Wednesday, September 30, 2009
answers to prayer!!!
Wow God answers prayer in weird ways sometimes. I have been praying about my 2nd grade class and how to teach them because they are super wild!!! Well today the administrator came to me, she said they were letting a teacher go and that they would like me to teach 11th grade Literature. And because that is during the time I normally teach 2 grade, Laura is going to be teaching that class. I will miss the children from that class because they are special kids...but I will not miss teaching that class. I will definitely be praying for Laura because they are a wild bunch. But I am thankful that God is working in ways you never think of. Here you get to be prepared for anything... I start literature tomorrow. :)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
God is so good!!! I love Him so much!!!!!
God is so good!!!! He give us so much more than we deserve! Wow, I can't put into words how good God is.
Yesterday night, I couldn't find my phone. I started praying about it. I looked everywhere I could think of here at the house and I still couldn't find it. I thought, well maybe it is at school. So I went to school today and looked in Laura's classroom; it wasn't there. I looked in all the rooms that I teach in it wasn't there.... I had no idea where it might be. I kept praying for it. At the end of the day, I decided to go look in the soccer field because I had played with the boys for a couple minutes the day before. I was walking out to the field and was stopped by the janitor lady, and she asked what I was doing. I tried to explain to her that I was looking for my phone. She finally understood, and she went to get the "lunch lady" to help. I walked out into the field. There was my phone. I walked straight to it!!! I was so excited. It had rained last night, but the phone was not damaged. Also the kids had played soccer on that field today and none of them stepped on it and none of them took it!!! God is so good. I was trying to express that to the ladies, I think they finally understood me after along while! :) It sure was hard to express my excitement and gratefulness in Spanish. I love that God cares so much about those details of our lives.
Also today a couple teachers from the school wanted to take us out to eat Honduran food..It was really good. They both spoke English. We were talking about lots of different things in life, and I was finally able to share the Gospel!!!!! This teacher is very scientific in her thinking, but she is very willing to talk more about God! I am praying that God will change her heart and bring her to Himself.
I love that God is so good. He is faithful and care so much about us from the big details of our live to the small ones!!!
Okay so funny story of the day yesterday. I decided to play soccer with the boys during recess. I hadn't played with them yet and I wanted to be able to build into their lives. So I started playing. The 2nd time I touched the ball... I kicked it over the wall. All the boys looked at me and started laughing. I started laughing too. I thought no problem, I'll just go outside the school run around the building and get the ball. I told the boys, I'll be right back... Well I leave the school and I forgot that the wall of the school kept going... No problem... I thought... I'll just go around the wall.... well to make a long story short I ended up running around the whole block and because everything is walled off I was not able to get in and get the ball. So here is this blond American running around the block in my school uniform, people driving by had to wonder what is going on with her!!!! On my way back, I decided to ask these construction workers if they could get the ball.. well my word consisted of jugamos futbol esta aqui The guy looked at me and then said in English, "Do you speak English?" I laughed and then explained what was going on. They were not able to get the ball either. So I went back to the school and the boys empty handed. I felt so bad cause they couldn't play soccer anymore cause they didn't have a ball. By now recess was almost over.. but I started teaching them to play Kum Cha anyway :).
This story makes me laugh, but at least the students know that I make mistakes too! :)
Yesterday night, I couldn't find my phone. I started praying about it. I looked everywhere I could think of here at the house and I still couldn't find it. I thought, well maybe it is at school. So I went to school today and looked in Laura's classroom; it wasn't there. I looked in all the rooms that I teach in it wasn't there.... I had no idea where it might be. I kept praying for it. At the end of the day, I decided to go look in the soccer field because I had played with the boys for a couple minutes the day before. I was walking out to the field and was stopped by the janitor lady, and she asked what I was doing. I tried to explain to her that I was looking for my phone. She finally understood, and she went to get the "lunch lady" to help. I walked out into the field. There was my phone. I walked straight to it!!! I was so excited. It had rained last night, but the phone was not damaged. Also the kids had played soccer on that field today and none of them stepped on it and none of them took it!!! God is so good. I was trying to express that to the ladies, I think they finally understood me after along while! :) It sure was hard to express my excitement and gratefulness in Spanish. I love that God cares so much about those details of our lives.
Also today a couple teachers from the school wanted to take us out to eat Honduran food..It was really good. They both spoke English. We were talking about lots of different things in life, and I was finally able to share the Gospel!!!!! This teacher is very scientific in her thinking, but she is very willing to talk more about God! I am praying that God will change her heart and bring her to Himself.
I love that God is so good. He is faithful and care so much about us from the big details of our live to the small ones!!!
