Coming Back

School got out a week ago last Wednesday, and I have pretty much taken a break since then. Sure, I’ve applied for jobs, cleaned out my classroom, and spent time with the girls I discipled this year, but mainly I:

 

- read Mansfield Park

- spent time with Heather

- hung out with other teachers

- hung out with some teachers

- visited some orphanages

I have not written in my blog since the night school got out.  Maybe it was a mental block, maybe it was laziness, I don’t know.

 

However, after finding out that my grandma passed away on Saturday, I decided that writing helps me process, and I need to get back to blogging. I’m still finding it hard to write, so I thought I’d just start with some pictures.

This is the final social studies project my students did—Highlights of the Western Hemisphere

 

Graduation!  I met for discipleship with the two girls on the top.  Bottom left is my student with his graduating sister.  Bottom right has David who went to Arrowhead last year and Steven who goes to my church.

 

Bolivian Mother’s Day celebration at my church.  Special performances, a MARIACHI band, two good friends, and the cakes that Heather and I were in charge of making.

 

Well, I hope that posts will be coming much more frequently from now on.  Later this week teams will be coming from the US, and I’ll be with them until the middle of July.  Expect twice-weekly updates!

Thankful for- Other Teachers

Pictures of thankfulness!

From left to right:
To Emilee, who corrects my Spelling books every Wednesday and is always popping in to make sure I’m making it through the day.  I have appreciated your help and kindness this semester more than you.  If God sent you to Bolivia just to help me make it through, I think it was worth it (although He has sent you for so much more).

To DPo, my lunch buddy and person I can always vent to.  Thank you for being there to talk, thank you for being so tranquila.  Thanks for letting me make fun of your Spanish.  Thanks for letting me invite myself over to hang out.  Gracias por buen tiempos!

To Ally, literacy specialist and good friend.  I love looking at your painting that is in my room, remembering that God has me right where He called me and that He will take me to right where He wants me.  Thank you for sitting with me and figuring out how I can help my kids.  Thank  you for listening to me and giving me suggestions about helping myself.  I have loved seeing your passion this year and look forward to serving with you this summer.

And finally, to Laura, the world’s best principal.  Thank you for Peanut Butter M&Ms when life is hard.  Thank you for always listening.  Thank you for being for me.  You made teaching so enjoyable for me.  Your wisdom kept me from losing my mind.  Your peace in my storms has kept me going.  Your godly example with my kids has made me smile so many times.  I respect you so very much, and I hope God makes me more like you, His servant.  Thank you especially for holding my hand in my first weeks and months of teaching.  I needed it so much.  You shine as a principal.  You should be one next year! 

Last one:  Thank you Ellen.  Thank you for listening to my fears, thank you for the work that you put into my classroom before we even knew who my students were.  Thank you for giving me advice, for understanding what I was going through.  Thank you for Skyping with me weekly, encouraging me with your words and your stories.  I can’t wait to see you face-to-face soon!

So, this is not my typical thank you post, but I wanted to recognize these wonderful people. 

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

- Philippians 1:3-4

Am I loving my brother?

My students are learning all about Nehemiah this week, so I’ve spent the weekend reading through the first six chapters, thinking about the warrior that he was and how my kids have a lot of fighting to do.

 

This morning, my first truly cold morning in Bolivia in the last nine months, I sat wrapped up in a blanket, sipping coffee and reading chapter five.  I guess it’s confession time. I have been a lot about survival this year.  I haven’t been loving my Christian brothers and sisters like I know I should, with the excuse that I have enough to do just getting myself taken care of.

 

So it was extra-convicting to read about the Jews who were not being kind to their brothers in Nehemiah 5:9- “The thing that you are doing is not good.  Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?”

 

The way we treat those around us is what those who don’t follow Christ see and label “Christian.”  Am I loving my brother to “prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?”  Are you?

Showoff

So, I don’t want to sound like a showoff, but I do want to show off what my great friends have done.  I have been so blessed by them as I've lived a continent away this year.  I got care package #3 today!!!  It is from one of my fellow linguistic major friends from college. She is raising support to go to Papua New Guinea, so it extra blessed me that she would send me a package.

Devotional book, Streams in the Dessert, which I can't wait to read!

Cute pot that sadly broke (I will still plant the seeds), Easter ears, stress ball (perfect for my class!), prayer card (my biggest request!), candle, cute bookmark, playing cards, notepad, and yes- DOVE CHOCOLATE!

Also this great candle that I am already putting to good use.  Cherry pie- so yummy-smelling!

Thank you, Catherine!

Feeling so loved!  This package came after a very stressful day at school, and I was so blessed by it.  I knew Catherine was sending me a package, but I was not expecting the mega shoebox filled with goodies. God and Catherine knew how to bring lots of joy to my evening.

Plus, another friend of mine from the camp I worked at last summer sent me an amazing drawing of Mother Teresa, one of my heroes!  I recently had time to frame it and put it with other pictures of friends who were at this camp with us‘

Finally, my friend Samantha who is living here for a year recently brought over both of her Aaron Rodgers jerseys, and we sported our Packer Pride together and took pictures.  So. Much. Happiness.


So thank you, friends, for being wonderful!  Hebrews 10:24.

Feeling Cared For

Care package number two has arrived for me!  I am feeling very loved these days.  Nicola (my roommate of three years) and the girls I affectionately refer to as "my Twin Cities family"  sent me a Christmas package.  The contents:

My favorite granola bars, trail mix (hello crasins!), Instant Snow (can't wait to try this with my class), and a beautiful necklace.

Closeup of necklace

I got to open my package with my friends over Skype (Thank you 21st century!), and I can't even explain how encouraged I felt. 


I write this post to let people know what is going on in my life, but also to encourage anyone who is reading this to think of how you can encourage missionaries (cross-cultural workers) you support or pray for.  I am only here in Bolivia for one year, but think of the long-term workers you know.  My sister, for example, has been in Bolivia for about nine years.  I know that she is unbelievably grateful for even a letter from home, much less a care package.  Or think of families who would love to know that they are thought of.


Here are some practical thoughts if you want to send a package to a cross-cultural worker you know:
- Ask them what they can't get where they are serving.  Can it be packaged?
- Gift cards that can be spent online (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) can even fit in letters
- Think of the workers' children.  How can you let them know that the family of Christ is looking out for them in the country their parents left?
- If you can find someone going to the place where the cross-cultural worker lives, you might be able to send your package in their suitcase and save a lot of money.
- Maybe you don't have the money to send a care package.  A handwritten letter says just as much.
Missionary care has been on my heart for years.  Now that I have some first hand experience about how to encourage cross-cultural workers, I thought I'd post this.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Hebrews 10:24

Faces of 2010

People who have made 2010 special for me.

I definitely missed people, mainly because I didn't have pictures of them.  Thank you everyone for friendship!