Watch the video!!! The Shine Night drums made me want to come home!! One of the drumers is using two turtle shells, it was awesome.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
More Belize
Watch the video!!! The Shine Night drums made me want to come home!! One of the drumers is using two turtle shells, it was awesome.
Belize
I had the blessing to go to Belize for Thanksgiving vacation. I went with a diverse group of friends, who didn't always get along, yet learned alot and enjoyed the beautiful beaches of Placienia. Placienia is on the Carribean side of Belize. It is quickly becoming a turist attraction because of the beautiful beachs and the English Creol speaking villagers. We relaxed on the beach, when it wasn't raining; window shopped, in the expensive shops, and ate tropical foods, coconut rice and fish(yes father I ate fish)! I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Church Today
I have not talked about my church experiences yet, so I thought I would today because there was an amazing sermon. Mike Kurry was the speaker. He is a pastor in Tennessee and his message today was life changing.
He started with the question of whether you want God to help you or heal you. I thought to myself that I would want God to help me because I am not sick. However, he brought us to John 5.
In John 5,we read that Jesus goes to a pool and heals a cripple man by asking him if he wants to be healed and then tells him to Get up! The light that he brought to the verses were these things. First, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to walk, and the man responded that he did not have someone to HELP him into the water to be healed. This is an important part of the verse because it shows that the man was searching for help. We as Christians also search for help. Second, he mentioned the way Jesus answers the man. Get up! and take your mat. This is important to consider because it was the Sabbath and Jesus asked him to take his mat(which he would realistically never need again). On the sabbath in Jewish culture is was important not to carry anything over a few ounces. Lastly, the man was stopped by religious men who knew that seconds before this man could not walk and they didn't ask about his healing. They asked him why he was carrying his mat!!
Mike's point throughout this story was that Christian's are slowly trying to improve as people and ask God for HELP. But they will not simply ask for healing. This makes us as Christian stuck in a rut of only being able to do what we have power to do. God created us for his glory; therefore, we should be doing things that we can't do without him. Things that no barriers can effect (like culture in John 5).
Being in a different culture will many restrictions makes this a very powerful message to hear. I can do all things in Christ. As Christians, we should be doing things that we couldn't do without Christ not simply trying to become better. God wants us to do unmeasurable more than our best!
Pray that I think like this!
He started with the question of whether you want God to help you or heal you. I thought to myself that I would want God to help me because I am not sick. However, he brought us to John 5.
In John 5,we read that Jesus goes to a pool and heals a cripple man by asking him if he wants to be healed and then tells him to Get up! The light that he brought to the verses were these things. First, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to walk, and the man responded that he did not have someone to HELP him into the water to be healed. This is an important part of the verse because it shows that the man was searching for help. We as Christians also search for help. Second, he mentioned the way Jesus answers the man. Get up! and take your mat. This is important to consider because it was the Sabbath and Jesus asked him to take his mat(which he would realistically never need again). On the sabbath in Jewish culture is was important not to carry anything over a few ounces. Lastly, the man was stopped by religious men who knew that seconds before this man could not walk and they didn't ask about his healing. They asked him why he was carrying his mat!!
Mike's point throughout this story was that Christian's are slowly trying to improve as people and ask God for HELP. But they will not simply ask for healing. This makes us as Christian stuck in a rut of only being able to do what we have power to do. God created us for his glory; therefore, we should be doing things that we can't do without him. Things that no barriers can effect (like culture in John 5).
Being in a different culture will many restrictions makes this a very powerful message to hear. I can do all things in Christ. As Christians, we should be doing things that we couldn't do without Christ not simply trying to become better. God wants us to do unmeasurable more than our best!
Pray that I think like this!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Pulaphanzak
Today I was blessed with the experience to walk through this amazing waterfall. It is an experience that is very hard to recapture in words, but I will do my best.
I went with 15 other International School teachers. Once we told the guide that we were going through the waterfall, he lead us down a jungly path through trees and over rocks. Then we started to see the waterfall up close. It is a very powerful waterfall and from about 100 feet any we beginning getting misted because of the great force of all the water. When getting closer to the water, it is like being in a hard rain. At this point we had to jump into a pool and swim to reach the base of the waterfall. Once close to the falls, it is like a storm of water being whipped around. The guide sticks his hand out to you and you following him while holding on to the next person's hand. The chain of people walk through as water cascades all around. It is almost impossible to see and fairly hard to breathe. Under the waterfall we were standing in waist deep water and trusting that the person leading us would not let go! It was a little scary and amazing beautiful. It remained me that God has power beyond my wildest imagination.