Okay so funny story of the day yesterday. I decided to play soccer with the boys during recess. I hadn't played with them yet and I wanted to be able to build into their lives. So I started playing. The 2nd time I touched the ball... I kicked it over the wall. All the boys looked at me and started laughing. I started laughing too. I thought no problem, I'll just go outside the school run around the building and get the ball. I told the boys, I'll be right back... Well I leave the school and I forgot that the wall of the school kept going... No problem... I thought... I'll just go around the wall.... well to make a long story short I ended up running around the whole block and because everything is walled off I was not able to get in and get the ball. So here is this blond American running around the block in my school uniform, people driving by had to wonder what is going on with her!!!! On my way back, I decided to ask these construction workers if they could get the ball.. well my word consisted of jugamos futbol esta aqui The guy looked at me and then said in English, "Do you speak English?" I laughed and then explained what was going on. They were not able to get the ball either. So I went back to the school and the boys empty handed. I felt so bad cause they couldn't play soccer anymore cause they didn't have a ball. By now recess was almost over.. but I started teaching them to play Kum Cha anyway :).
This story makes me laugh, but at least the students know that I make mistakes too! :)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Hard Times :)
One of the hardest things that I have faced in the last couple weeks, is not being able to share Christ with people. I never realized how much I love telling people about what God has done in my life, and listening to what is going on in their lives. Since I have not been able to do this God has opened my eyes as to what a privilege it is to speak of His love. I have been able to start some conversations with a couple people by asking some questions...but I am never able to finish them because I can't speak. Another thing that is difficult, is that I am view differently because I can't speak with people. This is very tough!
Last night I was super frustrated; God reminded me that I am nothing. I am an instrument of God's grace. God is the one who changes people's hearts. Even though right now I cannot speak with them, I can show God's love and I can PRAY. God knows English and He can understand me... so I can pray for all of these people that I desire to come to know God. God is the one that changes their hearts. He cares more about these people than I do!
I am thankful for times of frustration like these because it forces me to get on my knees and turn to God and be completely depended on Him. I am so glad that He uses situations to draw my heart closer to Him.
Last night I was super frustrated; God reminded me that I am nothing. I am an instrument of God's grace. God is the one who changes people's hearts. Even though right now I cannot speak with them, I can show God's love and I can PRAY. God knows English and He can understand me... so I can pray for all of these people that I desire to come to know God. God is the one that changes their hearts. He cares more about these people than I do!
I am thankful for times of frustration like these because it forces me to get on my knees and turn to God and be completely depended on Him. I am so glad that He uses situations to draw my heart closer to Him.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Eyes on the Sky...
Right now I am sitting on my bed and glancing out the window up at the sky. It is starting to get dark and clouds look really pretty!
What an interesting week this last week has been. Monday I was ready for the week. We went to school, and I was very excited to teach. Monday afternoon the Ex-president of Honduras came back into the country. (He had been kicked out of the country previously because He was attempting to change the Constitution. The country is divided over this issue. Because of this, there are manifestations of different acts. So the country made it mandatory for everyone to stay inside from 4 in the afternoon Monday to 6 am Tuesday. But Monday evening they extended this curfew until 6pm Tuesday. The same thing happened Tuesday night, they extended the curfew until 6 pm Wednesday. So we have been stuck inside :). Here we have to buy water, and our water supply ran out Tuesday night. But praise God that this morning, they gave hours from 10-5 to go shopping and get supplies.
We went to the store, right up the street. When we got there the line to get in, was worse than any Black Friday line I have ever seen. It was the whole length of the store, but just a great bunch of people not in much order. It looked like we would be waiting all day...we decided to go to another super market. This one was letting everyone it, but the store was packed. We waited in line 2 1/2 hours to get our food!!!
Curfew is now in effect again as it is after 5pm. I am not sure how long it will last, the last I heard it was going to be up at 6pm tonight. But it really doesn't make sense that they would let us to go the store today if that were the case. So we are just waiting...:)
Praise God that the place I am staying is a gated community so we can go outside of the house and get fresh air.
We have been watching the news a lot here and it has been showing Obama giving different speeches on how he wants peace in the Middle East...It sounds like the end times. Who knows the hour...not even the Son of Man...I am keeping my eyes on the sky and continually waiting for Christ's return!
What an interesting week this last week has been. Monday I was ready for the week. We went to school, and I was very excited to teach. Monday afternoon the Ex-president of Honduras came back into the country. (He had been kicked out of the country previously because He was attempting to change the Constitution. The country is divided over this issue. Because of this, there are manifestations of different acts. So the country made it mandatory for everyone to stay inside from 4 in the afternoon Monday to 6 am Tuesday. But Monday evening they extended this curfew until 6pm Tuesday. The same thing happened Tuesday night, they extended the curfew until 6 pm Wednesday. So we have been stuck inside :). Here we have to buy water, and our water supply ran out Tuesday night. But praise God that this morning, they gave hours from 10-5 to go shopping and get supplies.
