Hmmm... it's been a little while since I've written. So much has happened that I don't really know where to begin. Each day still seems to feel like a week, and each week, a month. I'm working harder probably than I ever have in my life. Sometimes it feels completely satisfying to be pushed so hard spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually every day because I know that I am growing and getting stronger... but at other times it feels overwhelming and exhausting. I'm still learning to find the balance.
I've been working primarily as the coordinator for P.I.E.S, A Charity and Sponsorship Program for Children in the Peten Jungle. In this position, I've taken on a lot of responsibility very quickly and am learning all the time. I assign children to new sponsors, translate many letters, maintain lists of current children and follow up with sponsors if their child is no longer attending the school, work to maintain a database, take lots of pictures, do fun art and letter writing projects with the kids, write e-newsletter articles, communicate and collaborate with the P.I.E.S. team which is spread across 3 countries, correspond with over 200 sponsors via email... and more.
I also just started teaching 3rd, 4th, 5th, and sometimes 6th grade English classes each day to cover a maternity leave. My first day, I stuck to the lesson plan left for me, one simple worksheet, and the kids finished in 5 minutes or less. I tried to fill the rest of the hour reviewing colors and parts of the body because I know they learned these things recently. We sang "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and played "Simon Says"... and I failed miserably to remain in control of 3rd and 4th grade. So the next day, I scrapped the worksheets, started preparing my own lesson plans, and prayed very hard before and after each class... and had dramatically different results. I enjoyed my time with the kids. They were attentive, creative and cute with the art I had worked into the lesson, and I think they just might have learned something! Amen!
The topic for the lesson was "Things in my classroom," so the kids learned words such as: paper, markers, crayons, scissors, etc. After taking notes, and a round of "What is this?" as I held up or pointed to each item, I let the kids play with the items and be creative. I purposefully didn't bring enough of each item just so the kids could practice their new vocabulary, saying things like "Can I borrow your scissors?" Some kids wrote letters for their moms, or for me, or drew pretty pictures.
But one kid decided to make a cow mask, mooed, and pressed it against his face, which was pretty amusing. He got embarrassed at some point and threw it away but I fished it out as a souvenir of a day of teaching gone well!
I'm also learning how to be a missionary. We take turns leading early morning Bible devotions and worship and presenting outreaches to children at surrounding schools, churches, and orphanages. We also prepare for group retreats and school or other ministry related activities, and we take turns cooking meals for each other. Last week, I was part of a 2 person team to lead an outreach to 200 children at a school and at an orphanage… I helped make 80 beds and baked 10 banana cakes, chased an iguana out of the guest dorm, and spent multiple hours in dance practice with the team to prepare for a large training event we are hosting at the ranch in November.
Outreach under a tin roof and on a dirt floor at Remar orphanage.
Thank you for every prayer! The tabano (praise Jesus!) has left me alone, and my Spanish is improving little by little. Love to you all!
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