10 days...

I can't believe I only have 10 days left in Peru. It really, honestly doesn't feel real. Praise God, I don't feel super stressed, yes, I am very busy and tired and am doing a lot, but it is getting done. I don't feel like I have so much to do and it won't get done, so that's definitely a blessings. We have 3 more days of school. On Friday I plan on giving my kiddos their goodbye presents (class pictures decorated with their names and a note along with a pencil and a snack) and saying goodbye, I will see them again at the Clausaura on Wed., but I may or may not get to see them all and I want to be sure to say goodbye. Oh man...thinking about saying goobye...I try not to  think about it too much. This weekend we have a wedding on Saturday and Sunday is our last weekend at church and Mary's goodbye party. Monday we have to go in to school to clean/decorate for the clausaura (final program) and Monday evening we (the teachers) are leaving for la Raya (a place 4 hours away where there are hot springs) and we will get back Tuesday evening. Wed. we will have to go to school in the morning to prep and then the Clausara is at 4. Thurs. we are supposed to go to school and clean everything up and we are planning to have the teachers over for lunch to say goodbye. Then, we fly out Fri. morning at 9:10 :O Busy...no? ;P There's some more things I wish I had time for...but I just don't think there will be. Prayers for me in this time would be great. I just need to focus on one day at a time and all the amazing things God has planned for it.

The one that Jesus loves

Each week we have a meeting of the missionaries from EMM. We usually study a book. Our current book is called "What's so Amazing about Grace." In one chapter he discussed how John describes himself as the one whom Jesus loves. We really should describe ourdelves in the same way. So often we define ourselves by our jobs, our frienships, our families, or our overall sucess...the problem with that? We aren't perfect and cannot be, so we will always mess up and that will affect how we then view ourselves. It is so much better to just simply define ourselves as the one that Jesus loves. Trust me, this is definitely something I need to work on, but it is so freeing; it takes away so much pressure. God gives us all this freedom and we sometimes still choose to live bound, I have no idea why...

"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said."

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
    “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
~Luke 10:38-42

In three weeks I will be back in the United States. It's hard to believe. I am feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand, I am very excited to see my friends and family. It is also the end of the school year, and I am feeling kind of worn out and could use a break. On the other hand, it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to my kiddos and all of the amazing people I have grown close to this year. This past week I found myself thinking about all this a lot. It was consuming my mind, which was no good. God gave me a picture. It was of a girl dancing, happily, in a field. Things started to be thrown at her which hindered her from dancing. Then the things stopped coming, but the girl could still not dance because she was too worried that the objects would come back. God showed me that I need to focus on one day at a time and all of the amazing things that He has in store for that day. And to take the time to sit at His feet in the midst of craziness (like Mary).

Thanksgiving :)

Today was a busy, but good day:) Thanksgiving is not the same here, so we didn't have off school. After school, we went to the Kreider's house (a missionary family) for a Thanksgiving meal. We each brought a dish or dishes and we got to have a "normal" meal (turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin and apple pie...). After we ate we played some games and hung out for a while. It was fun. It still doesn't completely feel like Thanksgiving to me, I think especially because the weather doesn't feel like I am used to for this time.
I have been thinking about what I am thankful for, and I am really, truly thankful for this experience. God has grown me so much in this year; taking me out of my normal routine, to show me the things I need to change in my life. I've also gotten the chance to meet so many amazing, on-fire-for-God people. I've also been able to grow a lot in my teaching, especially in my classroom management. It's just another reminder of the importance of following God's plan because it truly is what is best.
I've also just really been reminded of the importance of not taking anyone for granted and always being thankful for those God has placed in my life.
"That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever." ~Psalms 30:12