We went to the store, right up the street. When we got there the line to get in, was worse than any Black Friday line I have ever seen. It was the whole length of the store, but just a great bunch of people not in much order. It looked like we would be waiting all day...we decided to go to another super market. This one was letting everyone it, but the store was packed. We waited in line 2 1/2 hours to get our food!!!
Curfew is now in effect again as it is after 5pm. I am not sure how long it will last, the last I heard it was going to be up at 6pm tonight. But it really doesn't make sense that they would let us to go the store today if that were the case. So we are just waiting...:)
Praise God that the place I am staying is a gated community so we can go outside of the house and get fresh air.
We have been watching the news a lot here and it has been showing Obama giving different speeches on how he wants peace in the Middle East...It sounds like the end times. Who knows the hour...not even the Son of Man...I am keeping my eyes on the sky and continually waiting for Christ's return!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Great is thy Faithfulness
I love the gathering of God's people anywhere. Today was no different. Worshipping God with people of a different language is very eye opening. It is very neat to experience them singing to God in their language and worshipping God when I cannot understand them. I experienced this last Sunday. Their hearts overflow with worship. Today, however, I was longing to make a joyful noise to the Lord myself. It is very difficult to sing and worship in a different language...Today one of the songs was Great is Thy Faithfulness. I was able to sing this in English. It is amazing what comfort comes from those familiar words. "Thou changest not; thy compassions they fail not. As thou has been, thou forever will be." Today I took great comfort in these words. Our God is the same always. What we have seen him do in the past, He will contiune to do. No matter where we are, He takes care of us and guides us. His mercies are new every morning GREAT is His faithfulness.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Story of the Day...
So today in my 6th grade English class, I was explaining to the students how important it is for them to learn to speak English fluently. We talked about different jobs they could get and how it would help them a lot in life to be bilingual. I told them they have a great opportunity here in their school to learn 2 languages, even more than children in the United States. I informed them that I took Spanish in high school. One of the boys raised his hand and asked in amazement, "Miss, did you pass?" Of course I had to laugh at this because I passed with an A. But obviously, to them, I cannot speak Spanish.
We have one full week of classes, and this week is their independance day. This means there is no school. So my goal for this week is to prepare my classes for the year! Things have been going better as the students learn to adjust to my teaching style and I adjust to their learning style. Thank you all so much for your prayers.
Tomorrow night we invited a bunch of the teachers over to watch fireproof, I am praying that this will open some doors to good conversations. Continue to pray for the salvation of many. Thanks for your prayers that I will learn Spanish, I can definitely tell that God is helping me to remember!!!
We have one full week of classes, and this week is their independance day. This means there is no school. So my goal for this week is to prepare my classes for the year! Things have been going better as the students learn to adjust to my teaching style and I adjust to their learning style. Thank you all so much for your prayers.
Tomorrow night we invited a bunch of the teachers over to watch fireproof, I am praying that this will open some doors to good conversations. Continue to pray for the salvation of many. Thanks for your prayers that I will learn Spanish, I can definitely tell that God is helping me to remember!!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
What a great 2 days it has been here. It seems like I have been here a super long time! I don't even know where to began. God has been doing so much in my heart. Wow! 2 days ago I wrote on my trip here, but I haven't figured out how to get it to connect to my blog right now. When I do I will post it.
I have been teaching school. That is crazy in and of itself. God has given me much wisdom. The students are suppose to understand English. Many of them do. But alot of them pretend not to understand this makes it very difficult. I am trying to learn Spanish sometimes I get confused when I am teaching and speaking English because of this.
The family that I am staying with is great. They are alot of fun and are trying to help me learn Spanish and teach school. My friend Laura is a great help as well. She speaks spanish very well. It is a great joy to be together with her. Today we were able to share the gospel with a teacher at our school. Her name is Pamela and she seems so close to coming to Christ.
One of the cool things here is that we can talk about God as much as we want at the school. There are not many true believers...but we are able to speak of Christ as much as we want. This is so exciting to me.
I know this is a bunch of ideas that probably don't go together, but I wanted to let you all know how I have been doing and thank you for praying for me. Please continue to pray for wisdom with my classes and my learning of Spanish.
My mind is very tired right now, but I am so thankful to God for His strength and wisdom for today. The verse I taught to my sixth grade class this morning was "My flesh and my heart many fail but God is my strength and my portion forever." So true in my life too.
