As promised, a new blog update is FINALLY here! Here is a random collection of some of the many adventures I am having in Bolivia.
Ant Invasions:
In past blog posts, I believe I have mentioned our pet spiders (Iggy, Fred, Aunt Jemima, Louise, Ted...We have several.). However, I have not mentioned that in addition to our spider friends, we also have adopted a colony of ants into the family. More accurately, they have invaded our home! Jess and I often see ants crawling along our walls, and occasionally we find them crawling out of our computers. However, for a while, it was one or two or ten here and there. UNTIL...one morning I walked into the kitchen to throw away a napkin and discovered an inch and a half thick, black line of ants crawling into our trashcan! Yuck! The song "The Ants Go Marching One By One" popped into my head at this point, except the verse I was singing went more like, "The ants go marching 12 by 12, Hurrah! Hurrah!" Since then, we have invested in some killer ant spray and we are hoping to get an exterminator out to the house in the near future. As much as we love our pets...We're ready to see a few fewer!
A Bolivian Birthday (or "How I got Frosting on my Face")
My first birthday abroad! October 1st happened to be the day of our Spring Festival here at Highlands. I wasn't sure what to expect from the day, but I did not expect my birthday to be a major focus of the festivities. We got to school early on Saturday morning, and spent the first hour finishing last minute set-up before we started our soccer, dodgeball, and ultimate frisbee tournaments! Our lady teachers soccer team lost a game to our 8th grade boys, but we won our next game against the middle school girls! After all of the tournaments, we had several carnival style games and a yummy lunch. There was a dunk tank, bounce house (slightly unconventional...), wet jail, sports toss, fish pond, bake sale, and face painting (my station!). Sometime in the midst of the festivities, Nicole (one of my awesome 8th graders!) came to get me, "Miss! Come here!" She dragged me away from what I was doing, and I thought, "Oh great, here comes the Wet Jail!" BUT instead, I was greeted by the 8th grade class holding a chocolate cake and singing "Happy Birthday" to me! It was so special. After they sang, I blew out a candle and they told me to "take a bite!" of my cake. I was somewhat suspicious, but...I leaned in to take a bite and...SUDDENLY had a face full of chocolate frosting! Yum. :) I was happy to share the mess by giving my students besos on the cheeks. They then rushed me off to be sprayed down in the Wet Jail, "so I could clean up." On the way, I got several stares and double-takes from parents and students alike! My students are wonderful. They made me feel so loved and appreciated on my birthday, and I am so thankful I was able to celebrate with them. In the evening, we went out for pizza with several of the teachers from the school, which was a great end to my first Bolivian Birthday.
Mural Madness
Another thing I have not mentioned in previous blogs is that I am one of 3 advisors for the Highlands Student Council. We recently painted a BEAUTIFUL mural on the main wall of the high school building. It is so colorful and fun! I'll try to post some pictures...
Waiting in Line (or "How I got my Visa")
So, you know how the DMV is known for its long waits and inefficiencies? Well, the DMV has nothing on the Bolivian immigration office! First of all, the immigration office is essentially a single large room with about 8 different lines to stand in, all for different parts of the process. There is seemingly no set order to which of these lines you may have to stand in at any given time. Here is the general process:
#1: Wait in line #4 for 30 minutes to sign one paper.
#2: Wait in a different line to pay for signing the paper in line #4.
#3: Wait in line #4 for ANOTHER 30 minutes to write your name in an "official" spiral bound notebook.
#4: Wait in line #3 for 30 minutes to give a folder of paperwork to the woman behind the counter.
#5: Wait in line #2 to sign a different paper...
Also, the word "line" is relative. Not always, but sometimes, the "line" is in actuality a group of people standing in front of a certain window. Whoever is able to reach the window first will be the "first" in line.
BUT in spite of the long lines, I now have an official Visa! God is good. Apparently, it is getting more and more difficult for Americans to get Visas to stay in Bolivia, but ours went through without a problem. Please pray for the remaining 3 staff members who are still waiting for their Visas to be processed. We are praying that the government officials will have favor on our staff members and pass their paperwork along smoothly and quickly.
Middle School Mania (or "Ice Cream, Detention, and Classes")
Middle School is wonderful. We have our share of downs (e.g. Detention), but we have many "ups" (e.g. Ice Cream party to celebrate our 6th and 7th grade classes awesome behavior for the month of October). My classes have been studying many different things recently. 6th and 7th grade are busy adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions these days in math. 6th grade has been studying light, and I have covered my windows to turn my classroom into a "cave" suitable for studyng light. We made "Pinhole Cameras" out of old Pringles cans last week, which was a fun way to see how light travels. The kids got such a kick out of making the cameras AND the fact that we had a "Pringles Party" to gather enough cans for the whole class to make their own cameras. In 7th grade, we have been learning about the weather - tracking hurricanes, watching tornadoes on YouTube, and studying different types of clouds. We are almost done with both of these units, which is bittersweet because they really are fun subjects to teach! But, we're moving on to equally fun topics! Next on the agenda...Outer Space and Forces, Motion, and Simple Machines. 8th grade Algebra is finishing word problem equations and will be moving on to inequalities this week. Of all of my classes, Algebra is the one where I feel most "out of my league" as a teacher. Please pray for me to have wisdom as I plan units and lessons. I don't always know what should come first. I also have a wide range of ability levels (and motivation levels!) in my 8th grade class, which makes it difficult to keep the whole class on the same page. Nevertheless, I really enjoy exploring these abstract concepts with my students and trying to help them think outside of the box.
Additionally, I was able to share my testimony in Chapel in the past few weeks, which was a really neat way to give my students an idea where God has brought me. My prayer for my students is that they will see God as he truly is and that they will see the world through his lens. I know that, more than anything we can say or do, is what will change their hearts and their lives.
Happy Halloween! (or "The Great Wall of China Visits Bolivia")
Who knew that Halloween was such a big holiday in Bolivia?!
The grocery stores have been flying plastic pumpkins and ghosts since September!
Our staff Halloween party this year consisted of junk food and games...and COSTUMES, of course! Jess and I dressed up as 2 of the Wonders of the World (You can make anything with cardboard...). I was the Great Wall of China. Jess was the Pyramids. Although manuevering our costumes in the taxi was difficult, we made it to the party in style and spent the evening eating and laughing with "Dr. Pepper", 3 funny fish, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, cat-woman, a ladybug, and Salt, Pepper, and Cumin.
More Staff Adventures
Last weekend, we had our first staff retreat of the year. We spent time listening to sermons, worshipping God and praying together, and for fun, playing PAINTBALL! We literally crawled up the side of a mountain to take on the team waiting at the top of the hill. There's nothing like shooting your fellow staff members with paint to bring you together as a team... :) It honestly was a ton of fun! Additionally, our time worshipping, praying, and listening to message was a great time of refocusing and remembering. At the end of the retreat, I found myself thinking about the excitement of celebrating in heaven with my students, particularly those who don't know Christ. It reminded me of the great importance and the great joy of having them know him.
Another fun adventure of the week...On Wednesday this week, we did not have school because it was "All Saints Day/The Day of the Dead" which is a national holiday here in Bolivia. Several of us lady teachers took a hike up to the "Muela de Diablo" (the Devil's tooth), which is a high point that juts out from the top of one of the mountains near our homes. We planned to eat lunch at the point, but due to some rain and thunder, we decided being at the highest point around was not the best place to be in case of lightning. A few of us "climbed" down the steep, somewhat slippery slopes of the Muela by basically crawling from one solid rock to the next. We probably would have been fine standing up, but it somehow felt safer to stay as close to the ground as possible.
In other news, this week, Middle School has community service on Wednesday and will be going to a group home for the elderly here in La Paz. They requested Jello, so we are bringing several colorful, jiggly cups of the popular fruit flavored dessert to share. It is fun to have the opportunity to serve with our kiddos.
Also, I am getting SO excited for Christmas break! We're 6 weeks away from a flight back to South Florida. Ironically, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" just started playing on my iTunes...Is it too early for Christmas music? For the record, I have already started Christmas shopping! There was a craft fair at the American school yesterday, and Jess, Julie, Bekah, Becca, and I spent a few hours browsing the stands buying gifts for friends and family (and a few for ourselves!).
