This Friday and Saturday Paul, Sue, Lori, and I went with teachers and staff from the school to a beach house for a retreat! It took like 5 hours on a bus to get there, b/c we had to stop 3 times but it was beautiful. It was a great time to meet and get to know other teachers and staff from the school and build unity with in the staff. We played games, went swimming and had 2 services - with songs and a message. All of which were great, and encouragement to me. Thinking of ways to help the school and help the students, gain students respect. I just have to love the students, take an interest in their needs first. The 1st message talked about that the model of a teacher, the best teacher there was was Jesus and Pastor Casto talked about the way Jesus taught.
The other message by Eliecer was also really good talking about committment, being committed to the work, and what it means to be committed. Challenging us to go deeper not just in our committment to God but to the school, students, and to each other. It was also a good time to meet and get to know Lori, the girl who is going to be working with me, teaching me, showing me around for 4 months here. It was really good... I will post some pictures when I get them downloaded on my computer!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Living from day to day.
As the weeks go by things get busier, I meet more people, want to build more relationships, and more activities are going on. A week ago Friday the main church here, "A Dios Sea La Gloria" had a 24 hour prayer and worship service where the youth stayed and prayed and worshiped for 24 hours. I was only there for the last 6 hours or so of it but it was an amazing experience. Even though I didn't head to the church for that reason, God knew I needed to be there and wanted me to be there. I came to the church to talk with Yuneidis, b/c I needed someone to talk to I was having a hard couple days, just wanted a hug and wanted someone to talk to! I talked with her and felt better and then just went in the church and sat in God's presence. That's really what I needed, to be still and know that He is God - listen to worship, and be refreshed, be encouraged by God. God knew exactly what I needed.
Friday and Saturday nights, the guys across the street in Parquecito, Eddie, Davy, Carlos, Grey always want me to go with them to 'piques' - drag racing with street cars, - it's fun to go and see the different cars, and a 'night life' culture of Venezuela as well!!
Days at the school are getting better there are still good days and bad days. The schedule is now a little different now that classes have gotten rolling and established somewhat of a routine. I know teach 1/2 of the class english while the other 1/2 of the class goes to music. I teach for roughly and hour. That's all. My new dilemma is how do I teach english when the students only have english ONCE every TWO weeks. I'm trying to think of vocabulary or themes to do, with the students, but feeling like they aren't going to remember anything from 2 weeks ago!!!!! Sure it's easy lesson planning because use the same lessons for 2 weeks with minor adjustments of course with what worked and what didn't work. I don't really know what to do - I have to make my own curriculum as well so I don't have anything to follow. Classes have been good overall, found activities that work to keep all students involved and participating - well with the colors anyways!!!! Thursday I took extra time to 'invest' in the life of the pre-schoolers so they! We had english for 20 mins - 30 mins and then they wanted to play so incorporating some english I just played with the preschoolers for an hour or so, it was awesome! When I was ready to leave they were like, 'No, no te vayas!! No puedes quedar y jugar un ratico mas!!!" (No, don't go!! Can't you stay and play a little longer!??) It was fun, refreshing just to run around and play with the preschoolers!!
All of the students need prayers, I know that classes are going better each week because of prayer. Thank you all for your prayers continue to lift up the school, teachers, and students!! Another prayer request - The 16th - 19th or so of Feburary is the annunal conference here in Venezuela and I have been asked to translate for David Harvey who is coming to mediate the conference. I need prayers for vocabulary and wisdom in translation!! Paul, Sue, Lori, Eddie, Carloyis, are going to be in Caracas - that leaves me the only one to translate!!!
Friday and Saturday nights, the guys across the street in Parquecito, Eddie, Davy, Carlos, Grey always want me to go with them to 'piques' - drag racing with street cars, - it's fun to go and see the different cars, and a 'night life' culture of Venezuela as well!!
