This one is long, but please keep reading until the end!
This is an accreditation year at BFA. All year long, committees have been preparing reports, doing self studies and looking to identify areas for improvement. This week, a team of educators and administrators from various international schools is here conducting interviews and compiling reports to submit to the three accrediting institutions to which we belong. It has been a good week thus far. One particular question that the team keeps asking the various staff members they interview is "Why do you stay at BFA?" This question got me thinking which then led me to our blog so that I could tell you why we stay at BFA!
This is an accreditation year at BFA. All year long, committees have been preparing reports, doing self studies and looking to identify areas for improvement. This week, a team of educators and administrators from various international schools is here conducting interviews and compiling reports to submit to the three accrediting institutions to which we belong. It has been a good week thus far. One particular question that the team keeps asking the various staff members they interview is "Why do you stay at BFA?" This question got me thinking which then led me to our blog so that I could tell you why we stay at BFA!
BUT first, let our colleague and friend, Michele Phoenix, say it better than I ever could. Michele was, incidentally, our first real contact with anyone at BFA. She encouraged us to consider this amazing ministry and for that we are so grateful. Here are her own words that she shared with the entire accreditation team and BFA staff at a reception earlier this week:

(Erin, Michele, Alyssa)
"I'll tell you why I'm here. I'm still here because my heart beats earnestly and fiercely for the students of this school.
I'm here because they challenge me and motivate me and fascinate me and move me. I'm here because my goal is to love them and my purpose is to help them as they navigate this transition from a worldwide childhood to a stateside adulthood.
I'm here because classrooms are venues for healing and lessons are platforms for life changes. I'm here because this is a place where I can love students who are so much like I was at their age, whose lives have been abundantly blessed and relentlessly tried by their parents' call to ministry.
I'm here because there is no greater reward than a visible brightening in overcast souls.Because there is no greater ambition than to see one's past enhance and benefit the future of others.
Because there is no greater calling than to love those for whom our spirits breathe and yearn and soar and groan and plead and grieve and celebrate.
I am here because there is love in this place--there is kinship, there is growth, there is learning and there is a kind of energy that cannot be reproduced elsewhere.
Because this is a place where God is moving. He didn't only bring these students here to get an education--they could get that anywhere. He brought them here for the belonging and revealing and understanding and broadening and healing that can only happen in a community of kindred souls.
He didn't only bring them here only for English and Science and Math and Fine Arts. He brought them here because He wanted to care for them through us, through staff members whose jobs might be teaching but whose callings achieve Eternal Dividends in those unscripted moments outside of lesson plans."
I'm here because they challenge me and motivate me and fascinate me and move me. I'm here because my goal is to love them and my purpose is to help them as they navigate this transition from a worldwide childhood to a stateside adulthood.
I'm here because classrooms are venues for healing and lessons are platforms for life changes. I'm here because this is a place where I can love students who are so much like I was at their age, whose lives have been abundantly blessed and relentlessly tried by their parents' call to ministry.
I'm here because there is no greater reward than a visible brightening in overcast souls.Because there is no greater ambition than to see one's past enhance and benefit the future of others.
Because there is no greater calling than to love those for whom our spirits breathe and yearn and soar and groan and plead and grieve and celebrate.
I am here because there is love in this place--there is kinship, there is growth, there is learning and there is a kind of energy that cannot be reproduced elsewhere.
Because this is a place where God is moving. He didn't only bring these students here to get an education--they could get that anywhere. He brought them here for the belonging and revealing and understanding and broadening and healing that can only happen in a community of kindred souls.
He didn't only bring them here only for English and Science and Math and Fine Arts. He brought them here because He wanted to care for them through us, through staff members whose jobs might be teaching but whose callings achieve Eternal Dividends in those unscripted moments outside of lesson plans."
Michele is a BFA alumna, a talented and published author and has an amazing story of healing and restoration. I invite you to check out her blog (www.xanga.com/serenitymine) AFTER you finish reading this one:)
As for Mark and me, we stay because these students have so much love to give and are willing to serve...
In Kenya loving on kids in an orphanage.
Helping to build an additional room at the orphanage.
Caring for the littlest ones of His kingdom (Kenya).
Connecting through smiles and hugs.

Caring for children in the bush of Burkina Faso.
We stay because these students challenge us to step outside of our comfort zones with the ways that they are willing to do just that...

Preparing to go into a mosque in Duisburg, Germany. This is part of the mission team that ministered to Turkish children for a week.

Another mission team serving Iraqi refugees in Jordan.
We stay because these kids with a "worldwide childhood" are poised to do amazing things for Christ in the world and we want to be a part of that...


Even the guys got in on the act!

The team that went to St. Petersburg, Russia to serve in a government orphanage.
We stay because these students inspire us with their service to those who need it most...

The team that went to Burkina Faso putting a roof on a church.
We stay because of kids like Josh who has the sweetest spirit and biggest heart for God. Josh is special to us because he teaches drums to Ethan. He's a senior and we'll miss him a ton next year...


We stay because the girls at Storchenblick dorm call us Mama and Papa Powell and honestly it just doesn't get any better than that!
Thank you for all you do to help us STAY where God has called us.
Many blessings and much love,
Susan, Mark, Meredith, Evan and Ethan