Is Life a Journey?

It is certainly a statement that is thought about by many, and in most cases is challenged profusely by those who struggle to understand where they are going...  You may believe that it is an illusion to think that we are traveling somewhere...perhaps we are just spinning around in circles experiencing the same things in different lights.. or you may prefer a different image, a ladder to be climbed or a game to be won, or... if life is a journey at all, we are just sitting on a conveyor belt that moves relentlessly from birth to old age but there is very little that we can do about it...we are just here to go through the motions and make the most out of it.

Sometimes I think about the roots of words, where they came from...after some consideration of my many years of French classes (my teachers would be proud), I realized that the word "journey" is in fact connected with the French word "jour" which means "day."  ... The distance you can travel, in a day. 
When you think of life in the light of daily walks, it doesn't seem so intimidating does it?  Sometimes, especially here, with the mixed feelings of sorrow and joy I have about finishing my term, I am overwhelmed by the days that remain, wondering how I am going to be able to successfully walk through each of them...  I am comforted by a verse in light of what is happening in my life.

"In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."  (Proverbs 16:9)

When I think of this verse, and how I planned my course for coming here, how I expected certain things to happen, certain things not to, I have realized, that although in my heart, I have planned a way that I would like to go, God is the one putting my steps in place...and sometimes that leads us to a completely different conclusion.

How is it possible then, to allow God this ability in your life, to allow him to direct your steps?  I believe you need to be on the "journey".... you need to be on that daily walk with Him, no more, no less, just one day, and then one more... and then one more, as He wills, and as He directs.  Otherwise we get ahead of ourselves don't we?  

I suppose I am beginning to realize how I have walked this last year, looking back, can't say that the path has been straight, as I have fought with God on quite a few issues!  Nonetheless, I am looking forward to finding out His conclusion rather than my own.  My goal today.... letting God direct my steps.  What is directing yours?  What is pulling you where you are going?  Money?  Fame?  A promotion?  Why are you on the journey you are on?  Where are you going?  Have you really any idea?  Where will it lead you?

Why not let go for a day, let God direct your steps...you may be blessed with where you end up.

Enough for today, and thank you for your prayers, it has been a difficult time.

In Christ,

Corinne


8:36 AM | | 0 Comments  

Year 7 and 8 Khulna Field Trip

So this past week I had the pleasure of taking my first class field trip out to the Khulna area.   It was a beautiful trip out into the country and I really enjoyed getting to know the kids better.  I really appreciate that we have such wonderful kids at Grace School.  I appreciate each of them and it is a pleasure to be able to give a year of my life to serving with them.




During our trip we managed to visit a few places.


1)  Rishilpi - a local village project that has been established for nearly 35 years now by an Italian missionary family.  Rishilpi has developed into a place that provides education, handicrafts, work and medical care for entire villages around them.  It was amazing to see that they were not a charity, but have provided work and hope for many thousands of Bangladeshi's around them.


2)  The Father of the Nation ( Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) Nation monument.  Sheikh was named the Father of the Nation in the Bangladesh constitution in 1972.  Here was his grave and a small museum about his life and how he gave his life and sacrificed his family to free Bangladesh.


3) Michal Madhusudan Datta - National Poet of Bangladesh;  He is renowned for his literary contribution to Bangladesh, as he turned Christian from his former life as a Hindu and is responsible for translating the Bible, and other literary works such as the Illiad.  We were able to visit his house and monumental museum to learn more about his life.


4) The SUNDARBANS!!!  Clearly the highlight of the trip.  The Sundarbans are a national park and are one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.  It was beautiful and we had a great deal of fun wandering through the forest!


I have attached some photos of the trip if you would like to see them.  Highlights?  Other than the sight seeing, there were some pillow fights, crazy hair styles, and fun evenings with the girls.... Sociological difficulties?  I saw a man being beaten in the streets while his wife and child tried to pull the police officer off of him....


It was an interesting trip and I am happy to say that I have a bit more of an understanding of life in Bangladesh now that I have seen villages and other cities... It was wonderful to stay with and see the CSS center and how they are doing their best to share Christ with so many lost souls...


I will keep my deeper thoughts to myself for now and invite you to see some photos.


Thank you for your prayers, they are needed during some rough times here.