Days at the school are getting better there are still good days and bad days. The schedule is now a little different now that classes have gotten rolling and established somewhat of a routine. I know teach 1/2 of the class english while the other 1/2 of the class goes to music. I teach for roughly and hour. That's all. My new dilemma is how do I teach english when the students only have english ONCE every TWO weeks. I'm trying to think of vocabulary or themes to do, with the students, but feeling like they aren't going to remember anything from 2 weeks ago!!!!! Sure it's easy lesson planning because use the same lessons for 2 weeks with minor adjustments of course with what worked and what didn't work. I don't really know what to do - I have to make my own curriculum as well so I don't have anything to follow. Classes have been good overall, found activities that work to keep all students involved and participating - well with the colors anyways!!!! Thursday I took extra time to 'invest' in the life of the pre-schoolers so they! We had english for 20 mins - 30 mins and then they wanted to play so incorporating some english I just played with the preschoolers for an hour or so, it was awesome! When I was ready to leave they were like, 'No, no te vayas!! No puedes quedar y jugar un ratico mas!!!" (No, don't go!! Can't you stay and play a little longer!??) It was fun, refreshing just to run around and play with the preschoolers!!
All of the students need prayers, I know that classes are going better each week because of prayer. Thank you all for your prayers continue to lift up the school, teachers, and students!! Another prayer request - The 16th - 19th or so of Feburary is the annunal conference here in Venezuela and I have been asked to translate for David Harvey who is coming to mediate the conference. I need prayers for vocabulary and wisdom in translation!! Paul, Sue, Lori, Eddie, Carloyis, are going to be in Caracas - that leaves me the only one to translate!!!
23 de Enero
I wanted to share a little about my visit to one of the new churches here near Maturin - 23 de Enero. Paul took me up there to look at some construction projects but I went just to know the area, see the church, even though I am not going to be working specifically with this church. While I was up there I played with the kids that were at the church. I asked them what they liked to do, they were telling me about shows they liked to watch on t.v. One boy about 10 years old, started going on, and on about this movie he liked with cars, racing and ramping and then was like another movie that I saw was about this widow and her son was dying and a prophet came and told the widow her son wouldn't die and asked for something to drink and eat, and she didn't have anything, but the prophet told her to make bread and you will not run out of flour and oil. . . I was like wow - he was so excited about this story, saying how cool it was!! And then continued to tell of another movie that was awesome - about Noah and the ark. It was really cool to see the excitment and energy of this boy telling, loving, stories from the Bible! 
This is the church - up in the mountains about 45 minutes from Maturin. 
These are some of the kids that live right across from the church!!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Mi Casa es Su Casa!!
I now have 2 weeks of school under my belt. Learning more. Classes going smoother each time. Realizing how much schedules change and fluxuate. A 'normal' schedule is now I have 1/2 of the class for a full hour teaching English and the other 1/2 of the class has music for that hour. Next week the groups will switch. So really I will only see students every other week in class - makes planning easy 1 lesson plan for 2 weeks - but an hour is a long time for elementary students and their attention span etc!! The students are warming up to me and it's going well.
And the car that I will be driving - taking care off - all that....
I have wireless internet in my house now, hence the updates! Wednesday afternoon I drove for the first time here in Venezuela and well I only drove maybe a quarter mile from the mechanic's house to my house. I can handle that much. Thursday I drove from my house to the church for work (about a mile) and that was okay too, not much traffic!! I have to learn the roads mostly for where the HOLES are. There are more holes then there is road!!
I am all settled in for the most part here at the house. I feel comfortable and at home. Getting to know the neighbors better - this is my new house and street. . . The church of Parquicito - Los Diez Mandimientos is 2 houses down from me.
And the car that I will be driving - taking care off - all that.... Now, the inside of the house - I don't know if you can see this picture very well but this is our living room - with yes furniture!! And then the following pictures are of my room and our bathroom - (Lori and mine)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Por Fin. . .
Hey Everyone! I'm still alive - after a very busy - crazy week. I haven't had internet for about a week that is why you haven't heard from me. I have begun partial of my 'duties' this week. School started on Monday, even though I do not teach on Monday's I was up at 5:30 to be ready to be at the school at 6:30 to see how things are run, what takes place in the morning, to meet the principal and other faculty of the school. My jobs at the school are 1st and foremost teaching English and Christian Education. English I teach Pre-school - 6th grade and I have the students anywhere from 30 mins to an hour 1 day a week! Which presents a challenge in itself, to get to know the students and gain their trust and respect. Tuesdays mornings I also teach Christian Education for the 2nd graders for an hour. (Which I was told at 7:00 Tuesday morning - as I was supposed to be teaching the class) Needless today I was not prepared to teach 2nd graders for an hour - with 0 curriculum or materials.