Thanking God
There is so much to thank him for. Praise him for the great things he has done! He is our protector, our helper, our teacher. I know I need him to guide me and teach me how to be a good teacher. I am thankful for his grace. Even on days when I feel like I am not faithful or have failed, I know that his grace is sufficient for me. He is still faithful, and he is the one who makes all things grow. I can find great peace in knowing him and understanding what is truly important in this life and the next. When we fail, we can seek his grace with joy, knowing that he is the faithful one. We have a treasure in jars of clay. Though we are weak, he is strong, and he often works in situations that look chaotic to us.
When I feel out of control, I often think back to last summer. At the camp I worked at, the first week, I can honestly say, was absolute chaos. We had a really rough group of campers. A few of them were pretty restless, rebellious, and generally mean to each other. On the night where we were sharing the gospel with our campers, a few of them were "out of control" - clearly not paying attention and distracting the rest of the group. AND YET, in the midst of the chaos, one of our campers asked me directly, "How can I know God? I want to know him." What a shocking and beautiful reminder of the way that God works. So on that crazy night, we gained a sister in Christ. This story reminds me time and again that God is the one who works in my students hearts and that he can work in the most hardened hearts, even in the most distracting situations, to draw people to himself.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers and encouragement. I feel so supported knowing that I have family and friends at home who are thinking of me and are partnering with us in prayer.
Please pray for our staff. We have several staff members who have been sick. One of our middle school teachers is having wisdom teeth surgery this week. Please pray for a quick recovery. We also have several staff members making big decisions about where to be next year. They have to give the school an "Intent to Return" form by the end of November, so we will know within the next few weeks which teachers will be staying at Highlands next year and which teachers God is calling to the next big thing.
I love you all!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Coming Soon!
A new blog update is just around the corner!
Adventures include...
-Ant Invasions
-A Bolivian Birthday (or "How I got Frosting on my Face")
-Spring Festival
-Mural Madness
-Waiting in Line (or "How I got my Visa")
-Middle School Mania (or "Ice Cream, Detention, and Classes")
-Happy Halloween! (or "The Great Wall of China Visits Bolivia")
-Thanking God
The days are packed. :) There have been some very special moments over the past several weeks, and there have been some moments of discouragement and frustration. God is teaching me and convicting me all the time, and I can see God's hand at work in our school. Our students are asking questions. I am praying that God will give them clarity. For those who know Christ, I am praying for confidence in their salvation, the conviction that God is worthy, that they will have faith that leads them to obedience, and that they will know God for who he truly is. For those who do not know Christ, I am praying that God will answer their questions, that they also will see God for who he truly is, and that as a result they will be drawn to worship and trust the Majesty in heaven. I know it is God who gives the growth, and that even though we are broken people, he works through our weaknesses. In our weakness, he is strong. When we sin, when we fail, his grace is shown in our lives as we turn to trust in him.
Please pray for me that I will have quality time to spend with God, that I will continue to depend on him and have an eternal vision in full view, that God will maximize my time, and that I will be able to juggle the many tasks on my to-do list. Also, please continue to pray for my students. Pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will see who God is and that they will run to him. Pray for our 8th grade class that they will not feel the need to rebel, and that they will learn self-control. Pray that they will find joy in doing good and not trying to be bad. Please pray for our staff to be healthy, unified, and energized.
We're more than halfway to Christmas!
Adventures include...
-Ant Invasions
-A Bolivian Birthday (or "How I got Frosting on my Face")
-Spring Festival
-Mural Madness
-Waiting in Line (or "How I got my Visa")
-Middle School Mania (or "Ice Cream, Detention, and Classes")
-Happy Halloween! (or "The Great Wall of China Visits Bolivia")
-Thanking God
The days are packed. :) There have been some very special moments over the past several weeks, and there have been some moments of discouragement and frustration. God is teaching me and convicting me all the time, and I can see God's hand at work in our school. Our students are asking questions. I am praying that God will give them clarity. For those who know Christ, I am praying for confidence in their salvation, the conviction that God is worthy, that they will have faith that leads them to obedience, and that they will know God for who he truly is. For those who do not know Christ, I am praying that God will answer their questions, that they also will see God for who he truly is, and that as a result they will be drawn to worship and trust the Majesty in heaven. I know it is God who gives the growth, and that even though we are broken people, he works through our weaknesses. In our weakness, he is strong. When we sin, when we fail, his grace is shown in our lives as we turn to trust in him.
Please pray for me that I will have quality time to spend with God, that I will continue to depend on him and have an eternal vision in full view, that God will maximize my time, and that I will be able to juggle the many tasks on my to-do list. Also, please continue to pray for my students. Pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will see who God is and that they will run to him. Pray for our 8th grade class that they will not feel the need to rebel, and that they will learn self-control. Pray that they will find joy in doing good and not trying to be bad. Please pray for our staff to be healthy, unified, and energized.
We're more than halfway to Christmas!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Spring is in the Air...
I know it's a strange concept for those of you who are just experiencing the beginnings of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, but for us the days are getting warmer, the birds are chirping louder, and the trees are growing fresh green leaves and beginning to blossom. It is still chilly (as it will be all year), but even a few degrees makes a big difference to this Florida girl! The other day, I was excited to comfortably wear a t-shirt and jeans into the evening. As it is now, the days are beautiful. Sunshine dominates the sky here. The cool air and the warm sunshine create a perfect combination. In the words of Goldilocks, it's "not too hot, not too cold...it's just right!" I have been enjoying some (short) afternoon runs through my neighborhood and the surrounding areas. It's not as pretty as running in Tallahassee, and I am constantly watching for taxis, trufis, and stray dogs when I jog across uneven cobblestone roads. The other day, I was slightly embarrassed when I tripped (twice!) while running along the main road. Thankfully I did not fall flat on my face, but I was close to it. I typically try not to draw extra attention to myself here...I'm sure my clumsiness did not help me to blend into the crowds.
I cannot believe another week has already passed since my last entry here. The week passed quickly and smoothly. It seemed that my science classes were more "bored" with the lessons this week, possibly because we were taking true notes for part of the week leading up to an experiment (our first official lab!) on Friday. I can't remember if I mentioned the first lab incident we had the previous week, but in case I didn't, during our first "lab" activity, one of my students was so closely observing a lit candle that his hair nearly caught on fire! Thankfully, it was only singed and even his parents found the story amusing. Nevertheless, I chose a lab that I deemed to be pretty risk free following that incident. So...on Friday, my 7th grade scientists examined the mystery of solubility using colored sugar mixed with oil, water, and rubbing alcohol. It went really well, and I think the class really enjoyed it. (They've asked me LITERALLY every day, "Miss, are we doing a lab today?!" It was fun to finally say, "Yes!")
On the math side of things, my 8th graders have been learning about exponents and scientific notation this week, and my 6th and 7th graders have both been working with integer operations For 6th grade this is new, but for 7th grade this should be a review. Unfortunately, my classes are really struggling with the concept of adding and subtracting integers, and I am running out of ways to reinforce and re-explain it. We've spent longer here than I intended, but I am hopeful that the extra practice and extra time will help my students to understand this more clearly in the long run.
Outside of school, we had some fun eating and chatting at our girl's Bible study on Wednesday night and on Friday, we celebrated a birthday with desserts and games. I found a store in the Megacenter that reminds me of a Pottery Barn meets Pier One, and I couldn't resist buying a few new towels for our kitchen and a cute change purse to carry around all of the coins I use to travel around town (I've been using a plastic bag up to this point, so the change purse is a major improvement.).
My weekend has been incredibly relaxing, due largely to the fact that today I did not leave my house and tomorrow...there is no school! Today was an official "Pedestrian's Day" in La Paz, which meant that all vehicles were supposed to be off the roads. We heard rumors that some taxis and trufis were going to head to the streets anyway...Anyway, the lack of public transportation meant that Jess and I had the option of 1) walking several miles up a mountain to church which may or may not have been held this morning, or 2) staying home in our pajamas and listening to sermons. #2 won out this time. :) Yesterday, we had a fun afternoon of dinner and grocery shopping, which also included "groceries" such as picture frames and a mirror for Jess. It was fun to buy a few things to decorate our little casita and when we got home, I put pictures into frames, dug out some of the few decorations I brought along, and made my room feel a little more like home.
