Symanzik Family Update

I am very pleased with the quality education our children are receiving at Faith Academy.

The high school building of Faith Academy

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching 4 high school freshmen present a short report on a country they were studying.

Danielle presenting her country. Mikayla and Grace helping hold
poster for her presentation.

Danielle's Mom setting up food from the country Danielle talked
about. (I forgot which country she did!)

Mikayla presented on Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

Mikayla sharing her presentation with a powerpoint.

Each student was to bring in some food from that country. Mikayla asked me to bring it to class,We had banana fritters, corn fritters, and Haitian cake.

The 9th grade world geography class

The 2nd grade class presented a reinactment of Joshua and the Israelites walking around the wall of Jericho as God commanded them.
Reggie Miller, the 2nd grade teacher, presented a good challenge to the elementary students and adults to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30

Marching in to walk around Jericho

Walking around the 'wall'

Ben, one of the gaurds.

Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your
mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

We have designated Sundays after church as family day.
Each week one of us gets to pick the activity for the afternoon.

Yesterday was Ben's turn. He chose to have pizza for lunch and go to GAP farm.

None of us had been there except Ben so it was interesting to see what it was.

It is sort of a strange place...a collection of farming, statues, walk-ways...There was a swimming pool too. It wasn't a stroller-friendly place to go we learned the hard way! After walking around the grounds, Kirsten, Ben, James, and I went for a swim to cool off.

I did like the statues representing the different tribes of the Philippines.
As I looked at them, I was again reminded of the verse in Revelation 5:9 "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

Under the huge carabau at the entrance to the park.

Part of a garden area

Parade of tribes from the Philippines.

Parade of tribes from the Philippines.

Parade of tribes from the Philippines.

Scene from top of the hill

Kurt and Ben inside a tunnel the Japanese had dug during WWII
(the cement statues were added later!!!!)

The 2nd and 3rd grade classes went to Crocodile Park yesterday for a field trip. It was a good trip. I'd blog more about it but babies are crying......................

As I watched Ben gently pushing Jerard around in his wheel chair this morning, this verse kept going through my thoughts "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up." Ecc. 4: 9, 10a

Ben is a good big brother to Jerard. He is a friend who helps him up.
Ben loves to make Jerard laugh, give him toys to play with, help him at meal times, etc.

A special needs child is a challenge, but we feel blessed with the opportunity and privilege of raising Jerard for God's glory, despite the challenges.