Tuesday night I came back to write for advice - and make specific lesson plans which keep the students occupied and doing something - and wednesday and thursday classes went 100% better. It should be a challenge but a lot of fun at the same time because all materials are limited it's even hard to make copies for handouts - I don't like giving students busywork 'copying' from the board but that's what works for them - for a while of course. The students I am working with come from the poorests parts of Venezuela and are a challenge for discipline and respect. I love them though. I know that with the Lord's help, patience, and love for the students this will be awesome.
My 2nd job here at the school is working with the International Child Care Office helping out with whateer they need done and the major part soon will be translating letters from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. I think it will be a lot of fun.
Monday night I started studying here in the Seminary I have 2 classes every Monday night, Wesleyan Theology, and History of Discipline of the FMC - they will both be a little challenging b/c the majority of the grade comes from expositions - Speaking giving speeches and explaining things in SPANISH of course... I don't like giving speeches in English let alone Spanish.. It will be good for me though.
Wednesday nights are prayer meeting at the church... Wednesday was also the day I moved to Paul and Sue's House in Parquicito. . . aka my new house, my house for 2 years!!! It was good to be able to have 'my own room' and un pack and get more settled in in a house. The house is 2 houses down from the church there, it makes it very nice.
Thursday, taught here at the school, went back to the house and I am becoming a HUGE fan of this siesta thing from 12 til 3 I can go home eat lunch take a nap, then finish lesson plans, devotionals, whatever else I have to do. A tradition out there is sit w/ plastic lawn chairs on the side walks and talk with the neighbors... I met a lot of my neighbors and some of the 'guys' if you will from the area as we were sitting there talking 2 trucks drive by with 4 police in each of them, then a little bit later another truck w/ 4 more police drives by, then 15 motocycles w/ 2 police each on them, drive by, and then a truck that looks like dog pound trucks drives by - it was pretty exciting one of the guys that was sitting there with us was walking down the street and the police stoped him and padded him to check for guns and drugs... A different world for me.. Everyone there assures me that I will be fine and not to worry!! I haven't had any problems so far. ..
Paul tells me that I am going to start driving on Wednesday, I haven't worked up enough courage to drive here yet. . . Roads here are awful, they have random unmarked speed bumps everywhere, and where there are not speed bumps there are lots of holes in the road!!!! Basically here there are no rules, no stop signs, no speed limits, there are now traffic lights but you have to be careful b/c they do not obey the lights either...
Oh, this week we don't have classes on Tuesday b/c it is "Teacher Appreciation Day" - I don't have to teach until wednesday and they asked me to do the devotional for Tuesday morning so I need to start preparing lessons and the devotional. Then the 24th Lori is returning to help with orientation for me and showing me more of the 'ropes' here, the 25th -26th there is a retreat for all the staff of the school at some beack and I am going to. Then feb 1 - 19th Paul and Sue, Lori, Eddie - will be going to Caracas to help with the VISA team that is coming and I will be staying in the house with Keila to continue teaching at the school and the 16th of Feb is Conference here and a superintendent from the US is coming and I will most likely have to translate for him!!
I am doing very well, getting used to everything and how things work around here, it will take more time.. I am feeling more comfortable and confident as the days pass. Thank you all for your prayers....
I have a cell phone now here in Venezuela and the way of communication here is like 99% text messages so if You want to text me I should recieve it you can also call the cell -
#011 58 424 932 9085
I don't have internet hooked up, working at my house yet - I will try to update as I can, I have mondays and Fridays 'free' I will try to make a routine of updating every friday..... Keep praying, pray for the churches, dissension in the churches, for the students of the school... Thanks!!!
Tuesday night I came back to write for advice - and make specific lesson plans which keep the students occupied and doing something - and wednesday and thursday classes went 100% better. It should be a challenge but a lot of fun at the same time because all materials are limited it's even hard to make copies for handouts - I don't like giving students busywork 'copying' from the board but that's what works for them - for a while of course. The students I am working with come from the poorests parts of Venezuela and are a challenge for discipline and respect. I love them though. I know that with the Lord's help, patience, and love for the students this will be awesome.
