Reflections

Wow! Can you believe May starts in 2 days?! I wonder when I'll stop being surprised at how fast each year seems to go by.

A quick not about Rich's visit: It was the best ever. Oh......you want to hear more? I did say a quick note! Just kidding! Rich was the absolute last one to make it through customs and baggage claim. I was starting to freak out. When I finally saw him, I definitely ran up to him and gave him a huge hug! We ate lunch in the airport and caught a bus home. We took it easy and went to Bible study that night - he was SO TIRED. Travelling is tiring, I don't blame him! Rich stayed with some friends of mine who have an apartment nearby. So thankful for their generosity - it saved him a lot of money and was really convenient! Thursday he came with me to school and met all 75 of my babies...uh....students. They loved meeting him and each class got a chance to ask him a million questions. He had to field the usual "What's your favorite color, food, day, number, car, song, book of the Bible?" You know.

The usual get to know you questions. I gave my 8th graders permission to ask any appropriate question they want so they did ask how we met and what he likes most about me. It was cute and fun. I was able to take just about 4 days off (went in for one 1/2 day) while Rich was here so we had a 4 day weekend to do anything we wanted! The weekend was full of a trip to the lake for lunch, hanging out at the cafe I work in, hiking, swimming, great times with friends (big thanks to the Colbath's for their love and hospitality!), going to the market, going to all my favorite restaurants, cooking yummy food, going to church. Monday was an "us" day. We did some errands, went to stores that I can never get to during the week, ate out for breakfast, did some souvenir shopping and then headed to the Hagler's (my pastors) for the evening to make pizza and play games. So fun! Tuesday was our last day together. We both made an effort just to have a great time and not be sad that our time together was ending. We knew we'd be together soon and that when I go home in June, there is no "expiration date" on our time together. Pretty great! Wednesday morning was a tearful goodbye on my part, but he made it to the airport and home with no trouble.

I'm not at all ready for this year to end. Just recently I feel like I finally understand everyone I talk to without trouble. I can make jokes, have deep conversations and just connect with my Honduran friends. I told my pastor yesterday, "I just have to trust that God didn't give me the ability to speak Spanish for no reason." Obviously, I have used that skill well in the last two years, but I don't want to go back to the US and just forget how to speak it! I'm also not ready to leave friends. I have some great friends here who have given me the support, love, and encouragement I needed to succeed while down here. I will miss them desperately and I will faithfully pray for them and their ministries here.

I am however, feeling ready for the school year to end. All teachers know the feeling. Kids are sick of school and homework. In my case, it is blazing hot everyday and we're all just exhausted from  the heat. Behavior seems to be going downhill. It's a rough time of year. I feel myself loving my students more, but wanting to be at school less. I need to fight the feeling and fight hard. God has called me here and desires that I finish strong and give my absolute best. That does not mean giving up with 5 weeks of school left. That means grading all my papers, finishing up end of the year things, writing lesson plans, doing special activities, coming to school with excitement and energy! I would appreciate prayers for me to be able to do this!

As I look back on this year some, I've considered what God has taught me. I will not give you a comprehensive list here. That would be long and boring! I will tell you two changes I know  He has worked in my in the last year. The first is that just about a year ago, I read the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It made a huge impression on me. The point of the book: thankfulness = joy. You cannot separate the two. True, deep joy comes from being thankful for the things that God has blessed you with in this life. I started keeping my own list. I searched everyday for things I was thankful for, things that gave me joy, things that blessed me. It's amazing what focusing on the positive can do for you. I'm able to sit down at the end of an awful day and think back to the good things that happened or be thankful for the lessons I learned. I know it is God who did this change in me. I'm not capable of changing myself for the better. When I thank God for the things He's given me, He gives me joy. I feel like I need to say that again. He gives me joy. It has nothing to do with circumstances, feelings, or other people. Just God and His joy that He imparts. The second things is that this year, more than any other time in my life, I have recognized my constant need for God and turned to Him at the first sign of trouble, hurt, and danger. He is good. The Holy Spirit is an ever-present help, comfort and guide. I trust that this change will not be a temporary one!

I know this one is kind of short, but I needed to get my ideas down before I forgot them. For those of you who don't know: I'm coming home on June 6th. Just over 5 weeks until I come home. I can't wait to start visiting and reconnecting with people I haven't seen for a couple years. I'm especially excited about celebrating two weddings as soon as I get home! Many congrats to Keith and Colleen and Kristen and Ian. I'm excited for them and praying for them as they prepare to start their lives together!


This verse has helped and encouraged me as I fight to finish strong and live each day as God would have me live it: 


" And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." 

~ Colossians 3:17

Semana Santa Adventures - (More than we bargained for! )

Oh no! I see that it has been SIX WEEKS since I posted. My goal has usually been to post every 2 weeks....My weekends have been filled with good intentions of blogging, but life always got in the way. Things are and were busy. Do I always say that? I think most people lives are busy. I've been slowly learning what it means to be at peace and rest in God, even when this is no real time for a break.

Bonus Easter picture! 