Afterwards, I spent the evening drawing, which is something I haven't done since I've been here (unless it was school related.). The combination of these simple joys has been really refreshing, and I am so thankful we have had just a little extra time this weekend.
I've also been really refreshed in my time with God this weekend. I've spent a lot of time with him, and have been remembering and experiencing the peace and happiness intimacy with him brings. I have a lot of reasons to praise him, and I've been enjoying learning from him this weekend. Although I don't know what it will always look like, I know that God has brought me here to refine me and to serve him. I hope to be faithful to his calling for me here each day.
Which reminds me of a verse I am memorizing with a good friend: "Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10) God has also been reminding me of the importance, the challenge, and the beauty of surrendering all of our lives to him. Please pray that I will listen and obey as God teaches me and that I will continually trust God without fear as I hold out my life before him. God is a good and faithful Father who provides us with all we need and more. Now...if only I could remember that every day. :)
Please pray for wisdom as I plan lessons this week and for my students to understand the concepts we are working on in class. More importantly though, please pray that my students are convinced of God's love for them and that those who have a relationship with Jesus have confidence in their salvation. Pray that our middle schoolers see the worthiness of a life surrendered to our Lord and Savior, and that they are not caught up in chasing after temporary things that the world has to offer.
I cannot believe another week has already passed since my last entry here. The week passed quickly and smoothly. It seemed that my science classes were more "bored" with the lessons this week, possibly because we were taking true notes for part of the week leading up to an experiment (our first official lab!) on Friday. I can't remember if I mentioned the first lab incident we had the previous week, but in case I didn't, during our first "lab" activity, one of my students was so closely observing a lit candle that his hair nearly caught on fire! Thankfully, it was only singed and even his parents found the story amusing. Nevertheless, I chose a lab that I deemed to be pretty risk free following that incident. So...on Friday, my 7th grade scientists examined the mystery of solubility using colored sugar mixed with oil, water, and rubbing alcohol. It went really well, and I think the class really enjoyed it. (They've asked me LITERALLY every day, "Miss, are we doing a lab today?!" It was fun to finally say, "Yes!")
On the math side of things, my 8th graders have been learning about exponents and scientific notation this week, and my 6th and 7th graders have both been working with integer operations For 6th grade this is new, but for 7th grade this should be a review. Unfortunately, my classes are really struggling with the concept of adding and subtracting integers, and I am running out of ways to reinforce and re-explain it. We've spent longer here than I intended, but I am hopeful that the extra practice and extra time will help my students to understand this more clearly in the long run.
Outside of school, we had some fun eating and chatting at our girl's Bible study on Wednesday night and on Friday, we celebrated a birthday with desserts and games. I found a store in the Megacenter that reminds me of a Pottery Barn meets Pier One, and I couldn't resist buying a few new towels for our kitchen and a cute change purse to carry around all of the coins I use to travel around town (I've been using a plastic bag up to this point, so the change purse is a major improvement.).
My weekend has been incredibly relaxing, due largely to the fact that today I did not leave my house and tomorrow...there is no school! Today was an official "Pedestrian's Day" in La Paz, which meant that all vehicles were supposed to be off the roads. We heard rumors that some taxis and trufis were going to head to the streets anyway...Anyway, the lack of public transportation meant that Jess and I had the option of 1) walking several miles up a mountain to church which may or may not have been held this morning, or 2) staying home in our pajamas and listening to sermons. #2 won out this time. :) Yesterday, we had a fun afternoon of dinner and grocery shopping, which also included "groceries" such as picture frames and a mirror for Jess. It was fun to buy a few things to decorate our little casita and when we got home, I put pictures into frames, dug out some of the few decorations I brought along, and made my room feel a little more like home.
Afterwards, I spent the evening drawing, which is something I haven't done since I've been here (unless it was school related.). The combination of these simple joys has been really refreshing, and I am so thankful we have had just a little extra time this weekend.
I've also been really refreshed in my time with God this weekend. I've spent a lot of time with him, and have been remembering and experiencing the peace and happiness intimacy with him brings. I have a lot of reasons to praise him, and I've been enjoying learning from him this weekend. Although I don't know what it will always look like, I know that God has brought me here to refine me and to serve him. I hope to be faithful to his calling for me here each day.
Which reminds me of a verse I am memorizing with a good friend: "Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10) God has also been reminding me of the importance, the challenge, and the beauty of surrendering all of our lives to him. Please pray that I will listen and obey as God teaches me and that I will continually trust God without fear as I hold out my life before him. God is a good and faithful Father who provides us with all we need and more. Now...if only I could remember that every day. :)
Please pray for wisdom as I plan lessons this week and for my students to understand the concepts we are working on in class. More importantly though, please pray that my students are convinced of God's love for them and that those who have a relationship with Jesus have confidence in their salvation. Pray that our middle schoolers see the worthiness of a life surrendered to our Lord and Savior, and that they are not caught up in chasing after temporary things that the world has to offer.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his Glory and Grace.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Life in La Paz - Day 33
As I sit in our kitchen eating a burger and quinoa for lunch this Sunday afternoon, it is hard for me to believe it has only and already been 33 days since I left sunny summer in South Florida to move to the sunny, but much chillier, mountains of Bolivia. Since week 1, my days have been packed with the responsibilities of teaching. Lesson planning and grading have taken a lot of my time, but I've also had several chances to relax and have fun with other teachers from school. Game nights, watching Mr. Popper's Penguins in Spanish at the Megacenter (our local equivalent of the mall), Bible study, ultimate frisbee, and several meals in and out have filled some of the small windows of free time I have here. Each week, we get to know our way around a little bit better, and last weekend I had fun exploring the shops of San Miguel and getting "lost" on a minibus that was not heading to its specified destination...(After 5 minutes of me riding the bus as the only remaining passenger, the driver asked me where I was going. I told him my destination. He proceeded to tell me that the bus was not, in fact, heading to Obrajes, and he subsequently took the "Obrajes" sign out of the window. I apologized for my mistake...) :)
School itself has been very busy and very fun. I am teaching 5 classes altogether right now. I have my 6th and 7th graders for both math and science each day, and I see 8th grade once a day for Algebra. Each of the classes has a "unique" personality, and it has been fun to get to know the students in each group. There are days when I feel overwhelmed or confused about how and what I should do in the classroom, but God has been calling me to depend on him to teach me how to teach all of my students. Along those lines, I have been thinking a lot on these verses from Isaiah over the past few weeks: "In repentence and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength...Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him...Whether you turn to the right or the left you will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.'"
Thank you all for your many prayers on my behalf. God has been so faithful to me here. My roommate and I have been healthy and, even with some minor inconveniences, life has been settling into a steady routine. A typical day for me is...
5:40 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for school
6:45 a.m. - Brush my teeth with bottled water
7:00 a.m. - Meet our taxi on the street in front of our house (Mario takes us to school every morning)
7:15 a.m. - Get to school, drop things off in my classroom, print worksheets or make copies in the teacher's lounge as necessary, review the schedule for the day
7:45 a.m. - Morning staff Bible study - This is a pretty cool way to start the school day. :)
8:00 a.m. - Back to the classroom for last minute prep
8:15 a.m. - A "warning bell" is supposed to remind the kids it's time for class...The warning bell is usually me or Ms. Youtzy calling all of the students to head to class
8:20 a.m. - Time for class! I start the day with 15 super 6th graders!
3:00 p.m. - Whew...the kids head home after a busy day of class.
3:45 or 4:00 p.m. - I head home with my roommate Jess and our neighbor, Jill.
After 4:00 p.m. - My afternoons are usually composed of getting things ready for school, making dinner, and catching up with friends or family. We have Bible study on Wednesday nights, and sometimes we have a movie night or dinner with friends. Other afternoons are filled with visa and immigration business, and next week, I am planning to start Spanish lessons with 2 other teachers from school one day a week.
9:30 p.m. - Get ready for bed...The day starts and ends early for us teachers!
My roommate and I have been going to a Bolivian church that meets at the school each Sunday, and it has been fun to worship God in Spanish and I have really enjoyed the messages each week. The pastor is preaching through the book of Genesis right now, and today's message was about Jacob and Esau.