In Christ's love,


Cori

5:29 AM | | 3 Comments  

Dad's thoughts of the day....

So I was talking with my Dad today and he passed on three bits of wisdom...

1)  Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump...

2)  Banging your head against a wall burns 150 calories an hour (who would do this for an HOUR!!??)

and the best of all:

3)  A cockroach can live for NINE DAYS without it's head before it starves to death......  creepy.


Ok that's all for today :)  I am heading off to Khulna on a Year 7 and 8 field trip for a week, and will share some pictures when I am back.

Thank you for each of your prayers, they are needed and appreciated.

In Christ,

Corinne

9:38 AM | | 2 Comments  

Glass houses

Just recently I completed my first assembly of this year.  We were asked who our favorite Bible Story was, and then were given a chance to share that with the school.  Mine is found in John 8: 1-11:

 1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
 11"No one, sir," she said.
      "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
This passage has always been one of my favorites...
Here, Jesus is the ONLY person who could have thrown stones...  the only one without sin... yet He doesn't.   He rather uses this as an opportunity to show everyone there that they are NOT to point fingers at others when we are no better ourselves. 
This is something that is very difficult for me.
To be honest, I have had to deal with some very difficult relationships with those that I interact with here in Bangladesh.  This term I tried to enter with a renewed heart, simply not jumping on someone when they have done something wrong, but rather, humbly approaching them realizing that I too make mistakes.
How often in our lives are we SO quick to tell someone else they are wrong but lethargic in our own admission of guilt?  
Do you ever wonder if being egotistical leads to false assumptions of what a situation may entail?  Does it not cause us to judge the situation at the outset rather than allowing it to unfold?  
Labeling ourselves as all knowing, pointing fingers or throwing stones will only cause pain in our own hearts, whether we are right... or whether we are wrong.  
Perhaps our lives could benefit from a little bit more humility... I claim to have very little of this... however, I can say that I have never known a human, humble or high, that when life's end neared, regretted holding their stones...yet I have known more than one, myself included, who has regretted throwing them.
Why not try to hold onto your stones this week?  
Serving Him in Bangladesh,
Corinne



8:35 AM | | 0 Comments  

First Physics Lab - Electrical Circuits

So this past Thursday I ran my first Physics Lab and the topic was Electrical Circuits!  It was a lot of fun and I actually really enjoyed giving the students a hands on experience.  I just thought I would
share a few pictures...









I have been having a hard time lately, and I appreciate all those who have been in prayer.  My next post will include a bit of reflection on that, but for now, these are the "current" events.  (yes... pun intended).

In Christ,

Cori

11:54 PM | | 0 Comments  

Sports Day!



This past Thursday we had the pleasure of celebrating "Sports Day" at the French School  This is the equivalent of a Canadian "Track and Field" day as there were several events running, including discus, high jump, standing long jump, and 100 m relays.  I was assigned the task of "Photographer."  It was a fantastic experience!
Here at Grace, the entire school is divided up into "Merit Teams" of four different colors; red, yellow, green, and blue.  During the school year, each student has a chance to earn "Merits" for good behavior, good classroom performance, and other related things.   Sports day is just another way for the teams to earn points!  It was so wonderful to see everyone involved, there wasn't one child without the right color t-shirt or face paint on, and everyone was so supportive of one another that it really was a great experience.  I have attached a slideshow of some of the best pictures from the day.  I hope you enjoy!


Oh and of course, my team, the YELLOW team were the Champions! Yippee!!!  


4:55 AM | | 1 Comments  

Justice

 "Bangladesh hangs killers of the Nations Founding Father."
January 27, 2010

      Nearly 35 years after Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahmand was assassinated with his entire family and several of his officials, five army officers who were among those convicted for this killing were hung at Dhaka Central Jail this past Thursday.  This brought to end a very long manhunt and the quest for justice of Mujib's daughter, current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.  Out of the other 7 convicted for this killing, one has died, and the other 6 are on the run.
      Two hangmen put nooses around their necks at 12:05 am, and the convicts were left to hang for nearly thirty minutes to confirm their death.  The news hit that justice had been served.  

It was interesting to talk to some of the locals about their thoughts on the hanging.  I asked them questions about whether or not they thought it was 'fair' or 'just' that these men were killed for their actions.  I received a number of mixed responses yet most stated strongly that these men should have been put to death, and defined justice as an "eye for an eye."   

