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.

Connections

Like with any new environment, the more time you spend in it, the more adjusted you get. It's been almost 3 months since we first moved down here, and life is going smoothly. Terrez has been working on the farm and painting in the school; I've started dance class and work with the Christmas play along with my regular duties of helping with paperwork. The dance class has been going well. What I thought would just be a fun little time has turned into serious practicing for a choreographed dance that me & another volunteer had to put together. The girls are so excited about it. All those in the Christmas play are excited too. It seems like eveyone wanted to be in the play. Christmas is in the air and evey child tries to peek in the church to see all the gifts under the tree. Well, it's more like under, over, around, and suffocating the tree. Having over 400 kids who get at least 2 gifts, some get up to 10, it's hard fitting them all near the tree.

One thing the staff here like to do is invite a few kids to their houses once a week for dinner. It's to show them a family atmosphere that they haven't had the chance to see otherwise. Today was the first time Terrez & I joined in. We had four of the boys Terrez normally works with over. We made pizza and cookies from scratch. They loved it so much. They were so helpful in making it. I hope one day my kids will be like that :) While the pizza was in the oven they got to play Uno and watch a movie. Before the night was even over they were asking when they were going to be invited over again. It was a blessing getting to see the joy on their faces. I think we're going to continue having kids over each week, and we'll alternate betwen boys & girls and which once get to come.

School's Out :)

Well, school is finally out for their long break. They won't go back until February. As happy as I am for the break from teaching, I still have to find creative ways to interact with the kids. Most of the boys go to work all day, so I don't have to worry about them. It's the girls that need the most to do. Otherwise, they will sit & play in their yards all day. The other week while a group was down here I helped give dance classes with various groups of girls. The girls enjoyed it so much that I have been asked to continue with the dance classes. Last week I was busy finishing up paperwork for the school, and this week the volunteers have to translate all the Christmas cards from the kids that will be sent to their sponsors, so I haven't been able to start the classes yet. I guess it's good though so I'll have more time to prepare. I've never taught any dance class, nor do I feel creative enough to come up with any dance moves, but down here you learn to do what you would have never done before.

Along those lines, both Terrez & I have had new experiences in the church. Twice already have I played the drums for Sunday morning service. Now, I have never played the drums in my life, but someone was needed, so I had to fill in. At least I was able to keep a beat. Yesterday only volunteers played the praise music, and I played the saxophone for a couple of songs. Terrez gave the 1st sermon. He's given sermons and teachings before in the States, but never to a crowd like down here. God has really been using us and stretching us. I feel like I've been doing more things out of my comfort zone in the past 2 months than I have over the course of years.

On another note, we're very excited about Thanksgiving. I can't believe it's almost here. All the staff, junior staff, and volunteers get together & have a huge feast. It'll be just like a family dinner with lots of extended family.