California Dreamin'

On such a winter's daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

I had a dream the other night that I was sitting in my mom's car somewhere in SoCal and I looked up and out the windshield and got a little freaked out by the HUGE green street sign and the traffic light. I realized I havn't seen either of those in over 2 months. I mean, imagine, an actual sign to announce the name of the street. Talk about reverse culture shock. (There's also no billboards here).

Then a few nights later I dreamed I was a little girl at a summer camp, for the whole summer! I was hating it, I was bored, and I really just wanted to go home. All of a sudden (you know how dreams are), they told us to pack. I frantically tried to pack my cold-weather clothes as fast as I could but I just didn't have enough time, and I was so upset because I absolutely dread the cold. A fellow teacher from here was in my dream and she was a counselor and hurrying me up to go. Then I found out that we were only going on a little weekend field trip and that we'd have to come back to the camp for another month before going home.

When I woke up I thought, "oh my goodness, that's La Esperanza (where I live now)". THis town is so small, and although I don't hate and am not that bored, I have never lived in a town like this, only in big cities. I feel like I have cabin feaver, except there's no cabin (but there is a cement block apt.) So needlessto say I am really looking forward to leaving this "camp" and visiting LA for a few weeks.

To talk about today, it was a little stressful. The bus was late so I walked in right at 8 when classes are to start. The secretary had opened my classroom door for the kids before I got there which I really didn't like because my kids are little and they only have eyes for other little kids' stuff, and sometimes my stuff on my desk, if you know what I mean. Then to top it all off I found out at my busstop, before the day even started, that I had a new student in 2nd grade and in 1st (brother and sister). They hadn't told me anything or let me test them in english, and the 1st grader didn't even understand me when I asked her her name in English. But the situation was explained to me later and I feel better now. Just a lack of communication. But I sure am ready for that vacation. Can the other teachers give me and Amen!?

Happy HOLI-days!

Happy HOLI-days everyone!

Friendship Day

We had our second Friendship Day at church last Sunday and it went really well. We had some kids' classes perform and Beto helped lead worship. keep praying for our friends and the people of our town, school, and all of Honduras. God is growing our hearts more for missions and we are happy to be serving now in this church.

Coooooooold today!

It's Thanksgiving Day, and I feel like I'm in New York! Of course I've never been in New York during Thanksgiving, but I know it's cold!

This is how we dress now. We had to do necesity shopping this week because I didn't have any warm clothes! This week I've bought 2 beanies, new gloves, 2 jackets, and thick socks. The children are Beto's students during PE today. We had classes in the morning plus Thanksgiving activities. We have tomorrow off and for dinner all the school staff will eat a Thanksgiving meal. Today we performed a program, different classes, for a group of children that came from the local social service program, more or less. they performed a dance and song too, and then we all had lunch together, and a lot of students brought clothes, canned food, and toys to donate to the children. We got to leave at 1pm and beto and i went to rent movies and to a new store that's like a thrift store where i bought more clothes and Beto got a nice jacket. The clothes are nice U..s brands that come mostly from thrift stores in Houston. It was super fun.

all right, my fingers are about frozen. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Saturday with Friends

Here we all are in my apt. last Saturday eating the tacos that Beto made. He's a wonderful cook! I am so lucky! He invited out pastor and his family, and all the apt. mates. We had guacamole, tacos, and a typical Guatemalan food: cauliflower fried in oil and egg. Pretty good! While we were all still hanging out a brother from the church came by with his truck loaded with coolers of shrimp and fish straight from the coast. My neighbor had ordered from him and he came by to drop it off, and ended up selling a little bit to all of us. Later some peace core workers dropped by to visit and they ended up buying from him too. It was really good! Beto used the shrimp in a soup he made last night and we all ate it together, all the apt. mates. It's so fun being here! Praise God!

My apartment in lights!

Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas everyone! Even though I'm coming home for Christmas this year I couldn't wait to put up lights and decorations so that we could all enjoy them at the apt. complex before we go our separate ways during Christmas break. My apt. isn't on fire. those are the lights from the Christmas tree, and that my curtains are yellow. I don't know if any of you had ever had an experience like this, but we got the lights all put up and THEN plugged them in! HELLO??? Where's your sign?! And of course I only have to tell you that because they didn't work! So we had to go back to the store, which was only like a 5 minute walk and got a better pair for .50 more. The thing about the stores here is that the sales people follow you within like 2 inches of you because of fear of theft, and I can't shop like that people! I get frustrated and can't think and feel like I have to pick somthing fast so as not to bother the help, even if it's something i don't really like, and then i get frustrated because I spend more money than I want on stuff I don't want.But i didnt' do too bad this time and i guess it's better to get help then to not find any like in the States, but I have found a few stores here that don't "bother" me too much.

Misc. Life pictures

Beto had never licked a beeter in his life! I got the event on film! The dog is our community dog that was left here by a peace-core worker. Long story. The 2 French women who live above me have taken her in. Her name is Nosa and she is the sweetest cutest thing and we all love taking care of her. She goes from apt. to apt. to talk, catch up, and of course, ask for food,and sometimes a cup of coffee.
The scenery picture was taken from the rooftop patio of a nice restaurant we went to recently in town. It was a perfect day. We live ina really beautiful place. It does have its little silly things though, like the man who grills meat every morning at 7:15 am infront of his auto parts store. i see him everyday on the way to school. Or that it's freezing here and no one sells heaters nor owns one. I'm in the internet cafe right now and didnt take off any layers nor my hat when i came in, and the only reason i don't have my gloves on is because i'm typing. but the people and environment and lifestyle here is wonderful. God is so good! I am super super happy here! I am so thankful to be here and that God has allowed Beto and I to work together. Things are going great in our jobs and at our church which we both love. We have alot more pastoral and friend support here than either of us did in Teguc, except I don't have Amber here with me! I miss her! And I do feel like I'm getting a little cabin fever. I haven't been out of this little town since mid-September and my schedule is always the same, but at least we can rent movies in town!

Talent Show

It's so nice to finally be able to blog. Forgive the tardiness of all of these photos and blogs.

Here are some acts that were presented at the
Talent Show night about a month ago. The photo with the students dancing with cowboy hats are my second graders. I didn't teach them any of that, it's a traditional Honduran Dance, but they did a great job! I love those kids!

Life is a lot different here than it was in Tegu. For one thing, it's freezing here! That may be hard to believe seeing that we're living in a tropical coastal country in latin America, but we're the highest city in the country, about the height of Denver. Also, in my class I have 20 kids instead of only 6, so it's a lot more work, but a lot more pleasant and peaceful. I love this small town and the people that I live and work with. We share everything and have eaten a lot of meals together lately. Well, I didnt say much about the talent show. Beto was one of the master of ceremonies and it went really well. I didn't participate. I was in charge of controling the "publico infantil", which literally translates as "infant public". Fun fun!

Hey Everybody.

Well I'm sorely disappointed. I tried the othernight to post, and the connection in the internet went out. Always happens. Tonight there's a great connection but Blogger doesnt want to let me post pictures. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! I'm so sorry.

Well, I'm doing great! It's been a wonderful life here since I moved in August. I love my job and my apt., the town, the people, etc. I am so amazed at how God has blessed me by being here and that Beto and I can work at the same school and go to the same church which we love. Our Bible study with the youth is still going on. Last week I gave the lesson and it went really well. Our church started a prayer service this week on Tuesdays which is awesome and that means our youth home group moved to Mondays. On Wednesdays we have our "gringo" Bible study in English, which is refreshing, and starting this Thursday I'll be tutoring two firstgraders after school for an hour. We had parent confererances about grades tonight and even though I was against tutoring, I broke down after talking to some parents. Pray that the students will recieve better grades this period. I don't have anything planned on Friday nights nor on Sundays for the sake of all that is good and holy!

I'll be flying in to LA on Dec. 18th late late and i'll be in socal for about 3 weeks! I am so excited! I can't wait to do nothing but have fun with friends, family, bake cookies, help decorate my parent's house and gorge myself on Christmas movies!

I'll try to post more pictures as soon as possible!