Let me Introduce you!

Today was the first "real" Friday we've had since school started. I can't believe we've already completed the 4th week of school! On a normal Friday I will have the Pre-k kids in the morning and immediated following lunch I teach a period of Science and History in the Junior High. Then the last 45 minutes of school, all of the Elementary kids practice their songs and speaking parts for the Christmas progam. However, this doesn't involve the Pre-K or Kindergarten kids, so I am with them during this remaining part of the day. Phew... I'm almost ready for a nap by the time the school day's over!

I took this picture today in order to be able to introduce you to the Junior High Girls I teach. Going around the circle, there's Michelle (Just to my left), Lydia, Angela, Kimberly, Mary, & Miriam. They are a great group of girls. Each of them adds their own element to the class. In Science today we discussed the terms animate and inanimate... what they mean and how they apply to life today. The focus centered mainly on idolatry of the past and the idolatry of Americans or people in general today. Then we read some Scripture and had a really good discussion. Pretty much it was all intro to the next chapter dealing with Cells and Living Organisms. Fun Stuff!

An overwhelmed student...

I don't know if I mentioned it in a previous post or not, but I have asked you to pray for a girl in my class named Kimberly. Because she was sick and then her Mom also had some thyroid problems, Kimberly missed all of her classes last week. So today, Kimberly and I sat down together to work through the homework that she needs to catch up on. There is a lot of things she needs to do, but of course the language issue makes all of it seem much more overwhelming. Please pray for Kimberly that she wouldn't allow herself to get overwhelmed and quit. I tried explain to her today that I'm here for her and that we'll work through stuff together. I had to use my Spanish/English translator on my laptop a couple of times, but I'm pretty sure that she understood me. Thanks!

The Three Amigos!!!

I believe I mentioned that there was going to be a new little boy joining us in the Pre-K classroom today. I had great aspirations of Isaac being able to speak English and thereby being a great help to me. However, the whole time he was being dropped off by his Mom he was rattling off in Spanish. I thought to myself... "maybe he's just talking to his Mom in Spanish and he'll speak to me in English". Then his Mom informed me that he understands almost everything that is said to him in English because his Dad speaks only English, but unfortunately Isaac only speaks in Spanish. Pop! There went my bubble! For some reason this situation only makes Danny and Matias talk in Spanish more too! This definitely aids in expanding my Spanish vocabulary, but I have to keep speaking to them in English so they will learn too!

Thankfully Isaac seems to be a pretty good natured child, but he tends to follow whatever direction (good or bad) that Danny and Matias go. Danny and Matias had a little "discussion" today, and from what I gathered (because, of course, they were speaking in Spanish) they were "discussing" whether or not they were going to be friends anymore. I think Isaac being there has put a little kink in the dynamic duo.

Anyway, please continue to pray that I would have wisdom in dealing with these boys. They definitely keep me on my toes! Please pray for their behavior and that I would know the best way to keep them in line and wanting to learn. Thanks so much for your prayers!

A very long stroll!

As I awoke this morning I was excited to see the sun shining through my window. My plan was to walk to church and back. Everything went as planned and I left my apartment about 10:30... plenty of time to make it in time for the service... or so I thought. I really wasn't in a big hurry, but was pretty much just enjoying the day. Now, last night I looked at a map and memorized the name of the street I needed to look for so I was pretty confident about where I was going. After walking and walking and walking some more and not finding the correct street... I began to get a little frustrated. Thinking "why didn't I bring a map", "where am I", "Surely it must be the next street"... on and on my thoughts went. Until finally, I decided that it would be best to turn around and go back home before I really didn't know where I was anymore.

An hour after setting out on my "little" stroll I arrived back home. I turned on my handy dandy little lap top and went on line to listen to a couple of sermons. I'm so thankful for that resource and the encouragement it was! I ended up listening to a sermon on allowing God to work even when things don't go the way we think they should. Hmmm... how appropriate for my day!

Another first...

Again today I did my best to sleep in, however... the alarm clock in my head went off promptly at 6:30. Ugh... so, I just laid in bed for a couple more hours. After I finally roused myself and got some breakfast, I read my Bible for a while.

This morning a couple of us ventured on over to the local street market for the first time since I've been back down here. The market was super big this morning and stretched for a mile or more. I love the fresh fruit and veggies! This market is located in the same place each Saturday and it may just have to be a weekly ritual! :)

Beginning Monday morning there will be another boy joining our Pre-K classes. I am excited about the possibilities that this could bring. It will be nice to have an extra child in the classroom.

Preschool Improvements!

Another Monday has come and almost gone... the difference in this one though is that Preschool went really well today! Only once did I have to send one of the boys to the "time out" chair, and it wasn't the boy that I usually have struggles with. As time goes on I am excited to see little improvements with both of the boys! Thank you for your prayers!

A no class Friday!

It's a rather lazy Friday morning here in Santiago... there is no school here today due to a national holiday, so I'm enjoying the time of just relaxing. I had great aspirations of sleeping in until at least 8:30 today, but my little old brain woke me up promptly at 6 am this morning! Ugh! I did my best to go back to sleep, but pretty much just laid there for about 2 more hours before deciding to get up. It was relaxing to be able to just lay there!

We've hit the rainy season here in Chile... or at least in Santiago. I don't know if it typically rains this much, but it rained all night and it is continuing to rain right now. It's kind of cool... because of the tin roof, I can hear the rain fluxuate in its intensity.