I went with 15 other International School teachers. Once we told the guide that we were going through the waterfall, he lead us down a jungly path through trees and over rocks. Then we started to see the waterfall up close. It is a very powerful waterfall and from about 100 feet any we beginning getting misted because of the great force of all the water. When getting closer to the water, it is like being in a hard rain. At this point we had to jump into a pool and swim to reach the base of the waterfall. Once close to the falls, it is like a storm of water being whipped around. The guide sticks his hand out to you and you following him while holding on to the next person's hand. The chain of people walk through as water cascades all around. It is almost impossible to see and fairly hard to breathe. Under the waterfall we were standing in waist deep water and trusting that the person leading us would not let go! It was a little scary and amazing beautiful. It remained me that God has power beyond my wildest imagination.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Some of my Students
Dad asked for some pictures of my students. There they are; they are not as cute as they look!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Don't Drink Pear Juice after Climbing a Volcano!
I have been blessed with the experience of going to Amapala this weekend. I hitchhiked with six other teachers to the Southern coast of Honduras. Amapala is a dormant volcano. My friends and I decided to climb the volcano very unprepared! We left in the morning around 6 in the morning with a small breakfast and 18 oz of water per person.
We ended up having a 4 hour hike; it was very challenging. We all were very dehydrated by the end of the trip but the view was worth it! At the end of the trip, we went to a dirty, family owned puparia (store), and bought juice and bagged water. I drank the pear juice too fast and got sick. So, don't hike up a volcano and then get dehydrated!
Here are some pictures of the trip!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Settling Down
It is starting to feel a little like home in Honduras. I played a bilingual game of Settlers tonight. I am starting to find groups of Honduran friends which will be great for my Spanish!
Tonight I hung out with a group of teachers and two Joseph's. The Joseph's are both completely bilingual and would be my first friends outside of school. Hopefully I will be able to develop these relationships and other similar relationships. I really desire relationships with native Honduran who are not from school so that I can get used to the culture and language more. Pray that I will get opportunities to develop more relationships like this!
School was been interesting. One struggle that I am facing is that the administration listens to all parent requests about which classroom they child should be in, and I have come to learn that all of the kids who were difficult students last year are in my class. This has made situations at school pretty stressful. I do have good parts of the day, yet one whole day that it good is rare!
Children's day is on Monday. It is a Honduran holiday that is meant to celebrate children. We have a half day of school. Then, the rest of the day is a festival. The kids will present traditional dress and dances and be stuffed with candy. I think it is a wild day for teacher's, but I am looking forward to it.
Tonight I hung out with a group of teachers and two Joseph's. The Joseph's are both completely bilingual and would be my first friends outside of school. Hopefully I will be able to develop these relationships and other similar relationships. I really desire relationships with native Honduran who are not from school so that I can get used to the culture and language more. Pray that I will get opportunities to develop more relationships like this!
School was been interesting. One struggle that I am facing is that the administration listens to all parent requests about which classroom they child should be in, and I have come to learn that all of the kids who were difficult students last year are in my class. This has made situations at school pretty stressful. I do have good parts of the day, yet one whole day that it good is rare!
Children's day is on Monday. It is a Honduran holiday that is meant to celebrate children. We have a half day of school. Then, the rest of the day is a festival. The kids will present traditional dress and dances and be stuffed with candy. I think it is a wild day for teacher's, but I am looking forward to it.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Arrival in Honduras
Today my roommates and I got email in your house! It is great to be able to communicate to everyone.
The first few weeks in Honduras have brought many challenges. The house that we live in is great, but not quite like home. Within the first few days we found three cockroaches and many leaks. On the bright side we have four porches with give us an incredible view of the city!
At school, I went through orientation and learned my expectations as a teacher. It is very different than the states. I can do basically anything in my classroom. It is very flexible. I am looking forward to this. I can be very imaginative in my planning. The weakness of this is that there are many units that most be completely created from scratch. This will be alot of work.
Today at school I found out that a family wants to switch their child into my class because they wanted an American teacher. The child was going to be with a Honduras teacher who has ten years experience. There is a prejudice that American teachers are much better than Honduran teachers. It is very sad.
