So Sorry!!!!

Well, it is about time I posted something new. So sorry it has taken forever. I really do hate to write notes and letters and kept putting this off...and before I knew it I have been back in Honduras for just over a month!!!! Let me try to think back to what has happened since my return to the beautiful country of Honduras.

The day after I arrived...August 10th...there were some major protests over the interim government not allowing the ousted president back into the country and whatnot. Um...bus burning, restaurant burning, and the like. That actually took place a few blocks away from where we lived last year and just a few more away from where we live now. But that is the worst that has happened since we have been back. Every now and then there are protests/marches...but for the most part they are peaceful. We just know to stay away from crowds and soldiers and whatnot. On the whole, it is not that different here than it was last year. There is just more graffiti (every available wall) and a bit more protests than we had last year. It is not as bad as the news in the states makes it seem. Hondurans themselves are very peaceful people.

I hope to get some pics up here soon of the new house that the single girls are living in. By Honduran standards this house is a mansion...and let me just say it IS huge. It is a 3 story, 6 bedroom, and 4 bathroom house. Just big enough for us 6 girls. I do love having my own space. It makes all the difference from last year.

Well, school....lets see. It was great to go back to school and see teachers and kids that I have missed. August 13th was the first day of teacher orientation/training. That was a crazy time. Because of some issues that came up over the summer and right before school, they downsized the amount of sections for each grade they were going to offer. That meant that alot of teachers from last year did not have a job this year. It was sad to see some of them go. The school was hoping that there would have been more students by the start of school and so had not told those teachers before hand that they might not have a job. Don't understand their thinking in that, but it was amazing to me to see how some of the teachers handled it so gracefully.

Anyways, with the small drop in student enrollment and only 2 sections for each grade...last year there were 3 per grade...that ment that there would be more students in a class. However, as the year started more students enrolled late pushing the numbers up for some of the classes. So, I started my school year with 32 second graders with another coming in the second week of school. So at the moment I have 33 second graders. Oh, and most of my kids came from a 1st grade class that did not speak alot of English...so some of them are having a REALLY hard time understanding me and I them. In some ways it is more difficult this year...more students, low ability students, different discipline issues...but in other ways it is soooooooooo much easier this time around. I know what is expected of me and what material I am teaching. However...33 English as a second language students...33 kids who half of them are somewhat on the lower end of the scale...33 kids who still pretty much need individual attention. Lets just say it is stressful.

However, they have realized that in 2nd grade the students need to have more individualized attention...that they need to really have a chance to grasp the English...so they are going to make a 3rd section (1month after school started). I am so relieved about this decision. They were able to get another North American to come teach this other section...poor guy just got here yesterday! I am glad that I will be able to really focus on those students who need the help and to have a smaller number to manage. Although the drawback is that I am already attached to all 33 of my students. It was hard for me to suggest which kids I thought it would be okay to send to the other section. One in particular...this boy is 9 years old! If you know second grade they are 7 going on 8. This poor boy is 9 going on 10! He is so much taller than the other kids and I feel for him. But I have another student that would benefit more from me being his teacher and I can't have them both in the same class. it's to much...so I decided it would be best for this 9 year old to go to the other section. Hard. I was really looking forward to working with him this year...but I know this other teacher will also be good for him. He might even respond better to a male teacher. Anyways...that is happening this next week. I am not looking forward to the tears and the angry parents. But as things calm down it will be for the better.

Well, this week we have most of it off for Independence Holiday. Nice time!!!! Today some of the other teachers and myself went with the missionary we are under to a country club. It was just a great time sitting around a pool relaxing. Thursday and Friday they cancelled school for the kids so that we can clean the school. Most of the bilingual schools in Tegucigalpa are closed for a bit a time to help prevent the Swine Flu. It is crazy how much people here are freaking out about it!!! Kinda funny too. Even though the kids have it off us teachers need to show up to help clean the school. Thursday is Teacher Day...so lets celebrate our teachers by making them clean!!!!!! Yay!!!

That is pretty much this past month. I will try to remain more faithful in my posts and I will try to get some pics up about what I talked about in this post. My computer is acting up right now so I don't know how soon I will be able to get pics, but I will do it A.S.A.P.

Love to all!!!!

What a Week!!!!

Just a quick note...

Well, last week I made the decision to return to Honduras next school year. What a relief to finally have made a decision and I know that it will be a good one.
The following day there was the earthquake at 2:30 in the morning. Woke up to my bed really shaking, but there was not damage around here. All of the damage from the earthquake was in the north. Nocked our internet out, so I haven't been able to really have internet till now. Didn't realize how much I came to depend upon that connection to home.
That same day the school told us that they had rented a house for the single girls next year and that we needed to go home that day to be packed and ready to move the next day. Talk about stress. That and being in the midst of final grades and finishing the school year.
The house they moved us into is AMAZING and that kinda made up for the very short notice in moving. Stressfull still. We have finished the school year with our last day being tomorrow. It's sad to see the kids go, but I am glad that I will be able to still see some of them next year. I have grown to love these kids. Although, I will be happy to not have to be the teacher to some of them...you know how that is.

