Obedience. What does that mean? Leaving home, family, friends, comforts, luxuries. This past week has been a hard one for me. God is challenging me with this word, and what does it mean to be obedient. What is God asking me to do? Love Him with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my strength. That means surrendering all MY desires, all my wants, all MY dreams, and change them for His desires, His wants, and His dreams for my life. Giving up friendships - handing over, surrendering friendships to GOD. Placing them in His hands because God is asking me, "Do you love Me more then anything?" "Are you willing to hand over this friendship to ME?"
God is faithful. He is now giving me strength, He is drawing me closer to himself, He is preparing me. So many lessons that God is teaching me. Each day this week God has spoken a word of encouragement to me through my devotional times - God knows me and my needs better then I do. Even though I don't understand everything, I just have to be willing to say, Take this God it is yours, and not go back and pick it up again, but let it rest in His hands!
This week classes at school went a lot better then last week, the students demeanor was a lot different, more respectful, more calm. I could teach, do activities with the students and it was encouraging. Tuesday night I was able to go for a jog and get to know a new friend better, Carolina, then I went to a get together at another girl's house with Lori, to get to know other girls from the church better and it was a great bonding time! We played Hide and Seek tag, and freeze tag, and leap frog type game... It was fun. Wednesday did a children's program for one of the church plants and the lesson spoke to me as I was preparing it, from Exodus 4, about Moses and the burning bush. Moses says, "I do not speak well, I am not eloquent in speech," God replies, "Who is it that made your mouth? I will go with you and help you, give you the words to say." Moses says, "Send someone else." God used that to encourage me that despite my weaknesses, my shyness, God will use me, God wants to use me. I just have to be willing to let God use me to at all times. Get over being self-concsious, allow God to use me to bless other people.!!
Last night, we went to look at, to see a church plant that has been abandonded for 6 months. The town was beautiful, the place of the church over looks a valley, goregous. I began to see great potiential for this church, before we left Lori and I prayed for the church, the people, and the town. I just felt that God is going to do amazing things through this church plant - I'm excited.
OH! Conference. I spent last friday and saturday translating. The Annual conference of Venezuela met Saturday and the Administer was Superintendent David Harvey - I had to translate everything. Those of you who know me, I don't really like church business, politic stuff - let alone knowing the words in English and then translating to Spanish. Besidses that, the conference ran smoothly, I was able to communicate the important stuff to get business taken care of. The Superindent was grateful for my translations, Pastor Casto and others were impressed with my translating.. So I guess it went well.. I still have a ways to go with my Spanish, I just have to be patient and take advantage of every opportunity to speak and translate as I can!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Classes, Campamento, and "this is a . . . . "
Well, as some have you have commented, "Heidi, you haven't updated in a week!" I have not been around and then I have not had internet! Wow, lots of things are going on. The 2nd - 5th of Feburary I was at a camp meeting - 'campamento' for the the smaller churches around Maturin - we went about 3 hours away to another beach - camped in tents, enjoyed the ocean, the breeze, and sharing ONE bathroom for 80 people. Definitely a cultural experience to be a camp there. The evangelist was pentecostal, put a lot of emphasis on speaking in tounges - that was kinda weird for me.. I got to meet a lot of people from the churches I will be working with, and get to know people better!! I was also made very aware of the fact that this is very much a culture of 'looking out for number 1' I know it is human nature to look after your own wants first, I was amazed at every meal people cutting in line, not waiting in line for food, just going to the front and getting food, and like survival of the fitest. Sleeping in a tent, nah didn't bother me, the ocean didn't bother me either - but being dirty ALL the time with dirt, sand, and salt in the air. At the same time, I knew God was working on my heart, in my prespective of things, my attitude, and being able to be grateful for what I have. All of their services they provide a time for "Accion de Gracias" thanksgiving - giving thanks for being alive, everything - Recognizing that everything we have, each breath is a gift from God and we should be grateful for that! God is also working on my heart in other areas - of making friends, choosing the people I hang out with, so that I am around people that edify me, build me up in Christ and my walk with God. More then anything teaching me to rely on Him, and Him alone. Spending more time with him in praying, learning more scriptures, having His promises in my heart and mind when discouragments come, reading more scriptures, being in the word, b/c that is where my source of strength comes from! That here more then ever all my comforts are gone - security, friends, family, language, my house, - adult supervision for 2 -3 weeks Paul, Sue, Erick, Lori are in Caracas working with VISA teams - another venezuelan and I are staying in the house. God showed me by taking way my source of comfort here - the Caripe family - I am not allowed to spend time with them, and they have been my 'family' my security. God is telling me trust in me. I will take care of you. Everything you go to the Caripes for come to me.