Although I am not opinionated on this particular subject of capital punishment as it is shown here, I spend most of my time feeling humbled by it.  When I heard this news and the story about why these individuals were hung, it made me think... "what if I got everything I deserved in my life?"  

How many of you have ever "gotten away" with something?  I suppose we all have at some point or another... we have lied and no one ever found out, or we have perhaps snuck out of the house when we were kids and our parents still don't know.... justice goes both ways.  

I can't tell you much about life, but I can tell you that I am thankful for God's justice in mine.
Romans 3:23 states that 

"For ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God"

and Romans 6:23 states:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life"

So if I have fallen short, and my penalty is death.... should I not also be hanging from that noose?...or worse.... be cast into hell to spend an eternity away from God?  

A lot of people think that if you are simply a "good person" that you will end up at the pearly gates of heaven with a God who loves all welcoming you in...  is that Justice?  Is it?   What kind of God would He be if He allowed everyone into His eternal kingdom?  What about these men?  Maybe they were really "good" children, and their friends talked them into being a part in this murder?  Why can't they "make up for it" with "good deeds?"......  how often do we live our lives like that.... we do something horrible, and rather than feeling the weight of what we deserve, we simply try to "make up for it"... is that justice?

I can tell you one thing: 

God is just, and because of that, and because of HIS love, He has provided a way for EACH and EVERY soul here on Earth to come to Him in Heaven and be welcomed.  This came in the life of His Son Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that all who believe in Him shall NOT perish, but shall have ETERNAL LIFE".  (John 3:16).

You have a chance to NOT have the Justice that you deserve, but rather, to live in the GRACE of God.  Is that not the best form of Justice that there is?  If you stood before a judge today.... if you stood before THE JUDGE of the world that is GOD, would He find you guilty?.... or would He grant you life because you accepted the gift of Christ.  It's a big decision isn't it.... don't let it go unanswered.  

Thank each of you for all of your prayers during this time here, they are needed and appreciated.  

In Christ,

Corinne 


3:54 AM | | 2 Comments  

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Is Life a Journey?  

Posted by: Corinne

It is certainly a statement that is thought about by many, and in most cases is challenged profusely by those who struggle to understand where they are going...  You may believe that it is an illusion to think that we are traveling somewhere...perhaps we are just spinning around in circles experiencing the same things in different lights.. or you may prefer a different image, a ladder to be climbed or a game to be won, or... if life is a journey at all, we are just sitting on a conveyor belt that moves relentlessly from birth to old age but there is very little that we can do about it...we are just here to go through the motions and make the most out of it.

Sometimes I think about the roots of words, where they came from...after some consideration of my many years of French classes (my teachers would be proud), I realized that the word "journey" is in fact connected with the French word "jour" which means "day."  ... The distance you can travel, in a day. 
When you think of life in the light of daily walks, it doesn't seem so intimidating does it?  Sometimes, especially here, with the mixed feelings of sorrow and joy I have about finishing my term, I am overwhelmed by the days that remain, wondering how I am going to be able to successfully walk through each of them...  I am comforted by a verse in light of what is happening in my life.

"In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."  (Proverbs 16:9)

When I think of this verse, and how I planned my course for coming here, how I expected certain things to happen, certain things not to, I have realized, that although in my heart, I have planned a way that I would like to go, God is the one putting my steps in place...and sometimes that leads us to a completely different conclusion.

How is it possible then, to allow God this ability in your life, to allow him to direct your steps?  I believe you need to be on the "journey".... you need to be on that daily walk with Him, no more, no less, just one day, and then one more... and then one more, as He wills, and as He directs.  Otherwise we get ahead of ourselves don't we?  

I suppose I am beginning to realize how I have walked this last year, looking back, can't say that the path has been straight, as I have fought with God on quite a few issues!  Nonetheless, I am looking forward to finding out His conclusion rather than my own.  My goal today.... letting God direct my steps.  What is directing yours?  What is pulling you where you are going?  Money?  Fame?  A promotion?  Why are you on the journey you are on?  Where are you going?  Have you really any idea?  Where will it lead you?

Why not let go for a day, let God direct your steps...you may be blessed with where you end up.

