December Newsletter

Some of you informed me that you were unable to open my December Newsletter. I decided rather than bombard those of you that could open it with the same thing again, I would post the newsletter here for all to read. I'm still working on a summary post to kind of wrap up everything that happened in Peru, but I'm struggling to put everything into words. Maybe one day it will come, but for now here's the latest update.

Lima International School of Tomorrow
After what seemed to be a very short semester, the school year concluded on December 11 for my students. This month was full of things to do at school with Christmas coming and the school year ending. Some days I did not htink my students would have sufficient time to get all of their work done. However, they chugged right along with me as I pushed them to work hard and encouraged them with behavior rewards such as swimming or shopping in the behavior store. Of my 31 students, only five did not finish the prescribed number of workbooks wich later became an exception because each of them were labeled with learning disabilities. I was very proud of my students for the hard work they put forth and the perseverance that they showed all the way to the end. When I first began the semester with them back in August, I spent many nights wondering what I had gotten myself into. My students did not listen to me, they knew hardly no English, they would not work on their wokbooks, and they were mean to each other. Honestly, I felt very defeated and had little hope; however, the last week of school, I was overcome with excitement of the growth my students had made in just 4 short months. They came so far academically, socially, and personally. Many of them were even speaking complete, correct sentences in English! The growth I witnessed in each of them was a great reminder of why I became a teacher...not because I liek to hear myself talk all day, but because of the joy of the children when they finally "get it" or the growth that can be seen after all the effort and hard work put into education.
My students were able to enjoy the swimming pool on Fridays this month, and we ended the school year with a Christmas party on the last day. We also had an awards night in which my students sang Away in a Manger and many of them received awards for completeing goals, memorizing the Bible memory verses or outstanding behavior.

Kids Alive
It was not easy to say good-bye to the kids at the Kids Alive home; many of them were asking when I'd be back and a few shed tears as I wished them farewell. However, I told them that this is not good-bye because I will see them again whether it be on earth or in heaven. These kids are precious, and I got to know each of them so much more after spending many weeks with them. They opened up a lot more than they ever had during short term trips, and their love never seemed to end. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend with them.
This month, as any other, did not fall short of my expectations. With the school year ending, the children did not have much homework, so I was able to spend more time talking with them, playing games with them, or just sitting and being a comforting body nearby. The children did a Christmas program for visiting family members. I also helped the children paint Christmas ornaments one evening at the home of another missionary couple. We had a pinata filled with confetti for my despdida (Good-bye Party), and everyone had a great time throwing it everywhere! It was a very fun way to end a great 4 months!

To be continued...

I Made It

Just thought I'd give a quick update to let you all know that I did indeed get on the plane, and I am now home safely. I will try to get a real post up soon :)

Thanks for your prayers, your friendships, and your support. I couldn't have done it without any of you!

Bittersweet

Just a few things I'm looking forward to upon return to the United States in 3 days:

• Hugging my family when they pick me up at the airport
• Clean air and the peaceful country setting
• My puppies
• Driving
• Friends
• High heels :)
• Snow (even if it is cold)
• Christmas sights and sounds...it just isn't the same here in 75 degree weather
• A quiet night of sleep without car alarms, house alarms, barking dogs, honking buses, etc.
• Carpet
• A consistently hot shower that doesn't shock me and hot water in the sink

Just a few things I will miss about Peru:

• The great people I have met
• The kids at the home
• Speaking Spanish
• Church and Bible Study
• Did I mention my friends?
• New adventures
• Peruvian food
• The kids at the home (Did I already say that?)
• Bartering for a better price
• Warm weather
• My social circle ;)

Out of Control

If you were to ask me how I'm doing, depending on that exact moment, you would get an array of possible answers. I cannot even begin to describe the joy and the sadness that stirs within me as I sit and type this post. One minute I cannot wait to get on that airplane early Saturday morning and the next minute I'm reminded of all I will be leaving behind in just a few short days. I've met some pretty amazing people here, and my life has been forever changed because of them; I've learned so much, and I've experienced God in ways I never had before.

It's unfortunate that it took me until the last month to really begin to make good friends my age and at a similar page of life and get plugged into a church where that was made possible. Thanks to my dear friend Nilton for helping me out with both of those. The last 5 weeks have by far been the best portion of my time here; although, I wouldn't say any of it wasn't amazing in some form or another. I'm going to miss this place, but I know I'll be back sometime either for work or to visit.

This past weekend was my last here in Peru (for now). I couldn't have asked to spend it in any better way. I've tried to capture the highlights in pictures for you below.

Friday night I helped Jon and Elise with some of the kids from the home.
We painted homemade ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree.

Saturday I finished up some Christmas shopping by shopping in an Indian Market.

I had been earlier in the week, but I was unable to finish my shopping as I wasn't

sure what to buy some people. As I shopped, this Indian band marched by.

Saturday evening, I was invited to a professional ballet of the Nutcracker.

One of the teacher's had free tickets, so a few of us went along.

It was a beautiful ballet.

Sunday, I was supposed to go to the beach with friends after church. When I woke up

the weather was less than pleasant for a day at the beach. It was a tad on the chilly side

and quite cloudy. Instead we decided to spend the day at the zoo.

Sadly, all the other girls were busy, so it was just me and the guys.

Ronald, Nilton, and Jose...Juan Carlos is taking the picture.

Despite the weather and our missing friends wehad a great day (or at least I did).

I have 4 days left here. I work from 8-4 everyday doing grades, cleaning my classroom,

and preparing things for the new teacher next year. I nearly finished 3/4 of the things to do

just today, so I'm unsure how I'll pass the rest of the week. Aside from work, I'll be saying

many good-byes in the coming days...to friends I've made and the kids at the home.