So...one month in, I still am awed by the mountains that rise all around us as I step outside each morning, I still can't remember how much it costs for a trufi, and I still smile everytime our landlord's dog, Diana, greets us at the front door (and when she sneaks into our house!). There are still so many lessons still to be learned and so many places to be explored.
As you pray for me, please pray for continued health and energy. Please ask God to give me wisdom and discernment as I plan lessons and deal with the different personalities and needs of my students. Many of our middle schoolers do not know Jesus and have a lot of questions. Please pray that they will see Christ genuinely at work in the lives of their teachers and that they would have a desire to know God. We also have a few new teachers who will be arriving to the school in the next few weeks. Please pray for them as they finalize their plans for the move and begin the transition to Bolivia.
And, finally, please keep me posted on life in the states! Shoot me a message to tell me what's new with you. :)
With love from La Paz,
Joy
33 days and counting!
School itself has been very busy and very fun. I am teaching 5 classes altogether right now. I have my 6th and 7th graders for both math and science each day, and I see 8th grade once a day for Algebra. Each of the classes has a "unique" personality, and it has been fun to get to know the students in each group. There are days when I feel overwhelmed or confused about how and what I should do in the classroom, but God has been calling me to depend on him to teach me how to teach all of my students. Along those lines, I have been thinking a lot on these verses from Isaiah over the past few weeks: "In repentence and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength...Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him...Whether you turn to the right or the left you will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it.'"
Thank you all for your many prayers on my behalf. God has been so faithful to me here. My roommate and I have been healthy and, even with some minor inconveniences, life has been settling into a steady routine. A typical day for me is...
5:40 a.m. - Wake up and get ready for school
6:45 a.m. - Brush my teeth with bottled water
7:00 a.m. - Meet our taxi on the street in front of our house (Mario takes us to school every morning)
7:15 a.m. - Get to school, drop things off in my classroom, print worksheets or make copies in the teacher's lounge as necessary, review the schedule for the day
7:45 a.m. - Morning staff Bible study - This is a pretty cool way to start the school day. :)
8:00 a.m. - Back to the classroom for last minute prep
8:15 a.m. - A "warning bell" is supposed to remind the kids it's time for class...The warning bell is usually me or Ms. Youtzy calling all of the students to head to class
8:20 a.m. - Time for class! I start the day with 15 super 6th graders!
3:00 p.m. - Whew...the kids head home after a busy day of class.
3:45 or 4:00 p.m. - I head home with my roommate Jess and our neighbor, Jill.
After 4:00 p.m. - My afternoons are usually composed of getting things ready for school, making dinner, and catching up with friends or family. We have Bible study on Wednesday nights, and sometimes we have a movie night or dinner with friends. Other afternoons are filled with visa and immigration business, and next week, I am planning to start Spanish lessons with 2 other teachers from school one day a week.
9:30 p.m. - Get ready for bed...The day starts and ends early for us teachers!
My roommate and I have been going to a Bolivian church that meets at the school each Sunday, and it has been fun to worship God in Spanish and I have really enjoyed the messages each week. The pastor is preaching through the book of Genesis right now, and today's message was about Jacob and Esau.
So...one month in, I still am awed by the mountains that rise all around us as I step outside each morning, I still can't remember how much it costs for a trufi, and I still smile everytime our landlord's dog, Diana, greets us at the front door (and when she sneaks into our house!). There are still so many lessons still to be learned and so many places to be explored.
As you pray for me, please pray for continued health and energy. Please ask God to give me wisdom and discernment as I plan lessons and deal with the different personalities and needs of my students. Many of our middle schoolers do not know Jesus and have a lot of questions. Please pray that they will see Christ genuinely at work in the lives of their teachers and that they would have a desire to know God. We also have a few new teachers who will be arriving to the school in the next few weeks. Please pray for them as they finalize their plans for the move and begin the transition to Bolivia.
And, finally, please keep me posted on life in the states! Shoot me a message to tell me what's new with you. :)
With love from La Paz,
Joy
33 days and counting!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Life in La Paz
At 8:30 p.m., my 6th day in La Paz is winding to a close. It has been a fun, busy, occasionally overwhelming week of new places and new faces. I won't go into all of the details, but I will give you an overview of what my life has been like here so far.
We arrived in La Paz around 9:30 p.m. last Monday night. After finding our luggage and figuring out how to retrieve my roommate Jess' lost suitcase, we headed through customs. My bag was searched, and I wondered what the customs officials must think about my box of 20 gluesticks, igneous rock kit, and "Atlas of the Human Body" book. I'm sure it's not what every suitcase looks like!
After making it through customs, we all met two wonderful new friends, Scott and Sarah, who have been our orientation guides for the week. We piled 7 people and several hundred pounds of luggage into a van and began the descent into La Paz. The city lights sparkled below us as we rounded the corner from the airport, and we looked out over the sprawling city that we now call "home". I watched everything in wonder as we drove through downtown streets, passing lines of people waiting for...what? I was delighted by the Spanish phrases that appeared on street signs and billboards. I marvelled to see women dressed in traditional Bolivian attire walking the city streets going...where? My mind was filled with questions, and as we drove, it felt like a movie passing before my eyes, or maybe a dream. We were really here, but were we really?
Finally, we arrived at our new casita. Jess and I live in a little house with a living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. There is a terra cotta tile floor in the living room and kitchen, and creaky wood floors in our bedrooms and the hallway. We share a small yard (rare in La Paz!) and courtyard with our neighbors Jill and Lucas (Jill works at the school too!) and our landlord, Christian. I will post pictures of the house in the near future!
That first night, Jess and I chose our bedrooms and headed off to dreamland knowing that the next morning would be early and busy.
The very first morning in La Paz, Jess and I had a mission - Find and catch a cab to Casa Grande, Calacota. But...before we could catch a cab, we had to figure out how to get out of our front gate! You would think for 2 teachers, something so simple would not be a problem, but it was only with the help of our friendly neighbor Jill that we even made it to the street corner to hail a taxi. :)
The next few days were filled with explorations of La Paz. Sarah and Scott showed us where to buy groceries, where to withdraw money from an atm, where to get good coffee...They also helped us to buy cell phones from the marketplace and register them with the Bolivian government. We got a tour of the school, we learned how to ride on various forms of transportation, took a tour of the city, and we even had a barbeque/game night! (And somewhere in the middle of that, we found time to unpack.) On Friday morning, we had a mini retreat about 45 minutes outside of the city, which was followed by a "test" of our ability to get around the city. Sarah sent us on a scavenger hunt to find various places and things in La Paz. It was quite an adventure! Bekah and I were on a team together, and we learned many important things on the hunt, 2 of which are...#1: Most Bolivians are friendly when you ask them for directions, #2: Most Bolivians do not give accurate directions. (Bekah and I ended up doing a LOT of walking.)
Here was the basic scenario...
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
Kind Bolivian #1: "Oh, it's 4 blocks from here to the left."
Me or Bekah: "Thank you! Hasta luego!"
*7 blocks later*
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
Kind Bolivian #2: "It's 4 blocks from here, go down to the next street and to the left."
Me or Bekah: "Thank you! Ciao!"
*5 blocks later*
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
...And so on. :) We did, after several questions, and several blocks reach the destinations on our list!
Overall, this week has been tiring, exciting, fun, and overwhelming. There were some moments toward the beginning of the week where I felt so exhausted and uncomfortable in my new home, and there were some early tears. But in spite of our chilly house (This morning, I wore 4 layers and gloves in my bedroom!) and other less convenient aspects of living in La Paz, God has been faithfully encouraging me, strengthening me, and reminding me of his call to be here. I have been getting used to the challenges and laughing my way through the truly minor inconveniences of our new home. Each day, we are faced with new scenarios and each day we are making La Paz more like home as we work through the difficult, AND the wonderful parts of living here.