Enough for today, and thank you for your prayers, it has been a difficult time.

In Christ,

Corinne


0 comments

Year 7 and 8 Khulna Field Trip  

Posted by: Corinne

So this past week I had the pleasure of taking my first class field trip out to the Khulna area.   It was a beautiful trip out into the country and I really enjoyed getting to know the kids better.  I really appreciate that we have such wonderful kids at Grace School.  I appreciate each of them and it is a pleasure to be able to give a year of my life to serving with them.




During our trip we managed to visit a few places.


1)  Rishilpi - a local village project that has been established for nearly 35 years now by an Italian missionary family.  Rishilpi has developed into a place that provides education, handicrafts, work and medical care for entire villages around them.  It was amazing to see that they were not a charity, but have provided work and hope for many thousands of Bangladeshi's around them.


2)  The Father of the Nation ( Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) Nation monument.  Sheikh was named the Father of the Nation in the Bangladesh constitution in 1972.  Here was his grave and a small museum about his life and how he gave his life and sacrificed his family to free Bangladesh.


3) Michal Madhusudan Datta - National Poet of Bangladesh;  He is renowned for his literary contribution to Bangladesh, as he turned Christian from his former life as a Hindu and is responsible for translating the Bible, and other literary works such as the Illiad.  We were able to visit his house and monumental museum to learn more about his life.


4) The SUNDARBANS!!!  Clearly the highlight of the trip.  The Sundarbans are a national park and are one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.  It was beautiful and we had a great deal of fun wandering through the forest!


I have attached some photos of the trip if you would like to see them.  Highlights?  Other than the sight seeing, there were some pillow fights, crazy hair styles, and fun evenings with the girls.... Sociological difficulties?  I saw a man being beaten in the streets while his wife and child tried to pull the police officer off of him....


It was an interesting trip and I am happy to say that I have a bit more of an understanding of life in Bangladesh now that I have seen villages and other cities... It was wonderful to stay with and see the CSS center and how they are doing their best to share Christ with so many lost souls...


I will keep my deeper thoughts to myself for now and invite you to see some photos.


Thank you for your prayers, they are needed during some rough times here.


In Christ's love,


Cori

3 comments

Dad's thoughts of the day....  

Posted by: Corinne

So I was talking with my Dad today and he passed on three bits of wisdom...

1)  Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump...

2)  Banging your head against a wall burns 150 calories an hour (who would do this for an HOUR!!??)

and the best of all:

3)  A cockroach can live for NINE DAYS without it's head before it starves to death......  creepy.


Ok that's all for today :)  I am heading off to Khulna on a Year 7 and 8 field trip for a week, and will share some pictures when I am back.

Thank you for each of your prayers, they are needed and appreciated.

In Christ,

Corinne

2 comments

Glass houses  

Posted by: Corinne

Just recently I completed my first assembly of this year.  We were asked who our favorite Bible Story was, and then were given a chance to share that with the school.  Mine is found in John 8: 1-11:

 1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
 9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
 11"No one, sir," she said.
      "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
This passage has always been one of my favorites...
Here, Jesus is the ONLY person who could have thrown stones...  the only one without sin... yet He doesn't.   He rather uses this as an opportunity to show everyone there that they are NOT to point fingers at others when we are no better ourselves. 
This is something that is very difficult for me.
To be honest, I have had to deal with some very difficult relationships with those that I interact with here in Bangladesh.  This term I tried to enter with a renewed heart, simply not jumping on someone when they have done something wrong, but rather, humbly approaching them realizing that I too make mistakes.
How often in our lives are we SO quick to tell someone else they are wrong but lethargic in our own admission of guilt?  
Do you ever wonder if being egotistical leads to false assumptions of what a situation may entail?  Does it not cause us to judge the situation at the outset rather than allowing it to unfold?  
Labeling ourselves as all knowing, pointing fingers or throwing stones will only cause pain in our own hearts, whether we are right... or whether we are wrong.  
Perhaps our lives could benefit from a little bit more humility... I claim to have very little of this... however, I can say that I have never known a human, humble or high, that when life's end neared, regretted holding their stones...yet I have known more than one, myself included, who has regretted throwing them.
Why not try to hold onto your stones this week?  
Serving Him in Bangladesh,
Corinne



0 comments

First Physics Lab - Electrical Circuits  

Posted by: Corinne

So this past Thursday I ran my first Physics Lab and the topic was Electrical Circuits!  It was a lot of fun and I actually really enjoyed giving the students a hands on experience.  I just thought I would
share a few pictures...









