Recently, I wrote a letter of gratitude to our wonderful friends that support us in our ministry here in Georgia. In that letter I wrote how our teacher training sessions this fall are on the topic “GO!”  Go with focus, unity, wisdom, order, and love as we teachers enter into the race to have a more excellent school for the children of Georgia this coming school year. I believe with all my heart that every teacher and every student in The School of Tomorrow are chosen by God to be a part of the SOT family. The fall semester will begin September 13th. We are introducing some new exciting programs that I am confident will generate excitement among staff and students alike.

Yet, if I am totally honest, I must admit to having some fear concerning my health. Will there be the strength needed for each day? I am convinced that I must not waver but I should determine to “go forth with courage.”  There are so many times in the Word where we are told to “not be afraid,” or “fear not”. I am reminded of David’s words from Psalm 109, “Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy that they may know that this is Your hand, that You Lord have done it.”  I believe He says to us today as He did to Caleb and Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage.”

I think about the video on YouTube that tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an elephant and a dog. At one point in the video, it shows the elephant raising her huge foot and gently rubbing the injured dog’s tummy. What remarkable trust this little dog portrays toward her enormous friend. Why? I think it is because she has spent so much time with her friend and found her completely reliable and trustworthy. So should it be for us as God’s children whom He called “His friends”. The better we know our Lord, the more time we spend in His presence, the more courage we will “go with”. Fear will not hinder us as “we run with endurance the race that is set before us,” always with a deep desire to please the Father.

I wrote the following to introduce our teacher training to our staff this fall:

…We are not just a school, but a family!

“READY!  SET!  GO!”
There is a call that’s very clear.
You’ll not hear it with your natural ear.
But in your heart you’ll hear and know.
That we all must listen and then… “GO!”
Are we ready?  Are we set?
The prize before us we shall get.
If we keep our focus and run with grace,
We will surely win this race.
Trying to win alone is too tough.
Without His love, it will never be enough.
We must stay united and help one another,
Always remembering that we are sisters and brothers.

We ‘GO’ with joy each day that we teach.
And the students are glad if their goals they can reach.
The seeds that we plant in each student will grow.
Wisdom and truth are some of the seeds that we sow.
We ‘GO’ with order in our classrooms and halls,
Always thinking of others while peace and calm falls.
Our goal is to have a supportive, respectful environment.
To have a great school this must be a requirement.
Our students are different for they know how to live.
For joy and love shine out of their lives as they give.
Gaining confidence daily to all it would seem,
That the leaders of tomorrow follow hard after their dreams.
Together, we run with a desire to win,
Building character in our young women and men.
Helping develop life-learners who are wise and secure,
Our aim for their best will always endure.

JT, August 2010

And David said to his son, Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it, do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God - my God - will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”  (I Chronicles 28:20)

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.   (Psalm 27:14)

This is written because I feel there is so much we miss of the real, living in this fast-passed, carnal world. I was teaching on the “Lord’s Prayer” and wrote this to share with our teachers of The School of Tomorrow.

HELP ME TO SEE

I want to experience Your glory.
…Oh Lord.  Help me to see.

Make me a pure vessel You flow through, freely.
… Lord, help me to see.

Closet me away into the secret places of humility.
…And, Lord, won’t you help me to see?

Give me your grace, wisdom and tranquility.
…Lord, help me to see.

I repent and renounce my sin; make me free.
…Help me to see.

I draw near to You and You draw near to me.
…Oh, help me to see.

May Your love control my mind easily.
…And, Lord, help me to see.

Help me to keep the outflow of my life in motion, continually.
…Lord, help me to see.

May I always be kind and forgiving, even to my enemy.
…Help me to see.

I would eat at Your table, Lord, and at Your well, drink deeply.
…Just, please Lord, help me to see.

I’ll seek peace and resist the devil; this is a key.
…With eyes opened that I might see.

In You, Lord, my soul shall rejoice, constantly.
…Oh, Lord, help me to see.

If I am to be a vessel of purity,
…Then, oh Lord, I must be able to see.

I will praise You Lord when it’s hard and when it’s very easy.
…Help me, just help me to see.

Oh, Lord, flow freely through me.
…And help us all to have eyes that can see…Your face and into eternity.

Amen.
 
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.  Psalm 119:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Your Kingdom come.  Your will be done.  On earth as it is in heaven.  Matthew 6:10

A TREASURED FRIEND
…is what I have in you.

A treasured friend you will always be.
A friend that is rare and helps me to see,
How much God loves both you and me.
And teaches me what it is to be free.
…is what I have in you.

You know me well and yet you stay,
Close beside me in the heat of the day.
Through the good times and even the bad,
Your hand in mine makes me feel glad.
 …is what I have in you.

