I want to start off with an apology for my lack of communication to you on how things are going at Highlands International School in La Paz, Bolivia. Amazing things have happened this year in the lives of many of the students, their parents, and the staff (me included). I have been negligent in my duty as a sower to report back to you these tidings worthy of joyful thanksgiving, and so I am writing this update to inform you of these tales so that you may rejoice with me in them.
The Students:
- My 3rd/4th grade students improved overall on their math scores this year on the SAT’s, I look forward to the challenge of doing the same to their reading scores next year.
- Students as a whole spent more than 3,000 dollars on Scholastic books this year. An impressive amount to spend on books for the elementary!
- We had five high school students and a couple elementary students accept Jesus Christ as their risen Lord and Savior, and many more students eagerly searching!
- We had six graduating seniors, five of which will be attending universities in the U.S.
- All students are going to have a uniform dress code for next school year, which is going to remind me of teaching in England and going to private school during 7th/8th grade. J
- I love my students! I consider myself so blessed to be teaching 4th grade next year, because I will retain about two thirds of the class. I’m already excited to see them again!
The Parents:
- One of my concerns about teaching was parents and having conferences with them, but parents have now become something for me to look forward to working with more next year. They have been extremely encouraging and a great help to me in my first year of teaching. A few examples: invitations to their children’s b-day parties, chaperones on field trips (the zoo and Valle de la Luna), conferences that have made my eyes tear up from their gratitude, and throwing a big birthday party for me! I am really enjoying the embrace of the familial culture here in Bolivia.
The School and Staff:
- I’m not certain about the prospect of teaching in the U.S. mainly because of the supportive, encouraging, Christian unified staff that I get to work with everyday at a school where the sunrise over the mountains each morning reminds me of what an amazing Creator we have as our God. Some exciting things that have happened to both school and staff this year are as follows:
- Jason (school director) and Sara, James (high school science) and Julie each had their
first baby added to their family at the end of this school year. Margaret Grace to Jason
and Sara, and Maya to James and Julie. I can’t wait to see them begin to grow up this coming school year!
- Whitney (5th grade) was married to Tim (Youth for Christ/substitute science teacher) over Christmas. She had one student who thought she was somebody else because of the name change.
- Everyone except for our first grade teacher, Kristen, will return this upcoming year for their second or third year! It will be a great community to welcome in the new 1st and 3rd grade teachers.
- We finally have an organized library, internet capability, and PE equipment that will be great resources for next school year!
- Our 6th/7th grade teacher, Deborah, has taken us through a biblical integration course during our workshops this year, which has been a great help in all our lesson planning. It was even worth three continuing education credits!
- Tom and Ann Fisher (ESL and worship/elementary principal) have been holding a monthly community group for believers in La Paz, which has been an immense encouragement to everyone’s sense of unity and fellowship in La Paz, which has been coined the “graveyard of missionaries” due to the lack of people who stay to minister.
- The school is expanding and buying more land on the property where we are currently located. I have enclosed a note from our director with more information.
My Homestay Family:
- The Lord has really blessed me with an amazing, Christian family who has made me feel like one of their own. My best example would be their youngest daughter (or one of my big sisters), Dani, who was married this year to Randy, Youth for Christ worker. I wondered where my name was on the list of invites, because all the Highlands teachers were on Randy’s side. They showed me that I was looking in the wrong place and showed me my name underneath family on Dani’s side.
- Fabrizio, my older brother by five years, and I love to talk about all sorts of things, but mainly relationships, since both he and I have had our issues with those this school year. We each comforted each other through our break-ups reminding each other of God’s sovereignty and provision and perfect timing. We are now once again, more or less (mas o menos), content being single. :)
- The family that I get to see every day: Charro, my Bolivian mother, Alberto, my Bolivian father, Dora, my big sister, and Dora’s son, Daniel. These individuals are also very special to me. Through them, not only does my Spanish improve daily, but I’ve grown to see what the extension of the family of God is like on a more intimate level.
- I attend church with my family, a church plant that is partnering with our school in location and in ministry to both parents and students of Highlands. It truly is an amazing community of believers that God has blessed the heck out of me with.
- I also love the country if you couldn’t tell. I have been on plenty of hikes at high altitudes, which include a climb to the summit of Huyana Potosi (19,978 ft) and a trip to Machu Picchu. The rugged beauty of the land is truly breathtaking!
Prayer Requests:
- The political situation in the country of Bolivia is unstable with three of the nine departamentos (provinces) voting and declaring autonomy from the rest of the country. More departamentos will be voting in the upcoming months also. Pray for peace, especially for La Paz.
- Pray for the new teachers Jenny and Sarah as they begin their first year of teaching at an amazing school!
- Pray for the school and its expansion. There are a lot of things as we continue in our process to improve Highlands before we are visited for accreditation this next April.
- Pray for me this summer as I work on curriculum guides so that they’re ready for the start of this next year.
- Pray for me as I decide whether or not to stay for a third year at Highlands.
Final Thoughts:
I want to thank all of you for your prayers. Through your prayers the Lord has been continuously providing all my needs. Pray that I would do a much better job in sharing with you my prayer supporters the astounding things the Lord is doing at Highlands International School. I will also try to do the same on my blog at bjorvia.blogspot. com. Here’s a picture of me with my students at the zoo and a day in the classroom.