Yesterday (Thursday) I gave my first Quiz to the Junior High students. I found I was almost as nervous as they probably were. I really want to make sure they understand and then get good grades. You could pray for one of the girls specifically... her name is Kimberly. She doesn't understand a whole lot of English, but she is here at the school. Because of this, I know she doesn't catch on to a lot of things that we discuss in class. Thankfully, her Mom is able to help her with her homework, and she's very thorough in that. However, when it comes to remembering things in English or even reading questions on a quiz and answering them... I'm not sure she understands. I so badly want to be able to help her...

Overdue Update

Bright and early Thursday morning, the Junior and Senior High Students trooped on out to Camp Pirque for a retreat to kick off the school year. Thankfully we had someone take all of our luggage out the camp. So there were approximately 20 of us who took the Metro and Bus out to the camp. The program for the retreat was put together by a youth group from Pennsylvania who had come down to work at the camp. All in all the weekend went very well. It was a good opportunity to get to know the kids from the school a little better.

Again I spent Saturday evening with the Kunnari's and then went to church with them Sunday morning. This last Sunday the Pastor put the outline for his message up on a powerpoint which allowed for me to be able to follow along a little bit better. Slowly but surely and I learning some new Spanish words and a little bit of the grammar.

Last night I was able to go sit in on the Kunnari's language study session. I'm thankful to be able to do that when I can. The man who is tutoring them has graciously allowed me to be involved. I am looking forward to the day when I might be able to rattle things off in Spanish! One of the guards here at the camp has taken quite a bit of time to patiently work through some things with me as well. He doesn't speak much either, but we slowly get across what we need to know. Each day is a new learning day for me and I'm excited when I'm able to use the things I know.

Today was another day for Preschool and things went much more smooth today. I was also able to meet with the Mom's of my two Preschool boys. Both of them were very encouraging and pleasant to talk with. Slowly we are making progress in the classroom. I'm beginning to see that although teaching takes quite a bit of time and effort, it is also very rewarding! Thanks again for your prayers! Please keep praying specifically for wisdom and patience in the Preschool classroom.

Another day of Preschool ends...

Things were a little easier in the Preschool room today, but I would still like to see improvement. On Monday, we went through a story book that which contained the alphabet and both boys were able to recognize many of the letters. So, I decided that today we would start with the letter "A" but try to also introduce the lower case "a". It was a challenge to get the boys to sit still long enough to write out the letters on their papers. I know they knew what was going on, but they just want to tell me in there own way that they think they should be in charge. Each day comes with its new challenges, but I am continually seeking God's grace to have patience and wisdom in the days to come. Thank you again for your prayers!

A new discovery!

I absolutely love Junior High! I was super nervous this morning before classes began! There I was, before anyone else arrived at the school, preparing for classes to begin. My first Science class doesn't start until 2nd period, so I had a little time to finish getting things ready. I had been praying off and on all morning about the class and was really uncertain of what to expect... then... the bell rang... gulp! I think my heart dropped into my stomach and then did a somersault on the way back up. Then the girls starting coming and the rest of the time flew by. Basically we spent the first period getting to know each other and used the other 3 periods we had together to get into Science and History. I have 2 periods in a row of Science and 2 in a row of History. But things went really well! I even over prepared material and had a lot ready to go.

Now, I need to prepare for the Pre-K class for tomorrow. I believe this class is going to be a little more of a challenge. There are only two boys in this class and they are super cute, but they are equally as... ummmm... energeting :p Actually, a lot of the problem is that they don't speak much English. So obviously there is a little bit of a communication barrier here. They do understand some, but I just think they don't want me to know how much they do understand. Please pray that I will have patience and wisdom in being able to connect with these boys. Their names are Danny and Matias. Oh, and if any of you have words of wisdom that you would wish to impart in this area... my ears are wide open!

Starting Thursday, the Junior High and High School students will be going out to Camp Pirque for a retreat and I get to go along with them. I am excited to be able to spend this extra time and get to know the kids a little better.

One week in Chile & One day of classes

Today marks the passing of one week since my arrival in Chile. So far things have gone really well. The first couple of days I spent some time with the Kunnari's and other teachers from the school here. Everyone has been so hospitable in making sure that I'm not alone alot.
On Thursday & Friday mornings we had teachers meetings. It was good to meet everyone and discuss different things. So many things are fluttering through my brain, that I'm not sure I will be able to remember it all.
The Kunnari's offered for me to spend Saturday night at their house and then go to church them Sunday morning. They are going to a church that is just getting started back up again, so it isn't very large. I enjoyed being there and hearing the Spanish, but boy did I have a headache after it was overwith. I've never had such brain exercise as when I sit in a sermon that's all Spanish. I get a little discouraged and wonder "Will I ever learn this?"
Last night Leah and I spent a great deal of time prepping the Pre-K room for the first day of classes. I am soooooo glad she was available to help! Our theme for this semester is the Sea. If you check out the next few pictures you will be able to take a little bit of a virtual tour...
This is the entrance to the Elementry building... and the picture on the left is the door to the Pre-K class room. The poster says "Preschool! It's a Sea of Learning!"




This picture just shows that the school is set inside a gate. You can see the little guard shack here too. The guards trade out, but there is a guard on the grounds 24/7!The next couple of pictures are of the apartment I am staying in right now. It is very spacious and has a fully equipped kitchen!


That's all for now! Hasta Luego!