Baby Update

We had an ultrasound last week and found out that we're going to have a baby boy. Both the baby and I are in good health & everything's just fine. Right now I'm 21 weeks, so the estimated due date is Feb 15th. We're hoping that he comes earlier though. We're both excited that we're going to have a baby, especially a boy. I feel a lot better and have more energy now that the morning sickness/extreme fatigue stage is over. I've started to show, so now I can't wear most of the clothes I have. Thankfully people here and back home gave me some maternity clothes. They're coming in useful already.

June Update

Our blogging has been getting worse & worse. I guess I should have know that since it's the same with my journaling. Since the last update much, but not much, has happened. To renew our visa at the end of April we took a trip to Costa Rica & had a nice chance to relax for a few days. It's a whole lot cheaper to travel between these countries once you're out of the states. Just last week we were the chaperons for a camp that some of the kids had to chance to go to. It was hosted by a group from North Carolina, but the campgrounds were in Honduras. It was nice getting to see the kids play, laugh, and have so much fun. Those who went got to miss school, so they were even happier. The camp had a trampoline, so they definitely took advantage of every free moment by getting on it. They did crafts & games and the girls had a makeover day with hair and nails (they were too young for makeup). All the kids loved it & were asking when they were coming back before they even left.

Internet's Out

The internet has been out for a long while, so we haven't been able to post anything for about a month. Give us a few days before and we'll update how our lives have changed :)

God's Strength

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:8-10

That Scripture is so powerful & applicable in our lives right now. Truth be told, working in the school is extremely challenging for the both of us in one way or another. It takes everything out us. Everyday we come home so exhausted, only to have to make more lesson plans or grade papers or whatever. Sometimes it seems like it's too much, but God is faithful to His word. I feel Paul when he was pleading with God to take his burden away from him. I've asked God the same thing. But God has placed me here for a reason, and in the school for a reason. And as people in my church always say, "If God brought me to it, He'll bring me through it." And He's doing just that. The past few weeks have been so much better than the first few. He's showing me different techniques and helping me with the lesson plans. My biggest problem in the classroom was filling up the time with lessons & activities. Because English class is new in the elementary, there is no set curriculum. So, for the past few weeks I've been creating a curriculum that at least I can start with. Those who follow can build on it & improve it, but at least it's a place to start. It helps me to know what I need to teach day to day & week to week. Then it becomes easier to plan how to teach it and fill in activities. Thank God for internet access! Now I don't feel as weighted down when I walk in the classroom.

Busy, Busy, Busy

As you can tell from our original weekly updates turning into monthly updates, things have picked up here. We are both teaching in school as you know and majority of our time is designated in the planning and teaching at the school.  

But in spite of our present business, God is doing some amazing things at the orphanage.  We have two new recently married couples whom have decided to serve the Lord during the first months of their marriage. Two the boys here are studying at the bible college in Costa Rica. We have the highest amount of volunteers here since Christmas.

As Candice and I noted in earlier blogs, the goal that God has given us is to "STRETCH".  And I am proud to say that is exactly what we have been doing. I teach in Spanish and so often I focused on my inability and neglect my help through God. God has been teaching me that is not our merits that leads to success but His anointing.  God anoints us to benefit others. Each day we teach, I pray for God's anointing to flow through us to the children prospering both their minds and souls.

Continue to pray for us as the new responsibilities stretch us thin. But we know we will never be stretch to the point beyond God's ability.

Back to School

Well, in Honduras the school year begins in mid-February, so we officially began last Monday (the 16th). The first week went pretty well for both Terrez and I & all the teachers. Terrez has his 4 math classes and 4 English classes, so he teaches all day. As for me, I only have 4 English classes, but supervising the preschool, kindergarten, and special needs classes has kept me more than busy. Right now we have one of the biggest, most involved groups visiting the orphanage, so all those who help out in the Pre-K/K/Special Ed classes have to use me to translate. My translating skills have definitely picked up recently. One thing I have experienced this past few weeks is how much teachers prepare for the school year. I have a new appreciation for the efforts of all my (good) teachers I've had throughout my schooling. It takes so much more than I previously knew. I'm glad to be experiencing this now so I can have a deeper insight into the work Terrez will be doing for a while back in the States.

Things here are constantly changing, and responsibilities get added all the time. One new idea the staff are implementing this quarter is elective courses taught by the orphanage staff. All of a sudden, I am now the teacher for the Drama Elective class. For the next few weeks I will be instructing 6 middle/high school girls on various aspects of drama. Now, I'm not particularly fond of drama, so this will be very interesting. I have to plan the entire curriculum however I want to, so I might incorporate singing and dancing (since I like them more). A few of the girls sing in the choir, so they can help me if I ever decide to teach a song to the church choir.

Back Safely

We made it back safely, even though one of our bags didn't make it with us. And we hit the ground running. This week has been the first week of teacher professional development, so we've been busy. The first day we met all the other teachers and found out exactly what we'll be doing this school year. It's definitely more than originally expected. Terrez will be teaching English and Math for colegio and bachillerato (7-11 grades). I am the director for the preschool, kindergarten, and special needs classes and I will be teaching English for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. So far we've had a few seminars and time for decorating/cleaning. Next week is the hard part: curriculum and planning. The two preschool teachers are older girls from the orphanage who will be taking high school classes half of the time and teaching the other half. It's been nice working with the 4 teachers in my cluster. Everyone is friendly and open, and I don't feel like it's a burden or too much of a challenge. It's still a challenge, but nothing unbearable. I just hope it stays that way once the kids are in the classrooms.