany, but I have found a suitable alternative (albeit not fresh) at the local Día (our grocery store). During second period each day I have gotten into the habit of pouring a cup of coffee and enjoying a chocolate croissant while I grade or read. My mouth loves them. My waistline hates them. So good and yet so, so bad.

What are you thankful for this week?

coffee cupdate: con leche, por favor

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

I probably wouldn't know where to begin, because it has been so long since our last Cupdate. Carefully I would wrap my fingers around my mug and apologize for not doing my part to stay in touch.

You would probably ask me about my new students, and I would share little details about each one: how passionately Alex sings along when Hillsong's Relentless comes on during math practice time; how loudly my science class announces the arrival of Hump Day each Wednesday; how persistently Collin questions me, demanding answers far beyond my meager understanding of science; how Dafne and Elizabeth are attached at the hip; how adorable Jonathan's British accent is... I would shake my head in disbelief wonder aloud how it's possible to care so deeply for students I have only just met.

I might tell you how discouraging my first quarter of pre-algebra was with the eighth graders, but how many of them have turned over a new leaf in this first week of quarter two. I'd tell you with a huge grin how exciting it was to give out FIVE solid B's on last week's quiz, and how thrilled they were to have earned such grades!

Maybe I would share with you some of the inner struggle I have been battling each day here in Spain. I'd confess that while I am determined to be fully present and committed to my students and my role here at ECA, not a day goes by that I do not think of, miss, or pine away for my "old life" at BFA. You would most likely assure me that this is a normal part of transition and yet, I would still feel guilty for missing Germany so much. Together we might ponder how I ended up here--the way God has worked so clearly to orchestrate my timely arrival--and dream of what He will do during this year.

I might also share with you how, on accident, I have discovered the perfect café con leche at a small coffee shop in the neighborhood near my church in Madrid. You would be jealous when I tell you that this deliciousness is available for a mere fifty cents! At this point, I would simply wink and tell you that it's time for you to visit Spain so that I can treat you to one.

What would you share with me?

worth it

Last week I asked my 8th grade pre-algebra students to write me a note stating the areas in which they still felt weak in preparation for their retake of our chapter test. I thought if they could pinpoint their own weak spots, it would guide their study sessions. One student wrote the following:

Dear Ms. Bertschi,
First I want to thank you for helping us with a great mood. And we all love you very much. The only problem I have is finding f(x) equations. I would still need some more practice. Thank you for all your work.

* * * * *

I have struggled with this class from the beginning. Over the last several weeks I have agonized over their failed quizzes, taught and retaught over and over again, and desperately prayed that something would stick. I have told them every day that I believe in them. I have wracked my brain for new ways to explain the concepts, scoured Pinterest and TeachersPayTeachers for hands-on activities, bribed them with candy, showed them videos, had them teach each other ... and when they took the first chapter test I couldn't help but wonder if the last two months had been in vain. It's hard not to feel like a total failure when only one student scored higher than a C and several scored actual Fs.

Despondent, I asked myself if this struggle was really worth.

So when I read that note scrawled in typical middle school boy font, I was reminded that yes, it's worth it. All the late nights, early mornings, extra planning and brainpower that I have poured into trying to reach these struggling students is totally worth it. If only for one student to recognize his value and know that someone believes in him, for one student to see how much his teacher loves him and the lengths she is willing to go to see him succeed, for one student to build his confidence... absolutely, completely, 100% worth it.

stateside update and prayer needs

ahhh, summer

This is my first official stateside update! I have been here in America for about ten days now, and most of that time has been spent getting over jetlag and catching up on some much needed sleep. There is no way I can make you truly understand just how exhausting these last few months have been, or how stressful my last week in Germany really was. What matters is that I survived and am (almost) caught up on sleep. I have been feeling pretty guilty about spending so much of the last week asleep, but the reality is that my body needs rest, and my health is my number one priority. I have also been eating lots of Chipotle burritos and pounding the pavement again in preparation for the Rock’n’Roll Chicago Half Marathon, which is coming up July 20 and will be my third half marathon this year.

Many friends have been asking for more details about Spain and my new role at Evangelical Christian Academy, and I finally have some solid information that I can share with you! Provided my support is in, I will fly to Spain on August 7 -- five years to the day after my very first departure for Germany! I have been offered a fully furnished apartment with a housemate who is already well-established in the community and a fluent Spanish speaker, so that will help with my transition a bit. My role with ECA will be in the middle school teaching a combination of 6^th and 7^th grade math and science courses for one year. I am excited for this chance to partner with another international Christian school for the year, invest in more third culture kids, and put to good use all the Spanish that I studied so diligently in high school but have yet to use! If you'd like to know more details about ECA, please visit their website here.