Today was an beautiful day in the city. Sarah and I drove up to the school where a Bolivian church service is held. I was encouraged and amazed to be able to understand the message! The mountains and the city sprawled out below us, and I was reminded again that I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing such majestic mountains as we commute to and from work, walk to the grocery store, and watch our students play futbol on the school field. On the way back, we witnessed several families and a herd of people in zebra costumes (with giant sunglasses!) painting a wall alongside of the road with colorful mountain scenes (in La Paz, friendly Zebras help you cross the street...they are so funny! Apparently there are donkeys who mock you if you cross the street incorrectly, but I haven't seen any of those!).Our internet wasn't working, so instead of writing this earlier, I did some laundry (handwashed...our machine currently washes the ground instead of our clothes!), went outside and read a book in the mid-afternoon sunshine. I could hear music in the distance, and as I read, the sound of horns and tamborines drew steadily closer. I put down my book to see what was happening. Just around the corner from our house, a parade was walking by, complete with Bolivian dancers and brass bands. I was told the celebration was for el 14 de Septiembre, a day of revolution (I need to learn more specifics!). It made my day! And tonight, Jess and I cooked our first home meal on our old-fashioned gas stove. Deliciosa!
Now that week one is coming to a close, it's about time to get down to business. Tomorrow is the start of our "Work Week" at school. Please pray for all of us new and old teachers to be productive and to follow God's leading as we set up, plan, and prepare for the new school year. Please pray for continued adjustment to our new home and for health and rest (several of our new and old teachers have been fighting colds and altitude sickness). Please pray that a new teacher, Maegan, is able to have her supplies and luggage shipped prior to the start of the school year (she was unable to check her bags, and has been living out of her carry-ons!). Finally, please pray for our students that they would come to school ready to learn with open hearts and that God would begin to do a good work in them.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement in this time of transition. I have felt so loved and supported by all of my faithful friends and family. God is answering your prayers. :)
There is so much more I could say, but it would take pages and pages and hours and hours to tell it all. I hope that this (relatively!) brief summary of the week gives you a little taste of what life is like in La Paz. I assure you, there will be much more to come!
*Note: Uploading pictures is posing some difficulty tonight. I'll try to put some up ASAP.
Love from La Paz,
Joy
We arrived in La Paz around 9:30 p.m. last Monday night. After finding our luggage and figuring out how to retrieve my roommate Jess' lost suitcase, we headed through customs. My bag was searched, and I wondered what the customs officials must think about my box of 20 gluesticks, igneous rock kit, and "Atlas of the Human Body" book. I'm sure it's not what every suitcase looks like!
After making it through customs, we all met two wonderful new friends, Scott and Sarah, who have been our orientation guides for the week. We piled 7 people and several hundred pounds of luggage into a van and began the descent into La Paz. The city lights sparkled below us as we rounded the corner from the airport, and we looked out over the sprawling city that we now call "home". I watched everything in wonder as we drove through downtown streets, passing lines of people waiting for...what? I was delighted by the Spanish phrases that appeared on street signs and billboards. I marvelled to see women dressed in traditional Bolivian attire walking the city streets going...where? My mind was filled with questions, and as we drove, it felt like a movie passing before my eyes, or maybe a dream. We were really here, but were we really?
Finally, we arrived at our new casita. Jess and I live in a little house with a living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. There is a terra cotta tile floor in the living room and kitchen, and creaky wood floors in our bedrooms and the hallway. We share a small yard (rare in La Paz!) and courtyard with our neighbors Jill and Lucas (Jill works at the school too!) and our landlord, Christian. I will post pictures of the house in the near future!
That first night, Jess and I chose our bedrooms and headed off to dreamland knowing that the next morning would be early and busy.
The very first morning in La Paz, Jess and I had a mission - Find and catch a cab to Casa Grande, Calacota. But...before we could catch a cab, we had to figure out how to get out of our front gate! You would think for 2 teachers, something so simple would not be a problem, but it was only with the help of our friendly neighbor Jill that we even made it to the street corner to hail a taxi. :)
The next few days were filled with explorations of La Paz. Sarah and Scott showed us where to buy groceries, where to withdraw money from an atm, where to get good coffee...They also helped us to buy cell phones from the marketplace and register them with the Bolivian government. We got a tour of the school, we learned how to ride on various forms of transportation, took a tour of the city, and we even had a barbeque/game night! (And somewhere in the middle of that, we found time to unpack.) On Friday morning, we had a mini retreat about 45 minutes outside of the city, which was followed by a "test" of our ability to get around the city. Sarah sent us on a scavenger hunt to find various places and things in La Paz. It was quite an adventure! Bekah and I were on a team together, and we learned many important things on the hunt, 2 of which are...#1: Most Bolivians are friendly when you ask them for directions, #2: Most Bolivians do not give accurate directions. (Bekah and I ended up doing a LOT of walking.)
Here was the basic scenario...
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
Kind Bolivian #1: "Oh, it's 4 blocks from here to the left."
Me or Bekah: "Thank you! Hasta luego!"
*7 blocks later*
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
Kind Bolivian #2: "It's 4 blocks from here, go down to the next street and to the left."
Me or Bekah: "Thank you! Ciao!"
*5 blocks later*
Me or Bekah: "Where is the Central Post Office from here?"
...And so on. :) We did, after several questions, and several blocks reach the destinations on our list!
Overall, this week has been tiring, exciting, fun, and overwhelming. There were some moments toward the beginning of the week where I felt so exhausted and uncomfortable in my new home, and there were some early tears. But in spite of our chilly house (This morning, I wore 4 layers and gloves in my bedroom!) and other less convenient aspects of living in La Paz, God has been faithfully encouraging me, strengthening me, and reminding me of his call to be here. I have been getting used to the challenges and laughing my way through the truly minor inconveniences of our new home. Each day, we are faced with new scenarios and each day we are making La Paz more like home as we work through the difficult, AND the wonderful parts of living here.
Today was an beautiful day in the city. Sarah and I drove up to the school where a Bolivian church service is held. I was encouraged and amazed to be able to understand the message! The mountains and the city sprawled out below us, and I was reminded again that I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing such majestic mountains as we commute to and from work, walk to the grocery store, and watch our students play futbol on the school field. On the way back, we witnessed several families and a herd of people in zebra costumes (with giant sunglasses!) painting a wall alongside of the road with colorful mountain scenes (in La Paz, friendly Zebras help you cross the street...they are so funny! Apparently there are donkeys who mock you if you cross the street incorrectly, but I haven't seen any of those!).Our internet wasn't working, so instead of writing this earlier, I did some laundry (handwashed...our machine currently washes the ground instead of our clothes!), went outside and read a book in the mid-afternoon sunshine. I could hear music in the distance, and as I read, the sound of horns and tamborines drew steadily closer. I put down my book to see what was happening. Just around the corner from our house, a parade was walking by, complete with Bolivian dancers and brass bands. I was told the celebration was for el 14 de Septiembre, a day of revolution (I need to learn more specifics!). It made my day! And tonight, Jess and I cooked our first home meal on our old-fashioned gas stove. Deliciosa!
Now that week one is coming to a close, it's about time to get down to business. Tomorrow is the start of our "Work Week" at school. Please pray for all of us new and old teachers to be productive and to follow God's leading as we set up, plan, and prepare for the new school year. Please pray for continued adjustment to our new home and for health and rest (several of our new and old teachers have been fighting colds and altitude sickness). Please pray that a new teacher, Maegan, is able to have her supplies and luggage shipped prior to the start of the school year (she was unable to check her bags, and has been living out of her carry-ons!). Finally, please pray for our students that they would come to school ready to learn with open hearts and that God would begin to do a good work in them.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement in this time of transition. I have felt so loved and supported by all of my faithful friends and family. God is answering your prayers. :)
There is so much more I could say, but it would take pages and pages and hours and hours to tell it all. I hope that this (relatively!) brief summary of the week gives you a little taste of what life is like in La Paz. I assure you, there will be much more to come!
*Note: Uploading pictures is posing some difficulty tonight. I'll try to put some up ASAP.
Love from La Paz,
Joy
Monday, July 25, 2011
It's Here
Today is moving day!
There are so many thoughts and emotions running through me this morning - excitement, sadness, "Am I forgetting something important?" and, "Boy did I have some weird dreams last night!"
My bags are packed (minus a few carry-on items...e.g. my laptop). I think they're under the weight limit (barely!). And in a few hours, I will be driving South to Miami to fly even farther South to...La Paz!
My friends and family have all been incredibly encouraging this week. God has used their words to spur me on and build me up as I start out on this new journey. Thank you all!
