Valentines Day

Well, it has been a fun and good week. I would have to say this is the first time that I have not had anything planned for two weekends in a row and I  am able to relax before Sean comes to visit.



So, for valentine's day, Sean and I planned a nice skype date to sit and talk and play games with eachother. So, I went to a local resturaunt to eat and talk to him. Half way through our date someone came rushing in singing a song holding a chocobanana (my favorite) as a mic. and a picture of Sean as her face. She gives me the chocobanana to eat and comes back with a bouquet of fruit and veggies. Also, my favorite. The closest things she could find to flowers. I still loved it anyways. It really made my valentine's day. Also, my kids were so thankful for their nice toothbrushes and toothpaste they received for valentine's day. Right after school there was three boys in the bathroom brushing their teeth. I hope they understood the concept of the long OO sound. And if not, hopefully their hygine is better.Also, thank you Addink Dentist for donating the toothpaste to my kids. They loved it!

Also, for valentine's we got with our book buddies and delievered our valentines to the people that work at our school. The kids had such a great time giving each person candy and their valentines. they were so cute to watch help eachother out and the fourth graders were so good to my first graders.

The past couple days in school has been very relaxing. Everytime I type on my blog I feel like I keep saying my kids are so much better. But they are finally understanding the concept of if I do "this" Miss Kiley will be happy or if I do "that" she will be very sad. They are doing all they can to make sure Miss Kiley is happy with what they are doing. I lvoe to finally get to see that with them. Also, we were reading a story together as a class and we read about a goat eating grass. I asked the question (we eagle eye our picture) So, what does our goat like to eat. I call on one of the girls that is not able to read very well and she replied by saying in the pasture. I couldnt believe she knew such a big word. It might be from Psalm 100 when we memorized it in class. "He makes me lie down in green pastures."

I love it that they are understanding what I say. It is so rewarding to have them answer questions and respond when I ask them questions. They are so precious. TOday, I helped with GVC (young peoples group in Gracias) where I ran the prize table for the carnival. It was fun to give the gifts to the students and see the joy on their faces. I enjoy helping out with the young peoples and hope that through this group they can be brought closer to God.

Well, that is all for now, I just figured I would share a few stories from this week. I hope you all are doing well. Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers!

Volleyball and Parent Teachers

Well, last week is the past, now I am on to a new week. First of all Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. I hope everyone is full of love and happiness.

Just a little update, volleyball was fun, but my girls did have a struggle on serve recieve, so I guess that is something we need to work on. We didnt win, but it is not all about winning though we had fun and we played our best.

Parent teacher conferences went well as well. Thank you for all the prayers. There werent any parents that were too upset and most of them just wanted their kids' grades and know if their kid is behaving well in the class. For the most part all the kids are behaving pretty well, but as I always say, there are those days I go crazy! But, for the most part the kids are learning, reading and doing well in school.

This weekend was a low key weekend, I played clue with a bunch of the other teachers on Saturday, and then on SUnday we headed to Cautulaca to the house church to have a meal with the people up there and minister to them about the feast Jesus has to offer them. It was a wonderful tournout so that was good to see.


Sorry for the short blog, but this is my life in a nutshell. I will be celebrating valentines with my students today and they will be getting their toothpaste from Addinks Dentists and toothbrushes and animal crackers and a note the says "you make me smile" I figured this is better than giving them candy that will damage their teeth even more.

Thank you for reading and all your prayers! Have a wonderful Valentines!

School, School, School

With all the business of school, we still found time for pranks. A life of excitement!

Well, this past week has been busy preparing for final grades and upcoming parent teacher conferences this Friday. But, none the less a well worth it week.

This past week, Shannon's (missionary family) father died so he went back to the states for five days. So, Kristi asked Kendall and me if we would spend the nights while her husband was gone. We were happy to help out, but it definitely was different getting out of my normal routine for school which made for a weekend where I could relax and take a few naps. It was nice to stay in a home where there were couches and purified water out of the sinks, but like they say there is no place like home (even if I have a home that is not always put together).

Anyways, my kids are finally learning the long vowel sounds and many words with the long vowels sounds. I am so happy to see their progress and keep reminding myself to take the little progress I have and be thankful for it. It would be so different if English was the first language, but because it isn’t my patience are definitely growing. I hope I can be that teacher for these kids that they will never forget whether they learned the long o sound or not. I am learning to keep life in perspective and enjoy the little moments. I do love it here and I am learning so much!

This weekend I played some soccer with the Minerva teachers (the other bilingual school in Gracias) and then on Sunday, believe it or not we had a super bowl party and projected the game onto a wall outside. It was fun to hang out.

Well, another week of school is ahead of me. I am looking forward to Wednesday because the sports teams from La Union. I practiced with the boys’ volleyball team today so it should be interesting how they do because some of the boys have never played volleyball in their life, let alone a game. So, it should be interesting. It is so fun to see the school grow as they get more sports and the students begin new things.

This Friday I have parent-teacher conferences so please pray that all goes well and that no parents are too upset with me. Help me to say the right words to the parents and encourage them.

Well, that’s all for today. Have a great week! Until next time!

