Once again I went over my week quota for writing on my blog. But, I will update you on my life now. This past week has flown by. Last weekend the school brought us all to the capital, Tegus. We need to renew our visas. So, on Monday we sat in the immigration office for 6 hours straight. Talk about a long day sitting and waiting. But, it was nice to have the day off of school. We also were able to go see the Hunger Games in the theatre and we got to got shopping at Walmart (my 2nd home).
This past week at school has been going really well. I cannot believe that tomorrow is already Friday. I am hoping to celebrate Easter with my kids. I got them all pencils and I am going to use suckers to make it into a cross. The highschool kids are also putting on the Science fair. So, my students will be able to check out all the experiments. I feel like I had some funny stories to tell you about my kids, but for some reason I dont remember them. I guess two of my kids proposed to me by getting on their knee with a ruler held above their head. Also, for some reason, maybe it is the culture, my kids love to give me kisses. I have one student, Candido, at any opportunity, whether my hand is by him, he will kiss it or if I am talking to him, cheek, I always get a little kiss. My kids are crazy!
Anyways, this coming week is Samana Santa or Holy Week, and we have the whole week off of school. Tabitha, Amy, Kendall and I are planning on traveling to Nicaragua and then Costa Rica. We are hoping to leave bright and early Saturday morning. I am looking forward to seeing a whole new world and a new country.
I officially am coming home. I have my ticket bought to come on Tuesday the 26th of June. I cannot believe how fast my life in Honduras has gone. But I am excited to get back home and wedding plan a bit more.
Anyways, not too much else has been going on, but I hope you all are doing well. Pray for safety as we travel long distances.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thank you God for this Life.
I cannot believe how fast the weeks are flying by. Another Saturday over and another day to worship and praise God today. This past week at school went well my kids are learning so much more, communicating so much better, and most of them are beginning to read. Every night, I try to send a book home with each of the kids that way they can practice reading with their mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, or grandpa. They love being able to take the books home. At times I want to be hard on myself because these kids are not reading like the kids in the states, but I always remind myself, it is okay this is their second language, you would be the same way.
I have some of the same issues in 8th Grade. I feel like I am not being the best teacher I can because the kids are not doing well in their Language class. But once again, most of my kids in 8th grade have known English just as long as my first graders. Many of the students have been speaking English for about 3 years, so I need to be patient. I hope I can teach them as much as they need to know, but it is always a process.
This weekend, we made a little trip to Santa Rosa to go wedding dress shopping. It was a lot of fun to hang out with Kristi, Kendall, and Amy. Santa Rosa had two small bridal stores where the person that owned the store made all the dresses. They were all very unique and not exactly what Iwas looking for. Nonetheless I had a great time. I guess I might need to wait till I am in the states to go dress shopping, which will be nice to go with my sisters and mom.
Anywho, not much else is going on here, I am enjoying my Sunday relaxing and hanging out with my roomamates. I hope all is going well. I hear the weather has been really nice in Iowa, so I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you God that all is going well. Continue to pray for my students and the school year. Oh, an update on Tania, she is not able to go to our school anymore because the preson that was setting up her enrollment waited too long to get her in. So, the school denied her. We can always hope and pray for a mircle will happen for her, by the grace of God.
I have some of the same issues in 8th Grade. I feel like I am not being the best teacher I can because the kids are not doing well in their Language class. But once again, most of my kids in 8th grade have known English just as long as my first graders. Many of the students have been speaking English for about 3 years, so I need to be patient. I hope I can teach them as much as they need to know, but it is always a process.
This weekend, we made a little trip to Santa Rosa to go wedding dress shopping. It was a lot of fun to hang out with Kristi, Kendall, and Amy. Santa Rosa had two small bridal stores where the person that owned the store made all the dresses. They were all very unique and not exactly what Iwas looking for. Nonetheless I had a great time. I guess I might need to wait till I am in the states to go dress shopping, which will be nice to go with my sisters and mom.
Anywho, not much else is going on here, I am enjoying my Sunday relaxing and hanging out with my roomamates. I hope all is going well. I hear the weather has been really nice in Iowa, so I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you God that all is going well. Continue to pray for my students and the school year. Oh, an update on Tania, she is not able to go to our school anymore because the preson that was setting up her enrollment waited too long to get her in. So, the school denied her. We can always hope and pray for a mircle will happen for her, by the grace of God.
Friday, March 9, 2012
I am getting MARRIED!
Well, first of all I apologize for not writing sooner. This past week has been a busy week at school getting grades ready for today. Now, it is Friday and I can finally breathe again.
Well, I will work my way backwards in time. Starting with this week, I had one of my kids (one of the brightest or at least knows the most English) be my partner for spelling. We would write the spelling words on eachothers hands and close our eyes to try to guess the word. Some how, who knows how, I kept getting the answer right. He then said to me, "Youre so smart miss." Oh to be smart to a first grader it was so cute. I felt brilliant! Anyways, it has been a struggle getting back into the swing of things after 10 days with Sean, but I managed and am looking forward to another week (after I plan at least). I hope I can keep my energy high and encouraging for my students (something to pray about).
Okay, now to my adventures to Roatan. On the 23 of February, Sean, Holly and Hannah (Kendall's two friends) flew into Honduras. Nerves and all they made it. Kendall and I were thrilled to finally have some visitors. We then headed off to Roatan to enjoy the beach, weather, and eachothers company. The first night we stayed in La Ceiba at a friends house and then bright and early the next mornging we headed on a boat to Roatan. Upon arriving we capture a taxi that takes us to our hotel to check it. The first day we spend on the beach and going ziplining over the beautiful moutains and trees. We have a relaxing night and Sean and I plan to go for a walk in the morning together. Unually when I woke up I was not in the mood to walk. I was hungry. Sean finally convinced me we would go for a little walk and then hit up a restuarant. (Hind-sight Kendall and her friends new exactly what was going on).
