These are some pics of when I was in charge of chapel. The topic was "obedience" so we did the story of Jonah.

These are my children. Here they are leading the other kids in worship.

They acted out the story of Jonah while I narrated.

Here are some random sunset pics.

I love this one!

Funny Story

K, so I forgot to tell you about this funny story that happened last week.

Well, since we can't drink the water, we have to get purrified water. In our apartment we have two five gallong jugs to refill with water each time. One of the girls and myself walked down the street to get new jugs of water. On our way back to the apartment a guy came jogging (literally jogging) from accross the street and took the water from our hands and started carrying them for us - both 5 gallong jugs full of water. I thought he would just leave them at the gate for us, but as we had our roommates open the gate, he started carrying them in. Then he walked them up to our apartment on the second floor. Well, I guess we live more on the third floor since the first is the parking area. Anyways, he had to set one down on the stairs and would not let us take it. He insisted on carrying each one into our apartment. He even put one of them in on the water dispenser. We asked his name, but he wouldn't leave it. We also offered hims a little bit of money for helping us, but he said he was the type of person who helps without wanting or taking anything. He saw we needed help and helped. Then he literelly ran off.

Now, I don't consider him a knight in shining armor, not even close. But, it was great to see that chivalry still exists in the most random of places.

October Update

Well, it is time to update you all on what has been going on.

These two months have held many personal ups and downs as I struggle with the school, my class, and other things.

First, the school. It was hard for me to fully understand what was expected of me as a teacher by the administration. Things were not always fully explained, and if they were explained, it was hard to understand because of the language thing. There are only 10 North American teachers. Everyone else with the school are Hondurans. So, during training, and any meetings we have, there always has to be a translator. Hence, things get lost in translation, or depending on who is translating, understanding their English. The first month and a half I felt as though I was being pulled along by my collar just barely getting by. Understanding how they want the paper work, things parents expect, and how they want our planning to be laid out. Finally, I feel as though I am getting things under control and organized. I feel as though I am beginning to understand what is expected of me by the administration – at least so far. We are just finishing our first period this week. So I may be feeling different as we are completing our grades and turning them in.

Another difficult thing with school has been my actual classroom. I have a class of 20 students, 9 boys and 11 girls. They are all Honduran – the cuties. I feel sorry for my poor kids, having me as their teacher. As a class we have had a rough start. It was hard for them at the very beginning to understand me and what I expected. We were both at a disadvantage; although some say they were at the advantage, because I don’t understand Spanish. This forces them to communicate to me in English or not at all. There are two in particular that I know have a harder time than the others. They are both bright children, but are not always able to fully follow the rules or directions that I give them. There are some times where I will have one of the other students talk to them in Spanish so that I know they will understand what I am saying. I feel for them when they ask me what a word is in English and I can’t help them. I ask if someone else knows, but I know that there is still a gap with most other things. Simple words that we know, and feel that our kids know, these students don’t. That is one thing I constantly have to remind myself and be aware of. But, on the whole, I feel that a lot of progress has been made since the first day of school. We are warming up to each other and beginning to get into a routine. There are still some students I am trying figuring out the best way to get the material across to them, or to find the best way to deal with their behavior. Slowly I am beginning to enjoy my class.
Sometimes I wonder why I am here and what the purpose of my presence here is. Then I remember that God has a reason, even though I may question that. I know that God led me here; I just hate the in-between adjusting parts of it. I don’t know what He is doing, I am just trusting. I know He will not fail me and will provide everything. It is just learning to be where I am and to live in the moment.

Although, it is great to know that I am coming home for Christmas (Lord willing). That is one thing that is helping me through these next couple months. Praise the Lord for awesome parents!

Finally Some More PICS

Here are some pics of my classroom.

It is actually a big room compaired to some of the others. I only have 20 students. Some classes have more students and a room half the size of mine. The only problem I have with this room is the windows there on the left side. They line that whole wall and right outside is the hallway. During the afternoon I fight with noise from the courtyard and whatever else is going on. It is a very noisy room. I try to shush the noise outside thinking it will help. Note to self...it doesn't!!!

Here are some random pics of other things:

A shot from a country club we went to.

Houses upon houses

Funny Story

Okay, so I just have to share this...

we were on our way back from the grocery store. We were stopped at a light, lots of traffic, people, and police traficing the signal. Well, as we were waiting to go we saw this kid messing with a lock on a bike chained to a tree. My room mate was like, "hey, I think that kid is trying to steal that bike!!!" So we watched him get the bike loose from the tree and start to take off with it. This was too small for the bike and had touble getting onto it. We could not believe what we were seeing...all those people around, in brod daylight, with police just around the corner in eye sight and the kid was stealing the bike. One of the guys, Zack, stuck his head out the window of the car and asked the kid if he was stealing the bike. To which the kid made faces at him. Zack told the kid to cool down and asked him if it was his bike. The kid said that the bike was an old man's who sells stuff around there. Then we watched as the kid rode off down the street. I know it is not right, but it was hilarious. Poor old man, but we were cracking up just watching this little kid steal a bike and we couldn't do anything about it (and neither did anyone else). Made our day (amongst other things).