I have to thank all of your for you prayers and ask especially more prayers as I am staying in the house with Keila. God answeredy our prayers yesterday all of you who are praying for safety and protection. Keila and I were visiting a friend to get a book and needed to buy groceries b/c there is not food in the house! We stopped at the closest store and looking for groceries and what the store had, we were finishing and I wanted to see shampoos to buy and we were walking toward the back of the store - when I heard a lot of commotion at the registers in front of the store - Keila was like, "Agachate, Agachate!" Get down get down... There is a guy with a gun, get down, hide... she was shaking and I started shaking... We stayed down and hide, praying, and I was praying I hope they didn't see me, b/c I'm american and they think we have money. One of the workers told us, it's okay they are gone. Keila threw all the stuff we had, and was like we are leaving.. I told her no I don't want to leave yet b/c I don't know where the robbers went. If they are outside close and they see me, who knows what can happen. We waiting a couple minutes - and Keila was like, hold the keys in your hand, and walk fast to the car. Nothing happened to us- we were safe but wow. We went to the grocery store at the mall - where this is security gaurds and everything.
At the mall we got ice cream, ran into Percy and his wife, a friend of mine who I had not seen yet. It was awesome to see him and talk to him a little... and buy some of the things we need. Everything here is a process - to buy groceries you have to stop at 3 or 4 different stores b/c government distribution of food, one day the store will have what you need, the next day it wont.. you never know what store will have what food, and when.. Last evening Keila wanted to go to the 'despedida' goodbye service for a missions team that was here building an orphanage... so we went and they asked me to translate!!! It was great practice and good experience b/c I am going to be translating for conference!! It was awesome to share with them and speak english for course! Meeting more people still, getting to know more people better, building more trust and confidence with people here. Gloria a Dios!!
I have to thank all of your for you prayers and ask especially more prayers as I am staying in the house with Keila. God answeredy our prayers yesterday all of you who are praying for safety and protection. Keila and I were visiting a friend to get a book and needed to buy groceries b/c there is not food in the house! We stopped at the closest store and looking for groceries and what the store had, we were finishing and I wanted to see shampoos to buy and we were walking toward the back of the store - when I heard a lot of commotion at the registers in front of the store - Keila was like, "Agachate, Agachate!" Get down get down... There is a guy with a gun, get down, hide... she was shaking and I started shaking... We stayed down and hide, praying, and I was praying I hope they didn't see me, b/c I'm american and they think we have money. One of the workers told us, it's okay they are gone. Keila threw all the stuff we had, and was like we are leaving.. I told her no I don't want to leave yet b/c I don't know where the robbers went. If they are outside close and they see me, who knows what can happen. We waiting a couple minutes - and Keila was like, hold the keys in your hand, and walk fast to the car. Nothing happened to us- we were safe but wow. We went to the grocery store at the mall - where this is security gaurds and everything.
At the mall we got ice cream, ran into Percy and his wife, a friend of mine who I had not seen yet. It was awesome to see him and talk to him a little... and buy some of the things we need. Everything here is a process - to buy groceries you have to stop at 3 or 4 different stores b/c government distribution of food, one day the store will have what you need, the next day it wont.. you never know what store will have what food, and when.. Last evening Keila wanted to go to the 'despedida' goodbye service for a missions team that was here building an orphanage... so we went and they asked me to translate!!! It was great practice and good experience b/c I am going to be translating for conference!! It was awesome to share with them and speak english for course! Meeting more people still, getting to know more people better, building more trust and confidence with people here. Gloria a Dios!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Retiro!
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!!
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!!
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!!!
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