We walk on the beach for a little while enjoying eachother company and stomach growling. We get to a nice little dock overlooking the water. There Sean says to me; "Kiley I wrote you a little letter that I would love to read to you, is that okay." I was eager and excited to hear this letter because Sean doesn't usually read letters out loud to me. So he begins reading and I am just enjoying everything he is saying. Not till about the 2nd to the last second I actually realize what he is doing and I was shocked! Sean, is asking me to MARRY HIM!? I couldnt believe it! I responded with a yes still shocked. So, now I am engaged! I cannot believe that this day has finally come. You can dream of things like this, but don't know what it will be like until it happens.
Then Kendall, Hannah, and Holly join us for the celebration and act out the moment of our lives again. Sean and I then head to breakfast as we enjoy eachothers company talking about the big news. All day we celebrated our excitement, we were blessed to get to go swimming with dolphins in celabration. I cannot believe how God has made dophins such a magnificant animal. I loved having them push and pull me and I loved feeling their skin. God's creativity is beyond my imagination.
So, the following morning we headed back to Gracias. When we arrived we checked Sean into his hotel so he could finally relax. His nerves had left him and the "hard part" of the trip was over now itwas time to enjoy. On Monday, Sean came to school with me where he was a HUGE help. He helped answer questioned for the kids, graded and recorded papers, and gave me a lot of encouragement. IT was hard to go back into this week where I had to get back into my routine of answering all 28 questions at one time.
On Wednesday night (last week), we played soccer with the Minerva teachers. I just love being active and playing soccer (even if I am not very good :D). That evening we celebrated Kristi's birhtday. Her husband, Shannon, threw her a surprise birthday party at the Chinise restuarnt in Gracias. We had a great time hanging out with all the teachers.
Well, I guess this is the extent of my life in Honduras. I hope all is going well back home. Once again I am sorry that it took me so long to write on my blog, but I hope this blog is well worth it.
Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement!
One last thing, if there is anyone who is willing to support a young girl here in Gracias to go to Abundant Life Christian School please let me know. Her name is Tania. She is in 6th grade. She comes from a home up in the mountains about a 20 minute drive from Gracias. She walks to Gracias to go to Young Peoples gatherings every Saturday. Her mom is very abusive to her both emotionally and physically (in Honduras there isnt a whole lot that gets done about abuse). Anyways, there is a family (one of my first graders parents) in Gracias who is willing to house her in the city so she doesnt need to walk by foot everywhere. I know there is a family back in the states that is paying for half of her education, but she needs the other half paid for as well as her lunches at school. If you know of anyone that would like to support or help out please let me know. Keep Tania in your prayers.
Well, I will work my way backwards in time. Starting with this week, I had one of my kids (one of the brightest or at least knows the most English) be my partner for spelling. We would write the spelling words on eachothers hands and close our eyes to try to guess the word. Some how, who knows how, I kept getting the answer right. He then said to me, "Youre so smart miss." Oh to be smart to a first grader it was so cute. I felt brilliant! Anyways, it has been a struggle getting back into the swing of things after 10 days with Sean, but I managed and am looking forward to another week (after I plan at least). I hope I can keep my energy high and encouraging for my students (something to pray about).
Okay, now to my adventures to Roatan. On the 23 of February, Sean, Holly and Hannah (Kendall's two friends) flew into Honduras. Nerves and all they made it. Kendall and I were thrilled to finally have some visitors. We then headed off to Roatan to enjoy the beach, weather, and eachothers company. The first night we stayed in La Ceiba at a friends house and then bright and early the next mornging we headed on a boat to Roatan. Upon arriving we capture a taxi that takes us to our hotel to check it. The first day we spend on the beach and going ziplining over the beautiful moutains and trees. We have a relaxing night and Sean and I plan to go for a walk in the morning together. Unually when I woke up I was not in the mood to walk. I was hungry. Sean finally convinced me we would go for a little walk and then hit up a restuarant. (Hind-sight Kendall and her friends new exactly what was going on).
So, the following morning we headed back to Gracias. When we arrived we checked Sean into his hotel so he could finally relax. His nerves had left him and the "hard part" of the trip was over now itwas time to enjoy. On Monday, Sean came to school with me where he was a HUGE help. He helped answer questioned for the kids, graded and recorded papers, and gave me a lot of encouragement. IT was hard to go back into this week where I had to get back into my routine of answering all 28 questions at one time. On Wednesday night (last week), we played soccer with the Minerva teachers. I just love being active and playing soccer (even if I am not very good :D). That evening we celebrated Kristi's birhtday. Her husband, Shannon, threw her a surprise birthday party at the Chinise restuarnt in Gracias. We had a great time hanging out with all the teachers.
Well, I guess this is the extent of my life in Honduras. I hope all is going well back home. Once again I am sorry that it took me so long to write on my blog, but I hope this blog is well worth it.
Thanks again for all the prayers and encouragement!
One last thing, if there is anyone who is willing to support a young girl here in Gracias to go to Abundant Life Christian School please let me know. Her name is Tania. She is in 6th grade. She comes from a home up in the mountains about a 20 minute drive from Gracias. She walks to Gracias to go to Young Peoples gatherings every Saturday. Her mom is very abusive to her both emotionally and physically (in Honduras there isnt a whole lot that gets done about abuse). Anyways, there is a family (one of my first graders parents) in Gracias who is willing to house her in the city so she doesnt need to walk by foot everywhere. I know there is a family back in the states that is paying for half of her education, but she needs the other half paid for as well as her lunches at school. If you know of anyone that would like to support or help out please let me know. Keep Tania in your prayers.
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