An exploring school day...

Friday was a casual school day...

My students and I headed out for a morning of exploring and learning- in an all fun way! =)

We walked up and down the hill. We look at the trees. We made things out of pine needles. We picked flowers. We gathered pine cones. We sang songs. We read a story. We had a picnic snack.

Then it started to rain and get cold, according to the climate here...


So, we moved our "camp" inside and continued with our fun.

We pressed some flowers in wax paper to save the beauty for another day.

We had a great time learning as we played. =)

These are pictures from our outdoor school day.

The School Building is Really Going Up...

The new school building is really going up fast. There was a team working here last week and a new team is coming out this week. Here's some video of what it looked like while they were working last week. There's even more done now. Enjoy!

First Meeting for the Girls...

Today was the first meeting of the international children's club for the girls. I think it went very well! 

There were 4 girls in the meeting. They were so excited. =) They got to dress up and they got to go in my room- which all the children love to be allowed to do. So, I decided to use the kind of living room for the girls to meet in. A special treat. =)

I didn't have a translator for this one. Interesting choice I my part really because some of the boys are bilingual and I had a translator, yet none of the girls know English and I didn't have one. However, I have the Holy Spirit and I have been learning a lot of Spanish since I was here in August apparently. I was able to carry on- though I wasn't sure I got everything across as I planned at some points. I think it went very well. I'm excited about what God is doing! =D

The boys' club begins...

Today we had the first meeting for the boys branch of the international children's club! =)

There were six boys and we went for a hike down the hill in the woods. Some of them call it a ditch.

After hiking down to a more open area, we sat down and I pulled out the flannel board and Betty Luken felts. Using the Spanish version of the story I told them about creation. We went from complete darkness through day five. I think the boys enjoyed being allowed to go down the hill- they love it...the being boys sort of thing. =)

Hermano Roberto came with to help translate when I didn't know the words. I read the story in Spanish and added some things that he translated for me. I'll get to the point where I can say it all myself- but I'm still learning.

I think it went well for the first meeting. Praise God! I was nervous about starting- but I knew it was the right thing to do. So, yeah!

Thursday is the first meeting for the girls branch of the club. It will go well also, I'm sure. It will be the same lesson- with a more girly environment. =)

Well, off again...
Blessings on you!

Shaking in church...

I'm a bit behind in posting about this, but I thought I'd let you know about Sunday's church service. It was my second time being in a Spanish speaking church in Guatemala. The first time I didn't understand much at all. So, this time Becky asked one of the older boys to translate for me. He did his best, as hard as it was because of how fast everything was said without pauses, and it made a big difference in how much I understood. I was very grateful for the help!

Okay, at the beginning. We arrived at church in the van (this van holds a lot of people, yet is narrow and has a good turning radius). So we got out of the van, went in the church, and found seats- worship had already started. I really like that they have the words to the songs on the wall because I can understand more and can actually follow along. I knew two of the songs in English, so it was easier to sing them in Spanish- I already knew the tune. In both songs that I knew, the power went out!

Now, the power going out here is not really the same as if it went out in the USA. When the power goes out here, it's just a normal part of life- everyone keeps on going, sometimes adjusting for the lack of light or something. So, when the power went out in church, everyone kept on singing and a guitar was unplugged to go acoustic. So, things carried on...

During the sermon, translation helped soooo much! The power was still out for most of the service- so everyone scooted closer and the pastor talked louder. During the service, there was a smallish, I guess, earthquake. Everyone sitting felt it. It started at one side and moved across to the other. The interesting things was the pastor didn't feel it and kept on preaching. People started waving him to the side- away from the hanging speakers. He realized what was happening and moved back. The the earthquake ended and service continued...as if nothing happened! Amazing. =)

There have been several earthquakes in the past week- though none for a few days now. The biggest was probably on Friday- which was the previous post. There has been no damage that I know of. God's hand is on us and He is taking care of us. It is so good to be in His care.

Well, that's all for now...there's a prayer meeting soon...
I'm safe in His hand.

Earthquake!

Last night was interesting here.

It was going along as a normal Friday night of watching the boys (my two students)- even after the power went out.

When the power went out, we were suddenly done with the movie (which had just frozen up anyway) and it was time to brush teeth and get in bed. My plan was to light some candles and get them off to sleep as quickly as possible.