Two kind of unrelated and very different topics I want to write about :) :
Last Friday, I got invited to go over to one of my students' houses after school. So, I , of course, was kind of lost, but I finally found it, I think, but no one answered. So, I walked home and I got a call. It was my students' mom and so we decided to go somewhere downtown. It was a lot of fun to get to get to know the mom better and fun bonding time with my student. She has a son as well, so in the combi he rode on her lap and Micaela on mine. We went downtown and walked around and had ice cream. On the way back Micaela wanted to do riddles and we just laughed and laughed...it was a blast and I am so thankful for that oppotunity:)

Two of my second graders at recess:)

Yesterday was an interesting day at school. In the morning, just after school had started, I went to the office to make some copies. I was talking to Marisol and we heard this boom and the ground shook a bit. At first I thought it was an earthquake, but the ground didn't continue shaking. So, Marisol and I ran out the office door, and down the stairs there was smoke and Marga and Valeria (Valeria is Marisol's mom and they both cook snack for the kids at the school) ran out of the kitcken and were yelling for Marisol to bring the fire estinguisher. But she didn't really know how to work it or what do do, so we saw Miguel and yelled for him and he came and took care of it. The whole time I was just kind of like, I have no idea what to do, but Miguel told me to go to the top of the stairs and not let anyone down, so I did that. Apparently something occured with the gas tank and the hose came unhooked and was spewing out and there was fire involved. Apparently things were melted, even the pipes to the sink. It smelled terrible of gas and fumes, so we had to get all the kids up to the roof. Then the firemen came and we had to evacuate, so we went down the street to a soccer field where they have gym and waited there for a while. It was fun to hang out with my kiddos. I taught them a hand game and we played duck duck goose. There was also an impromptu soccer tornament. Finally, about 2 hours after this all began, we were able to go back to school and finish out the day. It was a scary experience and I am so thankful Marga and Valeria are unharmed (just some singed hair). God was definitely there in that situation, protecting us and keeping everyone calm.

Enjoy the Little Things

The other day my students in 6th grade had to write a biography, it was supposed to be on a famous person they researched. Some of them didn't do the research at home and one girl decided to do it on me. So she asked me the questions, and we got to what made you famous, and I said, I am not famous. And one boy goes, you are famous to us, and he said it very seriously, not like in a suck up way. It was cute. And it reminded me to cherish those fun little moments with my kids. Yes, they can be a handleful and difficult, but I need to cherish those little moments with them and let those be the things I remember. It really makes it all worth it.

"Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection. "

I had a fun weekend, full of laughter. God definitely knew just what I needed. We've been finding out some tough situations that are kids are in and that has been really sad. But God definitely reminded me this weekend that there is so much more than individual situations. He's so much bigger. We need to cling to His joy and keep spreading His love.
On Friday night we were invited over to Bethany's house. A girl that used to be a missionary here (Angela)was visiting so they decided to have a party. There were some Peruvians there I knew well, kinda well, a little, and not at all. But it was so much fun to meet new people and hang out. There are three sisters that are just hilarious and a lot of fun to spend time with. We played Dutch Blitz, ate pizza, and watched Soul Surfer.
On Sat. Mary and I were invited to go downtown with Bethany, Angela, and the three sisters I mentioned earlier. There is a giant slide that is in a park you can go to (imagine the giant,  wide amusement park slides that you go down on a rug). We went and went down it many times, in a train, linking arms, etc. It was tons of fun and lots of laughs. There were many times after we got down the slide that we just doubled over in laughter. :) Next, we went to another park, with another slide. This slide was intense!! Three people wouldn't even go down it, it was scary. You start out going super fast, and then, near the end, there's this intense drop and you go even faster. The first time I flew off the end! Luckily I got my feet under me, but I only landed on them for a second and launched onto my knees. But again, we laughed hysterically:) The first time is scarier, because you don't know what to expect. Then we took lots of pictures at the park, it was a blast:) Then, later that night, I played games with my roommates and laughed some more:)
Sunday we went to a sushi making party at carrie's house. A blast as well. I had never had sushi before, and we made Peruvian fushion sushi:) So, I had a weekend full of relations, which was just what I needed:)