My 2nd job here at the school is working with the International Child Care Office helping out with whateer they need done and the major part soon will be translating letters from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. I think it will be a lot of fun.
Monday night I started studying here in the Seminary I have 2 classes every Monday night, Wesleyan Theology, and History of Discipline of the FMC - they will both be a little challenging b/c the majority of the grade comes from expositions - Speaking giving speeches and explaining things in SPANISH of course... I don't like giving speeches in English let alone Spanish.. It will be good for me though.
Wednesday nights are prayer meeting at the church... Wednesday was also the day I moved to Paul and Sue's House in Parquicito. . . aka my new house, my house for 2 years!!! It was good to be able to have 'my own room' and un pack and get more settled in in a house. The house is 2 houses down from the church there, it makes it very nice.
Thursday, taught here at the school, went back to the house and I am becoming a HUGE fan of this siesta thing from 12 til 3 I can go home eat lunch take a nap, then finish lesson plans, devotionals, whatever else I have to do. A tradition out there is sit w/ plastic lawn chairs on the side walks and talk with the neighbors... I met a lot of my neighbors and some of the 'guys' if you will from the area as we were sitting there talking 2 trucks drive by with 4 police in each of them, then a little bit later another truck w/ 4 more police drives by, then 15 motocycles w/ 2 police each on them, drive by, and then a truck that looks like dog pound trucks drives by - it was pretty exciting one of the guys that was sitting there with us was walking down the street and the police stoped him and padded him to check for guns and drugs... A different world for me.. Everyone there assures me that I will be fine and not to worry!! I haven't had any problems so far. ..
Paul tells me that I am going to start driving on Wednesday, I haven't worked up enough courage to drive here yet. . . Roads here are awful, they have random unmarked speed bumps everywhere, and where there are not speed bumps there are lots of holes in the road!!!! Basically here there are no rules, no stop signs, no speed limits, there are now traffic lights but you have to be careful b/c they do not obey the lights either...
Oh, this week we don't have classes on Tuesday b/c it is "Teacher Appreciation Day" - I don't have to teach until wednesday and they asked me to do the devotional for Tuesday morning so I need to start preparing lessons and the devotional. Then the 24th Lori is returning to help with orientation for me and showing me more of the 'ropes' here, the 25th -26th there is a retreat for all the staff of the school at some beack and I am going to. Then feb 1 - 19th Paul and Sue, Lori, Eddie - will be going to Caracas to help with the VISA team that is coming and I will be staying in the house with Keila to continue teaching at the school and the 16th of Feb is Conference here and a superintendent from the US is coming and I will most likely have to translate for him!!
I am doing very well, getting used to everything and how things work around here, it will take more time.. I am feeling more comfortable and confident as the days pass. Thank you all for your prayers....
I have a cell phone now here in Venezuela and the way of communication here is like 99% text messages so if You want to text me I should recieve it you can also call the cell -
#011 58 424 932 9085
I don't have internet hooked up, working at my house yet - I will try to update as I can, I have mondays and Fridays 'free' I will try to make a routine of updating every friday..... Keep praying, pray for the churches, dissension in the churches, for the students of the school... Thanks!!!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Feliz Ano Nuevo 2008
Happy New Year Everyone! I spent New Years Eve here at the house with Pastor Casto and Marlene. I helped cook the food and clean the house. We celebrated New Years with a dinner - there were 11 of us. We had 'asado' - like a roast, salad of cooked potatoes, cooked carrots, peas, and apples - in a mayonase dressing, 'hallaca' - the traditional food for Christmas and New Years - it is not like anything American. It has a corn meal soft mushy outside with meat, olives, spices inside - (taco style) - and they wrap it in a banana leaf and boil it. Peel the banana leaf off and eat it. I tried 2 different 'hallacas' one I liked the other I didn't like.
New Years is a huge celebration here everyone gets dressed up - and the set of fireworks and fire crackers for HOURS. I mean from 7 in the evening until 1 or 2 in the morning. Everyone in the streets setting off fireworks, dancing. . . The sky was filled with smoke from the fireworks. It was amazing how many fireworks were going off all over the city, let alone to think about how many were all over the country!!! Everyone stays up late with family and then sleep in late b/c nothing is open on New Years Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