It was just the routine (which I'm still learning) of getting the flashlight and lighting candles. As I was going to light the first candle, the match broke. Before I could get out another match, everything started shaking. (So thankfully no candles were lit.) I don't remember being in anything like that before, so I didn't really know what to do at the time.

I did what I knew to do. I held the boys close to me and tried to keep them calm. (They've been in earthquakes before and don't have fun memories of them.) I told them it was okay and God was taking care of us. I remembered a story Becky told of an earthquake- and that they went outside- so I moved us toward the door.

The shaking didn't last very long. When it stopped, I had the door open, and Hermano David and some of the older boys were coming up the stairs to make sure we were okay.
We were fine- no damage done...just some shaking up.

So, they took the boys down and I ran and grabbed their blankets and pillows, so they could sleep downstairs.

Downstairs we all stood close to the walls. The older boys lit some candles and put them on the tile floor. After a bit, and Hermano David checking on the kids in the other houses, and an evacuation plan was set up for any more earthquakes during the night, mattresses were brought out of the older boys rooms and everyone settled down. (The power came back on somewhere in there.)

The two boys and I settled onto one mattress. Really they were settled into it, and I was kinda on the side of it, falling off. (But my goal wasn't to sleep, just to help them get to sleep.) All the boys were told to keep their shoes on while they slept, in case they needed to get out of the house fast.

After a while everyone quieted down and went to sleep...or were at least quiet.

I dozed on and off. When I'd start to really fall asleep though, I'd start falling off the bed and wake up. =)

Maybe almost two hours after the earthquake David and Becky got back from their day out. They had felt the earthquake where they were too. After they got back, and the two boys were moved up to their beds, I went down to my bed.

As I was going to sleep I remembered Psalm 91. It's really a good chapter to think about! The part I thought about was, though a thousand fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, it will not come near me- or anyone on this property! We are protected. God's hand is on us.
Then another verse came to mind: the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them.

How good it is to be taken care of by the Almighty GOD!!!!

First Day of School...

I just finished my first day of teaching here in Guatemala. It went well.

The first day of school starts with an sort of opening ceremony. Different people participated in different ways. Being that I'm still learning Spanish, I prayed in English...they were okay with that. (The prayer was my part.)

After opening the school year I got started teaching. I showed my students their books and some school supplies- which they were excited to start using!

I'm still getting the feel of how everything will really flow, but I've at least started and can adjust as needed. God is faithful!

Yesterday the power went out in the afternoon and was out for much of the night, coming on for a brief time- maybe an hour- before going out again. The power outage was due to the wind- it was howling around the house. The temperature has for sure dropped in the last day or two. It was in the 40s last night. (I noticed this morning that my bedroom windows were not closed all the way...so, in the future I should be a bit warmer than I have been at night!)

I am so blessed! Today the classrooms were changed around and I now have a sort of sweet- bed room, bathroom, and middle room that is larger-which I think will be great for worship dance! I have so much of my own space now! It's such a blessing!!!!

I'm not only developing a good relationship with my students, I also gets lots of hugs and "Rebecca"'s when I walk into the main room of the house where I'm staying. All but the youngest in that house come for hugs and want to talk to me- some in Spanish which is helpful. =)

I really am blessed! God's grace is on me for the cold as well- I have to keep remembering that. There are for sure people who have a lot less than me!

Remember, God loves you soooooo much!!!!!!
Until next time...

The Night Before...

I’m in bed getting ready to sleep for the night at 7:40pm- wow!

Well, tomorrow everything begins. Tomorrow is the teacher’s planning meeting- the only day to prepare for the school year, including an opening ceremony. So, we’ll be busy. Did I mention it’ll be in Spanish? Well, yes, from my understanding, the night before, it will be in Spanish...and I will be submersed in the language. Though my hope is that someone will help me when I get stuck. If there is no one else, I know that the Holy Spirit is my Helper. And He is more than enough.

This day, and yesterday, were pretty much filled with preparations for the meeting tomorrow. I have taught before, but not in this way. I haven’t had to present my goals for the year, my year plan, and the first week’s lesson plans, before the first day. So, I’ve been trying to prepare for something I’m not really clear what it will be like. But I know God will not leave me no matter what happens tomorrow.

So, we’ll see what tomorrow holds. But for now, I need some sleep- it will be an early morning and a full day. Catch you later!