The first way you can pray right now is for the visa application process. The Spanish visa is rather complicated and I have already been turned away from the Spanish consulate once for not having the necessary endorsements to make my documents and their translations recognized in Spain. I will return to the consulate with what I hope is the proper documentation and try again in mid-August. In the meantime, I can be in Spain for up to 90 days on a tourist visa so please pray that this issue is resolved before my 90 days are up!

The second way you can pray is for my financial support. My account with TeachBeyond is finally out of the red and thanks to the generous gifts of so many friends my bills for June and July were fully covered! I am now looking ahead to my new expenses that will begin August 1 in Spain – mainly rent, utilities, and groceries. I will not have a car during that year, so that should minimize my expenses quite a bit. My goals for support raising are two-fold: first and foremost, I need to raise the minimum necessary to spend this year in Spain ($2,000/month).  Second, I would like to raise as much as possible this summer to go towards my return to Germany in the fall of 2015, where the budget is a bit higher ($2,500/month).

Currently I am at 71% of my one-year goal ($1,420/month pledged) and 57% of my two-year goal. That means I am looking for a minimum of $580 a month in new partnerships. At the very least, my one-year goal must be met by the end of July in order to go to Spain. Please join me in praying for God’s provision in the weeks to come. If you are not already part of my support team and would like more information about how to join, please visit TeachBeyond’s website and consider what role God might have for you in this vital ministry.

kingdoms and dynasties

BFAMS 8th grade and Staff

I am about to complete my fifth year of teaching in the BFA middle school, and at times I feel like there is no tangible way to show all that has been accomplished in that time. Then I think about the many families who have trusted me with their children over the years. It is a special privilege to teach multiple children within one family!

A few of us middle school teachers have come up with a special system for keeping track of the various combinations of students we've had. For example, if you teach three children from the same family you have a Kingdom. Four is a Dynasty, and five (!!) is a Super Dynasty. While it is quite common to have taught two siblings, three or four is a bit harder unless you stick around for an extended period of time.

The Riffe Bookends

Perhaps one of the most special pieces of my "collection" is what I have lovingly dubbed my Bookends. Their daughter (now a graduating senior) was in my very first eighth grade class at BFA, and their son was in my last (for now) eighth grade class. While so much has changed at the middle school over the last five years, these two somehow ended up having very similar experiences! They both were a part of classes that were so large we had to split them into two sections, and they were both in my science class. They also both stayed at the same place during their trip to Lugano AND got to travel by bus instead of vans - considering we've stayed at three different places in the last five years, the odds of that happening were pretty slim! I have enjoyed getting to know these kids and their parents: two of the kindest, most generous and loving people I've ever met.

The Campbell Kingdom

I have had the awesome blessing of teaching many Kingdoms during my time at BFA. This particular Kingdom is quite a special one, as I got to present the two oldest sisters' eighth grade tributes upon their completion of middle school. Unfortunately I will be in Spain during the youngest sister's eighth grade year so I will not get to carry on that tradition, but you can bet I will still be there in spirit! These gorgeous girls have blessed me with their warm smiles, encouragement, and servant hearts - qualities that are also true of their parents who have so faithfully supported and cheered on us teachers.

The Martin Dynasty

I currently have only one reigning Dynasty and these beautiful kids are on the throne. Three of them I have had the privilege of taking to Lugano (and hopefully I'll get to take the youngest in 2016!), two of them I got to teach for all three years of middle school, and one of them even got to watch me puke my brains out after running a half marathon! They have served on student council, dazzled us in theatrical performances, and shared their joy with us in the middle school. It amazes me how smart, thoughtful, funny, and creative they all are, but if you know their parents then you would not be at all surprised.

There are, literally, about a hundred students I could tell you about - each one with his or her own talents, funny stories, and cheesy grins. Every single one has been a precious gift to me. The ones I have mentioned are just a few that stand out when I reflect back on God's faithfulness to me over these last five years. Many times one of the first questions a student asks a new teacher is, "How long are you going to be here?" The fact that I have been able to stay here at BFA for five consecutive years is a huge deal to these kids, as transition and change are so often the norm for them. What an awesome privilege it has been for me to be a source of normalcy and even routine for so many of them.

