September 12

It´s been one week since you looked at me...and almost three since my last blog udpate.
We´re starting our third full week of school (hence the lack of frequent updates) and it´s still hot here all the time. Instead of rambling on for multiple paragraphs, I´m going to list some of the newest/most exciting things that have happened over the last 21 days, which will hopefully give you a brief yet accurate update.
From most recently to least recently:
-This weekend I swam in a waterfall for the second time in my life, and climbed up one for the first time! It was impossible to see on the climb upñ I had to reach for the rocks and just hope that I wouldn´t slip off. It was fun, exciting, and I´d definitely do it again. Note: the waterfall water was much colder than the ¨cold¨ water I´ve been showering in since August 1st.
-My students have taken their first tests of the semester. We´ve had two spelling tests, one Bible test, and one Math test. So far, a lot of the Math is review. The Bible stories are ones they have heard before, but the kids have memorized Romans 3:23, 24 and John 13: 34, 35 and are starting 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 for this week. They love creating actions to help them remember the verses. We also started singing worship songs for Bible, we´ll hopefully do this every Friday morning after they take their Bible test. The Spelling tests have also gone well so far, these kids are intelligent, quick to pick up patterns and new words, and they will work hard and thoroughly when you challenge them to do their best.
-We had our first staff Bible study with the American teachers. Spanglish Bananagrams, laughter, coffeecake, tea and coffee, prayer and scripture...what more could you want?!
-I survived my first (hopefully last?) round of ¨tummy troubles¨which is a euphemism for diarrhea. Enough said. I am so thankful to be better!

I can´t think of much else that would interest you to know. There was a little gecko in the coffee pot last Monday morning. I went to grab the coffee pot and screamed when I saw the flash of his tail and his dark body--what I thought was a shadow inside the coffee pot started moving!--and then ended up laughing at the whole thing.

Please keep praying for me and for the students and staff at JCS. Pray for the staff to seek to be God´s love to one another and to the kids, to strive for excellence and not give ¨just enough¨ to get by. Pray for me to be excited and looking forward to time with Jesus every morning, for me to be patient and perseverant (is that a real word?) in my prayer life. And pray for these kids. They are far from perfect, sometimes frustrating, easily annoying, yet so valuable in God´s eyes and.....by His grace....in mine as well. I mean, I´m far from perfect, easily frustrating, and sometimes annoying too. And He still loves me!

p.s. If you´re looking for a great place to ¨meet¨ Jesus, to feel connected to the God of creation, GO OUTSIDE! For me, there´s no better place to feel completely surrounded by a God who is so majestic yet so intimately interested in us and knowing us than to be face to face with His beauty...