Retreating and Reaffirming

The past two weeks have been as busy as any, but I wanted to send along two highlights. First...High School Retreat. This is an annual even when all students, grades 9-12, and their sponsors, set off at the end of Spiritual Emphasis week to further connect with God and each other. This year we headed to Chimaltenango. The speakers were the DeVries family, who offered great lessons, support, and ideas to help the kids start finding ways to make God more a part of their everyday lives. The picture above is from the second night, banquet night, where the theme was "Medieval Times," (hence the crazy attire!).

And Second...the Annual Parent Meeting at CAG...which teachers are required to attend. While it is generally not the most exciting event of the year, it did serve this year to reaffirm for me why I choose to serve here. Here a few little-known
facts I walked away with from the meeting:

CAG is completely independently supported through tuition fees ($200 per month per student) and private contributions, and operates in the black.

Students at CAG receive an accredited English education, and are offered such things as AP courses, individualized math classes, National Institute of Learning Disabilities support, specialized reading, an extra curricular competitive sports program, drama programs, music (including Praise Team, choir, and orchestra), art courses, intramural sports, and community service opportunities...all of which are run by teacher and parent VOLUNTEERS.

All teachers are self supporting, receiving a stipend of $150 per month from the school for 10 months per year.

Teachers and families work together for the betterment of the entire school community. They pray together, worship together, work side-by-side, support one another (btw...substitute teachers = parent volunteers), and really love one another despite their differences.

When we were leaving the meeting, I was trying to figure out what makes such a difference here at CAG, and I decided this...

Contrary to popular belief (which has been a belief I have held, having been a public school teacher for a number of years) more money does NOT equal a higher quality of education. I have seen through my experience here in the mission field that what really brings out the best in people is daily affirmation and sincere gratitude from others around them combined with the knowledge that what we do is in service to an amazing God.

CAG is made up of a very wide variety of people from even wider religious backgrounds, social/economic levels, and political affiliations. Above and beyond all of that other stuff, however, the community here shares one bottom line...GOD and His love; and THAT is what makes things work here!

It is my prayer that other schools and communities will find this "solution" as well.

With blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! Sherry