I have been having a hard time lately, and I appreciate all those who have been in prayer.  My next post will include a bit of reflection on that, but for now, these are the "current" events.  (yes... pun intended).

In Christ,

Cori

0 comments

Sports Day!  

Posted by: Corinne



This past Thursday we had the pleasure of celebrating "Sports Day" at the French School  This is the equivalent of a Canadian "Track and Field" day as there were several events running, including discus, high jump, standing long jump, and 100 m relays.  I was assigned the task of "Photographer."  It was a fantastic experience!
Here at Grace, the entire school is divided up into "Merit Teams" of four different colors; red, yellow, green, and blue.  During the school year, each student has a chance to earn "Merits" for good behavior, good classroom performance, and other related things.   Sports day is just another way for the teams to earn points!  It was so wonderful to see everyone involved, there wasn't one child without the right color t-shirt or face paint on, and everyone was so supportive of one another that it really was a great experience.  I have attached a slideshow of some of the best pictures from the day.  I hope you enjoy!


Oh and of course, my team, the YELLOW team were the Champions! Yippee!!!  


1 comments

Justice  

Posted by: Corinne

 "Bangladesh hangs killers of the Nations Founding Father."
January 27, 2010

      Nearly 35 years after Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahmand was assassinated with his entire family and several of his officials, five army officers who were among those convicted for this killing were hung at Dhaka Central Jail this past Thursday.  This brought to end a very long manhunt and the quest for justice of Mujib's daughter, current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.  Out of the other 7 convicted for this killing, one has died, and the other 6 are on the run.
      Two hangmen put nooses around their necks at 12:05 am, and the convicts were left to hang for nearly thirty minutes to confirm their death.  The news hit that justice had been served.  

It was interesting to talk to some of the locals about their thoughts on the hanging.  I asked them questions about whether or not they thought it was 'fair' or 'just' that these men were killed for their actions.  I received a number of mixed responses yet most stated strongly that these men should have been put to death, and defined justice as an "eye for an eye."   

Although I am not opinionated on this particular subject of capital punishment as it is shown here, I spend most of my time feeling humbled by it.  When I heard this news and the story about why these individuals were hung, it made me think... "what if I got everything I deserved in my life?"  

How many of you have ever "gotten away" with something?  I suppose we all have at some point or another... we have lied and no one ever found out, or we have perhaps snuck out of the house when we were kids and our parents still don't know.... justice goes both ways.  

I can't tell you much about life, but I can tell you that I am thankful for God's justice in mine.
Romans 3:23 states that 

"For ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God"

and Romans 6:23 states:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life"

So if I have fallen short, and my penalty is death.... should I not also be hanging from that noose?...or worse.... be cast into hell to spend an eternity away from God?  

A lot of people think that if you are simply a "good person" that you will end up at the pearly gates of heaven with a God who loves all welcoming you in...  is that Justice?  Is it?   What kind of God would He be if He allowed everyone into His eternal kingdom?  What about these men?  Maybe they were really "good" children, and their friends talked them into being a part in this murder?  Why can't they "make up for it" with "good deeds?"......  how often do we live our lives like that.... we do something horrible, and rather than feeling the weight of what we deserve, we simply try to "make up for it"... is that justice?

I can tell you one thing: 

God is just, and because of that, and because of HIS love, He has provided a way for EACH and EVERY soul here on Earth to come to Him in Heaven and be welcomed.  This came in the life of His Son Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that all who believe in Him shall NOT perish, but shall have ETERNAL LIFE".  (John 3:16).

You have a chance to NOT have the Justice that you deserve, but rather, to live in the GRACE of God.  Is that not the best form of Justice that there is?  If you stood before a judge today.... if you stood before THE JUDGE of the world that is GOD, would He find you guilty?.... or would He grant you life because you accepted the gift of Christ.  It's a big decision isn't it.... don't let it go unanswered.  

Thank each of you for all of your prayers during this time here, they are needed and appreciated.  

In Christ,

Corinne 


2 comments
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