So, once I'm settled into my new apartment (?) or condo (?), and once I figure out how to use our internet, I'll be sure to post an update to let you all know just what Bolivia is like!
Here are a few other thoughts running through my mind this morning...
"Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light."
(We sung this at church yesterday. Talk about perspective!)
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
-Corrie Ten Boom (if you don't know who she is, Google her!)
"We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." -2 Corinthias 4:7
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
0 days 'til departure!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
One Week
In one week, on Monday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m., I will be boarding a plane in Miami and flying to the Bolivian altiplano (high plains). It's hard to believe it's coming so fast!
Just over a week ago, I got back from my 2 week Pre-field Orientation (PFO) in Southaven, Mississippi. Two weeks may sound like a long time to sit through dozens of sessions about transitions, assessment, and culture - and it was - but I had so much fun that the time actually flew by.
There we were, 80 or so teachers getting ready to jet off to schools around the world (literally!), staying in high school classrooms on creaky cots. Our days were filled with sessions to prepare us for our journeys ahead, and our evenings were filled with pick-up games of volleyball and soccer and whatever else came our way. Over 2 weeks, we played more card/board games than I've played all year! We even got to go to a Red Birds minor league baseball game in Memphis. (They won!) We watched fireworks and Super 8 in our spare time, and I got to know an amazing group of fun, talented teachers who God is calling to Korea, Indonesia, Ghana, Peru, Venezuela, Suriname, Turkey, and...the list could go on!
In the actual orientation part of PFO, we explored how different cultures interact with one another, and identified areas that could create conflict as a result of cultural misunderstandings. We took several personality tests and inventories to learn how we work in groups and how we deal with conflict. It as eye-opening to step back and think about my own tendencies. Some sessions dealt with our safety on the field, and some sessions dealt with the stages of transition we will experience as we move to a new country.
One of the highlights of the orientation was meeting our school director (Scott Frost), the other new teachers who will be going to La Paz, and a veteran teacher (Alison, that's you!) who has been teaching at Highlands for 4 years! Alison and Scott gave us the inside scoop about life in La Paz, and Alison gave us some lessons on cultural norms...like the proper way to greet strangers and close friends. We have a great team. I already feel really connected to my four new friends, and I am so excited to work with them this school year.
Here we are!
Maegan, Becca, Julie, Alison, and Me
*Please pray for these girls as they get ready to move. We're all in the packing and goodbye stages of this journey, which can be stressful, exciting, and sad all at the same time. Also, please pray that our whole team of teachers (new and old) at Highlands will be united with the same mindset and love and grace for each other this year, and that the trip to La Paz will go smoothly and safely for all of us.
Another highlight of PFO was learning how NICS was started, and how God is working through its schools around the world. You should go read about it. :) http://nics.org/history
It's not the whole story, but it gives you a basic idea of how NICS became what it is today.
This quote pretty much sums it up:
"This was not originally intended to be a global plan to reach the world, but God's heart for the world pushed us forward, as he opened our eyes to what he was doing in our midst."
And that's pretty awesome if you ask me.
7 days and counting!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Counting Down
Well...with each passing day, the distance between me and La Paz shrinks. As of yesterday, I'm at the one month mark. It feels like it's coming fast! Yikes!
Tomorrow I leave for my 2 week Pre-field Orientation in Mississippi. At the orientation we will have several seminar-style classes to teach us about some of the different issues we will face in our schools and the issues we will face as we move abroad. Some of the titles on our schedule include, Safety: At home, at school, Third Culture Kids (referring to students who are expatriates), and Learning to Adapt. Plus, I'll get to meet some of the new teachers I'll be working with next year. I'm really looking forward to that!
As a whole, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about teaching this fall. I'm so excited to be a teacher, but so much of this is new to me! I feel like I'm learning a lot as I go...I've been taking a lot of fears to God in my prayers lately. *
And on that note, I do have a few prayer requests this time around. Please pray for me...
1) to have peace and confidence in the days leading up to the start of the school year (a.k.a. trusting God with the transition)
2) that I will be prepared to teach/that I will have time to prepare
3) that our team of teachers will be ready, will get along well, and will be centered on serving God
4) for safety in traveling and emotional, physical, and spiritual health in all the adjustments
*Based on my fears, I have been thinking on these verses lately:
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
Both of these verses were said to Joshua as he prepared to take over leading the Israelites when Moses died. I'm sure it would have been an intimidating transition. Moses had some big shoes to fill! After all, he had led the Israelites out of Egypt, led them through the Red Sea, and led them through the desert for 40 years. God, of course, was the one who performed the miracles in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and provided food and water for the people throughout that time. Nevertheless, I'm sure Joshua must have felt insufficient for the job. Thankfully, faith in an unfailing, all-powerful God was the requirement for the position. We know from reading the rest of Joshua's story that he faithfully listened to God's directions and God gave the Israelites great victories as he and the people obeyed. Pretty cool.
Another good reminder: "Who of you by worrying can add even a single hour to his life?" -Matthew 6:27
So true. "Cast your anxiety upon him for he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:7
28 days til departure!
Tomorrow I leave for my 2 week Pre-field Orientation in Mississippi. At the orientation we will have several seminar-style classes to teach us about some of the different issues we will face in our schools and the issues we will face as we move abroad. Some of the titles on our schedule include, Safety: At home, at school, Third Culture Kids (referring to students who are expatriates), and Learning to Adapt. Plus, I'll get to meet some of the new teachers I'll be working with next year. I'm really looking forward to that!
As a whole, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about teaching this fall. I'm so excited to be a teacher, but so much of this is new to me! I feel like I'm learning a lot as I go...I've been taking a lot of fears to God in my prayers lately. *
And on that note, I do have a few prayer requests this time around. Please pray for me...
1) to have peace and confidence in the days leading up to the start of the school year (a.k.a. trusting God with the transition)
2) that I will be prepared to teach/that I will have time to prepare
3) that our team of teachers will be ready, will get along well, and will be centered on serving God
4) for safety in traveling and emotional, physical, and spiritual health in all the adjustments
*Based on my fears, I have been thinking on these verses lately:
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." -Deuteronomy 31:8
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9
Both of these verses were said to Joshua as he prepared to take over leading the Israelites when Moses died. I'm sure it would have been an intimidating transition. Moses had some big shoes to fill! After all, he had led the Israelites out of Egypt, led them through the Red Sea, and led them through the desert for 40 years. God, of course, was the one who performed the miracles in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and provided food and water for the people throughout that time. Nevertheless, I'm sure Joshua must have felt insufficient for the job. Thankfully, faith in an unfailing, all-powerful God was the requirement for the position. We know from reading the rest of Joshua's story that he faithfully listened to God's directions and God gave the Israelites great victories as he and the people obeyed. Pretty cool.
Another good reminder: "Who of you by worrying can add even a single hour to his life?" -Matthew 6:27
So true. "Cast your anxiety upon him for he cares for you." -1 Peter 5:7
28 days til departure!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Answered Prayers and Little Surprises
God is good.
In the process of moving to another country, there are many unknowns. I have so many questions, sometimes I don't even know where to start! Several of these questions involve the availability of items I take for granted. For example, "Will I be able to buy a jar of peanut butter there?" or "I wonder if they have cereal there." Most of these questions are pretty unimportant. I can live without peanut butter. I'll find something for breakfast that doesn't involve crunchy flakes in milk. However, there are some other questions that are more essential.
One of my fears about the transition involves my asthma. For those of you who don't already know, I have exercise and allergy induced asthma that I control with a fast-acting inhaler. My asthma is triggered by physical activity (anything cardio), allergens and pollutants (dust, cat hair, cigarette smoke, etc.), and dry, cold air. Being high in the mountains, La Paz is said to have a somewhat cold and dry climate. Additionally, many people suffer from shortness of breath due to the altitude itself. These factors make me wonder, "How is my asthma going to react when I'm there?" and "What if I can't breathe?"
Anyway, one of my questions about the transition has been, "Will I be able to get enough inhalers to last while I'm in Bolivia?" and "Do they sell them there?" I've only ever gotten one inhaler at a time. Now, I'll need at least 4 for August to December. I started praying that God would make a way that I could get 6 inhalers (a six month supply) to take with me on my first move.
