Education

I've completed one full week of Advanced Educational Technology with considerably more to ponder on than I expected coming into this class. The subject matter is rather elementary to me, mostly because of my experience in technology, but i have been able to think about the skills i've gained from a new perspective. I've also learned a whole lot about the state of technology in Schools today. The issues brought up in my class have really begun to mold how i approach teaching technology in a classroom environment. Even more so, I've learned more about how to raise children in a hyper-technological society.

Lots of good questions have come up in this class about how much we use technology in schools. How much of basic learning do we let the computer replace? Expounding on that topic, where is technology appropriate and where isn't it. The biggest issue i've come to understand isn't the lack of or saturation of technology in schools, but its the lack of appropriate training for teachers and those using the technology.

To me, that seems like such a simple fix. But I also know many many computer people, and they aren't so hot at communicating effectively to none computer people. This creates a barrier that I believe is letting more advances in Technology go to Waste. What do you all think?

Well some of you may be wondering why all this matters in a Pray Rwanda Blog. I'll tell you. Examining how America is using and abusing technology, allows me to understand the best approach to teach those in developing coutries how to appropriately use computers. I'm grateful for the unexpected lessons i'm learning in this class.

On another note, Sara Beth has been away from me for two weeks with another 10 days before i join her in Virginia. God has blessed our time apart with more confidence in the choice to walk this earth forever together. Its been hard being apart in many ways, but the time afforded to us to do somethings has been very beneficial.

Sara has had a up and down adventure in East Tennessee where she is working at a missions camp. Her experiences with the people that surround her has been priceless. She has grown close to the Meeks and Greeks, two families living in Jelico, TN. However, she does miss home and is anticipating visiting my homeland soon. On Sunday her laptop was stolen while the missions camp group was visiting a church in Louisville, KY. We don't plan to see the laptop again, but We trust God will provide her everything she needs.

I'm gonna wrap this up for now, but life has continued to press on full steam. We hope to send out Wedding Invitations in the coming week.

Adventures

God fills our life with Unexpected adventures I believe. However, most of us miss it because of our lack of perspective. How many of us get frustrated at the manotany of work. Or what about when weekend plans dont go our way. Or when people dont turn out to be who we thought they were. Why do we catch ourselves being disappointed when somethings never change, and again when things change but not how we wanted. I've been learning a lot about looking past just what we can see and to explore the battle going on behind it all.

Jesus made it pretty clear that the battles of this earth aren't the ones fought with our hands, but they are spritial battles. Most who have been to Africa and other less modern places of the world may contend that so many Christians in America have lost touch with the spritual realm. I certainly experienced that after my trips to Africa. In Africa everything seemed to be related to the spiritual realm. Their Christian walk was involved in everything they did. Back here in the states i've been reading Wild At Heart and learning more about the battle within our selves. A lot of battles, I believe, are battles for Godly perspective. Just to be able to see things the way Jesus did, will enable us to see life in a more spiritual way.

We bring everyday life into the spiritual realm because we who believe in Jesus Christ as our savior know that He has won the victory over Evil. So Why not bring everyday life into the spiritual realm is what i ask. The more i see the small adventures and victories over evil He is winning for me each day, the more i see how God is alive and active everyday.

I've gotten myself involved in a lot over the past couple months with starting a new job, deciding its time to get married(wedding planning), and on Monday I start Grad School. With all this going on, God has still provided me with overwhelming peace to charge ahead in life. Trust God with all your heart, and he will provided you with all that you need. I say all these things just to convey the message that we have a God who is alive and working continously in our lives. Daily He is providing us with twists and turns that make each day unique. He gives us those things not that we may just get a good laugh, cry, or even get mad b/c it didn't go how we wanted; I believe he gives us those adventures so that we again have the choice of who we are going to serve and give praise to...God, Man, or Satan. You choose.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirits fire"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19