The Students:
- My 3rd/4th grade students improved overall on their math scores this year on the SAT’s, I look forward to the challenge of doing the same to their reading scores next year.
- Students as a whole spent more than 3,000 dollars on Scholastic books this year. An impressive amount to spend on books for the elementary!
- We had five high school students and a couple elementary students accept Jesus Christ as their risen Lord and Savior, and many more students eagerly searching!
- We had six graduating seniors, five of which will be attending universities in the U.S.
- All students are going to have a uniform dress code for next school year, which is going to remind me of teaching in England and going to private school during 7th/8th grade. J
- I love my students! I consider myself so blessed to be teaching 4th grade next year, because I will retain about two thirds of the class. I’m already excited to see them again!
The Parents:
- One of my concerns about teaching was parents and having conferences with them, but parents have now become something for me to look forward to working with more next year. They have been extremely encouraging and a great help to me in my first year of teaching. A few examples: invitations to their children’s b-day parties, chaperones on field trips (the zoo and Valle de la Luna), conferences that have made my eyes tear up from their gratitude, and throwing a big birthday party for me! I am really enjoying the embrace of the familial culture here in Bolivia.
The School and Staff:
- I’m not certain about the prospect of teaching in the U.S. mainly because of the supportive, encouraging, Christian unified staff that I get to work with everyday at a school where the sunrise over the mountains each morning reminds me of what an amazing Creator we have as our God. Some exciting things that have happened to both school and staff this year are as follows:
- Jason (school director) and Sara, James (high school science) and Julie each had their
first baby added to their family at the end of this school year. Margaret Grace to Jason
and Sara, and Maya to James and Julie. I can’t wait to see them begin to grow up this coming school year!
- Whitney (5th grade) was married to Tim (Youth for Christ/substitute science teacher) over Christmas. She had one student who thought she was somebody else because of the name change.
- Everyone except for our first grade teacher, Kristen, will return this upcoming year for their second or third year! It will be a great community to welcome in the new 1st and 3rd grade teachers.
- We finally have an organized library, internet capability, and PE equipment that will be great resources for next school year!
- Our 6th/7th grade teacher, Deborah, has taken us through a biblical integration course during our workshops this year, which has been a great help in all our lesson planning. It was even worth three continuing education credits!
- Tom and Ann Fisher (ESL and worship/elementary principal) have been holding a monthly community group for believers in La Paz, which has been an immense encouragement to everyone’s sense of unity and fellowship in La Paz, which has been coined the “graveyard of missionaries” due to the lack of people who stay to minister.
- The school is expanding and buying more land on the property where we are currently located. I have enclosed a note from our director with more information.
My Homestay Family:
- The Lord has really blessed me with an amazing, Christian family who has made me feel like one of their own. My best example would be their youngest daughter (or one of my big sisters), Dani, who was married this year to Randy, Youth for Christ worker. I wondered where my name was on the list of invites, because all the Highlands teachers were on Randy’s side. They showed me that I was looking in the wrong place and showed me my name underneath family on Dani’s side.
- Fabrizio, my older brother by five years, and I love to talk about all sorts of things, but mainly relationships, since both he and I have had our issues with those this school year. We each comforted each other through our break-ups reminding each other of God’s sovereignty and provision and perfect timing. We are now once again, more or less (mas o menos), content being single. :)
- The family that I get to see every day: Charro, my Bolivian mother, Alberto, my Bolivian father, Dora, my big sister, and Dora’s son, Daniel. These individuals are also very special to me. Through them, not only does my Spanish improve daily, but I’ve grown to see what the extension of the family of God is like on a more intimate level.
- I attend church with my family, a church plant that is partnering with our school in location and in ministry to both parents and students of Highlands. It truly is an amazing community of believers that God has blessed the heck out of me with.
- I also love the country if you couldn’t tell. I have been on plenty of hikes at high altitudes, which include a climb to the summit of Huyana Potosi (19,978 ft) and a trip to Machu Picchu. The rugged beauty of the land is truly breathtaking!
Prayer Requests:
- The political situation in the country of Bolivia is unstable with three of the nine departamentos (provinces) voting and declaring autonomy from the rest of the country. More departamentos will be voting in the upcoming months also. Pray for peace, especially for La Paz.
- Pray for the new teachers Jenny and Sarah as they begin their first year of teaching at an amazing school!
- Pray for the school and its expansion. There are a lot of things as we continue in our process to improve Highlands before we are visited for accreditation this next April.
- Pray for me this summer as I work on curriculum guides so that they’re ready for the start of this next year.
- Pray for me as I decide whether or not to stay for a third year at Highlands.
Final Thoughts:
I want to thank all of you for your prayers. Through your prayers the Lord has been continuously providing all my needs. Pray that I would do a much better job in sharing with you my prayer supporters the astounding things the Lord is doing at Highlands International School. I will also try to do the same on my blog at bjorvia.blogspot. com. Here’s a picture of me with my students at the zoo and a day in the classroom.
Blessings to you all,
Thomas Bjorlie
Thomas Bjorlie