Anyways, I am leaving for the states in about a week and a half. In that time we have to finish our grades, put them in the computer, check them, clean, pack up the classroom and the house. So, busy is my name.

Pressing On - Finish Strong

So the year here is almost over. I leave in 28 days...and counting. The kids are getting crazy which is making me crazy and that makes me want to say, "forget it!!!" We are all tired, but still have work to do. We have a week and a half left of actual evaluation. The last week is supposed to be "normal" classes, but we can not evaluate anything that week. So, to me it is one long baby sitting week. I am trying to plan fun things for the kids that week. If you have any suggestions of what to do let me know.



I am finally starting to really get over whatever sickness I had. It was some sort of bacterial infection. Some effects are still lingering around...but for the most part I am finally beginning to feel like myself. Last week I went to get a Penicillin shot. Now if you have had one you know where they have to administer it; for those who don't - bend down. Well, I knew where they had to shoot me...but when I walked into the room I was waiting for instruction from the nurse. I wasn't quite sure how much I should show. She started yelling something at me (in Spanish of course) which I didn't understand. Even the girl who came with me didn't understand her. She kept yelling the same thing and I kept saying I don't understand. My friend left the room thinking I had to take clothes off and left me with this crazy lady. Finally things got figured out, but that lady needs to go back to "caring for patients 101." We think she was just trying to hurry me up, but some direction would have been nice. Well, I have to get another shot in 2 weeks. I just hope I don't have the same lady.

Long Awaited Vacation!

So yeah, I've been back from my vacation for two weeks now...sorry I haven't updated you all. These past two weeks have been filled with business and sickness, but that will come later.

Oh vacation! I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent traveling around. Like I said in the previous post, the marrieds and I left at 3:30 in the morning. Quite an un-godly hour if I must say so, but there was no traffic whatsoever, kept the car cool, and allowed us to miss a majority of the Police check points. We were expecting the first drive to Copan to take 7-8 hours. That is what many people were telling us it would take. Well, we arrived in Copan 6 hours after leaving. We arrived in time to see some of the processionals that take place on Good Friday. They were also laying out "carpets" of colored sawdust.



I LOVED Copan. It is a nice little town. We spent a total of 5 full days in Copan. It was almost too long, we could have spent 4, but it was nice to not be rushed in trying to experience things. We only scheduled about one thing a day which made it really nice. The rest of the time we usually spent back at our hotel lounging in their hammocks or taking naps. We didn't get to do everything we had planned. We wanted to do the water tubing on Sunday (Easter). However, the Catholic church here has a tradition of going to the river to "bathe." So we decided to not do it on that day and just never tried again. We also wanted to go to the Hot Springs, but didn't realize they were about 45 minutes away, so that was nixed. Otherwise, we had a really pleasant time in Copan doing the touristy stuffs.

We left Copan on Wednesday and headed on to Tela. Tela was not like I was expecting. It was a little more run down than I thought it would be and the beach itself was dirty being the week after Samana Santa. However, it was really nice to see the ocean. Oh how I have missed that without realizing it. We only spent one full day there, but that is okay. I was ready to come back.

Overall the trip was great. We got to experience alot, didn't run into any issues, and to top it off were only stopped by the police once. That is a feat in itself. Many people were telling us about how many times they were recently stopped on the same stretches of road. We went through 21 police check points and were only stopped the one time. Made us happy!!!

Well at the time of writing this we have 5 very short busy weeks of school left. We have only had two weeks in this partial and already I have to get mid-term grades together to give the parents. We are having parent/teacher meetings next week for the last partial. This is probably the last time I will see some of these parents as we don't have meetings with them when school is finished. There is just alot to accomplish, finish up, and get ready for the end of the school year.

The day after my vacation I was sick with the nasty. I don't know what I ate, but something came back to call with a vengeance. Now I am sick again, but not with stomach stuffs. We had a teacher retreat this past weekend and I was not feeling well the day before we left. I thought it would only last a day or two, but I did not feel well the whole trip. Started out with just body aches and by the end of the trip I had strep throat. So yeah, not fun right now in the midst of craziness.

Here are some ways you can pray for me:

1) health...I have gotten sick alot this year. Please pray that God would keep me healthy for the rest of the duration here so that I can finish my work to the best of my ability.