If you know me, you know I don't like good-byes. It could be quite an emotional week.

Falta Una Semana

It's hard to believe that in one week I will be sitting in the airport ready to board a plane back to the United States. I've been in Peru exactly 4 months today; some days it still feels like I've just recently arrived. The other night I was reading through my journals of my first weeks here; I was so scared of the buses, going out alone, speaking in Spanish, etc. However, 4 months has brought me a long way. I'm no longer afraid to try the buses to get various places. I've learned enough about the main places I travel to know kind of where I'm going. I also very much enjoy speaking Spanish with my friends, and I've learned a lot more of the language since I've been here.

The last weeks have flown right by; I've hardly had time to think (or update my blog). Today was my final day with my students. Yesterday I was able to take them swimming as a class since most had finished their work earlier in the week. We had a Christmas party today; we decorated cookies, sang Christmas songs, read Christmas stories, and shared some traditional Peruvian goodies such as paneton and chocolate milk. A few of my students cried when I told them I would not be back to the school next year, but I promised that if I come back I would make sure to visit. I have to work all of next week doing grades, filing, cleaning, etc. We also have an awards program next Friday night, and I will leave straight from there to go to the airport.

Aside from school, I went to the Inka Market this last week to buy Christmas gifts, and I spent Wednesday evening at the home playing with the kids and went to a movie with friends later in the evening. Thursday I went to Bible Study, and I spent tonight decorating Christmas ornaments with some of the kids from the home and afterwards I went to church with a few friends. This weekend and final week appear to be just as busy. I will finish Christmas shopping tomorrow, attend a professional ballet of the Nutcracker (for free) with some of the teachers I work with, and Sunday I will spend the day with friends at the beach. Sometime before Friday I need to do laundry, pack, and clean.

I'll try to upload pictures from the recent weeks sometime soon. I'm looking forward to seeing some of you when I return! Please pray for me this week as I begin to say good-bye. I really dislike good-byes, and the fact that I still don't know what I'm doing next year makes it a little harder. My heart really wants to be in Peru, but the lack of appropriate teaching opportunities is making it a bit difficult. We'll see what happens!

Everything

You are the strength that keeps me walking.
You are the hope that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose.
You're everything.

On Sunday afternoon, the children at the Kids Alive home did a
Christmas program for their visitors (grandparents, aunt, uncles, etc.)
This drama was done the by the older girls
with the help of one of the boys from Pachacamac.
It was an excellent testimony, and they did a wonderful job.

I came across this video today, and I felt it was something worth sharing.

There is forgiveness and restoration in Christ. If you do not know him,

I want you to know that he is a God of love and compassion.
He wants to heal you; he desires to save you.

He wants nothing more than to see your face in heaven after judgement day.

Choose Christ...In the end, you will be better because of it.

If you do not know Christ, ask me, and I'll help you to find him!

God Is In Control!

I have been reminded over and over again through many of you and also life circumstances that God is in control of my life. Some days I neglect that small yet very important fact as I try to figure out my life and plan accordingly. However, God is always quick to knock me back on my knees and remind me that He knows just what he's doing.

Most of you know that I would love to return to Peru for another year or two, and I have been looking at various schools for open positions that would fit my need to pay back my student loans as well as provide appropriate educational experiences aligned with my philosophies of education. I have been worried about telling my current principal that I would not be returning next year for these reasons, but finally on Wednesday I faced my fear and was overcome with relief. The conversation went very well. She even offered some suggestions of schools that I might want to check into. For all who had been praying for this conversation, I cannot thank you enough.

I have been presented with a potential opportunity to teach Kinder 3 next year. (In Peru, private schools - maybe public, too - start at the age 3 hence the class Kinder 3.) However, any of you that know me already know that a normal kindergarten class would be a big stretch for me as I prefer intermediate elementary. After much prayer and an email from a good friend (reminding me that patience is important) I decided to decline the position and wait to see what else God may have in store for me. Of course the job would have brought me back to Peru where I ideally want to be, but something just didn't settle right in me whenever I thought about teaching 3 year olds. Please continue to pray for God's guidance as I seek out what path lies ahead.

In other news, I have been tutoring a 17 year old practicing to take exams such as the SAT in order to study in the States. He will take the test tomorrow. I'm praying he does well; he wants to study at Harvard.

I only have 3 1/2 days of school left with my students. I have to work a whole week after they are done, but I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I'm teaching my students "Away in a Manger" to sing at our end of the year awards/graduation program. They're doing very well with the song and most are excited to be learning English music. I will spend a lot of time next week teaching them even more English Christmas songs. It kind of saddens me that the music has to be Christian; I'd really like to teach them Rudolph, Here Comes Santa Claus, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, etc. I guess I'll just have to listen to those songs in my own time.

I leave in exactly two weeks. It's hard to believe that 4 months has already passed me by! I can't hardly remember anything from my first month here.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Festivities began Wednesday with a very nice dinner with the children at the Kids Alive Home followed by devotions which included children reading verses of thanksgiving and sharing reasons why they are thankful.

Thursday I celebrated with my students. I think they had a pretty good time. They are already filled with questions about our upcoming Christmas party.

Friday I was invited over to Jon and Elise's for dinner (sorry I don't have a picture of this event), and afterwards I went to a young adults meeting at church with some friends (don't have a picture of that yet either).

Saturday I began cooking at 10am for Thanksgiving dinner with some of the school staff. I finished cooking around 4:30 just in time for the guests to arrive at 5pm.

Sunday, I went with the same friends from Friday night to a surf competition here in Lima. It was quite cloudy and a bit chilly compared to previous days, but we had fun nonetheless. I was pretty impressed by the talents of some of the participants.

I must admit that despite not having any time off work, I thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. It's always good to take time and reflect on all God has done for us.