A Good Week...and the Zoo

My new door decoration. My assistant does
WONDERFUL job!! Yeah for valentines!

School continues on. I cannot believe it is almost February and the weather here is absolutly perfect. I can't imagine sitting in Iowa around the heaters trying to stay warm. I am able to wear t-shirts and shorts everyday and not feel cold. I would have to say this is the first January I have ever felt this way!

Book Buddies

Taking a shot at the target.

 It isnt a lie when you say "time flies when you are having fun." I have been enjoying being here so much. Last week started off rough as usually but graducally got better. The fourth graders and my first graders started reading buddies with eachother. To our surprise, the kids LOVED having an older kid read to them and help them read. I do believe that it is helping my students a lot to have book read to them out loud. Also, a group of people from the hospital in San Pedro came to our school and gave all my first graders Bibles, played baseball with them and archory. The kids loved playing with them and as bad as it sounds I need to pry the Bibles away from them during school. The kids are so excited to be reading about God. I hope my kids continue to grow and learn everythign the Lord has blessed them with. Also, at the beginning of the year I tested my students for letter sounds/names and words. I have again tested them with the same sheet and it is rewarding to know that they have learned something. They know more than what they did before they came. I try to keep the slow reading proccess in this perspective, so I dont drive myself CRAZY. We have been working on long vowel sounds which throws a little bit of complexity to reading but for the most part the students have been handling it well. I struggle with keeping each Phonic lesson interesting and am trying to use my resources (that I have) and try new things.



We celebrated Mrs. Delmy's birthday.
We had a "surprise" party for her and my kids LOVED it!
We made nice little birthday hats!

This past week I went searching in our "library" ( books on shelves) for books that my kids could read. And I found many treasures of books. An organization in South Dakota donated many books and they were all leveled for my students. Therefore, I am able to get the appropriate book for each child right on reading level. I can't wait to have them take these book home to read.

Additionally, this weekend some of us went to Lago de Yajoa again, but this time we went to go see the zoo. One of the high school classes gets to go on a fieldtrip later in the year to the zoo, so we went to check it out before hand. It was a blast! The zoo was a Christian zoo—how cool!! They had worship music playing throughout the whole zoo and the staff was very friendly! It was awesome. The zoo was very hands on, clean, and there were a ton of animals!  There were Bible verses posted everywhere and the atmosphere was so pleasant. I had a wonderful time!

How sweet it was to be this close to God's creatures!

Now, I am back to school for another week. Today was one of those days where I wished I was home sick, but thankfully tomorrow is another day and all I can do is move forward and do my best for God's glory. I do look forward to going to school, but I am sure if you talk to any teacher you have those days of insanity. Now I understand what my mom means when she says "It is going to rain tonight because I can sense it in the kids." Crazy how true that is.

Well, its been a good time here in Honduras and if anyone feels like they want a little vacation to a warmer country  then please let me know! I would love to host you over here! Have a wonderful day and stay warm.

It has been a JOY

This past week has not always been easy, but it has been a joy. I would like to thank Dordt College for the use of their nice yellow bags. My kids love having reading books available at their desks and love their new white boards and markers inside their yellow bags. With a little creativity with shower curtian hooks and yellow bags my classroom is able to run more smoothly.

It is amazing how different each day of the week can be in a classroom. Monday and Tuesday this week were a little rough. The kids were more chatty and rowdy, but soon they calmed down throughout the week. One of the teachers from a previous year sent one of her friends to our school to visit my students and brought them some coockies. My kids were so excited to hear from one of their old teachers.

This weekend the teachers and I went out to eat at a local pulperia where the food is cheap and delicous. After the supper one of the teachers brough clue  back with her to Honduras. The first game was a flopped because Jenn guessed everything correctly on like the 3rd round. The 2nd game was a flop because the confidential envolope  did not have a person in it, but two rooms and a weapon. So, hopefully another day will be another good clue day. It is one of my favorite games so I am determined to play it again!

Saturday, I did a lot of school work and we headed off to Santa Rosa for the day. We went out to eat and I got a HUGE salad. You have no idea how much I miss my salads sometimes. I also tried this soup called Mondongo Soup (cows intestines or stomach  lining). It wouldnt be my first soup to eat but at least I can say that I tried it.  We did a little bit of grocery shopping and then headed back to Gracias.

Alone in the house, Kendall and I, were up to no good. We started brainstorming ideas of things we could do to our roommates. So, we drew a nice picture of a cockroach and taped it to their food cupboard. They have been having problems with cockroaches in tehre so we thought it would be perfect. When Jen and Jaime arrived home we we sat at the kitchen table playing the piano to the song La Cucaracha. The results were priceless. We also taped pens down to the desks (with clear tape) and other things so that when you go and grab them the person is unable to pick it up. Upon arriving home we put an open umbrella hanging from the door so when they opened the door they were hit with it (dumb I know, but what ever woorks to get a little laugh).

Today, I am headed off to the house church with Kristi and Shannon. We have been studying Romans and I am excited to learn more about what God has to say in Romans. I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend! And I'll write again sooN!