Well, I went to the doctor and presented my request to her. She said she would write a prescription for 6 months but she didn't think they would give me more than 3...I kept praying. When I went to pick up my inhaler, they had mistakenly only entered one inhaler into the computer. I explained my situation to the pharmacist who told me she could give me 6 inhalers, but my insurance would only cover one. However, my insurance only knocks $5 off of the cost of the inhaler anyway...And, she told me she could give me a "card" (similar to frequent buyers card, I guess) that would knock off about $5 for each. After a few minutes, I walked out of CVS with 6 inhalers in hand! Thank you, God!
God is continuing to open doors in this process. He is faithful, and he continues to surprise me with his goodness (which I guess I should really expect since he is always good). Some of these surprises have come in the form of sale purchases.
I was praying about what jacket I should buy for the trip (I know it may sound silly to pray about what jacket to buy, but I did it anyway! I pray about lots of "silly" things.). There were a few factors that went into this decision. 1) It is cold. My jacket should be warm. 2) It rains a lot (even though it is dry?). My jacket should be waterproof. 3) If I hike in the mountains, there might be snow. Again, I need a warm, waterproof jacket. 4) It warms up a lot during the days, and the weather changes quickly. I need a jacket that I can change when the weather changes. 5) I don't have a lot of packing space to work with...So, in conclusion, I need a multi-purpose jacket to accomplish these goals.
I looked around online and found some "3-in-1" Northface jackets that have a removable fleece liner and a waterproof shell with a hood. They looked perfect! If it is cold and rainy (or snowy!), I could wear a warm, waterproof jacket. If it is just cold, I could take out the fleece liner and just wear that. Or if it is just rainy, I could just wear the outer, waterproof shell as a rain jacket. Like I said, perfect. Except...shopping for a warm, waterproof jacket in Florida in the summer does have its challenges. Plus, all of the online sellers seemed to be sold out of my size or were charging a pretty hefty price for the jacket. Hm...after several hours of searching and indecision, I found a jacket in my size (in an agreeable color) for a large but reasonable price. I submitted an offer to eBay and...was informed that the item had already sold. Ok, God. I guess that's not the one! Back to the search engine.
As it turns out, when I searched again, a new site popped up. A site that was selling the jacket I wanted, in my size, at 50% of the price I was about to pay for it! Wow! It is surprises like these that make me laugh and celebrate God's goodness. God is a good Father to me. Even in some of the "silly" things (non-life-altering things), God continually shows me that he is taking care of me and that he loves me. Some days, it is finding a parking spot. Other days, it is finding my keys...And some days, it is getting a GREAT deal on a warm, waterproof jacket!
In the process of moving to another country, there are many unknowns. I have so many questions, sometimes I don't even know where to start! Several of these questions involve the availability of items I take for granted. For example, "Will I be able to buy a jar of peanut butter there?" or "I wonder if they have cereal there." Most of these questions are pretty unimportant. I can live without peanut butter. I'll find something for breakfast that doesn't involve crunchy flakes in milk. However, there are some other questions that are more essential.
One of my fears about the transition involves my asthma. For those of you who don't already know, I have exercise and allergy induced asthma that I control with a fast-acting inhaler. My asthma is triggered by physical activity (anything cardio), allergens and pollutants (dust, cat hair, cigarette smoke, etc.), and dry, cold air. Being high in the mountains, La Paz is said to have a somewhat cold and dry climate. Additionally, many people suffer from shortness of breath due to the altitude itself. These factors make me wonder, "How is my asthma going to react when I'm there?" and "What if I can't breathe?"
Anyway, one of my questions about the transition has been, "Will I be able to get enough inhalers to last while I'm in Bolivia?" and "Do they sell them there?" I've only ever gotten one inhaler at a time. Now, I'll need at least 4 for August to December. I started praying that God would make a way that I could get 6 inhalers (a six month supply) to take with me on my first move.
Well, I went to the doctor and presented my request to her. She said she would write a prescription for 6 months but she didn't think they would give me more than 3...I kept praying. When I went to pick up my inhaler, they had mistakenly only entered one inhaler into the computer. I explained my situation to the pharmacist who told me she could give me 6 inhalers, but my insurance would only cover one. However, my insurance only knocks $5 off of the cost of the inhaler anyway...And, she told me she could give me a "card" (similar to frequent buyers card, I guess) that would knock off about $5 for each. After a few minutes, I walked out of CVS with 6 inhalers in hand! Thank you, God!
God is continuing to open doors in this process. He is faithful, and he continues to surprise me with his goodness (which I guess I should really expect since he is always good). Some of these surprises have come in the form of sale purchases.
I was praying about what jacket I should buy for the trip (I know it may sound silly to pray about what jacket to buy, but I did it anyway! I pray about lots of "silly" things.). There were a few factors that went into this decision. 1) It is cold. My jacket should be warm. 2) It rains a lot (even though it is dry?). My jacket should be waterproof. 3) If I hike in the mountains, there might be snow. Again, I need a warm, waterproof jacket. 4) It warms up a lot during the days, and the weather changes quickly. I need a jacket that I can change when the weather changes. 5) I don't have a lot of packing space to work with...So, in conclusion, I need a multi-purpose jacket to accomplish these goals.
I looked around online and found some "3-in-1" Northface jackets that have a removable fleece liner and a waterproof shell with a hood. They looked perfect! If it is cold and rainy (or snowy!), I could wear a warm, waterproof jacket. If it is just cold, I could take out the fleece liner and just wear that. Or if it is just rainy, I could just wear the outer, waterproof shell as a rain jacket. Like I said, perfect. Except...shopping for a warm, waterproof jacket in Florida in the summer does have its challenges. Plus, all of the online sellers seemed to be sold out of my size or were charging a pretty hefty price for the jacket. Hm...after several hours of searching and indecision, I found a jacket in my size (in an agreeable color) for a large but reasonable price. I submitted an offer to eBay and...was informed that the item had already sold. Ok, God. I guess that's not the one! Back to the search engine.
As it turns out, when I searched again, a new site popped up. A site that was selling the jacket I wanted, in my size, at 50% of the price I was about to pay for it! Wow! It is surprises like these that make me laugh and celebrate God's goodness. God is a good Father to me. Even in some of the "silly" things (non-life-altering things), God continually shows me that he is taking care of me and that he loves me. Some days, it is finding a parking spot. Other days, it is finding my keys...And some days, it is getting a GREAT deal on a warm, waterproof jacket!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Factors, and Planets, and Graphs, Oh my!
As I have been preparing for Bolivia, I have checked many things off my list:
I read the 6th and 7th grade science standards yesterday and some of the things I will be teaching are basic anatomy, rock cycle, and the solar system! So cool. I can't wait.
And for math, there are so many fun things to explore during these grades. Again, it's all so hands-on and real! Measurement and angles, negative numbers, probability, algebra...It's all around us. Plus, it's like a puzzle. You have to brainstorm and experiment and explore to find the solution. Who doesn't like puzzles?!
I realized some of the things my 2nd graders learned this year are the very first steps to what my middle schoolers will be learning next year! 2nd grade, you're well on your way to middle school!
Now that I know, you can be pretty sure I'll be using my free time for the rest of the summer to brush up on my factors and exponents and endocrine systems and...Does it make me a nerd that I'm excited about doing this over my summer vacation? Haha don't answer that. :)
*Just a few verses about the Maker of science and the Author of math:
"The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands." -Psalm 19:1
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." -Psalm 139:13
"By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations; by understanding he set the heavens in place." -Proverbs 3:19
- Get visa (Check!)
- Get shots (Check!)
- Buy waterproof jacket (Check!)
But, in the midst of these preparations, I have been clueless as to what kinds of school supplies and teaching resources I should even think about bringing. Until yesterday, that is.
Yesterday, I learned that I will be teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math AND 6th and 7th grade science this fall!I have to say, I was really nervous when I first found out what subjects I was teaching because I do not consider math and science my strong points. In fact, this makes me laugh because anyone who knew me in middle school and high school knows that math was definitely NOT my favorite subject, and science was my LEAST favorite subject.
However, over the past several years, I have really grown to love both math and science. Science because it is so practical. It's life! Everything involves some kind of science. Plus, the more we know about science, the more we know about God's amazing design of our world and the worlds beyond.