One Month

Well, it has been one month since I have arrived in Honduras. At times it feels as though I have been here for a long time, at other times it feels like a very short time. It has been a time of excitement, frustration, awe, and learning all wrapped into one package. Excitement for the new things I am seeing and culture that I am expeirencing. Frustration at the barrier of communication in my classroom and the effort it takes to understand what is expected of me. Awe at the things God is showing me.

I can't quite say that I love it here. I do like it, but not love it. That will come in time.

School has been quite a struggle. There are many things the administration expects us as teachers to do and provide, and it has been hard to get these things figured out. Some of it was explained to us, but because of translation, it can be hard to understand. Other things were not explained, so it feels as though I have been going through these past weeks by the scruff of my neck to get things done and figured out. I finally feel as though I am beginning to get those things smothed out. Then there is my class. I have 20 students - 11 girls and 9 boys. The first week was really difficult for me. I can not speak a lick of spanish, so when these kids are not understanding what I am saying or want to know how to say something in English, I can not help them a single bit. I keep hearing how this is a good thing because the students will learn English better, but it doesn't make this time any easier. Slowly things are getting a little better, but there is still that barrier. For the most part I feel that most of the kids can comprehend what I am saying. Although, there are a couple that I am not sure about. The first week, it was hard to get a response out of the students, they would just sit there and stare at you. Now, it is a little easier to get their participation, but there are still moments when you may be able to hear a cricket chirp.

I am trying to figure out the best way to get the material I am teaching across to them. Some of it is not relivant to their world, so I have to tweek it a little. With other subjects it is hard to change to their understanding. I am praying that this part will also get better as the weeks go on.

I am still having a hard time in the Church services at CEAD. There are times when I am able to participate in what is going on, but for the most part I am just an observer. I thank God that there is an English service at a different church that I go to. I don't know what I would have done without this connection. It has been great to have this outlet and time to be able to join in corprate worship.

Well, that is all for now. I will try to post something more regularly and tell more about the people.

New Experiences

*just a note - I wrote this on August 17th. We don't have steady internet yet, so I can only get on whenever I find the connection.


Saturday night I attended my first church service at CEAD. CEAD (Centro Evangelistico) is the church and school where I will be teaching this next year. The church has an attendance of about 5 thousand and they have four different services throughout the week; of which we are required to attend at least one. Usually they have a translator available, but this night they were not able to provide that service. So it was sort of frustrating for me to not understand what was happening or being said/sung. During worship I tried to sing along, but I didn’t want to just sing and not know what I was singing. There was a point where I just closed my eyes and listened to everyone worshiping God. That was when I was able to join with everyone in worship. I didn’t have to be singing the same words as them, but I was able to worship with them in spirit knowing that they are praising God. It struck me anew how it doesn’t matter what language we speak, God hears it all and it is beautiful to Him.

After the service some of us went out to the movie theater to watch 21. Now, this is not something I would usually go out to see, but I wanted to be social and get to know the other North American teachers. Now I know what you are thinking - if I had a hard time understanding the church service, how in the world could I possibly understand a movie? Most of the movies they show are in English with Spanish subtitles – and I asked for the ticket myself (with some coaching beforehand).

All in all the evening was a time of revelation to me with some of my assumptions and thoughts. It was also a great time of connection with my fellow teachers. Although, I am excited about the English service we are going to on Sunday.

My Apartment

Here are some pics of my new place and some of the views we have.

My Bedroom....don't have a roommate yet, she is coming on the 22nd.

My Bathroom...no flushing toilet paper...FUN!!!

The door from the room leading out to the balcony

The view from the balcony

our livingroom, the school will be getting us couches

livingroom

More pics of the kitchen and other views will come later when they are able to load.

I have arrived!

Hey all,

I arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras yesterday without any complications. Thank you so much for you prayer's. For the next few days we have teacher orientation and settling into our appartments. I will try to get some pics posted by the end of the week. Offical school starts next week (Praise the Lord).

Love ya,
Tammy

For Your Information

For those who are wondering where Tegucigalpa, Honduras is located, I have posted a couple pictures that hopefully will help you get a picture of where I am headed.

Also, for those who are interested in using the old fashioned way of communication at some point, here is the address where I am able to receive letters. However, this way takes anywhere from 10 days to 3 weeks.

Tammy Calderwood

c/o Bill Strickland

TGU 000158

P.O. Box 025387

Miami, Fl. 33103-5387

Let me know if anyone wants any other information.

The Time is Approaching

Here starts the written account of my adventures. Although for me this whole process started in February of 2007 when I first heard about the opportunity to teach in Honduras.

I am excited to share this adventure with you and hope that you learn with me through this experience and that your life, and mine, will be the stronger for it.

The time is fast approaching for my departure to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to teach 2nd grade.
I am leaving at the amazing time of 1:30 in the morning on August 12th.

If you could please pray for:

My preparation- that things on this end will get taken care of: car sold, student loan figured out, packing.

My departure - safety in travel and that things will go smoothly. This is my first international travel besides driving 10 min. across the border to Mexicali.

My arrival - school supposedly starts the day after I arrive in Tegucigalpa. This is something that I am really anxious about, just having to jump in. Pray that God will give me the ability and stamina to undertake this.


Thank you so much for joining with me.
My prayer for you is that somehow God will touch you through reading this blog.

All my love,
Tammy