The Sudbrock Scoop

Back to School!

November may seem a little late for going back to school, but that is in fact just what we are doing.

Samantha's school has asked us to teach baseball during the last hour on Mondays, so each Monday we pick up the other girls from their school and head up to Samantha's school at the top of the hill with our bats and balls in tow. Over the years, we have gathered a duffel full of supplies for teaching baseball, but the turnout this time was a little more than we had expected. We have 22 boys and girls from the 4th grade who are eager to learn how to use a baseball mitt and which way to run when they hit the ball. Being a few mitts short, we are having to be a bit creative during our practice time. The best part about practice doesn't take place on the field or in the gym though. The best part is when we are in the store or walking downtown and one of our players stops to say hi and introduce us to their parents.

The same elementary school has also invited us to do an American Christmas Cottage during their annual Christmas Craft night at the end of this month. Now is time for brainstorming. I am looking for craft ideas that kids can do in about 10-15 minutes and cost less than $2 each to make. We will have Christmas carols and spiced cider and I would like to have candy canes too. Could someone send me some of the small candy canes? We will decorate with stockings and manger scenes. If anyone has any other good ideas, I would love to hear from you.

I am teaching English at the community college this fall as well. I have two classes, one for senior citizens on Monday mornings and an open conversation class on Thursday nights. Many of the students have been attending my classes for years and it is blessing to see our relationship develop and expand with each semester. Yesterday we received a phone call from one of the other teachers and she has invited our family to come sing Christmas Carols and teach about Christmas in America for two of her classes during the month of December. We will do a lot of the same things that we have planned for the elementary school, but we will also read the Christmas story from Luke and answer questions.

And this year, all three of our children's schools as well as the community college have been active in our church's Christmas Charity project. What a blessing to see their eagerness to help.

Christmas is such an awesome time to open up and share our hearts with people. I am praying that we will have more and more opportunities like these each year.

A big thank you goes out to all of you who pray for us so regularly.

Chelli