The whole culture has made "Gringos" (whites) a target. It makes it difficult to walk the streets without noises or people asking for your things. I have been proposed too and almost robbed. It is sad that these things happen because of the way I look.
I am enjoying the beautiful country of Honduras. Even though it will take a while to get use to the culture.
Well school starts tomorrow (the first two days were canceled!!) I better get to bed.
Check-out the link at the bottom of the page called "My House".
The first few weeks in Honduras have brought many challenges. The house that we live in is great, but not quite like home. Within the first few days we found three cockroaches and many leaks. On the bright side we have four porches with give us an incredible view of the city!
At school, I went through orientation and learned my expectations as a teacher. It is very different than the states. I can do basically anything in my classroom. It is very flexible. I am looking forward to this. I can be very imaginative in my planning. The weakness of this is that there are many units that most be completely created from scratch. This will be alot of work.
Today at school I found out that a family wants to switch their child into my class because they wanted an American teacher. The child was going to be with a Honduras teacher who has ten years experience. There is a prejudice that American teachers are much better than Honduran teachers. It is very sad.
The whole culture has made "Gringos" (whites) a target. It makes it difficult to walk the streets without noises or people asking for your things. I have been proposed too and almost robbed. It is sad that these things happen because of the way I look.
I am enjoying the beautiful country of Honduras. Even though it will take a while to get use to the culture.
Well school starts tomorrow (the first two days were canceled!!) I better get to bed.
Check-out the link at the bottom of the page called "My House".
Monday, July 30, 2007
People Love Me
I have had a very discouraging day today. I found out that I am ill prepared for Honduras. I recieved an e-mail today that explains that I need a police record, exiting documents, and a prom dress for my adventures in Honduras and it scares me that I am hearing these things two weeks before leaving my country.
Even though these new discoveries are scary many people who love me are helping me.
Julie and Pat have been loving on me in many ways. One thing that they did for me is surprise me with a morning at Donald Trump's golf course on the ocean, where we walked and ate a wonderful breakfast that Pat's made. The same day they took me to Malibu and we all just layed on the beach for most of the day. It was beautiful.
Mom and Dad have been loving me and are greatly helping me by getting my police record and making sure that I have every possible thing that I will need for Honduras. I can't wait to see them on the 9th of August.
Craig and Evie have been encouraging me and giving traveling information to make sure that I am ready emotionally, spiritually and physically for the trip.
Jenny has been relating to many new and scary things that she and I are facing. It is good to still have a roommate!
Mark listens to me alot!!
And Sara Christensen has been a friend to talk and laugh with.
Thank you for loving me!
Even though these new discoveries are scary many people who love me are helping me.
Julie and Pat have been loving on me in many ways. One thing that they did for me is surprise me with a morning at Donald Trump's golf course on the ocean, where we walked and ate a wonderful breakfast that Pat's made. The same day they took me to Malibu and we all just layed on the beach for most of the day. It was beautiful.
Mom and Dad have been loving me and are greatly helping me by getting my police record and making sure that I have every possible thing that I will need for Honduras. I can't wait to see them on the 9th of August.
Craig and Evie have been encouraging me and giving traveling information to make sure that I am ready emotionally, spiritually and physically for the trip.
Jenny has been relating to many new and scary things that she and I are facing. It is good to still have a roommate!
Mark listens to me alot!!
And Sara Christensen has been a friend to talk and laugh with.
Thank you for loving me!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
California Sun
It was been great to be with Pat and Julie. They have been blessing me in many ways.
The first week of day camp was challenging but went well. The classroom helper assigned to my room was more challenging than the kids, but hopefully he learns important things from the experience or gets kicked out soon!
I found out from international school that I will be teaching fourth grade next year. It was difficult news after many months of preparing for third; however, God was given me a sense of peace and understanding about it.
I feel like the Lord is preparing me spiritually for teaching, and I am even working on my Spanish a bit.
The first week of day camp was challenging but went well. The classroom helper assigned to my room was more challenging than the kids, but hopefully he learns important things from the experience or gets kicked out soon!
I found out from international school that I will be teaching fourth grade next year. It was difficult news after many months of preparing for third; however, God was given me a sense of peace and understanding about it.
I feel like the Lord is preparing me spiritually for teaching, and I am even working on my Spanish a bit.
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