Speaking of break...I actually did just get one! Semana Santa. Soon, I'll post about Rich's visit (he comes in about 12 hours!) and some reflections on the things I've been learning this year. For those of you wondering about my life - in general, school is going well. There are still good days and bad days. Days that children behave and days that they act like I've never taught them a single word in English. We just started our 4th quarter! I can't believe there are only 2 months left of school. I fly home June, 6th. It sounds so soon. I haven't heard back from SUNY Albany yet, but everything is complete for my application and I should hear in a couple weeks. I applied to their not-cert TESOL Master's program for those that hadn't heard. I've started job searching already. I know it takes time to find a job. If anyone hears of something they think I'd be interested in (Albany, NY area)- let me know! Please pray for me that I will remained focused here, be listening to God about what He wants me to do when I get home and for diligence in searching forand applying to jobs!

For now, the rest of this post will just be about my recent trip to El Salvador.

Oh Pacific Ocean, you never disappoint!

Saturday dawned hot with the sound of dogs barking near and far. Day 1 of our 9 day vacation had begun. Jenna and I cleaned the house and the fridge in preparation for leaving for almost a week. We met up with a couple friends just after 12n and caught our first bus. The first leg of our trip was just to Honduras' capital city, Tegucigalpa. We needed to spend the night in a sketchy hostel in order to be at the bus station at 5am Sunday morning. We left our things at the hostel and headed to the mall for a little taste of the USA - shopping and dinner at TGI Friday's. Jasmine (our German friend who traveled with us - what a great girl! Why didn't I meet her sooner?!) and I split a huge salad and a delish chicken sandwich.
After a bit of shopping we were ready to turn in early. 4:45am is an awful time to wake up. We dragged ourselves out of bed and walked quickly down the dark street. Was this our best idea? Of course not...but would you take a taxi to go 3 block? No, I didn't think so! We arrived with no issue and joined the lengthening line. I wasn't worried because I had bought my tickets a week and a half earlier. Well. Listen. I should have been worried. I go to check in and the man tells me that Sheena (fellow teacher) and I are NOT IN THE SYSTEM. Also, the bus is full. "Please wait and see if everyone comes and we'll see if we can give you a seat on the bus." So I waited and prayed and nervously chomped on an apple. Everyone came. The bus was full and Sheena and I had no seats. Jenna and Jasmine were fine though. I grabbed my receipt and started to plead and argue for all I was worth. SURELY, there was something this guy could do - after all, I had proof that I bought the ticket and I was crying and trying to argue in my 2nd language. The bus driver walks by and the bus station guys begs a personal favor "Can this lady sit up front with you and these girls sit 3 to a seat?" This kind, understanding bus driver agreed right away! Off we went! I sat on the floor for 2 hours of that bus ride - I don't recommend such a thing!

We made it through the border and to San Salvador just fine. The bus ride was only about 8 hours long and I only had to endure four Julia Roberts movies playing extremely loud. I gladly left that bus station in my angry dust and we hopped in a taxi to head to a different bus station to catch a local bus that could take us to the beach. Yes bus #495 I will pay $1.50 for a 2 hour ride along the coast. Oh, you'll drop me off at the entrance of my hotel? Muy amable, El Salvador, muy amable.

We have arrived at Costa del Sol after a total of 14 hours of travel over the course of 2 days. Our hotel was beautiful. Air conditioned room, excellent restaurant, friendly staff, large pool, hammocks everywhere, and the best part: it was literally on the beach. We stayed here for 3 nights and it was fabulous. Swimming in the ocean, walking/running on the beach, finding a very cheap and very delicious restaurant right down the beach from us, soaking up the sun, playing games, reading, talking, laughing, praying. We had an excellent time of rest and fellowship. I also collected a whole bunch of sweet shells and found a cool piece of sea glass (my favorite thing in the world!)

Getting ourselves home was a whole 'nother adventure. We were told that our bus passed by about 8am...good thing we decided to head out there early because it passed at 7:40!! We were so thankful not to miss it. We made it to San Salvador with plenty of time and went to the mall for breakfast and flag searching! Both were successful ventures. We got to the bus station about an hour early and while checking in, we encountered more problems! SERIOUSLY?! We all had seats and such but one of the men at the station was adamant about the fact that Honduras would NOT renew our visa and he wasn't sure if he should let us on the bus. I got real sassy at this point and I said -in Spanish "They WILL renew our visas, this is how all the teachers in my city renew their visas. Oh, that's not possible? Well, listen here. I live in Honduras and I have 1 week left on my current visa and I just want to go home!! They WILL let me in the country and they WILL renew my visa. Oh, you think you know better than me because you're from here and I'm just a gringa? Vamos a ver a la frontera (We'll see what happens at the border.)" Needless to say they let us on the bus AND we got our new 90 day visas at the border. This actually did involve some very respectful explaining and begging on my part (gotta deal with government officials a little differently than rude bus station men!)

All this to say: I'm back safe and I had a great time! I spent a lot of time in prayer on this trip. It was great to have so much time to spend with the Lord. It was a reminder that choosing to spend time with Him each day is important and necessary!

Right after getting back, Jenna and I played with our church in a sports tournament and I worked on report cards, lesson plans, cleaning my room and the house in all my spare time! I finished up lesson plans last night and did a final cleaning of the house tonight. I'm all ready for Rich to visit! I'm really excited about this time we'll have together. He's never left the country AND never been on a plane! He's the best ever for coming to visit me down here! I hope you enjoyed the post and the pictures! I love and miss you all a lot! I'll be coming home in just 2 months!


"Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’”
Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation."
~Isaiah 12:2-3