I read the 6th and 7th grade science standards yesterday and some of the things I will be teaching are basic anatomy, rock cycle, and the solar system! So cool. I can't wait.
And for math, there are so many fun things to explore during these grades. Again, it's all so hands-on and real! Measurement and angles, negative numbers, probability, algebra...It's all around us. Plus, it's like a puzzle. You have to brainstorm and experiment and explore to find the solution. Who doesn't like puzzles?!
I realized some of the things my 2nd graders learned this year are the very first steps to what my middle schoolers will be learning next year! 2nd grade, you're well on your way to middle school!
Now that I know, you can be pretty sure I'll be using my free time for the rest of the summer to brush up on my factors and exponents and endocrine systems and...Does it make me a nerd that I'm excited about doing this over my summer vacation? Haha don't answer that. :)
*Just a few verses about the Maker of science and the Author of math:
"The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands." -Psalm 19:1
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." -Psalm 139:13
"By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations; by understanding he set the heavens in place." -Proverbs 3:19
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
One Step Closer
I'm happy to say...my visa is in hand!I am legally one step closer to moving to La Paz.
Caleb and I drove to Miami this morning with my paperwork to visit the Bolivian Consulate. I was nervous that I had done something wrong, but thankfully, my worrying was in vain. After making a few U-turns, we found the Consulate hidden in an office building down the hall from the Subway (as in the sandwiches) headquarters for Miami and Latin America. I handed over my paperwork (practicing some Spanish in the meantime), and within the half hour, I walked out with my official visa!
Then, Caleb and I drove to Calle Ocho where we had lunch at what he described as a "Cuban Denny's." My Lechon Asada (roasted pork), rice, and yuca was deliciosa, and it gave us both a good chance to practice our Spanish.
After lunch, we bought a flowers from a small stand outside of the restaurant for my parents' anniversary. *Congratulations on 24 years of marriage, Mom & Dad!*
...62 days and counting!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
What's new?
Well, it's been just under a month since my last post, and I have a few new things to report!
First, the big event of the season for me...
...Graduation!
After 4 years, 40 classes, and several thousands of dollars, I stepped across a stage, shook a few hands, and became an official alumnus of Florida State University. Yay! In what was a whirlwind weekend, my family (minus Caleb) came into town, celebrated with friends and food, and helped me finish moving out of my apartment. I said goodbye to Bradford Oaks and several friends with a few laughs and a few tears, and we headed South to Plantation (Dad and Jeff spent an unexpected evening in Orlando due to car trouble, but made it home just 24 hours later than planned.).
I spent the next few days unpacking and trying to find new homes for my many belongings that seemed to expand as soon as I tried to fit them into my closet. I said goodbye to a few boxes of things that seemed like they would be more loved (or at least more used) in someone else's home, and after a little effort (and a trip to the storage unit), everything was settled into its new place.
Nearly as soon as I finished organizing, the company started coming! My first visitors were the Marvelous Madison and Excellent Emily. We planned to spend time basking in the sunshine, making friends with butterflies, and kayaking through the South Florida canals. We did do some kayaking, but due to rain and the threat of thunderstorms, our sunbathing and butterfly garden adventure had to wait. Instead, we spent the week eating ice cream sundaes, touring the Sawgrass Mall (we found some great deals!), and enjoying high quality entertainment together (The King's Speech, and Glee).
Madison and Emily left town on Saturday and were replaced by...the Sensational Celeste and her boyfriend Andrei as well as my Aunt Mary and Uncle Jose. We had a delicious graduation dinner with several friends and wonderful family members, which included highlights such as laughing our way through several YouTube videos and eating...3-LAYERED CHOCOLATE CAKE!
After a fun-filled week/weekend, I spent Monday doing laundry, running errands around town, swing dancing with Britnee and Annie, and repacking for a week away from home. It was quite a challenge because my trip included several destinations with even more activities.
Destination #1: St. Petersburg, Florida
Birthday festivities for Emily which included frozen yogurt, my first Zumba class, hibachi chicken and shrimp, beautiful days at the beach, quality time with 2 of my best friends, and, of course, big floppy hats!
Destination #2: Winter Park, Florida
Sushi with Madison and Celeste and Andrei thanks to a happy mistake! After dinner (and dessert), a relaxing evening of American Idol. Finally, meeting my ride to Destination #3.
Destination #3: Charleston, South Carolina
A weekend of swing dancing, relaxing on the beach, and hanging out with new and old friends...Pure bliss.
Destination #4: Plantation, Florida
Finally home! Ah...After a week away, I was relaxed and ready to sleep in my own bed once again. At least for a few days! :)
*Drumroll please...In case you're wondering why I haven't included much news on Bolivia, it's because there hasn't been much new news! BUT here's the latest (for my most faithful readers...): the past few days have been filled with visa preparations (filling out the application, taking a terrible passport picture, etc.) and reading my Pre-field Orientation materials. And today, I got my shots! Thanks to modern medicine, I will no longer have to fear the threat of Yellow Fever or Typhoid Fever.
Next item on the agenda: taking my visa application to the Bolivian Consulate Miami.
66 days and counting!
Friday, April 22, 2011
A Very Special Day in 2nd Grade
Thanks to my super second graders from Mrs. Crowe's class, I am much more prepared to teach next fall! (If any of you are reading this, you know who you are!)
Here's the story: Today was my last day at the school, and I was sad to say goodbye to all of my students.
The day started out pretty normally for a Friday. We had our usual spelling test, reading test, and awards cermony. Even though we had a special assembly, there was nothing especially out of the ordinary about the morning.
After lunch, we went out for our normal recess. Part of our class was playing kickball, and I was watching the game with Miss Samantha. I rang the bell, and we all headed back to the portable, just like any normal day. However, something wasn't normal! When I walked in, the lights were out. Suddenly, I heard 19 voices shout, "Surprise!" The lights went on, and there was a beautiful cake that said "We'll miss you Miss Pitcairn" sitting on the table by the door.
Mrs. Crowe told me to sit down in our class rocking chair, and everyone gathered around as Mrs. Crowe handed me a HUGE bag full of teacher goodies! The tote bag was filled with pencils, paper, markers, crayons, pencil holders, staplers, colored pencils, glue, pencil sharpeners, rulers, paper clips, and more, all gifts from my students to help me get ready to have my own class next year. It was such an unexpected gift, and it made me feel very loved to know that my students were helping me to get ready for my adventure this fall. The gift my 2nd graders gave to me is also a gift to the students I will be teaching next year. My students made this very normal Friday into a very special celebration that I will always remember.
Thank you, Mrs. Crowe's class!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Why I'm Blogging
Graduation is just around the corner. (It's less than 20 days away at this point!) It's hard for me to believe that 4 years have gone by so quickly, and I haven't really come to grips with the fact that I'm moving on from Tallahassee so soon. In many ways, it feels like the end of any other school year...a break for the summer, some fun vacations, beach days at home in South Florida, maybe time to read a book or two...Here's the part that's different though. At the end of the summer, I won't be making the 7 hour drive back to Tallahassee. I won't be listening to Spanish podcasts as I pass Orlando; I won't be trying to take pictures of the sunset and wildflowers as I drive along I-75; and I won't be sighing as I pass the stadium thinking, "I wonder how many games I'll go to this year?" If you had asked me a year ago where I would be after graduation, I would have told you, "I really don't know." If you had prodded me a little further to take a guess, I probably would have told you I'd like to be teaching English in Spain. Or, I might have said I would try to get a job at an elementary school somewhere in Florida. Those were really the only two things on my radar at the time. So now, when I tell you, "I'm going to be teaching middle school in Bolivia this fall," I still smile, laugh, and roll my eyes a little because it just feels unreal. But it is real! At the end of July, I will be moving to La Paz, Bolivia to teach middle school at Highlands International School (more details coming soon!). No, I have never been to Bolivia. Yes, I am excited. Yes, I am nervous! (But I am more nervous about teaching in general than I am about the fact that I'm going to be teaching in Bolivia...) And that is why I'm blogging. I hope to share this exciting adventure with anyone who is interested in following along and journeying a little closer to the sunshine (and the penguins!) with me via the wonderful World Wide Web.
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