This, of course, would not have been possible without your faithful and unending support. You have stepped into my classroom, taken the time to hear their stories, laughed and cried with me over them, and given generously to finance my life in a foreign country. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the role you have played in allowing me to complete five years of service at Black Forest Academy. Who's ready for five more?!

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

not safe

Moving to Spain is stressing me out.

There. I said it.

I'm supposed to be excited about another adventure but right now all I can think about is how much work is going to need to happen in order for me to get to Madrid by August.

At first, I thought that going to Spain was taking the easy route. I'd just keep doing what I've been doing, teaching MKs in middle school and living in a country that's not my own. I would be able to keep working on support and not have to make things complicated tax-wise with American income. I would be close enough to Germany to return for my small group girls' graduation. It seemed like such a simple transition.

The reality of this situation is that I am making my life more complicated and this is, in fact, the harder path to take. First, I am adding another "home" to my heart. As someone who spent most of her life in the same town, I had a hard time identifying with the nomads who sat in my classroom conflicted about where they called home. After living in Germany for five year things have changed. Germany has become home for me, but I still have my HOME home in America. So when I go to the States and people say "Welcome home!" I become so turned around that I don't know whether to hug them or punch them in the face. Clearly that's not enough confusion for me as I will soon add Spain to my list of "homes" and be even more divided in my loyalties.

Another reason why this move is proving more difficult is because it will require me to continue living off the financial support of my friends and family. While at first this seemed ideal for long term ministry, it also makes things harder because let's face it, support raising is hard work and it's never over. Even when you get all the pledges and gifts you need to be fully funded, you have to maintain personal relationships with every single person who supports you. While I'd like to say otherwise, I have failed miserably at that aspect of the job. The discouraging lack of funding that I'm currently facing doesn't help matters, it just makes the idea of moving to America and getting a "real job" that much more tempting.

Finally, there's the paperwork. Don't even get me started on the paperwork. I have been working on my visa application since February and still don't have all the necessary documents in order for this application. It took over a month to get a letter of good health from my German doctor, and tonight I discovered that it will cost over $100 to translate two documents amounting to approximately four sentences into Spanish for this application. Then there's the trip I will have to make - probably by train - to the nearest Spanish consulate to apply in person and pay the hefty application fee and then face the very real possibility of my application being rejected because one staple is out of place.

I don't tell you all these things so that you can have pity on me, and please hear me: I am NOT complaining. I just need to put this into words: following Jesus is HARD WORK. No one ever said that the roads He calls us to walk will be easy, in fact He told us quite the opposite. We are to expect difficulty without being surprised, and we are called to face it with bravery rather than run away. If I believed that every bump on the road was some sort of warning sign from God then I would have left Germany within a week of arriving and never come back. I am making a conscious choice to take the hard road and do the things that scare me and make me question what in the world God is doing because I know that the rewards of an obedient life far outweigh the alternative. I am not called to live a safe life, and I can't let these difficulties scare me away.

This brings to mind a scene from C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." When the Beavers are explaining Aslan to the Pevensie children Susan inquires, "Is he safe?" Mr. Beaver laughs and retorts, "Safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

God is not calling me to be safe. He is calling me to take risks, be brave, and do hard things. I know I can trust Him to make this possible because He is GOOD.

Do you want to be a part of my unsafe life? Prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter or making a special one-time gift to help get my support account out of the red.

for crying out loud

I'm really bad at asking for help. At some point I got it into my head that I needed to be strong and independent, but somewhere along the line I became a little too independent. It's interesting, then, that I have chosen a lifestyle that relies on my ability to ask for help and live on the generosity of those around me.

It's also interesting that the concept of "crying out for help" has come up several times in my Bible studies over the last few months. It started with a sermon at church about the story of Jesus walking out to the disciples on the water and Peter asking Jesus to call him out of the boat. While a lot of people give Peter flack for his doubt and subsequent sinking, my pastor made a good point that I'd never thought of before: The reason he was even able to sink was because he got out of the boat! Not only that, but he asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. For some reason that struck a chord with me as I compared myself to Peter. Now I've never walked on the Rhein River but once upon a time I asked God to send me into the world, and in faith I stepped out of my comfortable boat into an ocean of foreign languages and cultural adjustments and homesickness and a bunch of crazy teenagers that make my life worth living. And like Peter, when I take my eyes off of Jesus I begin to sink -- not into the ocean but into anxiety, selfishness, and insecurity. Many also speculate on why Jesus let Peter sink. Couldn't he have just let Peter walk on water? Sure, but if he had, would Peter have truly placed his confidence in Jesus? Or would he have taken the credit for this little "miracle"? I think that Peter needed to cry out to Jesus and remember where his strength was coming from. He also needed to see firsthand that Jesus would hear and answer his cries.

