Working Hard!

OK I think the last time I wrote for real was just after Christmas then I posted a bunch of pictures. I don;t really have any new pictures to share with you, but I have lots to tell!

First off, I can't believe that it's 2012...and I've just survived the first month of the year. Maybe survived is the wrong word. I'm still flourishing here, but it's been an intense few weeks. I have two new things related to my job to talk about. First is that we've started teaching Jenny at home in an effort to help her continue her education. She is supposed to have a 6th grade level education (She graduated after all.) But we all learned that that doesn't mean much here, especially in the realm of special education. Jenny probably has about a 3rd grade level of education, 2nd grade in some areas. Can you imagine being, very bright, eager to learn, 18 and only have about a 3rd grade education? Jenny has a lot of obstacles ahead of her, but she is already catching on to concepts quickly. Right now I'm just working on improving her Spanish vocabulary, teaching her simple English and improving her math skills. Can I admit how hard this is for me? Jenny is deaf and I know a bit of sign, but I'm definitely NOT fluent. (You can bet I learned all the words I need to know for school related things this week though!). If you've ever taught ANYTHING, think for a minute about how hard it would have been if you couldn't speak. You'd have used pictures, hand gestures and facial expressions as much as possible I'm sure, but do you think you would have made your point as effectively? This is a huge challenge, but Jenny is a joy to teach, we get along well and I feel honored to be a part of helping her achieve higher education. New experiences and challenges are always a good thing even if they EXHAUST me.

OK the second job thing is for the last couple weeks I've actually been teaching the kids Spanish. Paul compiled all the resources he had in the way of computer programs and books and showed me how to use all of them and I spent hours pouring over them and picking which combination of resources and programs would work best for each child. So mind numbing! But the last couple weeks have been great! It will take some time to see real progress, but I found out that I CAN in fact teach Spanish. This comes as a surprise to me. This is another thing lending to my current exhaustion. Hard work feels good though. I finally feel like I am giving all I can to this job. Very good feeling.

On the social side of things...I see my friends most weekends for a variety of things. Always frisbee, sometimes for dinners, sleepovers, something fun going on in town. I love hanging out with them and getting to know them more. I'm so blessed to have great friends. I'm continuing to learn a lot from my women's Bible study, Wednesday night Bible study and services at my church. I'm going to be doing children's church with another girl occasionally (starting this Sunday!) and I help translate the service into English for the missionary who signs for our deaf community that comes to our church. Paul has been helping get two ministries off the ground with some other people at our church. One is a continuing education program for adults. This is something they will be able to do at the church via computers that will be donated. A necessary service considering education level is directly related to poverty level and quality of job. The other ministry is he is figuring out a way to build water filters for a cheap cost so they can be used in our local communities where people have no access to clean water. It's pretty exciting and things are still in the planning stage, but please be praying for those ministries!!

One exciting bit of news, which I know I have already shared with many of you, is that I just finished my application to work at a school called Destino Del Reino down here in Siguatepeque! I haven't heard back from them yet obviously, but I just wanted you all to know how excited I am about the possibility of working there and let you know that I might be back in Honduras next year. (Here's a link if you're interested! http://www.destinodelreino.org/)

Well, considering how short this post is, I'm SURE I'm forgetting something...but I'll leave you with this Bible verse that has been encouraging me this week!

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10: "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Love and miss you all!!

PS: Weather update. It was 75 and sunny for 2 weeks straight. Yeah. You're jealous :P