I have been teaching school. That is crazy in and of itself. God has given me much wisdom. The students are suppose to understand English. Many of them do. But alot of them pretend not to understand this makes it very difficult. I am trying to learn Spanish sometimes I get confused when I am teaching and speaking English because of this.
The family that I am staying with is great. They are alot of fun and are trying to help me learn Spanish and teach school. My friend Laura is a great help as well. She speaks spanish very well. It is a great joy to be together with her. Today we were able to share the gospel with a teacher at our school. Her name is Pamela and she seems so close to coming to Christ.
One of the cool things here is that we can talk about God as much as we want at the school. There are not many true believers...but we are able to speak of Christ as much as we want. This is so exciting to me.
I know this is a bunch of ideas that probably don't go together, but I wanted to let you all know how I have been doing and thank you for praying for me. Please continue to pray for wisdom with my classes and my learning of Spanish.
My mind is very tired right now, but I am so thankful to God for His strength and wisdom for today. The verse I taught to my sixth grade class this morning was "My flesh and my heart many fail but God is my strength and my portion forever." So true in my life too.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Tomorrow is the day...
Tomorrow is the day I go to Honduras! Tomorrow is the day I began to learn Spanish! Tomorrow is the day I become a teacher! Tomorrow is the day I meet my new family for the year. Tomorrow is the day I continue to serve God!
I have a lot of different thoughts in my head about going into tomorrow...but the biggest one that keeps coming to mind is..."Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path"..."I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand with God things don't just happen everything is by Him planned"...So I am trusting Him with my tomorrow just as I have with all my yesterdays.
I have a lot of different thoughts in my head about going into tomorrow...but the biggest one that keeps coming to mind is..."Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path"..."I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand with God things don't just happen everything is by Him planned"...So I am trusting Him with my tomorrow just as I have with all my yesterdays.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
New Happenings
Many of you have asked how you can stay in touch with me as I travel to Honduras. So I am creating this site and I hope to update it, as well as facebook.
Just a brief overview of what God has been doing in my life lately. This last May marked the end of my 3 years working at Lowes as an installed sales coordinator. God taught me many things through the years there..but that is another story.
I left Lowes to be a camp counselor at Lake Ann this summer. Again God did many things as I watched Him work in my campers hearts and in my own as well. Probably the biggest lesson that I learned this summer, was to trust God with the next step of my life. I don't have to know the future steps, only what is next. My first couple weeks at Lake Ann, I began to pray about what God would have me to do at the end of the summer. Half way through the summer I still had no idea. I kept reminding myself to trust with all my heart in God and not live by my own understandings. Three weeks before camp was out God provided the opportunity for me to go to Honduras to teach school.
So as of right now I am going to Honduras to teach English Grammar for the year. One of my friends from camp is actually the one who presented this opportunity and we are going together. Also while we are there, we will be involved in the church and several different ministries. One of my other goals is to learn to speak Spanish.
I definitely would appreciate your prayers as I go. Although I have been able to teach in many different settings, having my own classes is a new experience completely, and as you can tell from this post, grammar was not one of my favorite subjects in school. :) Right now that would be my biggest prayer request. Also just getting all the last minute details around and ready would be another request.
Keep me informed as to what God is doing in your lives as well. It is always encouraging to hear those stories. And let's keep serving our King together!!!!
Just a brief overview of what God has been doing in my life lately. This last May marked the end of my 3 years working at Lowes as an installed sales coordinator. God taught me many things through the years there..but that is another story.
I left Lowes to be a camp counselor at Lake Ann this summer. Again God did many things as I watched Him work in my campers hearts and in my own as well. Probably the biggest lesson that I learned this summer, was to trust God with the next step of my life. I don't have to know the future steps, only what is next. My first couple weeks at Lake Ann, I began to pray about what God would have me to do at the end of the summer. Half way through the summer I still had no idea. I kept reminding myself to trust with all my heart in God and not live by my own understandings. Three weeks before camp was out God provided the opportunity for me to go to Honduras to teach school.
So as of right now I am going to Honduras to teach English Grammar for the year. One of my friends from camp is actually the one who presented this opportunity and we are going together. Also while we are there, we will be involved in the church and several different ministries. One of my other goals is to learn to speak Spanish.
I definitely would appreciate your prayers as I go. Although I have been able to teach in many different settings, having my own classes is a new experience completely, and as you can tell from this post, grammar was not one of my favorite subjects in school. :) Right now that would be my biggest prayer request. Also just getting all the last minute details around and ready would be another request.
Keep me informed as to what God is doing in your lives as well. It is always encouraging to hear those stories. And let's keep serving our King together!!!!
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