In the days following that sermon, I got the unsettling sense that God was getting ready to bring me to a place where I would have no choice but to call out to Him to deliver me.

A few weeks later during my Beth Moore study on the life of David, the idea of crying out to God came up again. One thing I've really enjoyed during this study is the ability to look at the actual events in 1-2 Samuel, then read what was going through David's mind in the psalms that he wrote. David cried out to the Lord multiple times to deliver him from the hand of his enemies, which He did. Beth Moore wrote, "God could rescue us with or without our cry for help." So why, then, must we call on Him before He rescues us? She raises a very interesting question. The more I've thought about it, the more I am convinced that before I can truly appreciate God's hand in my life, I have to first be willing to admit that I need it. As long as I can take care of things on my own then I don't need to ask for help. The very act of asking is admitting that I can't do it on my own. I have to lay down my pride and place myself in God's hand before He can truly help me. Furthermore, when I surrender control and place my life in God's hands I have no choice but to give Him the glory for what happens next.

Over the last several weeks God has given me plenty of opportunities to put this new idea into practice, most notably last week when I received an email from TeachBeyond informing me that due to the balance of my account, my monthly "salary" is being reduced -- by about 20%. Once again I find myself dangerously close to being sent home just a few months before the school year is over.

I'll tell you a secret: raising support is not fun, enjoyable, or easy. In fact, it's the most stressful part of my job. There's so much pressure when your entire life is on display, and it's tempting to turn it into a display of my own strength and abilities. It's hard sometimes to keep the right perspective. But it's the life I have chosen for myself and the only way that I am able to serve my Who. After five years of struggling through the highs and lows of this life, I've come to the conclusion that it's not supposed to be easy. If it were, then I could take credit for it myself and no doubt forget to praise the One who truly deserves the credit. Because of the struggle, I am forced to truly humble myself before Him before He can help me, otherwise I'll continue operating under the delusion that I am enough and that I can take care of myself.

So now that I've cried out to Jesus and accepted that I can't do this without Him, I cry out to you, my friends and supporters. The reality of my current situation is that my support account is about to go into the negative -- or already has, as my month-end statement will probably show up as this posts. I am checking my mailbox every day for my German tax bill, which I was told will be in the neighborhood of about 2,000 Euro. I am in desperate need of new monthly supporters in order to finish this school year and move on to Spain this fall. I am going to have to pay all my bills here in Germany for the month of July while I am in America. My five-year old computer has reached the end of its lifespan and I can't afford to buy a new one. There are a lot more stressors on my mind right now but these are the most pressing. It's hard not to despair. God has brought me to a place of complete and utter dependence on Him, and now I humbly seek His provision through you. Many of you are already giving generously and I can't ask you to do more. However, if you are reading this and are not currently partnering with me financially, would you consider praying about becoming a monthly supporter or one-time gifter?

I\d like to end this post by sharing with you two songs that have been on repeat over the last few weeks. The first one, Faithful, is a beautiful reminder of how I can trust God with my future because of what He's done with my past. The second, Lift My Life Up, is a response to God's faithfulness. When I acknowledge who God is my only response is complete and total surrender.

coffee cupdate

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

First, I would take a deep breath. With my exhale, my shoulders would relax and the stress of recent weeks would drift into the steam coming from my coffee cup. I'd tell you that I am in awe that I have barely been back in Germany for a month, because the non-stop activity has made it feel like six months have already passed. I probably wouldn't bore you with all the details, but I would share with you how I have been feeling convicted about how I use my time and have had to say no to a lot of really great things recently to focus on the more important things. I would admit that I'm not getting enough sleep, but that my grandiose plans for getting work done on time never seem to unfold the way I expect.

I'd tell you that once again, I am LOVING getting to know my new students and continuing to get to know returning students. I'd share with you how much I enjoy seeing growth in the returning students, not just physically but spiritually and emotionally, too. I might tell you about one student in particular who always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder in my class last year, and that already he and I have had some really great interactions both in and out of the classroom these past few weeks!

I'd probably share with you that the idea of teaching redemptively has been on my mind constantly this year. I'd express my frustration with certain students and wonder aloud how to best meet their needs and show grace, but at the same time hold them accountable to their choices and train them to become responsible God-honorinng students. I might share an encouraging conversation I just had with a student who desires to retake a test, in which he explained that the reason he wanted to do better was because he feels he is supposed to honor God with his grades!

