It’s hard to believe it’s been two months since I moved to Bogotá! Adjusting to a new life, job, and culture has been challenging at times, but it has also been amazing and rewarding. I am still convinced this is where the Lord wants me. I am excited to see how the Lord continues to use me, guides my steps here, and opens up doors and opportunities for me. I am expecting big things. I have experienced many blessings from the Lord and have met so many wonderful people here and have had awesome experiences. Not everything has been easy (such as learning Spanish), but I have already grown so much through everything.
Life as a PE Teacher
Teaching PE has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been stretched and tested in these first four weeks of school, but I have grown and matured a lot. Being a first-year teacher is a bit overwhelming, so I have had to rely on the Lord a ton throughout this process and talk to Him throughout each day. Being a PE teacher is way more than just playing games with kids I have found out! Right now I am teaching basketball to boys in grades 5-12 and am doing games with grades 2-4. Next week I will begin teaching basketball to 5-12th grade girls. I feel very encouraged and supported as a teacher here.
I am currently coaching middle school soccer (boys and girls together) and high school basketball. I am also serving as part of the 11th grade home room team which has been a blessing. This past week I organized a shooting competition during lunches for middle and high school guys. Next quarter we will be having a dodgeball tournament and next semester we will have a soccer tournament (the pride and joy of ECA students). It’s been cool getting to know the students and working with them.
Experiencing the Holy Spirit
God has been teaching me a lot in the last two months. He has continually been humbling me and forcing me to rely on Him. I have experienced His love and care for me at times when I really needed it. A few weeks ago I had an experience with the Holy Spirit at a “random” retreat I went to and have been filled with the Spirit since then. It was an experience I’ve never had where I felt washed and commissioned by the Holy Spirit to do His work here in Colombia. I have experienced the peace, joy, satisfaction, confidence, and sensitivity that only comes from the Lord. I have been changed on a deep level. I feel like a new person.
Adventures in Colombia
I am definitely getting better acquainted and comfortable with the city. The Lord has allowed me to meet some great people and make great connections in the city. As a PE teacher I am learning how to be organized and detailed and how to be firm and confident. I know God is using me to impact His kingdom in many ways. I have been learning and experiencing what it means to pour my life into a ministry and gain a heart for people. I am trying to get into the mindset of doing things unto the Lord and reminding myself that it’s not about me.
Some of my favorite times have been when I’ve gone out of the city and spent time with the Lord in the countryside. The Colombian landscape is so beautiful, and the mountains always capture my attention. I think I have finally settled on a church here, and I am excited to see how God uses that in my life. I have been able to build friendships with several people who don’t know Christ as savior. My desire is that God would use me to lead them to Him, despite the language barrier.
I try to keep reminding myself that all the little things I have to do as a teacher are all to advance the gospel. The work I am doing now is laying the foundation even when it seems like I am not accomplishing much when I am working on grades or lesson plans. I believe God is doing great things at El Camino Academy, but I believe He wants to do even greater things at ECA. My prayer often has been, “Here I am God. Use me however you want today.” Here are two verses that have really encouraged me in the past few weeks:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man.” - Colossians 3:23
En Cristo,
Jonathan Snyder
Life as a PE Teacher
Teaching PE has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been stretched and tested in these first four weeks of school, but I have grown and matured a lot. Being a first-year teacher is a bit overwhelming, so I have had to rely on the Lord a ton throughout this process and talk to Him throughout each day. Being a PE teacher is way more than just playing games with kids I have found out! Right now I am teaching basketball to boys in grades 5-12 and am doing games with grades 2-4. Next week I will begin teaching basketball to 5-12th grade girls. I feel very encouraged and supported as a teacher here.
I am currently coaching middle school soccer (boys and girls together) and high school basketball. I am also serving as part of the 11th grade home room team which has been a blessing. This past week I organized a shooting competition during lunches for middle and high school guys. Next quarter we will be having a dodgeball tournament and next semester we will have a soccer tournament (the pride and joy of ECA students). It’s been cool getting to know the students and working with them.
Experiencing the Holy Spirit
God has been teaching me a lot in the last two months. He has continually been humbling me and forcing me to rely on Him. I have experienced His love and care for me at times when I really needed it. A few weeks ago I had an experience with the Holy Spirit at a “random” retreat I went to and have been filled with the Spirit since then. It was an experience I’ve never had where I felt washed and commissioned by the Holy Spirit to do His work here in Colombia. I have experienced the peace, joy, satisfaction, confidence, and sensitivity that only comes from the Lord. I have been changed on a deep level. I feel like a new person.
Adventures in Colombia
I am definitely getting better acquainted and comfortable with the city. The Lord has allowed me to meet some great people and make great connections in the city. As a PE teacher I am learning how to be organized and detailed and how to be firm and confident. I know God is using me to impact His kingdom in many ways. I have been learning and experiencing what it means to pour my life into a ministry and gain a heart for people. I am trying to get into the mindset of doing things unto the Lord and reminding myself that it’s not about me.
Some of my favorite times have been when I’ve gone out of the city and spent time with the Lord in the countryside. The Colombian landscape is so beautiful, and the mountains always capture my attention. I think I have finally settled on a church here, and I am excited to see how God uses that in my life. I have been able to build friendships with several people who don’t know Christ as savior. My desire is that God would use me to lead them to Him, despite the language barrier.
I try to keep reminding myself that all the little things I have to do as a teacher are all to advance the gospel. The work I am doing now is laying the foundation even when it seems like I am not accomplishing much when I am working on grades or lesson plans. I believe God is doing great things at El Camino Academy, but I believe He wants to do even greater things at ECA. My prayer often has been, “Here I am God. Use me however you want today.” Here are two verses that have really encouraged me in the past few weeks:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for man.” - Colossians 3:23
En Cristo,
Jonathan Snyder