2) influence...the I will finish the year with a strong influence over these children’s life and not just become another teacher

3) that I won't get wrapped up in work but also enjoy the last few weeks we have with the culture and people

4) knowledge about what to do next year =)

Here are some pics. from the Copan Ruins...

A view that welcomes you as you enter

Hieroglyphic staircase that was put back together wrong so they don't know what it actually says.

The royal section.

More of the royal section. They played their own games here.

The gang...behind is a shot of the "ball court" where the Mayans played their games with thousands in attendance.

A view down to the "common" section...ball court to the right.

There are a couple underground tunnels that you can visit. These two pics are shots of the temple that is under the present one. They say there are 4 temples underground. Each time a new one was built right on top the former one.

What the above temple is believed to have looked like.

Just throwing this in for kicks...found a Friends Church there. This is the school, but I found the actual church later. I hear that they have bilingual services. Didn't find it in time to try and attend. Would have been cool though =)

Ah Vacation!!!

Vacation is an amazing thing that! I haven't every really taken a trip for vacation...one that is planned, booked, and expected. We have had this past week off of school and it has been so nice to not have to wake up for school. I have missed seeing my kids faces and their hugs, but it's still nice to be away from school. I haven't have the quiet I expected to have this past week with some of my roommates here, but it has been nice. But, this next week is what I am really looking forward to. The marrieds (the Maynards and the Bruce's) and myself will be departing at 3:30 in the a.m. to beat the heat. We decided that we would not rent a car, but take the van that we have been using. Kinda questionable, no air, old van, but it will get us to our destination and back. At least that is what we are praying for =)
Anyways, we will be traveling to Copan (ancient ruins) and spend about 4 days there exploring the ruins, horseback riding, river tubing, bird seeing, and other stuff. After that we are heading on to a beach for 3 days. I am so excited for this trip. I have not seen much of Honduras besides Tegucigalpa. So I am ready to see more of the country.
Please pray for our safty as we travel. We are going to get stopped multiple times by the police. Please pray that things will work out with that. We are trying to not take anything valuable, but pray that we will not be taken advantage of.
I can't wait to share this experience w/ you all and to show pics. Love to all

Marching On

March is here and as I keep telling my kids, we can't just fluff off...we need to keep marching on. When we look at this month we kind of cringe because we do not have any hope of a day off. Actually, the teachers have not had a day off since Christmas. So we are all beginning to get run down and sick. I have been sick for the past two weekends, not enough to call in sick, but enough to make me miserable. One of the days we had 6 teachers out at one time and they had talked about cancelling school. So yeah, we need stamina really bad and a moral booster would be nice.

However, we do have the hope of Samana Santa and Spring break...two weeks off in April!!!! I am planning to accompany the married couples on an eight day trip. We are going to see the ancient Copan Ruins (Mayan Ruins), do some other things in that area, visit a beach city called Tela (sp?), and maybe make our way into Guatemala. I am super excited for this trip. But I need to keep my focus on now and what is happening this day. Not just in the future.

As the school year is winding down I am really considering what the Lord has for me next year. I am not quite sure yet where he is leading me. I don't know if it is because I am running away or I am not listening or I am just fighting it. I have been debating staying here, but there are a few things that would keep me from doing that. So, as I am still trying to pray and determine the best path, I am applying to schools at home in California to see where that takes me. I am excited to come home in June and look forward to that trip home. Yet I am trying to remind myself to not get ahead of myself and to live in the moment. I don't want to miss any oportunity that I have with my kids or with people around me.

So I can really use your prayer for: strength and endurance, safty, dicernment, and the will to keep going today.

I hope to post more pictures for you all to see soon. In the meantime...

The Joys of Christan School

Well, one of the benefits of teaching in a Christian school is being able to share about God freely. We are learning Micah 6:8 in class for Bible. I was teaching them a song for that this morning for our devotional time when one of my girls asked me how God can be in everyone's heart at one time. So I tried to explain about how we are bound in time, yet God is not. I also went on to say that the only way God can be in a person's heart is if they accept Jesus as their savior. We had a long discussion about that...how God doesn't like sin and w/out Jesus' death on the cross we would be lost. How sin separates us from God and the cross is the only thing that can bridge that gap. God was totally there. My kids were like, "why are you crying Miss?" I had to explain the joy that can be in your life if you have Jesus. To know that you are going to heaven and that God will never leave you. AMAZING stuff that. So we prayed. Some of the kids were not listening too closely during this time (it was a day right after a break so they were talkative allllllll day) but the one who were prayed with me. I lead some of them in a prayer. Don't know exactly if any really prayed with me, but I know some seeds were planted. Great day!!!!


p.s. please pray for me and for the class. That I can be able to continue to share God to these kids and make a difference. That they would see past my faults.

and conflict with roommates. Hate that part