I will sing of your love in the darkest night.
When troubles come or in the morning light.
Your laughter takes me to a place that is higher.
And gives me such joy and a life-giving fire.
…is what I have in you.

Your friendship is more beautiful than the rarest jewel.
You refresh my spirit like a life-giving pool.
With your hand in mine, I can face my tomorrow,
I can go through every joy and the deepest sorrow.
…is what I have in you.

I am lifted up with the sound of your name.
For you give me hope, never ridicule nor blame.
I’ll always thank God for you, dearest friend of mine.
You’re the best and I know it, for you help me to shine.
…is what I have in you.

7/15/2010    JT

Gene Therapy

Earl and I got the news last evening that the “Phase 2 Trial of Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease” announced success with the study.

“We are extremely pleased that years of  research by our group with AAV vector gene transfer technology has led to the unprecedented milestone of a statistically significant improvement in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of gene therapy…”  “We now have solid scientific evidence to support NLX-P101 as an important, potential treatment for this devastating disease.”

As you may know, I was part of this study and had brain surgery October 8, 2009.  I did not think that I had gotten the gene, however, as I still had to take a lot of medicine to keep going.  Both Earl and I surmised that I was in the “sham group”. Last evening we were informed, through email, that I did indeed get the gene and that much of my symptoms may have been caused by over-medicating. We are extremely grateful that I do not have to go through the brain surgery again.

The report sent to me states:

“The trial also showed that NLX-P101 was well-tolerated with no serious adverse events related to the drug or procedure reported.  All treated subjects will continue to be monitored for safety for a 12-month period following their surgical procedure.”

We want to thank you for your prayers and concern for us. Hope is renewed as we press on.

Teacher Training

We will have our last day of our Spring Teacher Training tomorrow.  It has been well-attended and the staff is open, attentive, and communicative throughout our time together.  Many teachers helped us in translating the material into Georgian and countless other ways.  We are truly blessed to have such a great staff at The School of Tomorrow.

During the service at The Sameba Cathedral on Sunday, I felt that we should ask one of our lovely teachers who sings so beautifully to sing for us our opening song. She was quick to agree to do it.  What a delight to begin our time together with our Nino singing, “Ava Maria”.

Our theme for the training was “Get Set!”  The following poem was used to illustrate our theme and as I read it, Earl demonstrated what “get set” means in a foot race:

Get On Your Mark To “Get Set”
Let us run the race set before us.
God calls each of us today.
He has asked us all to be ready.
To be prepared to follow and obey.

If we keep our eyes upon Jesus.
If we look to see His dear face.
And remember what He has done for us.
We’ll not fear to run in this race.

If we are ready to go, we should get on our mark.
We must lay aside every weight.
We have been training to run with endurance.
We are on time; we’ll not be late.

Today, we cannot linger longer.
We must get on our mark; hear His call.
It’s time to throw aside all that would hinder.
Or cause us to stumble and fall.

If you’re ready, Earli Babe, line up quickly.
Show them all how you run to win.
If you get set right and hit it at the whistle.
Don’t jump the gun for that’s like a sin.

The race is often won at the start.
You must get set; you’ll not stumble or fall.
If we work together and choose to improve.
The School of Tomorrow will be best of all.

Learning is always our goal.
And change is before us each day.
Let’s listen to each other and God.
Will surely show us the way.

Let’s determine to not grow weary.
Or let our hands all hang down.
Let’s look to the Master to help us.
Stay alert and listening to what others have found.

His love is the key in this conquest.
Our enemy cannot cause us to lose.
If through following Him we’ll be triumphant.
It’s by faith in our Lord; we would choose.

Oh, this race may not be so easy.
We may grow weary and tempted to slow down.
But we’ll gain the prize if we endure with joy.
Not slowing or stopping; we’ll win the crown.

It’s all about running to win.
So, losing is never our choice.
Each day is another chance to excel.
Get set then to win and rejoice.       JT

Hebrews 12:1,2a
“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a crowd of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

The Physician listens to our cries.
He knows… surpasses any man.
He is never shocked - good or bad.
Hope comes when He speaks and we know we can.

From the moment of birth the body starts dying,
Yet it seems to us here that life has just begun.
For new babies bring hope for the future
And our lives become rich when we learn how to run.

Disease is as it says…without ease.
Pain has its rewards…enhanced ability to love.
Empathy, humility, softening, and improved hearing
…His voice and fellow-beings, crying out like frightened doves

“Come. Take it away! No more,” we loudly say!
“I am with you through the flood and the fire.
So, go through,” He answers; and we can walk on
Our feet are His feet and it is His hope that we acquire.

This is not all for this will be washed away when the new has come.
Hope…abundant hope, comes when we begin to see.
Glimpses of a superior way… an eternal foretaste.
True living comes with the pain and the loving, for you and for me.

…But mostly with the loving.          JT