What would you tell me?

hello monday

Hello Monday.

Hello fourth week of school. I can't believe you're here already, and that when you are over, we will have been in school for a whole month!

Hello cooler temperatures. Because of you I've been able to snuggle up and enjoy some cozy nights in my fleece pajama pants.

Hello 7K. Yesterday I kicked your butt. Well actually, you sort of kicked my butt, BUT, I beat last year's time by about three minutes!

hello monday

Hello Monday. You are my first Monday back in Germany!

Hello new apartment and new roommate. I have chosen the vagabond lifestyle in that this is the third apartment I've lived in, in the past three years! Because so many BFA staff must leave for a year at a time, I become a glorified house sitter by subleasing a place for one year. There are pros and cons to moving every year, but I enjoy the variety and the ability to "start fresh" each year.

Introducing my new roomie, Lexi, to Heitzmann's bakery for the first time!

Hello German bakeries and pastries. I am happy to see you again, though my waistline is not.

Hello new staff members! I have had the chance to meet countless new staff members at BFA over the course of this week, and am looking forward to meeting many more in the weeks to come as the school year kicks off and we jump into things full speed.

Hello old friends! It has been a joy to be reunited with my friends and former students who I have not seen all summer long. Having such joyous reunions lessons the sting of saying goodbye to friends and family in Ohio.

hello monday

Hello Monday.

Hello insane day of blessings. You can bet I'll have a lot to share on Thankful Thursday this week.

Hello 94%! I am so excited! God has done amazing things in the past few weeks and I am so humbled by all that he's done to bring me this far. All that remains is $120/month!

Hello free airport wi-fi. Without you I would have nothing to do for the next hour and a half while waiting for my flight.
Hello Chicago, London, and Basel. "Today" I will visit all three of you, even if it will only be airport visits. I am not looking forward to the long layover in London, but at least I will be in an English-speaking airport.

Hello jet lag. You will strike soon, but I will vanquish you this time!

hello monday

Hello Monday. You may be the last full Monday of the summer that I spend in America! I hope you bring a Tuesday and a Wednesday and a Thursday full of blessings as I try to raise the last bit of support I need to get back to Germany.

Hello yard sale goods. Thanks to Dad's very generous friend you are going to make this weekend's final yard sale a huge event. I hope the people in my neighborhood will not be as cheap this time around and be willing to pay reasonable prices, rather than heckle me into selling everything for a quarter.

Hello solitude. Now that Mom finally got to go back to work after four weeks of recovery following her foot surgery, I am home alone. Good thing I have a yard sale to prepare and a suitcase to pack.

Hello new followers! I have been noticing my GFC follower count rise ever so slightly over the past few weeks and I hope you decide to introduce yourself and stick around!

Hello new monthly supporters! Since yesterday's update TWO more states were claimed for $20 each. Now that I am one week from departure, I'll be posting daily support updates. Join me in praying that the funds come in quickly!! If you want to get involved, visit TeachBeyond's website to sign up for monthly support today.

What do you say hello to today?

50 states of support: week four update

This week has been the most fruitful week yet in terms of people expressing interest and committing to becoming monthly supporters! EIGHT states were claimed on the map, bringing the total up to 15. I am scheduled to leave one week from tomorrow, so please join me in praying that the rest of the support would come in quickly and that I don't have to delay my flight. If you're thinking about becoming a monthly supporter yourself, please take a minute right now to visit the TeachBeyond website, read about your options, and sign up. Then, shoot me an email letting me know that you did! (Because I won't get another support update from TB until Friday)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
{Philippians 4:19}

hello monday

Hello Monday. You're not so scary in the summertime, when I don't actually have to go to work. But, you are scary when I think that in only two more Mondays I am supposed to leave again for Germany but I still don't have enough monthly supporters enabling to go. Would you help me get back to BFA by becoming a monthly supporter?

Hello SweetFrog. I will be seeing you again tonight and you will be delicious.

Hello new necklaces! I am so thankful for a "boom" in jewelry sales over the past few weeks and am excited to now be offering my handmade signature pieces in lovely new colors. Check out my shop this week because new items will be added everyday! And watch my Facebook page for a special Christmas in July sale taking place on the 25th!!

Hello family. It has been so wonderful to spend quality time with my extended family while in America, especially while playing Ticket to Ride.